COMMISSION STAFF WORKING DOCUMENT   ACTION PLAN Accompanying document to the  COMMUNICATION FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT, THE COUNCIL, THE EUROPEAN ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COMMITTEE AND THE COMMITTEE OF THE REGIONS  European Union Strategy for the Danube Region    {COM(2010) 715 final} {SEC(2010) 1490 final} {SEC(2010) 1491 final}
Date: 2010-12-08
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: Central and Eastern Europe, common strategy, cross-border cooperation, economic and social cohesion, natural resources

EN 

EN 

EN 

 
EUROPEAN COMMISSION 

Brussels, 8.12.2010 
SEC(2010) 1489 final 

COMMISSION STAFF WORKING DOCUMENT 

ACTION PLAN 

Accompanying document to the 

COMMUNICATION FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE EUROPEAN 
PARLIAMENT, THE COUNCIL, THE EUROPEAN ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL 
COMMITTEE AND THE COMMITTEE OF THE REGIONS 

European Union Strategy for the Danube Region 

{COM(2010) 715 final} 
{SEC(2010) 1490 final} 
{SEC(2010) 1491 final} 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Table of Contents 

Introduction...................................................................................................................................... 2 

A) 

Connecting the Danube Region .......................................................................................... 6 
1)  To improve mobility and multimodality .............................................................................................. 9 
2)  To encourage more sustainable energy ............................................................................................ 18 
3)  To promote culture and tourism, people to people contacts ............................................................. 26 

B) 

Protecting the Environment in the Danube Region........................................................ 31 
4)  To restore and maintain the quality of waters .................................................................................. 34 
5)  To manage environmental risks ........................................................................................................ 40 
6)  To preserve biodiversity, landscapes and the quality of air and soils .............................................. 47 

C) 

Building Prosperity in the Danube Region...................................................................... 54 
7)  To develop the Knowledge Society through research, education and information technologies...... 58 
8)  To support the competitiveness of enterprises, including cluster development ................................ 64 
9)  To invest in people and skills ............................................................................................................ 69 

D) 

Strengthening the Danube Region.................................................................................... 74 
10)  To step up institutional capacity and cooperation ............................................................................ 77 
11)  To work together to promote security and tackle organised and serious crime ............................... 82 

Annex: 
Role of the European Investment Bank (EIB) in the EU Strategy for the Danube Region 

 
 
 
INTRODUCTION 

The ‘EU Strategy for the Danube Region’ is described in two documents: (1) a Communication 
from the European Commission to the other EU Institutions, and (2) an accompanying Action 
Plan which complements the Communication. 

The Action Plan is one of the outputs of the Strategy approach. Its aim is to go from ‘words to 
actions’ by identifying the concrete priorities for the macro-region. Once an action or project is 
included  in  the  Action  Plan,  it  should  be  implemented  by  the  countries  and  stakeholders 
concerned.  The  projects  are  considered  to  be  illustrative,  providing  examples  of  types  of 
projects or approaches to be more generally encouraged.  

Organisation of the Action Plan 

The  organisation  of  the  Action  Plan  seeks  to  identify  priorities  clearly,  and  make  it  explicit 
also  who  is  responsible  for  their  implementation  and  follow-up.  It  also  aims  to  assign  the 
responsibilities  to  different  administrative  levels  and  actors  within  the  Region,  with  support 
from the other partners, notably the EU Institutions. The structure incorporates the following 
features:  

•  Pillars: These address the headline issues e.g. “connecting the Danube Region”. They are 
at  the  core  of  the  Strategy  and  are  essential  to  the  success  of  its  work,  and  how  it  is 
communicated. 

(cid:127)  Priority  Areas:  These  represent  the  main  areas  where  the  macro-regional  strategy  can 
contribute to improvements (either through tackling the main challenges or through seizing 
the main opportunities). For each priority area the Action Plan will present the issue and 
indicate main problems. Examples: To support competitiveness of enterprises, etc. 

Coordination of each priority area will be allocated to a Priority Area Coordinator. These 
are at the heart of making the Strategy operational, and bear a central responsibility for its 
success. They work on its implementation, in close contact with the Commission, with all 
stakeholders involved, especially other countries, but also Regional and Local Authorities, 
Inter-Governmental and Non-Governmental Bodies.  

(cid:127)  Each priority area has to be considered with other policy fields. The Strategy encourages 
an integrated approach (e.g. environment (cid:39) mobility (cid:39) economic development (cid:39) human 
resource development etc.). For example climate change mitigation and adaptation have an 
impact on  transport, energy, tourism,  research, etc. policies whilst the latter  also  have  an 
impact  on  climate  change.  Therefore,  for  the  implementation  of  each  Priority  Area,  it  is 
important  that  there  is  involvement  of  bodies  and  institutions  representing  other  policy 
fields.Actions: An Action is an important issue requiring intervention by the countries and 
stakeholders involved to meet the objective of the Priority Area. It can be a new approach, 
an  increased  coordination  in  policy  making,  a  support  to  a  process  already  engaged,  a 
networking  initiative,  etc.  An  action  may  not  necessarily  require  financing.  All  actions 
should be understood without prejudice to the existing EU competences and requirements 
of the EU acquis. Examples: New approach: “To legislate at the appropriate level to limit 

3

 
 
 
 
 
 
the presence of phosphates in detergents”; - Increased coordination in policy making: “To 
develop a joint position of the region regarding the changes which could be introduced in 
the framework of the TEN-E Policy review”; - Objective that the countries can decide to 
achieve  in  their  own  way:  “To  support  creativity  and  entrepreneurship”;  -  Support  to  a 
process  already  engaged:  “To  implement  fully  the  Danube  River  Basin  Management 
Plan”. 

(cid:127)  Projects: A project is concrete, with a start and end date. In general it requires financing, a 
project leader and project partners. The Action Plan presents projects by way of examples 
to  stimulate  further  initiatives  as  the  Strategy  progresses,  and  as  new  ideas  emerge.  The 
aim  is  also  to  illustrate  what  is  needed.  Examples:  “To  remove  the  shipwrecks,  bridges 
debris and unexploded lethal weapons from the riverbed of the Danube”; “To implement 
the  agreed  infrastructure  projects”;  “To  increase  the  use  of  electronic  signatures”;  etc. 
These projects can be financed by national/ regional funds, EU funds such as the Structural 
Funds1, 
the  European 
Neighbourhood  Policy  Instrument  (ENPI),  International  Financial  Institutions  or  private 
investors, in line with the appropriate frameworks and practices. 

the  Instrument  for  Pre-Accession  Assistance  (IPA)  and 

The timeframe of the actions and projects varies. Some can be implemented in a short time (1-2 
years)  and  some  will  need  longer.  As  a  general  rule,  each  project  would  have  a  lead 
organisation/ country and a deadline. When not defined by the time of adoption of the Strategy 
by  the  Commission,  the  Priority  Area  Coordinators  would  ensure  that  this  is  decided  by  the 
countries. 

In identifying the actions and projects suggested in the Action Plan, the following factors have 
been taken into account: 

•  They should address identified priorities and be supported. The need for the action or 
project  should  have  been  clearly  expressed  by  countries,  stakeholders  or  Commission’s 
services. In addition, the support of these partners is also crucial for the implementation and 
the proposals have been thoroughly discussed with them. In general, they should reinforce 
existing EU policies such as Europe 2020, Territorial Cohesion, Trans European Networks 
(transport  and  energy), 
the  future  Transport  Communities,  or 
implementation  of  Directives.  Finally  they  should  also  associate  existing  transnational 
bodies  such  as  the  International  Convention  for  the  Protection  of  the  Danube  River 
(ICPDR),  the  Danube  Commission,  the  Regional  Cooperation  Council,  the  Danube 
Cooperation  Process  (DCP),  the  Council  of  Danube  Cities  and  Regions,  the  Danube 
Tourism Commission, and other such organisations as appropriate. 

the  Energy  and 

•  They  should  have  an  impact  on  the  macro-region  (or  a  significant  part  of  it).  Many 
projects should therefore be transnational. However, if a national project has a direct impact 
on  the  macro-region  (e.g.  the  construction  of  a  waste  water  treatment  plant  that  improves 
the  water  quality  of  the  rivers  or  the  extension  of  a  port  to  enable  regional  transport 
networks) or contributes to a policy objective of the strategy (e.g. the renovation of a town 
as part of a network to attract tourists) they could be included. However, most actions and 
projects having an impact on the macro-region will involve several countries who wish to 
cooperate. The impact should be articulated in the form of an impact indicator which can be 

1   Structural Funds are available for Member States. They are managed through Operational Programmes agreed 

and managed by Member States, Regions and the Commission. 

4

 
 
 
 
                                                 
evaluated  over  time.  Consideration  should  be  given  to  the  data  which  will  need  to  be 
gathered  in  order  to  evaluate  the  impact  (including  the  establishment  of  the  baseline 
situation). 

•  They  should  be  realistic.  They  should  be  feasible  (technically  and  financially)  and  there 
should be overall agreement between countries, stakeholders and the Commission of their 
worth. In particular, a realistic source of funding should be identified. Indeed proposing a 
project  for  the  Action  Plan  is  not  a  funding  request,  and  inclusion  in  the  Plan  is  no 
guarantee  of  funding,  but  the  feasibility  and  cost-effectiveness  of  a  project  should  be 
established. 

•  They  should  be  coherent  and  mutually  supportive.  Actions  and  projects  must  be 
compatible with each other and create win-win solutions. For example transport projects or 
energy efficiency initiatives cannot jeopardise achieving environmental targets. 

The  Action  Plan  should  be  stable  for  a  certain  period  of  time.  However,  over  the  years,  the 
priorities  may  evolve  and  hence,  the  actions  and  projects  may  be  updated,  transformed  or 
replaced. The Action Plan is therefore “rolling”, and will be regularly reviewed. 

5

 
 
 
 
 
 
A)  CONNECTING THE DANUBE REGION 

 
CONNECTING THE DANUBE REGION 

This  pillar  focuses  on  transport,  energy  and  culture/  tourism  issues.  The  overall  objective  is  to 
improve  connectivity  within  the  Danube  Region  and  with  the  rest  of  Europe,  in  terms  of 
infrastructures,  systems  and  people.  This  can  be  done  by  improved  coordination  in  infrastructure 
works,  improved  operation  of  transport  and  energy  systems,  exchanges  of  experience  on  clean 
energy, and promotion of Danube culture and tourism.  

It will focus on three Priority Areas: (1) To improve mobility and multimodality (covering road, rail 
and  air  links  as  well  as  inland  waterways);  (2)  To  encourage  more  sustainable  energy  (covering 
energy infrastructure, markets and clean energy) and (3) To promote culture and tourism, people to 
people contacts. 

This pillar strongly supports the Europe 2020 Strategy:  

1.  It  aims  to  contribute  to  smart  growth.  Better  transport  and  energy  infrastructures  are 
conditions for innovation  (attracting  skilled researchers and workers). Innovative solutions 
can  reduce  costs,  improve  efficiency  and  encourage  sustainable  solutions.  Modern, 
sustainable tourism also demonstrates strong potential in the Region. 

2.  It  aims  to  contribute  to  sustainable  growth.  It  supports  reduction  of  energy  consumption, 
increase  of  renewable  energy,  modernisation  of  the  transport  sector  to  make  it  more 
environmentally  friendly  (e.g.  by  promoting  multimodality)  and  more  efficient,  and 
promotion  of  ‘green’  tourism.  This  is  also  with  the  perspective  to  improve  the  business 
environment and hence the competitiveness of enterprises. 

3.  It aims to contribute to inclusive growth. Energy can be made more secure and affordable. 
New jobs can be created. Territorial cohesion is supported e.g. through better connections, 
enabling  people  and  enterprises  to  modernise  even  the  more  remote  regions.  Building  on 
Danube culture harnesses the diversity of people in the Region. 

The  priority  areas  have  to  be  considered  with  other  policy  fields.  The  Strategy  encourages  an 
integrated approach. For example, whilst improving transport infrastructure has a positive impact 
on elements such as the business environment, the attractiveness of cities and regions or the quality 
of  life  of  citizens,  it  also  has  impacts  on  landscapes,  on  biodiversity  or  on  air  pollution.  These 
cannot  be  taken  in  isolation,  but  have  to  be  balanced  against  each  other,  to  reach  the  most 
sustainable solution.  

7

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Examples of financing covering the Region 

Expenditures budgeted by the Structural Funds2 in 2007-20133 

Transport 

Roads and motorways 
Railways 
Ports and inland waterways  
Multimodal nodes 
Airports  
Other (urban, cycle, etc.) 

Energy 

EUR 24.8 b 

EUR 13.5 b 
EUR 8.5 b 
EUR 0.7 b 
EUR 0.5 b 
EUR 0.2 b 
EUR 1.4 b 

EUR 3.0 b 

Energy efficiency  
Renewable energy 
Other (electricity, gas, etc.) 

EUR 1.5 b 
EUR 1.2 b 
EUR 0.3 b 

Tourism 

Urban and rural regeneration 
Natural & cultural heritage 
Cultural & touristic services 
Cultural infrastructure 
Other  

Other sources of financing 

EUR 6.7 b 

EUR 3.0 b 
EUR 1.4 b 
EUR 1.2 b 
EUR 0.6 b 
EUR 0.5 b 

Other  EU  programmes  contribute  to  this  pillar,  in  particular:  the  Trans  European  Transport  and 
Energy  Networks  (TEN-T  and  TEN-E),  the  7th  Research  Framework  Programme,  the  Instrument 
for  Pre-Accession  Assistance  (IPA)  National,  Cross-border  Cooperation  and  Multi-beneficiary 
country  programmes,  several  programmes  of  the  European  Neighbourhood  and  Partnership 
Instrument  (ENPI)  (such  as  the  Regional  programmes  or  the  Cross-border  Cooperation 
Programmes),  the  European  Agriculture  Fund  for  Rural  Development  (EAFRD),  the  European 
Fisheries Fund (EFF) and the Competitiveness and Innovation Programme. National, regional and 
local  policies  are  also  financing  important  projects.  In  addition,  significant  financing  is  already 
provided to a large number of projects via lending and/ or co-financing from various International 
and  Bilateral  Finance  Institutions  such  as  the  European  Investment  Bank  (EIB),  the  European 
Bank  for  Reconstruction  and  Development  (EBRD),  the  World  Bank,  the  Council  of  Europe 
Development  Bank  (CEB)  or  other  lenders.  More  recently,  for  the  countries  of  the  Western 
Balkans, additional efforts have been made to better coordinate and blend instruments for grants 
and loans via the Western Balkans Investment Framework4 (WBIF).  A similar instrument to the 
WBIF, the Neighbourhood Investment Facility operates for the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine. 

2   European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) including cross-border cooperation, Cohesion Fund and European 
Social  Fund  for  the  Member  States.  The  Instrument  for  Pre-Accession  Assistance  and  the  European 
Neighbourhood and Partnership Instrument (ENPI) are not included. 

3   However,  the  use  of  Structural  Funds  depends  on  the  specific  operational  programmes,  developed  and  agreed 
upon  at  the  beginning  of  the  2007-2013  programming  period  in  close  collaboration  between  the  European 
Commission and the respective Member States/ Regions. These should offer opportunities for funding for specific 
actions/  projects,  depending  on  the  priorities  and  measurements/  actions  identified  in  the  respective  operational 
programmes. 

4     The Western Balkan Investment Framework (WBIF) is a blending instrument for grants and loans for candidate 

countries and potential candidates. 

8

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
                                                 
1)  TO IMPROVE MOBILITY AND MULTIMODALITY 

Presentation of the issue 

Mobility  goes  beyond  technical  aspects  and  infrastructure.  It  includes  organisational  issues, 
meeting  overall  transport  demand  and  seasonal/  daily  traffic  peaks,  spatial  planning,  life-styles, 
innovations,  etc.  Together  with  inland  waterways,  road  and  rail  provide  important  international 
connections within the Region. Ports on the Black Sea and ports of the northern Adriatic, as well 
as railway lines and airports, are immediate entry points to the basin from abroad. An appropriate 
transport policy has to take into account all these, promoting multimodality, while also considering 
environmental respect, economic growth and social development. 

Sustainable mobility overall is a clear objective of Europe 2020, as well as the common European 
transport policy. Given that inland navigation has a relatively low environmental impact (it emits 
3.5 times less CO2 per ton-kilometre than trucks) it is an important mode of transport. Linked by 
the Main-Danube canal, the Rhine and the Danube are directly connecting eleven countries from 
the North Sea to the Black Sea over a length of 3,500 km. Hence, the Danube river represents the 
backbone of the Region5. However, the development of waterways as navigation corridors must go 
hand  in  hand  with  the  creation  of  modern  and  efficient  intermodal  ports  to  integrate  navigation 
with rail and road. 

Danube Region specifics 

There is general agreement that good, inter-linked and sustainable transport systems are important 
for  the  region.  The  coordinated  improvement  of  transport  on  the  basis  of  holistic  and  integrated 
development  concepts  accompanied  by  the  development  and  use  of  appropriate  technical,  eco-
sustainable solutions can increase the attractiveness of the Danube river as a cost-effective corridor 
for  effectively  delivering  regional  sustainable  development  and  mobility.  More  specifically,  a 
multidisciplinary  approach  for  waterway  infrastructure  projects  can  ensure  preservation  and 
restoration of the valuable ecosystem of the Danube. This needs to be complemented by upgrading 
of the railways. Here especially the implementation of rail freight corridors as part of the European 
rail network for competitive freight6 play a crucial role. The Danube region is served by several of 
the Rail Freight Corridors to be implemented within the next 3 to 5 years.  

In  this  context,  ensuring  the  interoperability  of  the  railway  lines  in  the  area,  e.g.  the  capacity  of 
locomotives to cross borders is essential to improve the competitiveness of rail. In particular, lines 
upgraded with the support of EU funds shall be equipped with the ERTMS7.  

5   From  Kelheim  in  Germany  to  Sulina  in  the  river’s  Romanian  delta,  the  navigable  length  of  the  Danube  totals 
2,414  km  serving  more  than  40  ports  of  international  importance.  The  annual  transport  volume  on  the  entire 
Danube  amounts  to  about  50  millions  tonnes,  which  is  equivalent  to  2.5  million  trucks  or  62,500  block  trains. 
With 10 riparian countries and 1,025 km of shared borders the Danube is also the most international river in the 
world. Together with the overland routes running through the Region, it constitutes a vital link east-west, as well 
as being a crossroads for many North-South routes. 

6   Regulation (EU) No 913/2010 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 22 September 2010 concerning a 

European rail network for competitive freight 

7   European Rail Traffic Management System 

9

 
 
 
 
 
                                                 
Interlinked with help of efficient intermodal terminals the Danube river, the Rail Freight Corridors 
and connecting railway lines can mitigate road congestion and contribute to an efficient transport 
system and a  more environmentally sustainable modal-split. 

For  inland  navigation,  the  Danube  River  is  clearly  not  used  to  its  full  potential.  Cargo  volumes 
transported on the Danube are only between 10% and 20% (depending on the parameters used) of 
those  carried  on  the  Rhine.  This  potential  could  be  better  exploited  by,  e.g.,  enhanced 
multimodality, improved infrastructure, improved logistics management or better equipment (e.g. 
innovatively designed vessels, modern computer-based navigation aids). Throughout the year, the 
waterway  infrastructure,  on  some  sections  of  the  network,  partly  limits  the  competitiveness  of 
navigation on the Danube River (primarily in case of extended low water periods). Ports need to be 
modernised and adjusted to multimodal requirements. Over the last decades there has been a lack 
of investments and little innovation in the river fleet. A shortage of personnel (especially captains 
and  pilots)  is  the  result  of  insufficient  training  facilities,  migration  tendencies  and  the  high 
proportion aged 50+. 

