Brussels, 03/02/2011 (Agence Europe) - Speaking in Budapest on Thursday 3 February, Johannes Hahn confirmed what he had already announced last December: the appointment of the coordinators responsible for priority action areas in the strategy for the different Danube countries and regions. The four priority areas in the strategy focus on improving navigability, water quality, security cooperation and promoting tourism (EUROPE 10274). Coordinators will be responsible for the application of the strategy by developing a work programme and working out sources of funding with other participant countries and partners, such as non-governmental organisations. Janos Martonyi, the Hungarian minister for foreign affairs, was present when this announcement was made.
Coordination of the priority areas is as follows (Bosnia-Herzegovina and Montenegro may also be able to take part in this strategy):
1 - Improving mobility and inter-modality: -a) navigable routes: Austria, Romania; - b) Road, railway and flight networks: Slovenia, Serbia (interested party: Ukraine);
2 - Promoting the production of more sustainable energies: Hungary, Czech Republic;
3 - Promoting culture and tourism, investing in people's skills: Bulgaria, Romania;
4 - Re-establishing and conserving water quality: Hungary, Slovakia;
5 - Managing environmental risks: Hungary, Romania;
6 - Protecting biodiversity, natural landscapes and air and soil quality: Germany (Bavaria), Croatia;
7 - Developing the knowledge-based society (research, education and information technologies): Slovakia, Serbia;
8 - Supporting enterprise competitiveness: Germany (Bade-Württemberg), Croatia;
9 - Investing in human resources and skills: Austria, Moldavia;
10 - Improving institutional capacity and co-operation: Austria (Vienna), Slovenia.
11 - Working together to promote security and fight organised crime: Germany, Bulgaria.
In a press release, the Commission points out that this strategy aims to facilitate closer co-operation between the countries through better use of all EU funding available, without developing new funds or establishing new rules or institutions. The Commission adds that eight EU member states (Germany, Austria, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Slovenia, Romania, Bulgaria) and six other European countries (Croatia, Serbia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Montenegro, Moldavia and Ukraine) are affected by this strategy (EUROPE 10285). (G.B./transl.fl)