Brussels, 01/07/2013 (Agence Europe) - The Commission has given a positive evaluation to the macro-regional strategies put in place along the Baltic Sea and the Danube since 2010 and 2011. A report was presented on the subject on 1 July. The conclusive results give further support to the idea of launching a strategy for the Adriatic and Ionian seas at the end of 2014 but there are also a number of lessons to be drawn.
Macro-regional strategies seek to enhance cooperation between countries so as to better respond to common challenges in areas such as the environment, the economy and security, and to apply European policies together. The strategy for the Baltic Sea brings together eight member states (Sweden, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland) and the strategy for the Danube region unites nine different member states (Germany, Austria, Hungary, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Slovenia, Bulgaria, Romania and Croatia). The strategies also coordinate relations with third countries (including Russia). European Commissioner for Regional Development Johannes Hahn explained that the “study shows the clear value of our macro regional strategies. Their intensified cooperation has resulted in literally hundreds of new projects and new networks in the Danube and the Baltic regions”. He also welcomed the fact that this co-operation helps to improve the transposition of European legislation on energy and the Trans-European Transport network and promote multi-level governance.
The commissioner points out, however, that lessons had been drawn from the two strategies set up and that these lessons should take into account before other macro-regional strategies are prepared. If the strategy is the exclusive responsibility of one single ministry in a country, it will never work but must involve different departments, institutions, NGOs etc., said Hahn.adding that a strategy was only worth launching if needs and added value had been properly identified. He affirmed that there is no one-size-fits-all model for strategies; made-to-measure solutions are needed.
On the basis of these observations, the commissioner confirmed the benefits of deploying a strategy for the Adriatic and Ionian seas by the end of next year. Greece, Italy, Slovenia and Croatia, and four non-EU countries (Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro and Serbia) would therefore be working together towards common objectives. A communication is expected to be presented before the end of the Greek Presidency of the EU Council in the first half of the year. “This is more than just a political or diplomatic act, it also requires concrete action and project implementation.” (MD/transl.fl)