For roads and railways, infrastructure is often not efficient or simply missing, especially regarding 
cross-border  connections  (to  which  national  authorities  do  not  give  priority).  There  is  a  lack  of 
investment on cross-border links, partly because state borders in the Danube basin have changed 
considerably  in  the  recent  past,  disrupting  connections  (elimination  of  roadways,  demolition  of 
bridges and dismantling of railway lines). As a consequence, settlements with great potential for 
mutual cooperation in the enlarged EU still lack the necessary links, and speed restrictions due to 
outmoded infrastructure is widespread. 

Airports  need  to  be  easily  accessible,  safe  and  secure.  In  certain  parts  of  the  Danube  Region 
airports  are  undergoing  privatisation  and/or  management  decentralisation  processes  and  need  to 
have  a  strong  and  efficient  management  system.  The  potential  for  regional  airports  is  being  put 
into light by point-to-point flights and the growth of air cargo. Such growth must take place in a 
harmonious and unconstrained way. 

Problems  are  largely  linked  to  a  lack  of  coordinated  planning,  funding  and  implementation.  The 
existing  inter-governmental  bodies  need  support  to  deliver  sufficient  concrete  results.  Since 
mobility  and  accessibility  require  costly  investments,  it  is  important  to  plan  so  that  these 
investments  are  used  to  their  full  potential  (e.g.  joint  investments,  planned  transnationally  with 
shared costs and benefits).  

Multimodal  nodes  need  to  play  a  more  significant  role  not  only  in  terms  of  accessibility  but  as 
optimal  places  for  concentrating  business  and  industry.  The  Rail  Freight  Corridors  already 
mentioned  above  comprise  also  intermodal  terminals,  ensuring  efficient  trimodal  interfaces 
between inland waterways, railways and roads as logistical hubs in the Danube Region. 

Mobility  and  accessibility  are  also  linked  to  other  policy  fields  such  as  environment,  and  socio-
economic  development.  An  integrated  approach  means  overall  benefits  are  more  realistically 
assessed, to include the benefits for all the countries and sectors concerned. Modern technological 
advances (e.g.: ICT) also allow mobility needs overall to be re-examined. 

Actions 

Inland waterway transport 

The  EU  has  committed  itself  to  pursue  the  goal  of  shifting  transport  to  less  energy-intensive, 
cleaner and safer transport modes. Inland waterway transport can play a prominent role in reaching 

10

 
 
 
 
these targets. 

Concrete actions are needed to exploit fully the market potential of inland navigation and to make 
its  use  more  attractive.  Given  that  inland  navigation  is  mostly  an  international  transport  mode, 
actions at both national and EU level are required. 

The actions and projects of this chapter complement and build on already on-going activities in the 
Danube Region. They are in line with the goals set forth by the European Action Programme for 
Inland  Waterway  Transport  (NAIADES).  The  time  perspective  of  the  current  NAIADES 
programme will finish in 2013. There is thus a need to set up a follow-up programme to ensure that 
the respective long-term transport goals for the Danube basin can be met. 

Improvement of infrastructure and economic performance of waterway navigation 

(cid:190)  Action - “To complete the implementation of TEN-T Priority Project 18 on time and in an 
environmentally  sustainable  way”.  Work  is  ongoing  to  identify  environmentally  sustainable 
solutions for improved navigability in order to eliminate existing navigation bottlenecks. This 
should also take into account likely impacts of climate change, the preservation of functioning 
ecosystems and planning guidelines contained in the “Joint Statement on the Development of 
Inland  Navigation  and  Environmental  Protection  in  the  Danube  River  Basin”8  and  in  the 
"Manual  on  Good  Practices  in  Sustainable  waterway  Planning"9.  TEN-T  projects  have  been 
identified in Germany, Austria, Slovakia, Hungary, Bulgaria and Romania. The objective is to 
remove  existing  navigability  bottlenecks  on  the  river  which  shall  accommodate  type  VI  b 
vessels all year round by 201510. 

(cid:190)  Action - “To invest in waterway infrastructure of Danube and its tributaries and develop the 
interconnections”.  In  order  to  enable  economic  hinterland  connections,  there  is  a  need  to 
improve  the  existing  waterway  network  in  the  Danube  River  Basin.  This  should  include 
consideration  of  infrastructure  for  missing  links,  as  well  as  how  best  to  develop  the  onward 
links to the Black Sea and beyond.  

(cid:214)  Example  of  project  -  “To  remove  shipwrecks,  bridges  debris  and  unexploded  weapons 
from  the  riverbed  of  the  Danube”.  On  some  stretches  of  the  lower  Danube  these  create 
disruptions and have had long term repercussions on Danube navigation. Although good 
progress  has  been  made,  they  are  still  hindering  traffic  and  endangering  safety  of 
navigation on certain stretches especially in low water periods.  

8   The  “Joint  Statement  on  the  Development  of  Inland  Navigation  and  Environmental  Protection  in  the  Danube 
River Basin” was developed by the International Commission for the Protection of the Danube River, the Danube 
Commission and the International Sava River Basin Commission. These guidelines call for an integrated planning 
team including the main stakeholders, to assess the needs for navigation and the aquatic environment on a case-
by-case  basis,  and  to  include  as  much  as  possible  win-win  measures  for  both  improving  navigation  and  the 
ecological status. 

9   The manual was developed in the framework of the PLATINA initiative and aims at presenting good practises in 
sustainable  waterway  planning.  The  document  provides guidelines for  planning waterway  development  projects 
that  are  compatible  with  environmental  protection  requirements,  creating  a  win-win  harmony.  It  offers  general 
advice for waterway infrastructure projects and addresses both technical planners and other interested stakeholders 
who want to be involved in a waterway development planning process. 

10   The  international  classification  of  European  Inland  Waterways  (UNECE/TRANS/120/Rev.4,  p.  28/29)  in  the 
European Agreement on Main Inland Waterways of International Importance (AGN) classifies the parameters for 
motor vessels and pushed convoys. In the present text, category VIb uniquely refers to pushed convoys and inland 
waterways vessels with a draught of up to 2.5m. 

11

 
 
 
 
                                                 
(cid:214)  Example of project - “To build the Danube – Bucharest Canal”. The main goals pursued 
by the complex development of the Danube - Bucharest Canal system are: connecting the 
capital city of Romania with the Danube river through a waterway, defending 11 localities 
and  30,000  hectares  of  farming  land  against  floods;  producing  power,  establishing  the 
necessary  conditions  for  leisure  and  tourism,  providing  favourable  ecological  influences 
and  other  similar  elements;  supplying  the  necessary  water  for  irrigation,  providing 
drinking water for the neighbouring localities and for aqua-farming. (Lead: Romania). 

(cid:190)  Action - “To modernise the Danube fleet in order to improve environmental and economic 
performance”.  Environmental  and  economic  performance  of  Danube  navigation  can  be 
improved  by  means  of  innovation,  dedicated  fleet  modernisation  and  optimised  waste 
management measures. For this purpose, a common approach for the modernisation of inland 
vessels  should  be  established.  Technological  developments  in  terms  of  innovative  vessels, 
engines  and  optimised  fuel  consumption  (e.g.:  retrofitting  with  particle  filter,  using  low 
emission  fuel,  using  onshore  power  while  docking)  and  logistics  operations  can  make  inland 
navigation more attractive giving it extra advantages. 

(cid:214)  Example of project - “To build on the WAste management for inland Navigation on the 
DAnube (WANDA) project”. WANDA aims at establishing a sustainable, environmentally 
sound  and  transnationally  coordinated  approach  in  ship  waste  management  along  the 
Danube  by  (1)  elaborating  national  ship  waste  management  concepts,  (2)  implementing 
pilot actions and (3) developing a financing model for the operating system based on the 
polluter-pays principle (Lead: Via Donau; Deadline: March 2012). 

Improvement  of  the  organisational  framework  and  human  resources  for  inland  waterway 
navigation  

(cid:190)  Action - “To coordinate national transport policies in the field of navigation in the Danube 
basin”. The European action programme NAIADES (Navigation and Inland Waterway Action 
and Development in Europe) defines a comprehensive set of measures in order to exploit the 
full potential of inland navigation. In order to create coherent links in the Danube region, the 
national  administrations  are  called  upon  to  pursue  an  active  integration  of  inland  waterway 
transport into their national transport strategies and policies, in a coordinated way. 

(cid:214)  Example  of  project  -  “To  build  on  the  Platform  for  the  implementation  of  NAIADES 
(PLATINA)”.  identifies  the  necessary  policy  actions,  brings  together  the  required 
stakeholders (working groups, expert meetings) and develops the necessary knowledge and 
tools. Key experts and stakeholders elaborate technical proposals for policy actions in the 
five NAIADES action areas. (Lead: Via Donau; Deadline: May 2012) 

(cid:190)  Action  -  “To  support  Danube  Commission  in  finalising  the  process  of  reviewing  the 
Belgrade Convention”. The revision of the Convention has been almost completed, however 
has not yet been signed and ratified. The completion of the process would strengthen the role 
of the Danube Commission and will also allow the accession of the European Commission as 
Member. 

(cid:190)  Action - “To develop ports in the Danube river basin into multimodal logistics centres”. In 
order  to  increase  the  opportunities  to  bundle  cargo  flows  for  inland  waterway  transport  and 
reduce negative transport externalities elsewhere. A coordinated and harmonised development 
concept  for  multimodal  ports  should  be  elaborated  by  Danube  river  basin  countries  and 
relevant  stakeholders.  As  a  basis  for  this  activity,  national  port  development  plans  shall  be 
elaborated  or  reviewed  with  a  view  to  their  integration  into  local  and  regional  development 

12

 
 
 
 
strategies. 

(cid:190)  Action  -  “To  improve  comprehensive  waterway  management  of  the  Danube  and  its 
tributaries”.  National  waterway  management  bodies  are  responsible  for  the  continuous 
maintenance  of  the  waterway  infrastructure  (e.g.  surveying  and  dredging  activities),  as  well 
often for implementation of flood protection and ecological measures (e.g. required by the EU 
Water Framework Directive). These bodies shall continue further to intensify their cooperation, 
in particular by creating common standards for waterway management11in the Danube basin. 

(cid:214)  Example  of  project  -  “To  build  on  the  network  of  Danube  Waterway  Administrations 
(NEWADA) project”. The aim of this project is to facilitate the coordination of activities 
and  future  plans  and  the  exchange  of  experiences  among  organisations  which  are 
responsible for waterway administration along the Danube. Building on this, a second step 
will consist in the identification of model activities and implementation of pilot projects to 
increase  the  effectiveness  of  waterway  management  (Lead:  Via  Donau;  Deadline: March 
2012). 

(cid:190)  Action  -  “To  promote  sustainable  freight  transport  in  the  Danube  Region”.  An  intermodal 
interface should be established between Danube inland waterways freight transport and railway 
freight  transport  to  strengthen  existing  economic  ties  and  foster  cohesion  in  the  region.  The 
project  would  help  increase  the  multimodal  freight  transport  and  lead  to  more  evenly  and 
efficiently spread traffic across the existing infrastructure.  

(cid:214)  Example  of  project  -  “To  develop  container  transport  on  the  Danube”.  The  goal  of  this 
transnational  project  is  a  strong  cooperation  between  ports  and  partners  of  the  private 
sector (e.g. logistics) in order to exploit the potential of container navigation. Upgrade of 
the required infrastructure in order to develop the most important partner ports as well as 
the establishment of a network within those ports is needed. Main activities within this field 
could  comprise  the  preparation  of  feasibility  studies,  the  connection  of  ports,  the 
development and implementation of projects. The project should also help to increase the 
use of multimodal transport (Lead: City of Vienna/Vienna Port; Deadline: to be defined by 
the PA Coordinator). 

(cid:214)  Example  of  project  -  “To  create  an  approach  and  a  web  platform  to  provide  complete 
real-time information concerning Danube navigation and connections with all modes of 
transport”.  

(cid:190)  Action  -  “To  implement  harmonised  River  Information  Services  (RIS)”.  RIS  contribute 
substantially  to  increasing  the  safety,  efficiency  and  environmental-friendliness  of  inland 
navigation. Shipping operators, ports and logistics service providers can optimise their logistics 
operations, thus reducing overall transport costs. The full potential of RIS can however only be 
realised if they are implemented along the entire Danube and its main navigable tributaries and 
canals. 

(cid:214)  Example  of  project  -  “To  build  on  the  IRIS  Europe  projects  -  support  the  co-ordinated 
implementation of River Information Services (RIS) in Europe”. The project IRIS Europe 
II  aims  at  the  further  enhancement  and  fine-tuning  of  RIS  key  technologies,  services  and 
applications such as international data exchange. Emerging topics are the implementation 
of agreed European service levels.  

11   This is also in line with the “Danube River Basin Management Plan 2009” which has defined a “Joint Programme 

of Measures” to be implemented by the Danube region countries. 

13

 
 
 
 
                                                 
(cid:190)  Action  -  “To  invest  in  education  and  jobs  in  the  Danube  navigation  sector”.  Danube 
navigation is currently experiencing a shortage of nautical personnel, which is also caused by 
limited  training  and  education  opportunities  in  the  Danube  countries.  Existing  education 
institutions use different curricula. In order to facilitate labour availability and mobility at the 
European  level,  common  education  and  training  profiles  should  be  pursued.  Within  this 
framework, the Danube countries should attract and educate young people for the profession of 
Danube  crewman.  Companies  involved  in  inland  waterways  transport  (ports,  shipping 
companies,  customers,  etc.)  and  educational and  research  bodies  should  establish  educational 
platforms and networks to increase competitiveness and competence of all actors. 

(cid:214)  Example  of  project  -  “To  establish  cooperation  networks  for  logistics  and  nautical 
education focusing on Inland Waterway Transport in the Danube corridor supported by 
innovative solutions (NELI)”. The main aim of the project is the improvement of education 
and training in the field of inland waterway transport in the Danube region. In cooperation 
with existing networks like EDINNA (nautical education in Europe) the NELI partners aim 
to  facilitating  the  exchange  and  future  cooperation  regarding  educational  and  training 
matters. Concrete results are eLearning services for inland navigation, the conception and 
implementation  of  Information  and  Training  Centres  and  the  promotion  of  specific 
activities  among  youngsters.  (Lead:  Romanian  Maritime  Training  Center;  Deadline: 
March 2012). 

Rail, road and air transport 

While  inland  waterway  transport  has  considerable  unused  potential  in  the  Danube  Region,  other 
modes of transport also need attention. Modern, well connected road infrastructure is essential, but 
this  needs  to  be  complemented  by  rail  transport  to  avoid  congestion  and  ensure  an  efficient  and 
environmentally  sustainable  transport  system,  while  air  transport  is  also  crucial  to  ensuring  the 
Region can fully play its part in a globalised world. The actions and projects proposed also take 
into account mobility needs overall. 

Improvement of access to and connectivity  

(cid:190)  Action  -  “To  bring  to  completion  the  TEN-T  (rail  and  road)  Priority  Projects  crossing  the 
Danube  Region,  overcoming  the  difficulties  and  the  bottlenecks  including  environmental, 
economic  and  political,  particularly  in  the  cross-border  sections12”.  Project  implementation 
should  focus  on  completing  existing  projects,  eliminating  bottlenecks.  It  should  identify  the 
sustainable  financing  means,  and  improve  the  coordination,  especially  between  the  different 
rail companies in order to develop and modernise the rail systems. Most of the priority projects 

12   By way of examples: 

-   Priority  Project  22  (rail):  from  Nurnberg  /  Dresden  to  Constanta  and  Athens  via  Prague,  Vienna,  Budapest 
and  Arad  through  the  whole  region.  The  Western  part,  from  the  Alps  to  the  Danube  valley,  including  the 
Vienna – Bratislava area, through rail Priority Project 17, connects Paris to Vienna and Bratislava; 

-   Priority  Project  7  (road):  This  project  runs  partly  in  parallel  to  the  Danube  in  the  Eastern  part  through  the 
motorway PP-7 which connects Budapest to Constanta on the Black Sea and the Greek cities of Thessaloniki, 
Athens and Igoumenitsa; 

-   Priority Project 23 (rail): This project goes from Gdansk to Vienna via Warsaw, Brno and Bratislava; 
-   Priority Project 25 (road):  This project connects the Baltic Sea to the Danube via Gdańsk–Brno/Bratislava-

Vienna; 

-   Priority  Project  6  (rail):  This  projects  goes  from  Lyon  to  the  Ukrainian  border  connecting  the  Iberian 

peninsula with the eastern part of Europe and beyond via Trieste-Divača/Koper-Divača-Ljubljana-Budapest. 

The above mentioned Priority projects should be complemented by the connections to the non-EU Member States 
in order to complete the transport network in the Danube river Basin. In so doing, parts of the Corridors will be 
incorporated into the TEN-T Priority Projects Network for a homogenous development of the transport system 

14

 
 
 
 
                                                 
 
 
 
are  already  under  implementation  and  the  main  focus  must  now  be  timely  completion.  To 
achieve this, it could include “To set-up a Joint Platform to coordinate the work on transport 
issues in the Danube Region with a view to accelerate the implementation of projects”. That 
would be done in close cooperation with the European TEN-T coordinators. 

(cid:214)  Example of project - “To construct two new bridges over the Danube”. The two bridges 
would  be  built  on  the  stretch  of  the  Danube  between  Romania  and  Bulgaria.  One  of  the 
bridges  would  link  Bechet  (RO)  with  Oriahovo  (BG)  while  the  other  one  would  connect 
Calarasi (RO) with Silistra (BG).  

(cid:190)  Action  -  “To  implement  the  Rail  Freight  Corridors  forming  part  of  the  European  rail 
network for competitive freight13”. Of the nine initial corridors four14 have direct connection 
with the Danube Region. The implementation should focus on ensuring sufficient capacity for 
rail  freight  services  of  high  quality  and  reliability  and  to  improve  and  harmonise  rail 
infrastructure  standards  relevant  for  freight  traffic,  especially  axle-loads,  train-lengths  and 
loading  gauges,  along  the  entire  corridors.  Special  attention  should  also  be  given  to  the 
development  of  modern  intermodal  terminals  connecting  the  Danube  River  with  the  rail 
network,  laying  the  ground  for  efficient  cooperation  of  two  transport  modes  with  low 
environmental impact. 

(cid:190)  Action - “To enhance cooperation between air traffic stakeholders in order to prepare a plan 
to  implement  shorter  plane  routes”.  Better  coordination  between  the  ‘Functional  Airspace 
Blocks’  (mainly  FAB  CE  and  FAB  Danube)  in  the  Danube  Region  can  ensure  a  needed 
transition from domestic air traffic management arrangements to a more integrated European 
dimension, with 2012 as a deadline for implementation. 

(cid:214)  Example  of  project  -  “To  implement  SESAR,  the  technological  part  of  the  Single 
European  Sky,  in  the  Danube  Region”.  Intelligent  traffic  systems  in  the  air  transport 
sector  contribute  to  reduce  airports'  environmental  footprint  and  to  minimise  nuisances 
like  noise  and  air  pollution.  Technological  tools  can  contribute  to  a  more  efficient 
management  of  flights  both  on  the  ground  (airport  management  systems)  and  in  the  air 
(Functional Airspace Blocks)  

(cid:190)  Action  -  “To  ensure  sustainable  metropolitan  transport  systems  and  mobility”.  This 
contributes  to  the  competitiveness  and  attractiveness  of  metropolitan  regions  in  the  Danube 
area  while  at  the  same  time  will  make  a  strong  contribution  to  climate  protection  and  to 
improve health in urban/ city-region areas. ICT will help to reduce information costs and make 
sustainable modes of transport easily accessible for all. It includes the further development of 
е-mobility by developing markets and infrastructure in densely populated areas in cooperation 
with enterprises. Public and private transport companies of metropolitan areas will be able to 
cooperate in public procurement for environmentally friendly vehicles and the development of 
standardised  high-quality  transport  and  mobility  internet  information  platforms  for  citizens. 

13   Regulation (EU) No 913/2010 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 22 September 2010 concerning a 

European rail network for competitive freight. 

