Brussels, 16/04/2010 (Agence Europe)- On 15 April, the vice president of the parliamentary committee for transport and tourism, Silvia-Adriana Þicãu (S&D, Romania), presided a conference organised by the parliamentary forum on the future European strategy for the Danube region. This conference is upstream to the conference organised on the Danube region on 19 -21 April in Vienna and Bratislava, by the European Commission, the two municipalities, the Austrian minister for European and international affairs and the Slovak government bureau, as part of the broader consultations on this future strategy.
The European strategy for the Danube region involves eight countries (Germany, Austria, Bulgaria, Hungary, Czech Republic, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia), as well as Croatia, Serbia, Bosnia, Montenegro, Moldavia and Ukraine. It aims to develop relations in the Danube region. Johann Sollgruber is in charge of drafting this strategy at DG Regional Policy at the European Commission. He said that, “this river deserves more cooperation” and pointed out that the river basin is 2857 kilometres long, with a population of more than 80 millions. The idea for this strategy was launched in October 2006, by Danuta Hübner, the Commissioner, at the time, for regional policy and who sought to develop a strategy similar to that for the Baltic Sea. In June 2009, the Council requested the Commission to present a strategy for last January and Parliament adopted a resolution (544 votes in favour, 13 against, with 10 abstentions). The Commission is expected to resubmit its proposal next December and the strategy is expected to be adopted during the Hungarian presidency (January-June 2011).
This strategy could prove to be the second macro-regional example in the European Union, following that of the Baltic Sea. It will be based on budgetary neutrality. Cristian Bãdescu, the deputy permanent representative for Romania stated, “we have funds and projects but we should increase the efficiency of these funds in the region”. The strategy is expected to coordinate and reinforce the use of existing financial instruments, whether they are national, regional or European, such as structural funds and the European Neighbourhood Partnership Instrument.
Three priority areas are due to be developed: improved connectivity and communication systems, environmental protection, preventing the risk of natural disasters and strengthening economic development. Danuta Hübner (EPP, Poland), the president of the regional development parliamentary committee said, “it is clear that transport should be a number one priority, the links with the Danube are a stimulus for the strategy”. The region is at the heart of different road and rail connection projects and river sailing potential is expected to be developed. The Deputy added that, “the problem of pollution should also be taken into account. Finding a balance between the environment and transport is a difficult challenge…I also hope that economic development will be in this strategy, together with many projects for growth, partnerships and employment”. The issue of energy is also expected to be highlighted. Gas and electricity interconnections in this region were severely affected during the last gas crisis.
The strategy will be based on the bottom up principle. “Everyone should be involved”, explained Cristian Bãdescu. Broad based consultations are also being organised. “We do not know the needs of citizens in these countries, we need MEPs and we also want the local and municipal authorities to be involved as much as possible”, affirmed Mr Sollgruber, supported by Ms Hübner. The latter (just like Mr Sollgruber) also put the emphasis on the need for the strategy to be swiftly put into practice on the ground, “it is important to have a number of projects that can have immediate effects. The strategy is more than just words, it has to be pragmatic.
Nevertheless, “the strategy is a challenge and it will not be easy”, warned Hübner, “because it is a project between very different stakeholders. It reopens many dimensions and areas, which explains its complexity”. The strategy's goals are very ambitious. “One of the most important innovations in the Danube region strategy is incorporating the six non-EU member states,” explained Vicente Rodriguez, the representative of the Spanish presidency. This incorporation will enable them to, “better understand the role they can play in European policy”, affirmed Ms Hübner. The success of the macro-regions is part of the debate on post-2013 cohesion policy. Ms Þicãu concluded that, “the success of the Danube will influence cohesion policy and we must therefore succeed for the benefit of the whole of Europe”. (C-C.G).