14   The four Rail Freight Corridors with direct connection to the Danube region are: 

-   The Orient Corridor connecting Prague via Vienna and Bratislava with Bucharest and Constanta on the Black 

Sea and with Sofia, Thessaloniki and Athens; 

-   The Balt-Med Corridor connecting Gdynia at the Baltic Sea coast via Southern Poland, Slovakia and Czech 

Republic with Vienna and Bratislava and continuing to Slovenia, Northern Italy and the Adriatic coast; 

-   The Central North-South Corridor connecting Sweden via Hamburg, Southern Germany and Innsbruck with 

Italy and ending in Palermo; 

-   The  Mediterranean  Corridor  connects  Spain  and  Southern  France  along  the  Mediterranean  coast  with 

Northern Italy, Slovenia, Budapest in Hungary and reaches the border to Ukraine at Zahony. 

15

 
 
 
 
                                                 
 
 
 
 
The action should enable the capitalization of a wide range EU-projects already dealing with 
urban mobility and help to implement the EU Action Plan for Urban Mobility (2009). 

(cid:214)  Example of project - “To create river-bus and other connections between urban centres 
along  the  Danube  (Danube  Express  Project)”.  The  project  aims  to  create  river-bus 
connections  between  the  big  metropolis  along the  Danube  and  their  satellites.  The  river-
bus  should  be  a  solution  especially  for  the  longitudinal  travel  needs  and  for  the  areas 
where there are no bridges across the Danube. That would improve the mobility of people 
and  could  also  be  used  for  tourism  purposes.  The  project  should  help  increase  the 
intermodal  passengers  transport  leading  to  an  optimal  and  sustainable  utilization  of 
resources  

(cid:190)  Action - “To improve the regional/ local cross-border infrastructure and the access to rural 
areas”. The regional and local cross border transport links should be reinforced by cross border 
transport  infrastructure  (small  bridges,  crossing  points,  public  transport  connection).  Another 
relevant reality is that, in the Danube Region, the percentage of the population living in rural 
areas is much higher then in the rest of Europe which makes the need for access to these areas 
of primary importance.  

(cid:214)  Example  of  project  -  “To  extend  public  transport  lines”.  This  is  a  programme  to 
encourage the public transport companies of the Danube valley countries (bus and rail) to 
extend their existing lines, charging a local fare, to connect settlements on both sides of the 
border.  

Multimodal links  

(cid:190)  Action  -  “To  develop  further  nodal  planning  for  multimodality”.  The  overlap  of  different 
freight  and  person  transport  leads  in  many  nodes  to  congestion  and  loss  of  productivity. 
Terminal infrastructure is also missing or little developed to combine the different modes. In 
this context air transport can play a key role in allowing access to remote regions. Beginning 
with  corridor  VII,  the  Danube  axis,  unbundling  of  types  of  transport  by  elimination  of 
bottlenecks on feeder routes can lead to capacity increases in several cases. This would at the 
same  time  improve  the  conditions  for  location  development  on  the  spot  and  for  shifting 
transport volumes to more energy efficient and environmentally friendly transport modes like 
rail and water. Networks between relevant stakeholders should be set up in order to improve 
the quality of the transport system and logistic chains between the nodes and within the nodes 
– with a focus on sustainable transport modes such as railways and waterways. 

(cid:214)  Example of project - “To implement the South North Axis (SoNorA) project”: The aim of 
this project is to develop accessibility between the Adriatic and Baltic seas by making the 
network real through support for the completion of transport infrastructure, by activating 
and  improving  multimodal  freight  logistics  services,  by  developing  transnational  action 
plans  for  future  realisations  and  by  supporting  new  regional  development  opportunities 
arising from transport network improvements.  

(cid:190)  Action  -  “To  develop  further  Intelligent  Traffic  Systems  by  using  environmental-friendly 
technologies, especially in urban regions”. The quality of transport nodes highly depends on 
the capability of its transport system. Existing problems such as congestion or bottlenecks also 
can be solved by introducing an efficient transport management system to optimize the existing 
capacity.  For  example  the  implementation  of  intermodal  route  planner  in  real  time  could  be 
spread  to  larger  parts  of  the  Danube  Region  in  particular  its  important  nodes  like  capital 

16

 
 
 
 
regions and major port regions. 

(cid:214)  Example of project - “To implement the European Digital Traffic Infrastructure Network 
for  Intelligent  Transport  Systems  (EDITS)”.  Better  information  about  the  transport 
system  allows  a  more  efficient  management  of  the  existing  transport  infrastructure, 
reducing congestion and environmental damage. This is the overall objective of the project 
EDITS  (e.g.:  traffic  management,  traffic  planning  and  modelling,  traffic  information), 
using  transnationally  harmonised  traffic  geodata.  Vienna  Region"  can  serve  as  a  good 
practice  example.  Also  supporting  transport  planners  to  manage  the  existing  transport 
infrastructure  in  a  more  efficient  way.  Local/  regional/  national  administrations  will  be 
provided  with  technical  guidance.  (Lead:  Public  Transport  Association  of  the  Vienna 
Region) 

17

 
 
 
 
2)  TO ENCOURAGE MORE SUSTAINABLE ENERGY 

Presentation of the issue 

The energy systems are made up of energy networks and energy markets. The two are interrelated 
as  networks  are  essential  for  the  effective  operation  of  the  markets.  The  opening  of  the  EU 
electricity markets, pursued by the third internal market package, contributes to both competition 
and  security  of  supply  and  will  be  facilitated  by  the  creation  of  the  ‘European  Network  of 
Transmission  System  Operators15’  and  the  ‘Agency  for  Cooperation  of  Energy  Regulators16’.  In 
particular in the gas sector, the interconnections between national markets have to be improved and 
countries in the region need to gain access to new external sources. Reinforcing gas transmission 
infrastructure will be key for preventing potential supply disruption in the future. Well functioning 
networks, interconnections and interoperability are needed for energy security, diversification and 
effective energy operation. 

In addition, all the countries of the Danube Region have policies to support the use of renewable 
energies.  Many  have  large  natural  potential  to  develop  renewables  (especially  solar  and  wind). 
They also have potential for improvement regarding energy efficiency in residential buildings, and 
district heating.  

The Directive on renewable energy (2009/28/EC) sets ambitious targets for all Member States in 
order to ensure that the EU will reach a 20% share of energy from renewable sources by 2020 and 
a  10%  share  of  renewable  energy  specifically  in  the  transport  sector.  The  Directive  should  be 
implemented by Member States by December 2010. The EU supports these policy goals through a 
significant contribution towards investment in renewable energy17. 

Danube Region specifics 

15   Two ‘European Network of Transmission System Operators’ (ENTSO) have been foreseen by the third internal 
market  package  and  subsequently  created:  (1)  ENTSO-e  for  electricity  transmission  grid  and  ENTSO-g  for  gas 
transmission network. 

16  The  European  Union  has  recently  set  up  the  ‘Agency  for  the  Cooperation  of  Energy  Regulators’  (based  in 
Ljubljana, Slovenia) which will be operational in March 2011. The agency will coordinate the work of national 
regulatory authorities, take - under certain conditions - binding individual decisions on cross-border infrastructure, 
and monitor and report developments at the European energy markets 

17  Structural  and  Cohesion  Funds  and  the  European  Agricultural  Fund  for  Rural  Development  (EAFRD)  are  the 
European  Commission's  most  relevant  support  budget  (an  amount  of  9  billion  EUR  is  allocated  to  energy 
efficiency and renewable energy projects under the Structural and Cohesion Funds during 2007-2013). Additional 
funding possibilities for energy efficiency and renewable energy investments in existing building stock have been 
opened by  the  amendment  of  the European  Regional  Development  Fund  (ERDF)  regulation  in  May  2009.  This 
could make additional EUR 5 to 8 billion available for sustainable energy investments in buildings. Based on the 
amendment of the ERDF regulation, expenditure on energy efficiency improvements and on the use of renewable 
energy  sources  in  existing  housing  sector  for  all  Member  States  shall  be  eligible  up  to  4%  of  the  total  ERDF 
allocation.  As  all  Member  States  are  obliged  to  comply  with  EU  directives  applicable  to  the  housing  sector,  in 
particular  the  Energy  Performance  of  Buildings  Directive  (EPBD)  and  related  requirements  on  the  use  of 
renewable  energy  in  buildings  included  in  the  Renewable  energy  directive,  such  a  reallocation  would  serve  a 
double purpose by also creating low carbon economy related jobs in the Region. 

18

 
 
 
 
 
 
                                                 
Energy  prices  are  high  in  the  Region18.  Much  energy  is  imported,  its  transport  is  costly,  the 
markets  are  fragmented.  Energy  infrastructures  are  not  well  interconnected.  In  addition,  the 
Danube Region is specifically vulnerable regarding security of supply, as demonstrated in January 
2009  when  gas  supplies  were  cut.  Energy  production  and  use  is  also  a  significant  source  of 
pollution. 

Investment  in  infrastructure  is  a  key  priority.  Cooperation  is  necessary  in  relation  to  planning, 
funding and implementation19. There are several EU policies supporting energy, in particular the 
Trans  European  Energy  Networks  programme  (TEN-E),  the  European  Energy  Programme  for 
Recovery20,  the  third  energy  package,  Renewable  energy  directive,  the  ‘Green  for  Growth  Fund 
Southeast  Europe21’  and  the  Europe  2020  Strategy.  In  addition,  the  Structural  and  European 
Agricultural  Fund  for  Rural  Development  provide  good  funding  opportunities  for  projects,  in 
particular  for  decentralised  production  of  energy  from  local  renewable  sources,  and  for  research 
networks.  Energy  efficiency  improvements  and  increased  use  of  renewable  energy  are  important 
for the whole area. The Danube Region has a high potential for improvement in energy efficiency, 
e.g. in residential buildings and district heating, as well as in combined heat and power facilities. 
There  is  also  scope  for  a  wider  exploitation  of  geothermal  resources  for  heating  and  cooling 
purposes  as  well  as  for  energy  production.  Some  countries  have  built  up  distinctive  know-how 
regarding  efficiency  and  renewables,  which  could  now  be  usefully  promoted  and  spread  in  the 
Region, as there is often a lack of expertise. 

Regarding market organisation, cooperation helps to ensure security of supply, to balance supply 
and demand more effectively, and to realise economies of scale on investments. Regarding energy 
efficiency  and  renewable  energy,  there  is  potential  to  increase  security  of  supply  by  reducing 
energy needs and increasing the share of energy produced (including small scale energy production 
at  local  level).  Regarding  nuclear  energy,  there  must  be  respect  for  the  high  levels  of  safety 
established, especially where the river is an important source of cooling water. 

Actions 

Energy systems 

Energy infrastructure 

Regarding energy infrastructure, the aim is to coordinate the long-term energy policies as well as 
the national investment strategies (power plants, grids, pipelines, interconnectors, etc.), taking into 
account where appropriate the Strategic Environmental Impact Assessments”. The Strategy should 
contribute to the 10-year network development plan as proposed in the internal energy package. 

18   There is high diversity of the level of prices among separate markets in the Region. Moreover, especially in the 

eastern part of the Region, energy prices corrected with the Purchasing power index are high. 

19   Reinforcement of the TEN-E network (especially in the context of the upcoming revision) and implementation of 

the Energy Recovery Plan using the Structural Funds in a coordinated manner is essential. 

20   The European Energy Programme for Recovery (EEPR) adopted in 2009 provides EUR 1.440 m for gas projects 
of  which  EUR  510  m  is  for  projects  within  the  Danube  Region.  The  largest  single  project  -  the  Nabucco  gas-
pipeline  which  is  supported  with  EUR  200  m,  contributes  to  the  construction  of  the  southern  gas  corridor.  The 
Nabucco project has a potential to bring new gas which originates from the Caspian region and the Middle-East to 
the Danube Region countries and other European gas markets. Several further gas interconnectors are supported in 
central and south east Europe with an amount of EUR 310 m. 

21   The ‘Green for Growth Fund Southeast Europe’, created in 2009 at the initiative of the European Investment Bank 
(EIB), focuses on measures for energy savings and energy efficiency in the Balkans and offers financing through 
the banking sector as well as direct lending accompanied by technical assistance. Until 2014, the Fund intends to 
invest around EUR 400 m. 

19

 
 
 
 
                                                 
(cid:190)  Action  -  “To  develop  a  joint  position  of  the  region  regarding  the  changes  which  could  be 
introduced  in  the  framework  of  the  TEN-E  Policy  review  and  the  modalities  of  the  new 
Energy  Security  and  Infrastructure  Instrument,  especially  regarding 
the  energy 
infrastructure  gaps”.  It  will  be  in  the  interest  of  the  region  to  ensure  that  the  instrument 
supports  projects  and  concepts  of  key  importance  to  the  region  such  as  a  north-south  gas 
interconnection,  investments  in  gas  networks,  investments  in  supply  routes  benefiting  the 
region, etc..  

(cid:190)  Action  -  “To  ensure  that  actions  are  coherent  with  the  general  approach  of  the  Energy 
Community22  and  explore  synergies  between  the  Energy  Community  and  the  Danube 
Strategy processes”. The Energy Community aims at extending the EU internal energy market 
to South East Europe (Parties: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, the former Yugoslav 
Republic  of  Macedonia,  Moldova,  Montenegro,  Serbia,  and  Kosovo23;  Participants:  Austria, 
Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, The Netherland, 
Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, and United-Kingdom as well as the European Union). 

(cid:190)  Action - “To enforce regional cooperation with a view to develop and implement the North-
South  gas  interconnection  projects”.  The  strategic  concept  of  the  North-South  natural  gas 
interconnection is to link the Baltic Sea area (Poland) to Adriatic and Aegean Seas and further 
to  the  Black  Sea,  covering  the  following  EU  Member  States  (Bulgaria,  Hungary,  Poland, 
Romania, Slovakia, Austria and the Czech Republic). This would provide the overall flexibility 
for the entire Central East European (CEE) region to create a robust, well-functioning internal 
market  and  promote  competition.  The  concept  would  make  the  best  use  of  existing  and  new 
import  infrastructures,  such  as  new  LNG  regasification  plants  and  projects  of  the  Southern 
Corridor. 

(cid:190)  Action - “To develop gas storage capacities”. A secure energy supply for Europe cannot rely 
on  the  construction  of  pipelines  only.  Additional  flexibility  through  storage  capacity  is 
therefore necessary as well. Support should be given to the realisation of storage projects24 to 
ensure that all countries of Central and Eastern Europe have adequate access to such facilities. 
The regional approach to planning the storage facilities should in particular apply to ensure that 
the new infrastructure is developed in the most efficient manner. 

22   The aim of the Energy Community is to (a) create a stable regulatory and market framework capable of  attracting 
investment  in  power  generation  and  networks  in  order  to  ensure  stable  and  continuous  energy  supply  that  is 
essential for economic development and social stability; (b) create an integrated energy market allowing for cross-
border  energy  trade  and  integration  with  the  EU  market;  (c)  enhance  the  security  of  supply;  (d)  improving  the 
environmental situation in relation with energy supply in the region; and (e) enhance competition at regional level 
and exploit economies of scale. 

23   Under UNSCR 1244 
24   The  new  storage  projects  should  not  be  limited  to  those  included  in  the  European  Energy  Programme  for 
Recovery. For example, in 2010, the EU via the Neighbourhood Investment Facility has granted €2.5 million to 
finance one project in this field in Ukraine. The project “Preparatory studies for the modernisation of Ukraine's 
gas transit corridors and underground gas storage facilities” comprises two preparatory studies for investments in 
the  gas  sector  in  Ukraine  including  an  environmental  and  social  impact  assessment.  It  will  improve  energy 
security  for  European  countries  while  contributing  to  increased  regional  integration  in  the  field  of  energy, 
including cross-border linkage with the EU. After the result of the studies, the project will be lead by the European 
Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and co-financed by the European Investment Bank (EIB) with 
an estimated total cost of EUR 2 billion. 

20

 
 
 
 
                                                 
(cid:214)  Example of project - “To implement the already agreed infrastructure projects on time, in 
particular the TEN-E and the European Energy Programme for Recovery projects in the 
Region, especially the important interconnectors and pipelines25”. 

Energy markets 

Regarding  energy  markets,  the  aim  is  to  establish  an  integrated  and  well  functioning  market  for 
energy”.  This  should  include  better  coordination  of  national  energy  strategies,  measures  to 
promote  diversity  of  supplies  and  measures  to  improve  the  functioning  of  the  energy  market,  a 
adequate legal framework, financial schemes based on public-private partnerships etc.. 

(cid:190)  Action  -  “To  tap  possible  cooperation  opportunities  with  the  Energy  Community”,  which 
aims  in  particular  at  creating  an  integrated  energy  market  allowing  for  cross-border  energy 
trade and integration with the EU market. 

(cid:190)  Action - “To cooperate to implement the Regional network integration and the New Europe 
Transmission System (NETS) in line with the feasibility study”. The harmonised operation of 
national transmission grids could alter the dynamics of south-eastern and central European gas 
markets  by  the  time  new  gas  sources  (e.g.  through  the  Southern  Corridor)  become  available. 
The  initiative  to  create  a  single  network  involves  Bulgaria,  Hungary,  Romania,  Serbia, 
Slovakia, Slovenia, Croatia and Bosnia-Herzegovina. The feasibility of the concept, including 
the commercial, regulatory and management issues possibly associated with NETS, is currently 
being studied.  

(cid:190)  Action  -  “To  build  a  working  relationship  with  the  Central  Eastern  European  Forum  for 
Electricity  Market  Integration;  this  could  be  enlarged  to  neighbouring  countries”.  The 
integration  of  electricity  markets  and  market  platforms,  as  well  as  handling  the  generation 
capacity  in  the  region,  require  specific  harmonisation  of  legislation  and  market  rules,  which 
can be best coordinated at regional level. The following ‘Central Eastern European Forum for 
Electricity Market Integration’ (Austria, Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, Poland, Slovakia 
and Slovenia) – “Heptalateral Forum” should be further developed.  

(cid:214)  Example of project - “To work together towards the implementation of the Coordinated 
Auction Office”. The Coordinated Auction Office (CAO) project implements the principles 
of  Regulation  n°1228/2003  on  the  harmonisation  of congestion  management  and 
optimisation of cross-border capacity allocation. The Coordinated Auction Office in South 
East Europe is estimated to be operational in 2011. This office will manage auctions and 
load  flows  for  the  entire  region  of  South  East  of  Europe. In  terms  of  operations,  the 
principle of a one stop shop will apply.  

Energy efficiency and renewable energy 

25   By way of examples: 

- 

Interconnectors:  Gas  interconnections  between  Bulgaria,  Romania  and  Serbia;  Electricity  interconnection 
projects  between  Romania-Bulgaria,  Romania-Moldova,  Hungary-Croatia,  Hungary-Romania  and  Austria-
Hungary (Wien-Györ); Electricity transmission system connecting Slovenia and Hungary - a transmission of 
2  x  400kv  between  Cirkovce  and  Pince  -;  Romania  -  Serbia  High  voltage  Interconnection  project;  Adria 
Liquefied  Natural  Gas  terminal  on  the  island  of  Krk  (Croatia);  Study  on  the  feasibility  of  the  Liquefied  / 
Compressed Natural Gas terminals in Romania and Bulgaria; “Power Transmission Network Reinforcement” 
between Ukraine and the EU (co-financed by the Neighbourhood Investment Facility). 

-   Pipelines:  Nabucco  gas  pipeline;  Constanta-Trieste  (PEOP)  pipeline  including  option  for  a  parallel  gas 
pipeline;  Bratislava-Schwechat  pipeline;  gas  pipeline  connecting  Slovenia  and  Austria;  Modernisation  the 
Druzhba oil pipeline (as well as its interconnections); Energy Community Gas Ring. 

21

 
 
 
 
                                                 
 
 
(cid:190)  Action  -  “To  extend  the  use  of  biomass  (e.g.  wood,  waste),  solar  energy,  geothermal, 
hydropower  and  wind  power”,  especially  by  research  and  exchange  of  experiences  /  good 
practices / dissemination of information on related activities undertaken at national level. This 
would  imply  networking  and  cooperation  between  national  authorities  in  order  to  promote 
awareness on renewable energy. 

(cid:214)  Example  of  project  -  “To  foster  the  sustainable  usage  of  biomass  building  on  the 
‘4Biomass’ project”. The Danube region has a high potential for biomass. As opposed to 
other  renewable  energy  sources  biomass  is  limited,  which  involves  a  danger  of 
unsustainable  production.  In  addition,  competition  of  use  between  food  and  non-food 
applications  arises.  The  ‘4Biomass’  project  will  address  the  implementation  of  national 
Biomass Action Plans and bioenergy policies by bringing together expert knowledge on the 
use  of  renewable  energy  sources  and  energy  efficiency.  Thus,  this  project  will  contribute 
substantially  to  the  goal  of  20%  share  of  renewable  energy  sources  to  energy  supply  in 
Europe. (Lead: Germany, Deadline: September 2011) 

(cid:190)  Action - “To reinforce the Carpathian Convention to share best practices on using biomass 
for  energy  purposes”.  The  Carpathian  Convention  includes  a  provision  that  Parties  shall 
pursue  policies  aiming  at  introducing  environmentally  sound  methods  for  the  production, 
distribution  and  use  of  energy,  which  minimises  adverse  effects  on  biodiversity  and 
landscapes, including wider use of renewable energy sources and energy-saving measures, as 
appropriate.  

(cid:214)  Example  of  project  -  “To  create  a  network  to  exchange  experiences  (and  to  test  pilot 
projects  or  replicate  existing  good  practices)  in  the  fields  of  refurbishments  and 
modernisation  of  small  hydropower  plants26”.  Practical  experience  has  clearly 
demonstrated  that  refurbishment  and  modernisation  of  facilities  in  place  may  increase 
hydropower  production  while  at  the  same  time  meeting  modern  environmental  standards 
by  being  equipped  with  appropriate  fish  passes  and  residual  water.  (Lead:  ICPDR  and 
Austria,  Federal  Ministry  of  Agriculture  and  Forestry,  Environment  and  Water 
Management; Deadline: December 2013) 

(cid:214)  Example  of  project  -  “To  set-up  a  cooperation  mechanism  between  the  regions  of  the 
Alpine Convention and the regions of the Carpathian Convention for the transfer of best 
practices, best available technologies, environmental and social know-how”.  

(cid:190)  Action  -  “To  implement  the  National  Renewable  Energy  Action  Plans  and  to  prepare  a 
Danube  Region  Renewable  Energy  Action  Plan”.  These  should  be  prepared  in  light  of  a 
Strategic Environmental Impact Assessment where appropriate27. 

(cid:190)  Action - “To explore the possibility to have an increased energy production originating from 
local renewable energy sources to increase the energy autonomy”. Energy autonomy not only 
diminishes  dependency  on  energy  import  but  creates  also  new  jobs  by  requiring  new  energy 

26  “Statement  of  the  Water  Directors  -  Hydropower  Development under  the  Water  Framework  Directive”: 
http://circa.europa.eu/Public/irc/env/wfd/library?l=/framework_directive/thematic_documents/hydromorphology/
development_directivepdf/_EN_1.0_&a=d 

27   Whether  or  not  a  National  Renewable  Energy  Action  Plan  (NREAP)  requires  a  Strategical  Environmental 
Assessment (SEA) depends on the specific content of the plan. It follows from the RES Directive that the aim of 
the NREAP is to pave the way as how the Member States are planning to achieve their national mandatory targets. 
In cases where the NREAP does not "set the framework for future development consent of projects" within the 
meaning  of  Art.  3  (2)  a)  of  Directive  2001/42/EC,  a  SEA  is  not  required.  However,  when  implementing  the 
NREAP,  through,  as  appropriate,  more  specific  plans  setting  the  framework  for  future  development  consent  of 
projects, SEAs will have to be carried out. 

22

 
 
 
 
                                                 
production  systems  and  increases  the  value  of  regional  assets  in  a  sustainable  way  as  each 
region creates long-term energy sources without depending on others.  

(cid:190)  Action  -  “To  develop  a  comprehensive  action  plan  for  the  sustainable  development  of  the 
hydropower  generation  potential  of  the  Danube  River  and  its  tributaries  (e.g.  Sava,  Tisza 
and  Mura  Rivers)28”.  The  plan  would  pave  the  way  for  the  coordinated  and  sustainable 
development of new power stations in the future and retrofitting the existing ones in the way 
that would minimise the environmental impact and the impact on the transportation function of 
the  rivers  (navigation).  The  options  for  using  hydropower  to  respond  to  fluctuations  in  the 
electricity demand should be explored – using dams to maintain high water level in preparation 
for the demand peak.  

(cid:190)  Action - “To develop and set up pre planning mechanism for the allocation of suitable areas 
for new hydro power projects29”. This pre planning mechanism and its criteria would pave the 
way for new hydropower plants by identifying the best sites balancing economic benefits and 
water protection. It should also take into account climate change impacts (e.g. lower or higher 
water levels). This should be based on a dialogue between the different competent authorities, 
stakeholders and NGOs. In the suitable areas, the permits process could be streamlined. 

(cid:190)  Action  -  “To  promote  energy  efficiency  and  use  of  renewable  energy  in  buildings  and  
heating  systems  including  by  renovating  district  heating  and  combined  heat  and  power 
facilities  as  required  by  Energy  Performance  of  the  Buildings  Directive  and  Renewable 
Energy  Directive”.  This  could  be  done  through  networks  of  best  practices  (e.g.  sharing 
experience in successful use of the ERDF funds to support sustainable energy investments in 
housing)  and  cooperation  with  International  Financial  Institutions  on  facilitating  the 
sustainable  energy  investments  in  housing.  In  that  context,  innovative  financing  instruments 
such as European Fund for Southeast Europe (EFSE)30 as well as the recently launched Green 
for Growth Fund South East Europe (GGF) should be promoted and used widely. 

(cid:214)  Example of project - “To design and implement a research and development programme 
(including SMEs) for innovative, sustainable insulation material and other measures to 
improve energy performance in buildings”. This should be done making cooperative best 
use  of  existing  know-how  in  the  region.  Eco-innovation  could  stimulate  economic 
development  with  positive  impacts  on  local  employment,  a  wide  range  of  industries  and 
services, as well as the environment.  

(cid:214)  Example  of  project  -  “To  explore  the  scope  for  sustainable  hydropower  development  in 
the part of the Sava basin shared by Slovenia and Croatia”. The project will contribute to 
the  achievement  of  the  renewable  energy  objectives  of  the  EU  Energy  and  Climate 
Package, while respecting the water and nature legislation and taking into account other 
ancillary objectives. (Lead: Slovenia and Croatia) 

(cid:190)  Action  -  “To  encourage  the  Energy  Community  members/  observers  in  adopting  and 
implementing the Renewable Energy Directive”. Negotiations are  underway to include RES 

28   The plan would build on the achievements of the International Commission for the Protection of the Danube River 

(ICPDR) and its Danube River Basin Management Plan (in line with the Water Framework Directive). 

29   This  pre  planning  mechanism  would  be  fully  in  line  with  the  2010  Statement  of  Water  Directors  and  the  2010 

Danube Declaration adopted at the ministerial meeting in Vienna: http://www.icpdr.org/icpdr-files/15216  

30   Including  its  windows  for  the  Neighbourhood  region  covering  Ukraine  and  the  Republic  of  Moldova:  the 
European Neighbourhood Fund (ENBF) co-financed by the EU with a contribution of EUR 10 million provided 
by the Neighbourhood Investment Facility. 

23

 
 
 
 
                                                 
directive  in  the  ‘acquis  communautaire’  to  be  implemented  by  Energy  Community  members 
within the framework of the Energy Community. 

(cid:190)  Action - “To facilitate networking and cooperation between national authorities in order to 
promote awareness and increase the use of renewable energies (biomass, solar, hydropower 
and wind) especially by research and exchange of experiences/ good practices/ dissemination 
of information on related activities undertaken at national level.  

(cid:214)  Example  of  project  -  “To  build  on  the  ‘Sustainable  Energy  Development  Regional 
Initiative’  (SEDRI)  project  to  promote  energy  efficiency”.  The  SEDRI  project  is  a  joint 
project  of  the  Central  Europe  Initiative  (CEI)  and  the  Regional  Cooperation  Council 
(RCC). It aims to improve the legislative, institutional and regulatory frameworks for the 
development of the sustainable regional energy sector; to construct small-scale sustainable 
energy facilities in South-East and Eastern European countries; to foster a framework for 
regional cooperation in the field of sustainable energy development, including awareness 
raising,  education,  research  and  scientific  cooperation.  (Lead:  Central  Europe  Initiative 
(CEI) and the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC)) 

(cid:190)  Action  -  “To  provide  local  authorities,  businesses  and  citizens  in  the  Danube  Region 
consultative  support  with  issues  relating  to  mitigation  of  climate  change  and  energy 
efficiency”.  This  could  be  done  by  setting  up  central  competence  and  advisory  centres 
(contributing to climate protection concepts, energy management, know-how transfer, training 
and public relations work). 

(cid:214)  Example  of  project  -  “To  set-up  a  cooperation  mechanism  of  cities  and  villages  in  the 
region  with  the  view  to  commit  to  greenhouse  gas  emissions  reduction,  exchange  best 
practices and test pilot projects on energy efficiency and renewable energy”. Cities and 
villages have specific energy needs due to the high energy requirement per square meter. 
The  aim  is  to  reduce  the  air  pollution  at  local  level  and  ultimately  at  the  global  level. 
Improvements could be e.g. district heating system based on waste incineration plants and 
high efficient cogeneration plants, development of district cooling technology as well as the 
implementation  of  innovative  geothermal  projects.  In  this  regard  consideration  could  be 
given to a wider participation in the existing Covenant of Mayors Initiative31, in the further 
development of the network of Climate Alliance32 and in the development of a network of 
cities working on renewable technologies. Developing the provision and innovative use of 
renewable  energy  sources  in  rural  areas  should  be  considered  as  well.  (Lead:  City  of 
Vienna (to be confirmed)) 

(cid:214)  Example of project - “To build on the ‘Renewable Energy Cooperation of Rural Areas’ 
(RECORA)  project”.  This  initiative  of seven  partners  from  five  countries  (Austria, 
Germany,  the  Republic  Czech,  Hungary  and  Greece)  has  been  supported  by  the  EU 
programme  INTERREG  IIIC33.  The  main  focus  lies  on  the  economic  utilisation  of 
renewable  energy  resources  and  on  the  preparation  of  projects.  New  jobs  have  been 
created, alternative use of existing agricultural products have been processed, analyses of 

31   The  Covenant  of  Mayors  gives  a  lead  to  Europe’s  pioneering  cities  to  mitigate  climate  change  through  the 
implementation of intelligent local sustainable energy policies that create stable local jobs and increase citizens’ 
quality of life. Such collaboration could also contribute to defining the “new Urban Policy for Europe”. 

32   The objective of the ‘Climate Alliance’ (1500 cities and municipalities from 7 Danube countries) is first of all the 
reduction  of  greenhouse  emissions.  For  achieving  this  goal  local  climate  strategies  are  developed  and 
implemented, especially in the energy and transport sectors. 

33   INTERREG IIIC is an EU-funded programme that helps countries and regions from different countries to form 
partnerships and to work together on common projects (cross-border, transnational and interregional projects). 

24

 
 
 
 
                                                 
waste components (wood, grass, bio waste etc.) with regard to their usability in the energy 
production process have been developed and exchanged.  

25

 
 
 
 
3)  TO PROMOTE CULTURE AND TOURISM, PEOPLE TO PEOPLE CONTACTS 

Presentation of the issue 

The  Danube  region  is  characterised  by  a  broad  heritage  of  dense  and  diverse  histories,  cultures, 
ethnicities, religions, markets, societies and states.  

In  line  with  international  conventions  in  the  field  of  culture  (with  special  reference  to  the 
UNESCO Conventions) culture can promote values of inclusiveness, openness, and acceptance of 
the other based on mutual respect. In the region, the adoption of the Ljubljana Declaration is a key 
milestone  in  preserving  cultural  heritage.  It  acknowledges  the  value  of  the  social  and  economic 
potential of heritage and its key role in the area, and the countries’ commitment to preserving its 
cultural  heritage.  It  can  facilitate  reconciliation  between  communities.  It  can  reinforce  socio-
economic development by strengthening of regional cooperation and intercultural dialogue while 
ensuring sustainability and joint action. 

Related  at  least  in  part  to  culture  and  heritage,  tourism  is  making  an  increasingly  significant 
contribution  to  growth  in  the  region.  Sustainability  should  overall  be  an  important  criterion  in 
developing  tourism  in  the  region.  Project-oriented  cooperation  should  act  as  a  catalyst  for 
exchange  and  close  collaboration  between  neighbours  in  the  region,  especially  on  cultural  and 
heritage matters. 

The  areas  of  developing  tourism,  tourism  infrastructure  and  improving  tourism  services,  cultural 
heritage and intercultural dialogue are typically inter-related topics. They benefit particularly from 
the integrated approach the strategy brings. 

Danube Region specifics 

As  the  most  international  river  basin  in  the  world,  the  Danube  features  numerous  touristic  and 
heritage highlights. These include world class cities along the Danube River as well as attractive 
landscapes  (e.g.  the  Delta  as  a  UNESCO  World  Heritage  Site).  They  range  from  the  developed 
tourism  destination  of  the  Austrian  Wachau  to  emerging  destinations  such  as  the  Iron  Gate,  the 
Carpathians  and  the  Delta.  Measures  should  secure  the  long-term  competitiveness  and 
sustainability  of  the  tourism  sector-  reinforced  through  cooperation-  as  well  as  regional  benefit 
from new developments and investment.  

In terms of history and culture, people throughout the Danube region have a shared heritage. As 
appropriate, the strategy should use these ties as levers to promote further cultural and civil society 
cooperation. The regional and local level has an important role to play in this context.  

The  implementation  of  this  priority  can  also  facilitate  the  tourism  development  potential  in  the 
whole Danube region through the development of joint touristic products and promotional policy.  

Actions 

Cultural heritage  

(cid:190)  Action - “To build on cultural diversity as strength of the Danube Region”. This can be done 

26

 
 
 
 
 
by: 
(cid:127)  Protecting the Danube region’s cultural values: cooperation in the protection of values and 
heritage,  joint  scientific  research,  exchange  of  experiences,  courses,  conferences,  events, 
traineeships; preservation of military memorial sites; 

(cid:127)  Increasing  human  contacts,  promoting  inter-cultural  dialogue,  inter-religious  dialogues, 

language exchanges etc.  

(cid:127)  Improving conditions for youth exchanges; 
(cid:127)  Organising joint (cultural) events, festivals, scholarship programmes; 
(cid:127)  Establishing a network of ‘creative forces’ which includes actors in the artistic field. This 

network can build on the experience of the various festivals in the Danube Region; 

(cid:127)  Promoting  cultural  exchange  and  exchange  in  the  arts.  Cultural  activities  (e.g.  films, 
documentaries, entertainment games/shows referring to the Danube Region) can contribute 
significantly to awareness-raising for the Danube Region; 

(cid:127)  Supporting contemporary art in the region; 
(cid:127)  Supporting  modern  entertainment  enterprise,  including  contemporary  TV,  movie,  music 

and interactive games; 

(cid:127)  Establishing a data-base gathering data on cultural assets and cultural activities. 

(cid:214)  Example  of  project  -  “To  strengthen  the  Danube  regional  potential  through  cultural 
cooperation”:  organising  joint  cultural  events,  programmes,  festivals,  reviving  cultural 
history  traditions,  bringing  cultural  history  events  to  heritage  sites;  international 
cooperation;  conferences,  exchange  programmes,  joint  camps,  thematic  cooperation  at 
original historical sites of the Danube.34  

(cid:214)  Example of project - “To ensure the restoration and maintenance of the sites of historical 
and cultural importance, conservation and protection of both tangible and non-tangible 
cultural heritage and providing the access to common cultural heritage”.  

(cid:214)  Example  of  project  -  “To  conclude  the  IRPP/  SAAH  project  in  the  context  of  the 
Ljubljana  Process”,  jointly  implemented  by  the  Council  of  Europe  and  the  European 
Commission.  This  project  underlines  an  integrated  approach  to  cultural  heritage 
management. It represents an incentive to build bridges among various ethnic communities 
throughout the whole region, contributing to promotion of reconciliation, cultural diversity 
and intercultural dialogue.  

(cid:214)  Example of project - “To develop the Balkan Incentive Fund for Culture”. This sets up an 
information  platform  that  would  contain  data  on  multicultural  culture  programmes  and 
initiatives in the region, and enables exchange of experiences and good practices.  

(cid:190)  Action  -  “To  enhance  cooperation  and  contacts  between  people  of  different  origins,  to 
encourage  creativity,  and  provide  a  driving  force  for  cultural  innovation  and  economic 
development,  based  on  heritage,  traditions  and  tourism”.  This  can  benefit  from  a  good 
balance of tradition and modernisation. A diverse intercultural approach also helps to enhance 
the  attractiveness  of  a  region  for  the  local  population  and  tourists.  This  can  include: 
cooperation for promotion and publicity; international exhibitions and events; exchange in the 
fields of literature, music and art; cooperation in research and innovation on heritage, cultural 
and touristic themes; and cooperation in field of the preservation of historical monuments. 

34   E.g.    Cooperation  within  the  International  Association  of  Music  Schools  and  the  DANUBIANA  visual  arts 

project. The latter aims to introduce particularly talented young artists from the region every second year. 

27

 
 
 
 
                                                 
(cid:214)  Example of project - “To strengthen centres for tolerance and reconciliation35”.  

(cid:214)  Example  of  project  -  “To  further  support  actions  for  specific  demographic  groups,  e.g.  
Danube-Networkers”. This facilitates joint activities of older adults from the neighbouring 
states  along  the  river  Danube  and  seeks  to  develop  links  to  other  groups  working  on 
similar themes.  

Tourism 

(cid:190)  Action - “To develop the Danube region as a European brand” – the strategy for the Danube 
region  should  utilise  positive  perceptions  of  the  region.  The  regional  and  local  events 
celebrating  Danube  Day  on  29 June  are  demonstrations  of  this  potential.  For  many  of  these 
events an overall framework as well as a focus for mobilising resources in the tourism sector is 
needed. 

the  competitiveness  and  sustainability  of  Danube 

(cid:214)  Example  of  project  -  “To  develop  a  Quality  label  for  Danube  Tourism”  -  In  order  to 
tourism  (destinations, 
support 
accommodations, tour operators, services like cruises, excursions, etc.) define criteria for 
high  quality  tourism.  For  destinations  the  new  Sustainable  Tourism  Criteria  of  DG 
Enterprise  and  Industry  could  be  used.  Accommodations  could  use  the  EU  eco-label 
(‘flower’). Special communication instruments, e.g. a web-based booking platform, image 
campaigns, etc. should especially highlight quality tourism products.  

(cid:190)  Action  -  “To  establish  the  Danube  Region  as  important  European  tourist  destination”  by 
developing an environmentally-friendly tourism strategy for the whole of the region (including 
cities  and  communities,  cultural  heritage,  nature  and  economy)36.  In  particular,  it  could  be 
interesting to develop a Danube Region label (building on the "brand" being developed more 
generally) which could open up the international tourist markets (e.g. in the USA, Asia). This 
could  also  include  managing  tourist  destinations  jointly  through  joint  marketing,  joint  events 
and  internationally  recognised  quality  certification  (especially  in  ecological  terms).  It  can 
promote international tourist projects such as cycle and hiking trails from the Black Forest to 
the Black Sea. Using modern means of communication such as the Internet can help to make 
the  Danube  better  known  as  a  tourist  destination  and  to  develop  it  for  a  new  clientele  of 
tourists.  The  Carpathians  should  also  be  promoted  as  a  destination  with  tourist  infrastructure 
and services to be further developed. 

(cid:214)  Example  of  project  -  “To  create  transnational  tourist  packages  e.g.  for  combined  rail-

cycle-boat trips along the Danube”.  

(cid:214)  Example  of  project  -  “To 

improve  sustainable  mobility 

traffic  and 
interconnectivity of train, bus and shipping in the Danube countries” (Project “Danube 
Traffic”)  through  the  achievement  of  a  political  consensus  for  the  adaption  of  timetables 
and an adequate fare policy taking into account the needs of bikers (transport of bikes) and 
hiking  tourists.  The  aim  is  a  traffic  and  client-friendly  Danube  Region,  allowing  for  a 
strategic touristic positioning of the Danube Region featuring soft mobility.  

through 

35   E.g. the Vukovar Centre for Peace and Tolerance as an institution to foster peace and tolerance in a multi- ethnic 

Europe. It seeks to develop peace processes and transition from open conflicts to consolidation. 

36   An example of best practice is the cooperation of the Working Group Danube Austria (ARGE Donau Österreich 
consisting of tourist organisations of Upper Austria, Lower Austria and Vienna) in the marketing of the Austrian 
Danube Region. 

28

 
 
 
 
                                                 
(cid:214)  Example  of  project  -  “To  monitor  tourism  in  emerging  destinations/  sensitive  areas, 
especially  the  Danube  Delta”  -  Develop  monitoring  methodologies  to  collect  data  about 
tourism statistics, activities, motives etc. and visitor management systems especially in the 
ecological hot-spots such as the Danube Delta.  

(cid:214)  Example  of  project  -  “To  hold  and  organise  an  annual  Danube  Culture  and  Tourism 
Day"  in  different  places  of  the  Danube  basin  aimed  at  promoting  the  Danube  as  an 
attractive tourism destination and discussing various topics with experts”  

(cid:190)  Action - “To promote short-stay weekend tourism and recreation, as well as longer stays”. 

(cid:190)  Action  -  “To  further  develop  the  navigation  and  port  system  for  Danube  river  cruise  ships 
and private yachts” by securing an uninterrupted and secure navigation with certain standards 
for  ports  and  other  navigation-related  infrastructure.  This  action  should  be  cross-linked  with 
actions under the pillar connectivity. It should also include better berthing facilities, better on-
shore welcome and recreational facilities. Environmentally friendly waste management systems 
are  needed.  The  integration  of  the  Danube  and  the  Black  Sea  into  a  "synergised"  cruise  ship 
destination would also establish a link to the EU Black Sea Synergy. 

(cid:190)  Action  -  “To  further  develop  and  intensify  Activity  Tourism”.  Establish  travel  chains  along 
the  Danube  with  attractive  stations  and  tourist  itinerary  offers  for  several  days  (by  train,  car, 
ship, bike and hike).  

(cid:190)  Action  -  “To  further  enhance  interconnection  and  cooperation  in  education  and  scientific 
and  research  activities  for  tourism”  (modernisation  of  the  curricula  of  occupational  and 
university education for professions in tourism; development of cooperation in the exchange of 
lecturers, students, pupils and staff in the programs for the education and training in tourism; 
creating, organising and implementing the programme of lifelong learning for jobs in tourism / 
tourist industry). 

(cid:190)  Action  -  “To  improve  planning  and  infrastructure  for  tourism”.  This  should  include 
accommodation and hospitality facilities, port tourism infrastructure, walkways and paths, info-
centres, cycling routes and their networking in the Danube area including their linkage to the 
network  of  routes  along  the  rivers  Sava  and  Drava.  It  should  also  emphasise  protected  areas 
and locations of natural and cultural heritage as well as theme parks, wine roads, view towers, 
grounds and equipment for sports and recreation. 

(cid:214)  Example  of  project  -  “To  improve  cruise  tourism  on  the  Danube”  (Harmonisation  and 
coordination of  time schedules of buses, trains and ships for tourism; Danube and Black 
Sea – destination for cruise ships.  

(cid:214)  Example  of  project  -  “To  realise  the  Danube  walking  path,  proposed  by  the  Danube 

Tourism Commission”.  

(cid:190)  Action  -  “To  support  the  improvement  of  the  quality  of  tourism  products”  and  the  supply 
chain  by  the  development  of  regional  sustainable  tourism  strategies  and  the  definition  of 
quality criteria, and by the development of eco-labels and certification schemes. This can also 
include development of tourism associations and campaigns. 

(cid:190)  Action - “To promote sustainable tourism” for example by promoting train / bus /cycle / ships 
options  and  combining  this  with  tourism  attractions  which  encourage  visits  to  natural  and 

29

 
 
 
 
cultural sites. 

(cid:214)  Example  of  project  -  “To  support  green  ways  and  cycle  tourism”  -  Cycling  tourism  is  a 
form  of  sustainable  tourism  and  often  a  contribution  to  cross-border  development  of 
European  regions.  This  project  aims  at  using  the  growing  importance  of  cycle  tourism  – 
e.g. along the Danube cycle trail or other long distance cycle trails within the region, such 
as the planned Iron Curtain Trail. There are already a number of successful regional and 
international cycle routes in the region, including e.g. the Prague-Vienna Greenway or the 
Amber Trail from Budapest through Slovakia to Krakow in Poland, as well as national and 
sub-national  routes,  such  as  the  Wine  Trails  of  Southern  Moravia  and  the  Austrian 
Weinviertel.  

(cid:190)  Action - “To promote wellness tourism in the Region”. 

(cid:214)  Example  of  project  -  “To  support  health  and  wellness  facilities,  including  spas, 

improvement and marketing”.  

(cid:190)   Action  -  “To  collect  existing  data  on  cultural  activities  and  establishing  a  comprehensive 

data base giving an overview of cultural activities in the Danube Region”.  

(cid:190)  Action - “To promote cultural exchange and exchange in the arts”. Cultural activities (e.g. 
films,  documentaries,  entertainment  games/shows  referring  to  the  Danube  Region)  can 
contribute significantly to awareness-raising for the Danube Region.  

(cid:214)  Example of project - “To implement the Cultural route Danube”: Protection, restoration 
and  utilisation  of  cultural  heritage  in  many  Danube  countries  partly  lacks  awareness, 
financial  means  and  administrative/legal 
framework.  Reconstruction,  protection, 
development and promotion of physical and non-physical heritage is needed with a view to 
developing tourism. Joint cultural projects need to be supported (reconstruction of palaces 
and castles and the traditional building heritage, ship cruises, reviving old trades, making 
souvenirs, reviving the traditional and creating new manifestations and feasts, activities to 
promote the spirit of togetherness of the population in the Danube area. A modern cultural 
map of the area could be prepared.  

(cid:214)  Example of project - “To implement the Cultural Danube Card”. To build on the existing 

material and expand it where appropriate and necessary (ARGE Donauländer).  

(cid:214)  Example  of  project  -  “To  implement  a  Danube  Media  Network”.  This  concerns  media-
centres, radio and TV stations, professionals, governmental institutions, some NGO-s, etc.  

(cid:214)  Example of project - “To further develop the Danube Theatre Festival”.  

(cid:214)  Example  of  project  -  “To  promote  the  Danube  Limes37  as  an  UNESCO  world  heritage. 
Proposed  by  the  Danube  Commission  (already  existing  project  financed  under  ETC 
Central Europe programme)”.  

37   This programme, realised through the cooperation of the heritage preservation organizations of Hungary and four 
other countries (Germany, Austria, Slovakia and Poland), as well as other partners, has made it its goal to prepare 
a World Heritage nomination for one of the important and certainly remarkable parts of the border of the Roman 
Empire. 

30

 
 
 
 
 
                                                 
B)  PROTECTING THE ENVIRONMENT IN THE DANUBE REGION 

31

 
 
 
 
PROTECTING THE ENVIRONMENT IN THE DANUBE REGION 

The  environment  is  an  under-pinning  element  of  all  human  activities.    As  such  it  is  taken  into 
account in many sectors covered by this Strategy, either voluntarily or, when that is not the case, 
through  legislative  requirements  (e.g.  Environmental  Impact  Assessment  Directive,  Birds  or 
Habitats Directives, etc).  Nevertheless, a specific pillar dedicated to the environment in the Danube 
Strategy is essential for this ecologically rich and often fragile Region, to ensure that progress on 
environmental actions and projects can be closely monitored.  

The  actions  proposed  will  make  a  direct  contribution  to  the  Europe  2020  Strategy.  They  address 
specifically  the  goals  of  tackling  climate  change  challenges,  of  developing  sustainable  use  of 
resources  (which  include  water,  nature  and  land  for  instance)  and  of  securing  quality  of  life. 
Additionally, they will contribute to achieving the EU 2020 target and 2050 vision for biodiversity 
and to implementing the EU post-2010 biodiversity strategy once adopted. 

The pillar focuses on three Priority Areas: (1) To restore and maintain the quality of waters; (2) To 
manage environmental risks and (3) To preserve biodiversity, landscapes and the quality of air and 
soil.  

These  priority  areas  have  to  be  considered  with  other  policy  fields.  The  Strategy  encourages  an 
integrated approach. For example, whilst improving transport infrastructure has a positive impact 
on  the  business  environment,  on  the  attractiveness  of  cities  and  regions  or  on  the  mobility  of 
citizens,  it  can  also  have  negative  impacts  on  landscapes,  biodiversity,  quality  of  air,  soil  and 
water.  In  the  energy  sector,  it  is  desirable  to  increase  the  production  of  energy  from  renewable 
sources, but this cannot be done at the expense of biodiversity. All these matters need to be looked 
at together, with a view to the most sustainable solution.  

Examples of financing covering the Region 

Expenditures budgeted by the Structural Funds38 in 2007-201339 

Environment  

Biodiversity 
Waste water treatment 
Drinking water 
Solid waste 
Risks 
Other 

Other sources of financing 

EUR 19.5 b 
EUR 1.1 b 
EUR 5.7 b 
EUR 3 b 
EUR 2.6 b 
EUR 1.9 b 
EUR 5.2 b 

Other  EU  programmes  contribute  to  this  pillar,  in  particular:  the  7th  Research  Framework 
Programme,  the  LIFE  programme,  the  Instrument  for  Pre-Accession  Assistance  (IPA)  National, 
Cross-border Cooperation and Multi-beneficiary country programmes, several programmes of the 
European Neighbourhood and Partnership Instrument (ENPI) (such as the Regional programmes or 
the  European  Agriculture  Fund  for  Rural 
the  Cross-border  Cooperation  Programmes), 

38   European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) including cross-border cooperation, Cohesion Fund and European 
Social  Fund  for  the  Member  States.  The  Instrument  for  Pre-Accession  Assistance  and  the  European 
Neighbourhood and Partnership Instrument (ENPI) are not included. 

39

   The use of Structural Funds depends on the specific operational programmes, developed and agreed upon at the 
beginning of the 2007-2013 programming period in close collaboration between the European Commission and 
the respective Member States/ Regions. These should offer opportunities for funding for specific actions/ projects, 
depending on the priorities and measurements/ actions identified in the respective operational programmes. 

32

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
                                                 
Development (EAFRD), the European Fisheries Fund (EFF) and the EU Civil Protection Financial 
Instrument. National, regional and local policies are also financing important projects. In addition, 
significant  financing  is  already  provided  to  a  large  number  of  projects  via  lending  and/  or  co-
financing  from  various  International  and  Bilateral  Finance  Institutions  such  as  the  European 
Investment  Bank  (EIB),  the  European  Bank  for  Reconstruction  and  Development  (EBRD),  the 
World Bank, the Council of Europe Development Bank (CEB) or other lenders. 

More  recently,  for  the  countries  of  the  Western  Balkans,  additional  efforts  have  been  made  to 
better coordinate and blend instruments for grants and loans via the Western Balkans Investment 
Framework40 (WBIF).  A similar instrument to the WBIF, the Neighbourhood Investment Facility 
operates for the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine. 

The  candidate  and  potential  candidate  countries  are  also  assisted  in  their  environmental  by  the 
Regional  Environmental  Network  for  Accession  (RENA)  which  assists  them  in  the  exchange  of 
information  and  experience  related  to  preparation  for  the  environmental  aspects  of  accession, 
including the field of strategic investments and planning.  

As an illustration, in the water sector there has been significant investment.  The EIB for instance, 
already provides substantial support to a large number of projects which contribute to the overall 
water quality improvement of the Danube River Basin.  In Austria, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, 
Hungary,  Romania,  Montenegro,  Bosnia  Herzegovina,  Croatia,  Serbia  on-going  projects  in  the 
fields  of  waster  water  treatment,  sanitation  or  drinking  water  are  supported  financially  and 
technically by the EIB.  In cooperation with the European Commission, the EBRD and KfW, the 
EIB  is  also  involved  in  managing  the  Joint  Assistance  to  Support  Projects  in  European  Regions 
(JASPERS) initiative which currently supports the preparation of 36 major water sector projects in 
EU Member States of the Danube River Basin. 

40   The Western Balkan Investment Framework (WBIF) is a blending instrument for grants and loans for candidate 

countries and potential candidates. 

33

 
 
 
 
                                                 
4)  TO RESTORE AND MAINTAIN THE QUALITY OF WATERS 

Presentation of the issue 

The  availability  and  quality  of  freshwater  resources  is  vital.    We  need  drinking  water,  water  for 
irrigation,  industry,  power  generation,  transport  and  tourism.    Ecosystems  need  good  quality  to 
function properly and maintain or restore biodiversity. 

The Danube Region has at its heart the second longest river in Europe and the most international 
river basin in the world.  The Danube River stretches over 2,800 km across Europe and flows into 
the Black Sea, after crossing 10 countries and settling into a vast delta which constitutes the richest 
biodiversity area in Europe. 

The Danube Basin covers an area of over 800,000 km2, stretches over 19 countries, 1441 of which 
are  contracting  parties  to  the  Danube  River  Protection  Convention  (DRPC)  signed  in  Sofia  in 
1994.  Besides the Danube itself, the Basin includes other major European rivers such as the Sava, 
Tisza, Drava and Prut as well as smaller ones such as the Inn, Morava, Váh, Velika Morava and 
Siret.  The drainage area of the Danube is also influenced by two major mountain chains: the Alps 
and the Carpathians.   

Water management is therefore a central issue to the Danube Region, especially since water does 
not  recognise  borders  and  its  management  requires  strong  coordination  and  cooperation  across 
countries  and  across  sectors.  This  is  a  key  practical  aspect,  illustrating  the  territorial  cohesion 
objective now enshrined in the Lisbon Treaty. 

Such coordination is already facilitated through the International Commission for the Protection of 
the  Danube  River  (ICPDR)  which  is  the  Steering  Body  of  the  DRPC,  established  in  1998  and 
supported  by  a  Secretariat  to  implement  the  Convention,  and,  more  recently,  to  implement  the 
transboundary aspects of the EU Water Framework Directive (WFD).  Major tributaries have also 
started  to  work  on  enhanced  cooperation,  with  the  establishment  of  e.g.  the  International  Sava 
River Basin Commission (ISRBC) which aims at establishing sustainable water management and 
navigation  for  the  Sava.  Tisza  river  basin  cooperation  is  coordinated  by  the  Tisza  Group  of  the 
ICPDR. 

In addition, water management across the EU must respond to a number of legislative acts which 
lead to concrete actions and investments in the Member States.  All these are aimed at improving 
the  quality  of  the  waters,  also  of  special  importance  in  the  Danube  Region.    In  particular,  the 
implementation of the WFD, the Urban Waste Water Treatment (UWWT) Directive or the Nitrates 
Directive should in themselves guarantee a substantial water quality improvement. 

Danube Region specifics 

Recent  extensive  analytical  work  carried  out  principally  in  the  framework  of  ICPDR42  has 
provided a reliable and sound picture of water quality and management issues across the Danube 

41   Countries  with  basin  territories  greater  than  2,000  km2  are  formally  considered  as  part  of  the  Danube  Basin 

according to the provisions of the Danube River Protection Convention 

42   See Joint Danube Surveys information : http://www.icpdr.org/icpdr-pages/jds2.htm and Transnational Monitoring 

Network : http://www.icpdr.org/icpdr-pages/tnmn.htm  

34

 
 
 
 
 
                                                 
Basin.    This  is  set  out  in  the  Danube  River  Basin  Management  Plan  (DRMP),  adopted  by  all 
contracting  parties  in  December  200943.  It  is  clear  from  this  Management  Plan  that  significant 
challenges  exist  throughout  the  river  basin.  Impetus  for  further  research  and  identification  of 
remedial and preventive actions is provided by EU legislative acts such as the WFD, the Birds and 
Habitats Directives, the Floods Directive, etc. 

The action underlined will address in particular key issues related to water quality in the Danube 
Basin  and  its  main  sub-basins  (tributaries).    However,  water  issues  need  to  be  addressed  in  an 
integrated  way  which  means  that  equally  critical  are  issues  such  as  floods  and  water  scarcity 
(which are addressed in the chapter dedicated to environmental risks) or solid waste management 
(which is addressed in the chapter dedicated to biodiversity and landscapes). 

Of  particular  importance  for  the  Region  is  the  quality  of  the  water  which  is  discharged  into  the 
Black  Sea.  Although  data  for  other  rivers  flowing  into  the  sea  are  scarce,  it  can  be  reasonably 
assumed that an important part of the pollutants come from the Danube, accounting for a large part 
of the river-borne phosphate loads entering the sea.  Therefore, positive action to reduce Danube 
pollution will have a direct beneficial effect on the Black Sea and its marine environment. From a 
legal point of view, as the Black Sea is a sensitive area under the Urban Waste Water Directive, all 
urban waste water treatment plants for EU agglomerations of more than 10,000 p.e. upstream have 
to ensure more advanced (tertiary) treatment. 

The Danube River Management Plan and its underpinning research, monitoring and analysis have 
identified four main challenges in relation to the quality of water (both surface and groundwater, 
both chemical and ecological status) across the Danube Basin: 

1.  

2.  

3.  

4.  

Organic pollution:  caused by the emission of partially treated or untreated wastewater from 
agglomerations,  industry  and  agriculture.      Organic  pollution  causes  imbalances  in  the 
oxygen levels of surface waters and has a direct negative impact on the aquatic ecosystem 

Nutrient  pollution:  caused  by  the  emission  of  phosphates  and  nitrogen  from  agriculture 
(both land cultivation – mineral fertilisers and animal husbandry – livestock manure) and 
untreated  discharge  of  wastewater  from  the  industry  and  urban  areas.    Nutrient  pollution 
mainly causes eutrophication and therefore provokes accelerated growth of algae and other 
undesirable  plants  which  affect  other  organisms  and  ultimately  decreases  the  quality  of 
water. The Nitrates Directive should be fully implemented in the region. 

Hazardous  substances  pollution:  caused  mainly  by  industrial  effluents,  discharges  from 
mining  operations  and  accidental  pollution.    Hazardous  substances  pollution  can  cause 
severe damage to the ecosystems (aquatic and terrestrial) and directly affect the health of 
the human population.   

Hydromorphological  alterations  to  rivers  and  lakes:    the  interruption  of  river  and  habitat 
continuity, the disconnection of adjacent wetlands/floodplains and hydrological alterations 
have  a  significant  impact  on  water  quality.  River  continuity  is  also  crucial  to  ensure  that 
flagship  endangered  species  like  the  sturgeon  can  maintain  self-sustainable  populations. 
Furthermore,  impact  on  the  ecological  status  of  the  water  and  its  sediment  balance  for 
instance must be considered. 

Actions 

43   See : http://www.icpdr.org/icpdr-pages/danube_rbm_plan_ready.htm  

35

 
 
 
 
                                                 
(cid:190)  Action  -  “To  implement  fully  the  Danube  River  Basin  Management  Plan”  -  in  the  field  of 
water  management,  cooperation  between  Danube  countries  is  already  well  advanced  mainly 
through  the  inter-governmental  work  which  takes  place  under  the  umbrella  of  ICPDR  and 
ISRBC.    This  Action  Plan  fully  supports  all  the  measures  which  have  been  agreed  by  the 
countries in the framework of their endorsement of the Danube River Basin Management Plan 
(DRBMP)  and  its  accompanying  Joint  Programme  of  Measures.    Therefore  the  Danube 
Declaration  adopted  by  the  Ministers  of  Environment  on  16  February  2010  entitled  "Danube 
Basin: Shared waters – Joint responsibilities"44 is an integral part of this EUSDR Action Plan 
and  is  seen  as  the  key  information  source  for  the  identification,  prioritisation  and  financial 
support of agreed measures in the countries of the Danube Region.  

(cid:190)  Action - “To greatly strengthen cooperation at sub-basin level”.  The Danube has a number of 
important,  international  tributaries.    For  those,  it  is  particularly  important  to  develop  specific 
river  basin  management  plans  (Tisza,  Sava  and  Prut  rivers).    Where  institutions  are  already 
established (e.g. the Sava Commission, Tisza Group), cooperation and exchange of information 
should be strengthened. Where this is not sufficiently the case (e.g. Prut), the process should be 
initiated  or  promoted.  This  also  applies  to  necessary  work  in  the  Danube  Delta  where  joint 
management agreements are necessary.  

(cid:214)  Example  of  project  -  “To  complete  and  adopt  Danube  Tributaries'  River  Basin 
Management  Plans”  –  this  project  is  currently  on-going  for  the  rivers  Tisza  and  Sava.  
For the Tisza, Romania, Slovakia, Hungary, Ukraine and Serbia are currently cooperating 
on the basis of the Memorandum of Understanding signed in 2004 and coordinated by the 
Tisza Group established in the framework of the ICPDR. The first draft of the Integrated 
Tisza River Basin Management Plan is under public consultation and should be finalised 
by the end of 2010. As regards the Sava, Bosnia Herzegovina, Croatia, Serbia and Slovenia 
have  signed  a  Framework  Agreement  on  the  Sava  River  Basin  and  established  the 
International Sava River Basin Commission (ISRBC).  A full River Basin Management Plan 
is under preparation, with financial support from the European Commission, and should be 
completed  by  the  end  of  2011  (Lead  :  relevant  river  management  body;  Deadline  :  end 
2011)  

(cid:214)  Example of project - “To complete and adopt a Management Plan for the Danube Delta” 
–  the  delta  is  one  of  the  sub-basins  identified  within  the  wider  Danube  area.    Much  still 
needs  to  be  done  to  develop  joint  data  collection,  joint  research  and  joint  initiatives  in 
terms  of  delta  water  management.    Despite  complex  socio-economic  and  political  issues 
affecting  the  area,  the  three  countries  concerned  (Romania,  Moldova  and  Ukraine)  have 
started cooperating more closely, with the support of the ICPDR.  A full management plan 
should be prepared and agreed, possibly with the support of a project to be funded by the 
ENPI  CBC  Programme  Romania-Ukraine-Moldova.    (Lead:  Romania,  Ukraine  and 
Moldova) 

(cid:190)  Action  -  “To  continue  to  invest  in  and  support  the  information  collection  systems  already 
developed  by  ICPDR”,  activities  such  as  the  Transnational  Monitoring  Network,  the  Danube 
Joint  Surveys  or  the  GIS  (Geographic  Information  System)  databases  provide  essential 
information necessary to identify key problems and take action in order to meet the objectives 
of  the  Water  Framework  Directive.    Such  tools  need  to  comply  to  the  measures,  rights  and 
obligations  of  the  INSPIRE  directive45,  be  further  supported  by  the  countries  involved  and 
developed  to  meet  new  challenges  and  questions  such  as  those  connected  to  climate  change 

44   See: http://www.icpdr.org/icpdr-pages/mm2010.htm  
45   Directive 2007/2/EC - Infrastructure for Spatial Information in the European Community 

36

 
 
 
 
                                                 
scenarios  or  the  migration  of  fish.    There  should  be  improvement  in  the  standardisation  of 
sampling  and  analysing  methods  and  clear  commitments  to  meet  sampling  and  analysing 
targets. 

(cid:214)  Example  of  project  -  “To  carry  out  the  next  Joint  Danube  Survey  by  2013  and  to 
complete  the  development  of  the  existing  Danube  GIS  Database”.  In  the  field  of  water 
management,  collecting  and  analysing  data,  further  harmonization  of  other  national 
monitoring  and  assessment  methods,  is  of  the  utmost  importance.    To  this  effect,  the 
existing  work  already  completed  needs  to  be  further  developed  and  monitoring  of  water 
quality needs to be a permanent feature.  As far as the GIS system is concerned, it will be 
critical  to  make  it  compatible  with  the  WISE  system  developed  by  the  EU  and  to  make 
results available to other key actors. (Lead: ICPDR; Deadline : 2013)  

(cid:214)  Example of project - “To establish and complete the Sava GIS”  - the Sava GIS Strategy 
was adopted by the ISRBC in 2008. The main aim of the Sava GIS Strategy is to establish 
an  effective  and  efficient  (geo)  information  system  and  spatial  data  infrastructure  to 
support a wide range of water management planning activities.  In December 2009, a grant 
was  received  from  the  European  Commission  to  support  the  ISRBC  in  preparing  and 
implementing its river management plan. In this way, collected national data sets will be 
refined and verified and initial activities in the establishment of the Sava GeoPortal core 
functionalities will be performed. (Lead: ISRBC; Deadline : December 2013) 

(cid:190)  Action  -  “To  continue  boosting  major  investments  in  building  and  upgrading  urban 
wastewater  treatment  facilities  across  the  Danube  Basin,  including  measures  to  build 
capacity at the regional and local level for the design of such infrastructure”.  Requirements 
under EU environmental legislation need to be fully met and EU funding possibilities need to 
be used effectively  in order to ensure full primary, secondary and tertiary treatment as foreseen 
in EU legislation.  In addition, the Danube countries which are not members of the EU are also 
being urged to speed up their investments in WWTP, as they pledged to do when adopting the 
DRBMP at the end of 2009. This need is particularly acute in large agglomerations such as the 
city of Belgrade.  A full list of the facilities needed is available from ICPDR46.  

(cid:214)  Example  of  project  -  “To  implement  the  Blue  Danube  cooperation  project  to  exchange 
technologies, experience and personnel in the field of urban waste water treatment”. The 
project initially involves the Danube cities of Ulm and Vidin and looks in particular at new 
technologies aimed at removing waste from pharmaceutical products.  (Lead : University 
of Ulm; Deadline : 2014) 

(cid:190)  Action  -  “To  establish  buffer  strips  along  the  rivers  to  retain  nutrients  and  to  promote 
alternative collection and treatment of waste in small rural settlements”. This is an important 
action  which  should  be  seen  as  complementing  the  effects  of  completing  the  network  of 
WWTP.    Other,  less  costly  and  heavy,  methods  of  reducing  polluting  discharges  into  rivers 
(alternative sanitation) should be explored wherever possible. For examples of projects, please 
consult the "Environmental Risks" priority. 

(cid:190)  Action  -  “To  foster  and  develop  an  active  process  of  dialogue  and  cooperation  between 
authorities responsible for agriculture and environment to ensure that measures are taken to 
address  agricultural  pollution”.  It  is  vital  that  key  stakeholders  from  environment  and 
agriculture  (ministries  but  also  farmers'  associations  and  civil  society)  cooperate  in  order  to 
jointly  re-enforce  concrete  measures  in  reducing  pollution  from  fertilisers  and  manure,  using 
instruments such as Best Agricultural Practices and Green Farming. This work should expand 

46   See: http://www.icpdr.org/participate/sites/icpdr.org.participate/files/DRBMPmaps_all.pdf  

37

 
 
 
 
                                                 
to  comply  with  the  Nitrates  Directive  and  lead  to  the  full  implementation  in  the  region  of  a 
holistic/overarching plan to reduce nutrients discharge. In Member States, it can be supported 
by the 1st and 2nd pillars of the Common Agricultural Policy where such interventions already 
exist.  

(cid:190)  Action  -  “To  legislate  at  the  appropriate  level  to  limit  the  presence  of  phosphates  in 
detergents”.  This key action is seen as a very cost effective pollution control initiative which 
can quickly and effectively reduce the nutrient pollution in the Danube region. 

(cid:190)  Action - “To treat hazardous substances and contaminated sludge with the newest and best 
available  technology  and  to  develop  and  promote  remediation  measures  for  hazardous 
producing or abandoned industrial sites and waste deposits”- Important to invest in research 
and innovation to reduce risks connected with the production of hazardous substances and their 
disposal, which can have disastrous consequences on the quality of ground and surface waters. 

(cid:190)  Action  -  “To  assure  the  proper  control  and  progressive  substitution  of  substances  that  are 
considered  problematic  for  Danube  Region”,  and  which  are  identified  under  REACH47  as 
substances  of  very  high  concern,  through  the  preparation  of Annex  XV  dossiers  for 
identification  of  those substances  and  their  with  a  view  to their  eventual inclusion in  Annex 
XIV of REACH.  

(cid:190)  Action - “To reduce existing water continuity interruption for fish migration in the Danube 
river basin”.  ICPDR has identified 900 spots where water flows are discontinued to the point 
of preventing fish migration.  In the current DRBMP it is agreed that 108 migration aids will be 
built, which is a good start but which needs to be expanded in the coming years. It is also vital 
to implement fully the jointly agreed Sturgeon Action Plan48 and to invest into further research 
on fish migration routes and behaviour.  

(cid:214)  Example  of  project  -  “To  make  the  feasibility  study  for  restoring  continuity  at  the  Iron 
Gates”. The sturgeon and other fish population are decreasing because of the existence of 
big dams that prevent the fish migrating and thus reproducing. One of the biggest obstacles 
is the Iron Gate hydroelectric dam between Romania and Serbia. A feasibility study on the 
possibilities of fish migration through the dam should be carried out.  (Lead: Romania and 
Serbia; Deadline:  end 2012) 

(cid:214)  Example of project - “To carry out an assessment for restoration of the sediment balance 
in  the  Danube”.  Trans-boundary  solutions  need  to  be  found  for  the  problem  of  riverbed 
incision and the lack of sediment. Hydropower dams and dredging activities on the Danube 
cause serious problems in the balance of the sediment of the river system, which drives the 
deepening  of  the  riverbed  on  free  flowing  river  sections.  Co-ordination  within  the 
framework  of  the  Strategy  will  help  ensure  identification  and  implementation  of  best 
solutions. This is also an important project in relation to flood prevention.  

(cid:214)  Example  of  project  -  “To  examine  biodiversity  and  environmental  status  of  sediment, 
water and biota in the Sava River Basin” - The project should focus mainly on integration 
of EU environmental directives in Sava river countries. A system for efficient exchange of 
data  will  be  established  and  know-how  transfer  between  project  partners  and  other 
relevant institutions in the Sava River Basin will be provided. The ecological status of the 
Sava River Basin will be evaluated on the basis of data collected. Outcomes of the project 
will  serve  as  the  basis  for  application  of  the  EU  directives  and  sustainable  water 

47   Regulation 1907/2006 
48   See : http://www.iad.gs/docs/reports/SAP.pdf  

38

 
 
 
 
                                                 
management  activities  which  are  crucial  for  the  Sava  River  Basin  Management  Plan,  as 
well  as  the  management  of  natural  assets  and  protected  areas.  (Lead:  ISRBC,  Deadline:  
2014 ) 

(cid:190)  Action - “To promote measures to limit water abstraction”-   As there is competition for water 
for  various  purposes  (drinking  water,  irrigation,  industry,  energy)  and  in  view  of  possible 
reduced levels of water available in the future, actions should be developed to establish a water 
abstraction management concept with special attention to water demand management, e.g. the 
promotion  of  efficient  irrigation  techniques  in  agriculture,  the  reduction  of  water  usage  in 
industry  and  the  fostering  of  a  water-saving  culture,  as  per  the  European  Commission's 
Communication on Water Scarcity and Droughts in the EU49.  

(cid:190)  Action  -  “To  strengthen  general  awareness  and  facilitate  exchange  of  good  practice  in 
integrated  water  management  issues  in  the  Danube  Basin  among  decision-makers  at  all 
levels and among the population of the Region” - It is very important that the population at 
large, and in particular young people, are aware of the challenges facing the region in terms of 
water  quality  and  management.    Existing  initiatives  such  as  Danube  Day  or  the  Danube  Box 
should be built upon and expanded. 

(cid:190)  Action  -  “To  promote  measures  aimed  at  reducing  knowledge  deficits,  developing  and 
transferring  tools,  methods  and  guidelines  concerning  the  safeguarding  of  drinking  water 
supply”.  Drinking  water  supply  is  a  challenging  issue  in  the  region,  and  there  are  great 
disparities  between  the  existing  infrastructures,  with  some  networks  suffering  from  above-
average leakage rates and below-average quality assurance levels.  This could be improved by 
fostering intense cooperation between drinking water suppliers.  Ways in which to implement 
the cost recovery principle and general water pricing issues should be discussed and experience 
exchanged. 

(cid:190)  Action - “To further strengthen Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM) and Maritime 
Spatial Planning (MSP) practices on the Western shores of the Black Sea”- Human activities 
tend to develop together in coastal and marine areas, coming into conflict with each other and 
with protection needs of habitats and landscapes. ICZM and MSP, as planning instruments to 
allocate  the  spatial  and  temporal  distribution  of  human  activities  in  coastal  and  marine  areas 
should be encouraged and exchange of experience should be put in place, building also on the 
pilot projects developed under the PlanCoast project. Considering that many issues transcend 
national  borders,  ICZM  and  MSP  can  yield  their  full  benefits  only  if  all  coastal  regions 
introduce  such  systems,  use  compatible  and  comparable  systems  and  learn  from  each  other's 
experience.  Such  activities  will  be  carried  out  taking  into  account  the  Marine  Strategy 
Framework  Directive,  the  EU  ICZM  Recommendation  and  the  ICZM  activities  of  the 
Bucharest Convention for the protection of the Black Sea Environment. 

49   COM(2007) 414 final 

39

 
 
 
 
                                                 
5)  TO MANAGE ENVIRONMENTAL RISKS 

Presentation of the issue 

Climate change poses major challenges to all parts of the European Union and will require specific 
responses as outlined in the European Commission's White Paper of April 2009. Extreme weather 
phenomena  are  likely  to  occur  more  frequently  across  Europe  and  therefore  also  in  the  Danube 
Region.    Since  water  plays  a  crucial  role  in  the  region  (as  the  territory  coincides  with  the 
hydrological basin of the second largest river in Europe), we can anticipate that these phenomena 
will lead to increased water level variations which will have direct consequences on the citizens 
and businesses of the region.   

The  frequency  and  severity  of  floods  on  the  one  hand,  but  also  of  drought,  forest  fires,  storms, 
erosion, icing and water scarcity  on the other hand, are likely to present major challenges in the 
coming years.  Excessive heat and lack of water also pose substantial problems, both in everyday 
human terms, but also with impact on agriculture, industrial and leisure activities.   

Additionally,  the  Danube  Basin  Region  is  characterised  by  the  presence  of  a  high  number  of 
industrial  risks  sites  which  present  a  constant  danger  to  the  environment  and  citizens.    Past 
examples of severe pollution have shown that accidents do happen, and that knowledge of the risk 
potential, preparedness as well as rapid response mechanisms are essential to prevent, be prepared 
or reduce damage. 

At European level, the European Civil Protection Mechanism was established in 2001 to support 
the  mobilisation  of  emergency  assistance  in  the  event  of  major  disasters,  by  Council  Decisions 
2001/792/EC  Euratom50  and  2007/779/EC,  Euratom51.  The  Mechanism  can  be  activated  in 
response  to  any  type  of  natural  or  man-made  disaster,  such  as  earthquakes,  floods,  forest  fires, 
technological or radiological accidents,  accidental marine pollution or terrorist attacks. Currently 
31  countries  participate,  being:  the  27  Member  States  plus  Iceland,  Liechtenstein,  Norway  and 
Croatia.  The  Mechanism  is  open  to  candidate  countries  and  also  cooperates  with  other  regional 
organisations and third countries.  

In  the  area  of  civil  protection  the  European  Commission  and  Participating  States  are  taking  an 
integrated  approach  to  disaster  management  including  prevention,  preparedness  and  response.  In 
the area of prevention, the agreed priorities include: the development of knowledge based disaster 
prevention  policies  (spreading  best  practices,  developing  common  guidelines  on  risk  assessment 
and  mapping);  and  linking  the  actors  and  policies  throughout  the  disaster  management  cycle 
(developing lessons learnt, reinforcing early warning tools). 

Danube Region specifics 

At  present,  only  limited  work  has  been  done  to  examine  the  various  possible  climate  change 
scenarios and even less to develop meaningful and effective responses at basin level.  The Danube 
Strategy will provide a timely opportunity to put in place the required elements on which to build a 
Danube Adaptation Strategy in the nearest possible future.  It will be essential that there is a full 

50   See : http://eur-lex.europa.eu/pri/en/oj/dat/2001/l_297/l_29720011115en00070011.pdf  
51   See :  http://ec.europa.eu/environment/civil/prote/legal_texts.htm  

40

 
 
 
 
 
                                                 
cross-cutting, integrated approach to climate change, as it can impact on a large number of sectors 
(drinking water, agriculture, navigation, tourism, etc). 

In  the  meantime,  all  the  countries  of  the  Danube  Region  expressed  their  common  intention  to 
strengthen  cooperation  in  preventing,  preparing  for  and  responding  to  natural  and  man-made 
disasters  such  as  massive  floods  or  industrial  accidents.  These  events  have  a  negative  impact  on 
natural  landscapes  and  biodiversity,  but  also  result  in  loss  of  life  and  damage  to  economic 
activities and social infrastructures.  Flood prevention is of particular importance.   

The EU Floods Directive provides a legal framework for a coordinated approach to assessing and 
managing  flood  risks.    This  means  that  Flood  Protection  Action  Plans  need  to  be  formulated  at 
sub-basin  level,  ultimately  to  lead  to  the  adoption  of  a  single  Danube-wide  Flood  Management 
Plan.    The  Ministerial  Declaration  adopted  by  the  Danube  countries  in  the  framework  of  their 
cooperation on water management states that "flood prevention and protection are not short term 
tasks  but  permanent  tasks  of  the  highest  priority".  The  Declaration  commits  the  signatories  to 
"develop one single international Flood Risk Management Plan or a set of Flood Risk Management 
Plans  based  on  the  ICPDR  Action  Programme  for  Sustainable  Flood  Protection".  This  work  is 
currently  ongoing.    Flood  Action  Plans  are  already  adopted  for  the  17  sub-basins52  and  will  be 
followed by Flood Risk Management Plans which should be finalised for 2015 in accordance with 
the Floods Directive. 

Many  regions  throughout  the  Danube  Region  are  particularly  subject  to  high  flood  risks,  as  was 
illustrated  by  the  disastrous  events  in  2006.  This  flood  disaster  affected  the  upper  (Germany, 
Austria),  middle  (Slovakia,  Hungary,  Serbia,  Croatia)  and  lower  reaches  (Romania,  Bulgaria, 
Moldova) of the Danube, as well as some of its tributaries (Czech Republic). The floods cost ten 
lives, made 30,000 people temporarily homeless and caused damages amounting to € 500 million. 
Alongside extraordinarily high precipitation, the disaster was also due to the loss of flood retention 
areas  such  as  floodplains  and  wetlands.    Further  flooding  has  been  widespread  more  recently, 
particularly  in  Slovakia,  Hungary,  Czech  Republic,  Romania,  Republic  of  Moldova,  Ukraine, 
Slovenia and Croatia in 2010. 

The balance between water demand and availability has reached a critical level in many areas of 
Europe  (water  scarcity).  In  addition,  more  areas  are  adversely  affected  by  changes  in  the 
hydrological  cycle  and  precipitation  patterns  (increasing  aridity  and  frequency  of  droughts). 
Climate  change  will  almost  certainly  exacerbate  these  adverse  impacts  in  the  future,  with  more 
frequent and severe droughts expected across Europe and the neighbouring countries. 

Over the past thirty years, droughts have dramatically increased in number and intensity in the EU. 
It is estimated that the number of areas and people affected by droughts went up by almost 20% 
between 1976 and 2006 and that at least 11% of the European population and 17% of its territory 
have  been  affected  by  water  scarcity  to  date.    The  total  monetary  cost  of  droughts  over  the  past 
thirty  years  has  been  estimated  to  €  100  billion.  However,  the  cost  estimates  are  based  on  self-
reported damages and costs cover only direct costs, excluding ecological and social cost. 

As the industrial accident spills (arsenic, cyanide, alkaline sludge) of 2000 in Baia Mare and Baia 
Borsa  and  of  2010  in  Ajka  show,  severe  pollution  incidents  are  a  concern.  In  particular,  various 
mining  activities  which  take  place  in  the  Carpathians  present  serious  danger.  Leakages  from  old 
industrial  installations  or  contaminated  sites  are  also  occurring.    Working  on  preventing  these 

52   The  17  sub-basins  are  :  Upper  Danube  –  Inn  -  Austrian  Danube  -  Morava,  Vah,  Hron  and  Ipel  –  Pannonian 
Central  Danube  –  Drava  and  Mura  –  Sava  –  Tisza  –  Pannonian  Southern  Danube  –  Banat  –  Velika  Morava  – 
Bulgarian tributaries – South-Central Romanian tributaries – Lower Danube corridor – Prut and Siret – Danube 
Delta Liman 

41

 
 
 
 
                                                 
events  and  on  dealing  with  them  rapidly  and  efficiently,  is  a  necessity  throughout  the  Danube 
Region. An inventory of high-risk and contaminated sites already exists.  This inventory needs to 
be extended and continuously updated and could contribute to the development of a risk mapping 
and  assessment  process  in  the  region  in  conjunction  with  the  enhancement  of  the  early  warning 
monitoring infrastructure identifying and documenting threats. The ICPDR monitors this process53.   

The European Civil Protection Mechanism has been activated several times in emergencies in the 
Danube region, including the recent floods in Hungary (May-June 2010), H1N1 severe respiratory 
infection  in  Bulgaria  and  Ukraine  (2009),  potential  tailings  dam  collapse  in  the  Kalush  region 
(Ukraine,  2010),  gas  shortage  crisis  in  Moldova  (2009),  floods  in  Ukraine  (2008),  floods  in 
Romania and Republic of Moldova (2008, 2010), and the industrial accident at Ajka in Hungary 
(October 2010).  

Actions 

(cid:190)  Action  -  “To  develop  and  adopt  one  single  overarching  floods  management  plan  at  basin 
level  or  a  set  of  flood  risk  management  plans  coordinated  at  the  level  of  the  international 
river  basin”-  This  overarching  plan  or  set  of  plans  should  set  a  basin-wide  common 
understanding  regarding  the  planned  measures  and  joint  solutions  in  order  to  avoid  that 
problems are "exported to the neighbours". The action should promote Green Infrastructure and 
ecosystem  based  approaches  providing  long-term,  sustainable  solutions  often  at  a  lower 
investment  and  maintenance  cost,  ensuring  spatial  and  functional  connectivity  and  providing 
win-win solutions. 

(cid:214)  Example  of  project  -  “To  complete  and  make  full  use  of  the  outputs  of  the  DANUBE 
FLOODRISK  project  currently  underway 
(European  Territorial  Cooperation 
Programme  South-East  Europe)”-  Many  Danube  authorities,  at  national,  regional  and 
local levels, as well as civil society, have highlighted the importance of this existing project 
and have urged the relevant decision-makers to make full use of the future project outputs.  
As a result of cross-country cooperation, a set of unified hazard and flood risk maps will be 
produced  for  the  Danube  floodplains,  which  will  provide  the  basis  for  adequate  risk 
  This  can  only  happen  through  increased 
management  and  planning  activities. 
harmonisation  of  data.    The  methodology  will  be  tested  via  three  pilot  projects  for  the 
implementation of concrete measures at local level, based on the maps produced.  (Lead: 
Ministry of Environment, Romania; Deadline: April 2012). 

(cid:214)  Example  of  project  -  “To  promote  transnational  conservation  of  the  remaining 
floodplains along the entire length of the Danube by completing existing initiatives and 
promoting new ones, including along tributaries” – there are already in various parts of 
the  Danube  Basin  excellent  examples  of  floodplain  conservation  or  restoration,  which 
should be either completed or expanded.  Examples include the section between Neuburg 
and  Ingolstadt  or  the  Blue  Ribbon  of  Biodiversity  promoted  by  Bund  Naturschutz  in 
Bavaria or the Green Corridor in the Lower Danube. (Lead: Bavaria and Bulgaria) 

(cid:190)  Action - “To support wetland and floodplain restoration as an effective mean of enhancing 
flood protection, and more generally to analyse and identify the best response to flood risk 
(including “green infrastructure”)”. Protection against flood requires taking specific measures 
which can vary across the Region according to a series of geographical or hydromorphological 
elements.    Building  reinforced  dykes  and  banks  is  not  always  the  most  sustainable  way  to 
protect an area from potential floods.  Wetlands and floodplains (giving the rivers space) also 
contribute significantly to protecting and preserving biodiversity and eco-systems, they have a 

53   See : http://www.icpdr.org/icpdr-pages/accidental_pollution.htm  

42

 
 
 
 
                                                 
positive impact on water filtering and prevent erosion.  In addition, they offer great potential 
for  green  tourism.    This  approach  should  be  explored  more  systematically  within  the  17 
Danube sub-basins. 

(cid:214)  Example  of  project  -  “To  support  the  Morava-Thaya  Basin  initiatives”-  The  Danube-
Morava-Dyje  wetlands  are  the  only  trilateral  Ramsar  site  worldwide.  An  important 
cooperation  project  is  underway  to  ensure  the  protection  of  the  ‘Donau  March-Thaya-
Auen’  wetland  leading  to  the  lowering  of  flood  risks  in  the  flooding  areas  and  to  the 
improvement of water courses channels in urban areas. It also include the development of 
a platform that would prepare a trilateral management plan and a strategy for promoting 
environmentally benign, soft, quality tourism, including leisure navigation. Some elements 
of  the  project  are  already  supported  by  the  Austria-Slovakia  cross  border  cooperation 
programme (Lead: Austria, Czech Republic and Slovakia)  

(cid:190)  Action - “To extend the coverage of the European Floods Alert System (EFAS) system to the 
whole Danube river basin, to step up preparedness efforts at regional level (including better 
knowledge  of  each  other's  national  systems)  and  to  further  promote  joint  responses  to 
natural  disasters  and  to  flood  events  in  particular,  including  early  warning  systems”  -.    A 
number  of  initiatives  already  exist  in  the  field  of  cross-border  or  transnational  emergency 
prevention and response, in addition to the European Civil Protection Mechanism.  The EFAS 
system  is  an  early  warning  system  for  floods,  and  one  of  the  "basin-wide"  measures  in  the 
current ICPDR's Flood Action Plan.  It will be operational soon. However, there is a need to 
upgrade warning systems and coordinate civil protection from local to transnational/European 
levels across the area.   

(cid:214)  Example  of  project  -  “To  deploy  a  set  of  sensors  and  actuators  all  along  the  river  and 
network  them  through  the  broadband  infrastructure,  allowing  for  events  surveillance 
and risk prevention”. Wireless identifiable devices and the utilization of Internet of Things 
Technologies in green related applications and environmental conservation are one of the 
most  promising  application  scenarios  for  networked  and  broadband-based  modern 
communication  networks  in  the  future,  and  there  will  be  an  increased  usage  of  wireless 
identifiable devices in environmentally friendly programmes worldwide. This can be built 
on  the  experiences  of  the  SENSEI,  WISEBED,  IoT-A,  SmartSantander  projects  and  the 
IERC  –  Internet  of  Things  European  Research  Cluster.  The  Cluster  is  also  connected  to 
similar  approaches  and  projects  to  Asian  countries  like  China  and  Japan,  where  due  to 
huge  national  catastrophes  and  zones  with  a  potential  earthquake  risk  a  strong 
implementation practises exists. At the same time two European Internet of Things support 
actions are also concerned to inform and involve local authorities and business about the 
potential of a set of sensors and actuators network. While small test environments exist and 
results  were  achieved  in  similar  mobile  devices  networks,  support  is  needed  for  a  wide 
range deployment and the development of the corresponding computer systems. (Deadline: 
2013) 

(cid:190)  Action - “To strengthen operational cooperation among the emergency response authorities 
in  the  Danube  countries  and  to  improve  the  interoperability  of  the  available  assets”-    For 
risks  that  are  common  to  an  important  number  of  countries  in  the  region  (i.e.  floods),  it  is 
important to strengthen cross-border cooperation and to ensure that civil protection authorities 
have a good understanding of each other's systems, available assets and potential gaps, working 
procedures, and that teams can also function smoothly in case of major emergencies involving 
bilateral, European, or international response. The development and use of common guidelines/ 
procedures for risk mapping and assessment, early warning message and emergency response 

43

 
 
 
 
should  also  be  considered.  It  is  also  important  to  address  development  of  capacity  for 
surveillance and response to Public Health Emergencies of International concern as well as to 
health  threats  of  cross-border  relevance.  This  issue  is  one  of  the  requirements  under  the 
provisions of the new International Regulations (IHR)54. 

(cid:214)  Example of project - “To develop strategies for resilience of local communities to natural 
disasters  through  the  existing  MONITOR  II  project  currently  underway  (European 
Territorial  Cooperation  Programme  South-East  Europe)”-  Management  of  natural 
hazards constitutes a common challenge in the SEES. Until now, neither hazard mapping 
nor contingency planning has been transnationally coordinated and defined in a sufficient 
manner.  These  gaps  will  be  tackled  in  MONITOR  II  with  the  development  of  a  common 
methodology and a "Continuous Situation Awareness" system, allowing for periodic update 
of  hazard  maps  and  contingency  plans  and  thus  making  them  usable  in  real-time  for 
disaster  situations.  Stakeholders  include  the  public,  politicians,  emergency  services  and 
experts. (Lead: Austrian Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, Environment and Water 
Management; Deadline: May 2012). 

(cid:190)  Action  -  “To  continuously  update  the  existing  database  of  accident  risk  spots  (ARS 
Inventory), contaminated sites and sites used for the storage of dangerous substances” – this 
requires  to  work  with  the  institutions/organisations  concerned  to  reduce  the  risk  to  minimum 
levels and should include harmonisation of safety standards, increased awareness and capacity 
in accident response and joint crisis management. 

(cid:190)  Action  -  “To  develop  rapid  response  procedures  and  plans  in  case  of  industrial  accidental 
river  pollution”-  this  should  include  the  strengthening  of  the  existing  early  warning  system 
Danube AEWS, the availability of intervention-specific equipment such as spill-sorb, floating 
dams, etc, the harmonisation of contingency planning and the promotion of joint exercises.  All 
this should be based on the information already collected by ICPDR55 which should be further 
expanded to establish the effectiveness of existing measures and take action where those prove 
to  be  insufficient.  The  work  on  this  action  shall  be  closely  linked  to  the  work  under  the  EU 
Civil Protection Mechanism (i.e. in terms of mobilisation of rapid intervention equipment and 
assets,  harmonised  contingency  planning  and  response  procedures,  joint  exercises  and 
training)56. 

(cid:214)  Example  of  project  -  “To  implement  a  comprehensive  transboundary  risk  management 
project in the Danube Delta” -  Joint responsibility for protecting people, the environment 
and the climate before, during and after industrial incidents in the Danube Delta is a vital 
concern.  Technology  and  information  transfer  into  Eastern  and  South-Eastern  European 
countries  should  help  to  substantially  reduce  the  risk  of  incidents  and  contribute  to 
transboundary emergency preparedness. The German-lead project with Romania, Moldova 
and Ukraine is geared towards establishing transnational incident management, improving 
industrial risk potential prevention, developing harmonised safety standards for industrial 
plants and minimising impacts in case of an incident through joint crisis management. To 
meet  these  goals,  measures  are  being  taken  to  prepare  the  introduction  of  safety 
technologies in these countries, in particular with a view to the experience gained in this 
field in Germany. (Lead: Germany and Romania; Deadline: 2013). 

54   See: http://www.who.int/ihr/en/ 
55   See : http://www.icpdr.org/icpdr-pages/accidental_pollution.htm  
56   See : "Towards a stronger European disaster response : the role of civil protection and humanitarian assistance" – 

COM(2010) 600, 26.10.2010. 

44

 
 
 
 
                                                 
(cid:214)  Example  of  project  -  “To  strengthen  operational  cooperation  between  the  emergency 
response authorities in the Danube countries and to improve the interoperability of the 
available assets in order to reduce damages, protect citizens and ensure an appropriate 
response  to  emergencies”  –To  achieve  these  goals,  the  project  shall  include  the 
identification  of  risks  of  common  interest  and  characterization  of  their  national 
specificities, inventory/ mapping of assets available at national level and identification of 
potential  gaps,  general  and  specific  training,    development  of  common  interoperable 
working  procedures  (including  for  early  warning  messages  and  response  operations), 
exercises (accompanied by lessons learnt meetings).  

(cid:190)  Action  -  “Anticipate  regional  and  local  impacts  of  climate  change  through  research”. 
Initiatives  in  this  research  field  should  address  specific  concerns  in  the  Danube  Region. 
Research projects on the impacts of climate change on infrastructure, health, food security and 
the environment should be initiated. Furthermore, the international scientific cooperation in this 
field should be supported, while ensuring close coordination with overall action at EU level. A 
preparatory action "Climate of the Carpathian Basin" will be launched before the end of 2010. 
This  action  will  contribute  to  regional  climate  variability  and  change  studies,  and  applied 
climatology. It will also encompass an analysis of the vulnerability of water and ecosystems of 
the  region  to  climate  change  impacts  and  other  man-made  pressures  and  on  identifying 
potential  adaptation  measures,  focusing  on  adaptive  water  management  and  ecosystem-based 
approaches. This work should be used at basin level. 

(cid:214)  Example of project - “To foster transnational cooperation via ICPDR in order to develop 
a  Climate  Change  Adaptation  Strategy  for  the  Danube  Region”,  including  drafting  and 
implementation of Political commitment has been expressed via ICPDR for a full climate 
change adaptation strategy for the Region, to be prepared under the leadership of ICPDR.  
This strategy should be based on a step-by-step approach and encompass an overview of 
relevant  research  and  data  collection,  a  vulnerability  assessment,  and  ensure  that 
measures  related  to  navigation,  agriculture,  energy  are  climate  proof.  (Lead:  ICPDR; 
Deadline: 2012). 

(cid:214)  Example of project - “To draft and implement a Water and Climate Adaptation Plan for 
the Sava River Basin” - According to the last findings on climate change, the Sava River 
Basin is predicted to experience higher temperatures and more severe precipitation events 
and  droughts.  These  changes  will  impact  water  resources  management,  water  supply, 
hydropower,  agriculture,  navigation  and  flood  control.  Climate  impacts  will  have 
significant  consequences  on  investments  in  water  systems  associated  with  water  services 
and managing water. To fill the knowledge gap on the impact of climate change on water 
sector  and  to  inform  decision  making  sector  (e.g.  governments  and  other  national 
authorities)  how  to  increase  the  climate  resilience  of  the  critical  water  management 
infrastructure investments and integrated water resource management, the World Bank has 
initiated  the  project  Water  and  Climate  Adaptation  Plan  for  the  Sava  River  Basin 
(WATCAP). (Lead: ISRBC; Deadline: July 2011). 

(cid:190)  Action  -  “To  develop  spatial  planning  and  construction  activities  in  the  context  of  climate 
change and increased threats of floods”. Flood prevention activities imply the cooperation of 
national, regional and local authorities in terms of land-use and physical planning.  Spatial Data 
Infrastructure  for  the  Danube  Region  needs  to  be  developed  through  increased  cooperation, 
coordination and data exchange, as required under the INSPIRE Directive.  Adequate land-use 
needs  to  be  identified  and  agreed  in  an  integrated  way,  and  priority  actions  such  as  the 
promotion  of  sound  forest  and  pasture  management,  the  minimising  of  plough  lands  on  the 

45

 
 
 
 
slopes of hills or the protection of biodiversity and restoration of ecosystems and natural river 
courses need to be taken across the Danube Basin area.  Urban and housing development need 
to take account of climate change factors.  Cities and towns in the Basin should be encouraged 
to share experience and best practice in this field. 

(cid:214)  Example  of  project  -  “To  evaluate  impacts  of  climate  change  on  the  availability  and 
safety of public drinking water supply through the existing CC-WaterS project currently 
underway  (European  Territorial  Cooperation  Programme  South-East  Europe”  - 
Transnational action is needed to prepare SEE for the challenge of ensuring water supply 
for society for several decades. Policy makers and water suppliers are required to develop 
sustainable  management  practices  for  water  resources,  considering  existing  and  future 
Climate Change influences. In CC-WaterS, SEE governmental bodies, water suppliers and 
research  institutions  work  together  and  implement  jointly  developed  solutions.  The 
complementary knowledge of the partners, enhanced by further applicable results of past 
projects,  will  provide  a  strong  background.  (Lead:  Vienna  City  Waterworks,  Austria; 
Deadline: April 2012). 

(cid:214)  Example  of  project  -  “To  prepare  and  implement  a  Water  Pollution  Contingency 
Management Plan for the Sava River Basin” - The project is aimed at efficient provision 
of  measures  in  the  case  of  accidental  spills  of  substances  which  might  affect  the  use  of 
water  for  different  purposes  (drinking  water,  breeding  waters,  irrigation,  industry, 
navigation  etc.),  as  well  as  the  quality  of  rivers  and  aquatic  eco-system,  especially  the 
areas  of  special  importance.  For  the  purpose  of  efficient  and  effective  management,  the 
modelling and information exchange platform will be developed by which all responsible 
authorities  and  institutions  will  be  alerted  on  the  eventual  spill  of  harmful  substances, 
follow  the  development  of  the  situation  and  co-ordinate  a  concerted  response  to  it. 
Watercourses  as  transport  media  for  accidental  pollution,  with  intensive  transboundary 
dimension,  are  directing  the  project  to  include  all  the  countries  in  the  Sava  River  Basin. 
The  project  is  seeking  financing  from  the  European  Territorial  Cooperation  programme 
"South-East Europe". (Lead: ISRBC; Deadline: 2014). 

46

 
 
 
 
 
6)  TO PRESERVE BIODIVERSITY, LANDSCAPES AND THE QUALITY OF AIR AND SOILS 

Presentation of the issue 

The  Danube  Region  is  one  interrelated  and  interdependent  ecosystem,  incorporating  a  rich  and 
unique  flora  and  fauna57.  It  is  diverse,  including  not  only  the  immediate  river  Danube,  its 
tributaries, lowlands and the remarkable delta, but also the major part of the Carpathian Mountains, 
the Balkans and part of the Alps.  

Nature and ecosystems in the Danube area provide  invaluable  environmental goods  and  services 
(food,  fibre  and  fresh  water,  regulation  of  climate  and  quantity  of  water  in  a  territory,  soil 
protection,  nutrient  recycling,  waste  assimilation).  Moreover,  diverse  landscapes  with  intact 
wetlands and forests  can buffer  the  effects of climate change. They can also absorb some of the 
pollution  and  waste.  This  is  indispensable  for  the  socioeconomic  development  and  human 
wellbeing.  It  is  thus  a  key  task  for  society  to  care  for  environmental  health.  Given  value  and 
potential fragility of the Danube Region, protection and restoration of its natural assets, as well as 
building of green infrastructure, is a high priority. 

The pollution from contaminated sites or waste disposal in this region has major impact on water 
quality.  In  addition,  erosion  from  arable  lands  is  the  main  source  of  the  agricultural  diffuse 
pollution in the Danube river basin. There are several principles to be observed in the preservation 
of biodiversity and landscapes.  

To  be  effective,  the  environmental  measures  should  be  planned  in  connection  with  the  potential 
development e.g. of tourism, construction, energy, transportation and agricultural sectors. Human 
migration,  cultural  differences,  urban  /  rural  development  and  regional  security  should  also  be 
taken into consideration. The improvement of current infrastructure efficiency (energy, household 
consumption, transport) should be examined before new infrastructure is built. Landscape (spatial) 
planning is key to developing good local strategies for rural/urban development.  

Compliance with EU environmental legislation is crucial and will clearly improve the environment 
in the EU countries of the Danube58. The EU acquis, to the extent possible or at least along similar 
principles, should provide the environmental framework  in  the  candidate and  potential candidate 
countries, as well as in other third countries participating in the Strategy. 

Danube Region specifics 

57   The Danube region is home to over 2,000 plant species and over 5,000 animal species. It hosts over half of the 
European populations of bears, wolves and lynx as well as important bird sanctuaries for species like Dalmatian 
pelican. The delta of the Danube River is one of the world’s largest wetlands featuring rare fauna and flora, as 
well  as  thirty  different  types  of  ecosystems.  This  rich  natural  heritage  resulted  in  the  creation  of  2,860  Natura 
2000 sites in the Danube River Basin (including 230 sites along the Danube itself). In addition, among the eight 
Member States participating in the strategy, two of them (Slovenia, Bulgaria) have the highest terrestrial rate of 
Natura 2000 sites coverage in the whole EU.  

58   In particular, the Water Framework Directive, the Waste Water Directive, the Habitats and Birds Directives, the 
Waste Framework Directive and the Environmental Impact Assessment Directive are key factors in preserving the 
ecosystems.  Moreover, the Marine Framework Directive is important for the Danube Delta and the coastal areas 
of the Black Sea. 

47

 
 
 
 
 
                                                 
The natural heritage of the Danube region is of European importance. The region contains a large 
share  of  Europe’s  remaining  great  wilderness  areas,  as  well  as  rich  cultural  landscapes.  The 
Danube  and  its  tributaries  are  vital  to  the  wildlife  ecosystems  and  indeed  provide  ecological 
connections that are essential for overall European environmental health. 

This unique natural asset is under growing pressure. The biodiversity and variety of ecosystems of 
the region are being gradually reduced - species and living spaces, wetlands and floodplain areas 
disappear.  In  addition,  deforestation,  land  and  air  pollution  grow.  Rural  areas  suffer  from 
depopulation and land abandonment. 

 Much of this is due to the rapid industry, urban, transport and agriculture development and sprawl 
during recent years: natural resources are over exploited. The environment infrastructure necessary 
is  not  yet  well  developed.  Land  pollution  is  worsened  by  non-compliant  municipal  landfills  and 
numerous contaminated sites.  The public awareness about the ecological needs in the eastern part 
of the region is not sufficient, as well as the knowledge and use of best available practices. 

Actions 

Many  of  the  actions  to  preserve  the  biodiversity  and  landscapes  of  the  Danube  river  basin  are 
already  included  in  the  Joint  Programme  of  Measures  of  the  Danube  River  Basin  Management 
Plan, prepared by ICPDR (see the chapter on water quality for details). This Strategy fully supports 
the  implementation  of  these  measures,  as  well  as  the  implementation  of  other  Danube  region-
related, European and international legally binding environmental initiatives.59 The actions listed 
below should be perceived as complementary to the already existing ones. 

In addition, when it comes to preserving biodiversity or maintaining and improving the quality of 
soils  and  landscapes,  coordination  should  be  ensured  between  actions  foreseen  at  national  level. 
Full  use  should  be  made  of  the  existing  networking,  coordination  and  cooperation  instruments, 
notably those available under the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development such as the 
National Rural Networks and the European Network for Rural Development. 

Preservation of biodiversity and landscapes” 

(cid:190)  Action - “To contribute to the 2050 EU vision and 2020 EU target for biodiversity”. In 2010, 
EU Heads of State and Government at the Spring European Council adopted a long-term vision 
and  a  headline  target  for  European  biodiversity  beyond  2010.  The  European  Commission  is 
currently  developing  a  strategy  outlining  the  way  to  achieving  the  2020  biodiversity  target. 
Actions under the Danube Strategy will fully contribute to the implementation of the post-2010 
EU biodiversity strategy to halt biodiversity loss and ecosystems services' degradation and to 
restore them in so far as feasible.  

(cid:190)  Action - “To manage Natura 2000 sites and other protected areas effectively”-  Natura 2000 
sites designated under the Birds and Habitats directives, as well as other protected sites should 
in  principle  have  their  own  management  plans  or  some  other  kind  of  contractual  framework. 
But  in  practice,  they  often  work  in  isolation  and  not  efficiently  enough.  The  effective 
management helped by transnational cooperation (networking) is necessary.  The action should 
include  exchange  of  experience  and  capacity  building  for  protected  areas/Natura  2000  sites 
administrations;  community  involvement;  visitor  management  and  tourism  development; 
coordinated management planning, implementation and evaluation. It is also indispensable to 
increase public awareness about Natura 2000 sites and protected areas, with the help of e.g. the 

59   To be mentioned: Ramsar Convention, Alpine Convention, Carpathian Convention or Convention on long-range 

transboundary air pollution. 

48

 
 
 
 
                                                 
National Ecological and Rural Networks or the European Network for Rural Development. The 
action could be implemented e.g. through the existing Danube Network of Protected Areas and 
the Carpathian Networks of Protected Areas. ALPARC60  can serve as successful examples.  

(cid:214)  Example  of  project  -  “To  implement  the  Danube  River  Network  of  Protected  Areas 
(DANUBEPARKS)”.  This  project,  supported  by  the  South  East  Europe  transnational 
cooperation  programme,  aims  at  cooperation,  coordination,  consultation  and 
strengthening  of  the  links  between  and  competences  of  the  national  administrations  of 
protected  areas  of  Danube  countries.  The  links  and  synergies  between  DANUBEPARKS 
project  and  the  Bavarian  projects  such  as  "Green  Danube"  should  be  established  and 
exploited.  (Lead: Auen Park, Austria. Deadline: 2012)  

(cid:214)  Example of project - “To establish fully the Mura-Drava-Danube Biosphere Reserve” – 
Once established, this could be Europe’s largest trans-boundary riverine protected wetland 
area, and a strong candidate for UNESCO-recognized site. Promoters of the project should 
focus on finding support for the reserve among five reverine countries61 (AT, HR, HU, SRB 
and SI) for management of the protected area, capacity building, public awareness raising 
and  promotion  as  well  as  support  for  related  local  development  activities,  including 
promotion of tourism and local products.  

(cid:214)  Example  of  project  -  “To  provide  expertise  related  to  the  Danube  Delta  and  similar 
protected  areas”.  This  initiative  would  be  targeted  at  staff  and  experts  from  the  Danube 
Delta and similar protected areas, in order to develop knowledge, models and simulation 
processes  related  to  the  Danube  Delta  phenomena,  as  well  as  the  Black  Sea  interface 
phenomena.  It  would  include  training  activities  and  support  doctoral  and  post-doctoral 
studies.  

(cid:190)  Action - “To protect and restore most valuable ecosystems and endangered animal species”. 
Enhanced  protection  of  the  remaining  natural  ecosystems,  such  as  the  Danube  Delta  or  the 
Carpathians,  wetlands  restoration,  afforestation  of  non-arable  land,  protection  of  marginal 
forests,  bioremediation  of  highly  impacted  areas,  supported  by  environmental  research,  are 
desirable.  This  is  also  crucial  for  endangered  animal  species  protection,  such  as  the  Danube 
sturgeon62,  brown  bears,  wolves,  lynx  and  wild  horses  living  in  the  Danube  Delta.  Research, 
inventory,  and  monitoring  of  species  and  habitats  of  European  and  national  importance  is  an 
important  part  of  this  action.  Conflicts  with  humans  and  illegal  trade  in  wild  animals  should 
also be addressed.   

(cid:214)  Example of project - “To restore the natural environment, wildlife and vegetation along 
the  Danube”  -  The  project  should  build  upon  the  experiences  gained  from  the  upper-
Danube related projects, such as "Swabian Danube River Valley" or "The Danube's sun-
favoured sides". (Lead: Bavaria) 

(cid:214)  Example of project - “To identify and protect old growth forests of the Danube basin” - 
The  Danube  region  contains  Europe’s  largest  remaining  areas  of  virgin  and  old  growth 
forest  outside  of  Russia.  Although  they  provide  a  host  of  ecosystem  goods  and  services, 
many  of  them  have  uncertain  status  and  are  being  felled.  Activities  of  the  project  would 
include identification and evaluation of current status of old growth forests in the region; 

60   Platform for protected areas in the Alpine Region. 
61   So far only Croatia and Hungary have signed a joint declaration to establish the reserve. 
62   Biodiversity issues directly linked to the aquatic ecosystems are treated in more detail in the Priority area 3 

49

 
 
 
 
                                                 
development of measures for preserving them and education and awareness raising as well 
as capacity building.  

(cid:214)  Example of project - “To promote the conservation of the genetic pool and gene bank co-
operation along the Danube” - The project consists in identifying and studying crop, fruit 
and vegetable species and varieties typical to the Danube floodplain areas in ex situ gene 
banks  and  collections  as  well  as  in  their  original  (in  situ)  habitats.  Furthermore,  the 
collection,  conservation/maintenance  and  revival  of  traditional  agricultural  methods 
related  to  these  species  and  varieties  are  needed.  In  order  to  achieve  these  objectives, 
trans-boundary cooperation is needed among the gene banks dealing with the conservation 
and maintenance of plant genetic resources for food and agricultural purposes.  

(cid:190)  Action – "To explore together the appropriateness of reviewing the Convention Concerning 
Fishing in the Waters of the Danube".  A Convention on fishing in the waters of the Danube 
river was signed in 1958 and has been in force since then.  However neither recent geopolitical 
changes in the area nor policy developments related to the protection of the environment or to 
sustainable  fishing  have  been  reflected  in  the  Convention.    The  parties  to  the  Convention 
should examine this.  

(cid:190)  Action  -  “To  develop  green  infrastructure  in  order  to  connect  different  bio-geographic 
regions and habitats”.  The habitats (including Natura 2000 sites) can better keep and enhance 
their value, if they are interconnected and this is the way to ensure that ecosystem services are 
being  kept  provided.  The  action  could  include  scientific  research  to  find  new  ways  for 
connecting  habitats,  consultations  with  relevant  communities  and  stakeholders,  careful  and 
integrated  spatial  planning  to  develop  and  apply  practices  and  technologies  for  economic 
investments and infrastructural development benefiting biodiversity. Construction of e.g. eco-
bridges,  eco-ducts  and  ecological  "stepping  stones"  should  be  part  of  a  planning  of 
infrastructure building. 

(cid:214)  Example  of  project  -  “To  complete  the  Lower  Danube  Green  Corridor”  -  This  is  the 
Europe’s  most  ambitious  wetland  protection  and  restoration  project,  supported  by 
Romania, Bulgaria, Moldova and Ukraine. Activities include enhancing the protected area 
management;  preparation  and  implementation  of  wetland  restoration,  consultations  with 
local stakeholders and measures to reconnect floodplains to the river system; support for 
related local development activities, including development of tourism and local products.  

(cid:214)  Example of project - “To develop the Alpine-Carpathian Corridor” - This project aims to 
reconstruct and improve the function and permeability of the traditional wildlife corridor 
within  the  urban  agglomeration  Vienna-Bratislava  for  red  deer,  lynx,  wolfs  or  bears  by 
means  of  “traverse  support”  and  green  bridges.  A  cross  border  project  in  cooperation 
between  Austria  and  Slovakia  is  already  in  the  implementation  phase  (Lead:  Upper 
Austria) 

(cid:190)  Action - “To reduce the spread of invasive alien species (IAS)”.  The action would assess the 
impact of IAS on the ecosystems in the Danube region, identify environmentally friendly ways 
to  control  their  development,  promote  research  to  identify  ecologically  sound  ways  to  keep 
their population under control or eliminate them and raise public awareness about the danger of 
IAS.  

(cid:190)  Action - “To decrease the input of pesticides into the environment of the Danube Region”- 
To reduce the contamination of the Danube Region with pesticides, the countries of the Danube 

50

 
 
 
 
Region  should  use  efficiently  the  possibilities  of  the  Pesticide  Framework  Directive  (PFD)63 
establishing  a  framework  for  Community  action  to  achieve  the  sustainable  use  of  pesticides. 
PFD outlines aims and effective ways to reduce both the total amount of used pesticides and 
the  toxicity  of  pesticides.  The  action  should  especially  be  focused  on  the  development  of 
ambitious programs and concepts for a reduction of pesticides in general or in specific areas as 
well as on the initiation of hot spot management or restrictions for the application of pesticides, 
e.g. by establishing buffer strips or compensating areas. 

(cid:190)  Action  -  “To  remove  safely  obsolete  pesticides  and  other  obsolete  chemicals  in  the  area  of 
Danube  Region”  and  implementing  the  World  Health  Organisation  (WHO)’s  Resolution  on 
Improvement  of  health  through  sound  management  of  obsolete  pesticides  and  other  obsolete 
chemicals, adopted at the 63rd World Health Assembly (WHA) which  took place in May 2010 
in Geneva. 

(cid:190)  Action - “To prepare and implement transnational spatial planning and development policies 
for functional geographical areas (river basins, mountain ranges etc.)”. The conservation of 
ecosystems  and  natural  assets,  along  with  the  assertion  of  a  sustainable  growth  perspective 
contribute  to  the  enhancement  of  the  quality  of  life  and  employment  opportunities  for  local 
population. The aim is the development of coordinated spatial planning policies focusing on the 
protection and at the same time sustainable development of the functional geographical areas, 
based on its strengths and potential.  

(cid:214)  Example  of  project  -  “To  implement  the  VASICA  -  Visions  and  Strategies  in  the 
Carpathian  area”,  including  the  BIOREGIO  Carpathians  project.  VASICA  is  the  first 
transnational  spatial  development  document  for  the  entire  Carpathian  Space.  Its  main 
objective  is  to  support  the  Carpathian  Space  as  an  area  of  economic,  social  and 
environmental  progress  and  sustainability.  BIOREGIO  Carpathians  will  promote  the 
regional  development  and  improve  the  ecological  connectivity  in  the  Carpathian  region. 
(Lead: Carpathian Convention UNEP Office) 

Preservation and improvement of the quality of soils 

(cid:190)  Action  -  “To  ensure  appropriate  treatment  of  solid  waste”.  Integrated  waste  management 
systems  should  be  established  and  implemented  on  national,  regional  and  local  level.  The 
development of waste management centres for municipal and non-hazardous waste is needed, 
as  well  as  rehabilitation  and  closure  of  incompliant  landfills  and  highly  polluted  and 
contaminated sites and wild dumps. The action should also include awareness-raising about the 
needs of reducing and recycling waste. 

(cid:190)  Action - “To create standardised and compatible information on land cover on transnational 
basis”. Within the Global Monitoring for Environment and Security (GMES) framework64, one 
of the main services that will be available is a land monitoring service. However rather limited 
information on land resources is available for the Danube Region. Actions should thus focus on 
the  possibilities  to  collect  harmonised  land  cover  information  from  national  sources  and  to 
create standardized and compatible information on land cover on transnational basis.  

(cid:190)  Action  -  “To  raise  awareness  about  soil  protection”.  This  action  could  be  achieved  in 
cooperation  with  the  European  Land  and  Soil  Alliance  (ELSA),  including  more  than  100 

63   Directive 2009/128/EC 
64   Global Monitoring for Environment and Security (GMES) is a joint initiative of the European Commission and 
European Space Agency, which aims at achieving an autonomous and operational Earth observation capacity. 

51

 
 
 
 
                                                 
members  from  7  Member  States65.  Further  partnerships  in  the  Danube  Region  should  be 
initiated on communal level and in the educational domains66.  

(cid:214)  Example  of  project  -  “To  implement  the  strategy  for  soil  protection”  -  Responsible, 
multifunctional use of land and soil and interlinkages to the regional development, as well 
as  new  governance  tools  and  the  "learning  region"  concept  would  be  developed.  The 
project  should  link  to  the  work  already  undertaken  by  the  Academia  Danubiana67  in  this 
field.  

Improvement of air quality 

(cid:190)  Action  -  “To  decrease  air  pollutants  ”-  All  Danube  region  countries  have  signed  the 
Convention  on  long-range  transboundary  air  pollution.  In  compliance  with  this  Convention, 
there  is  a  need  to  report  about  the  level  of  air  pollutants  in  the  region.  The  action  should 
concentrate on data collection and reduction measures. 

(cid:214)  Example of project - “To use GIS databases to establish critical loads of air pollutants for 
the  Danube  region  ecosystems”  -  This  project  is  being  developed  by  the  Romanian 
Ministry  of  Environment  and  Forests.  It  will  determine  the  critical  loads,  caused  by  the 
deposits  of  air  pollutant  emissions  with  acidification,  eutrophication  and  ground-level 
ozone formation effects.  

Education of people on the value of natural assets, ecosystems and the services they provide  

(cid:190)  Action  -  “To  raise  awareness  of  the  general  public,  by  acknowledging  and  promoting  the 
potentials of natural assets as drivers of sustainable regional development”. It would increase 
the perception of preserved nature as a valuable asset. Promotion of green, soft and eco-tourism 
is envisaged as a part of this action. 

(cid:214)  Example of project - “To connect people with the Danube”- The objective of the project is 
to increase people's awareness about the Danube benefits and their concern and support 
for the river values. The project would include a communication campaigns, with elements 
such as a Danube Ship Tour, Danube Exhibition Tour, Danube Film, Danube Day event, 
visiting of protected areas on the Danube etc. (Lead: ICPDR; Deadline: 2014) 

(cid:190)  Action  -  “To  educate  children  and  young  people”.  Since  there  is  a  growing  pressure  on 
biodiversity  and  natural  resources  become  scarcer,  there  is  a  particular  need  to  educate  the 
young  generation.  This  should  cover  the  services  provided  by  ecosystems,  value  of  natural 
assets and benefits for conservation of biodiversity. Part of the action could be devoted to the 
introduction of environmental education into the educational curricula of the Danube countries. 

(cid:214)  Example of action - “To build a network of Danube ‘forest’ schools” - Forest schools are 
proving an educational success e.g. for Hungarian children and could be further expanded. 
The project would designate the Danube sections possessing particular environmental and 
cultural  worth,  and  develop  various  levels  of  training/programme  for  primary  and 
secondary  schools,  ecotourism,  folk  traditions  etc.  A  series  of  programmes  using  the 

65    UK, NL, DE, CH, IT, AT, SK, some municipalities of the CZ 
66   The  cooperation  could  be  enhanced  via  the  already  existing  working  group  “Ecology  with  a  focus  on  soil 

protection” operating within the ARGE Donauländer. 

67   Academia  Danubiana  is  an  institution  that  focuses  on  a  scientific  and  educational  network  of  universities  and 

other institutions of the Danube Region. 

52

 
 
 
 
                                                 
network elements, as well as a pilot project would be developed, followed by best practice 
presentation.68 (Lead: Hungary; Deadline: 2014) 

(cid:190)  Action - “To build capacities of local authorities in the environment-related matters”. Local 
authorities  are  primarily  responsible  for  the  implementation  of  environment  related  matters, 
such  as  waste  or  protected  areas  management.  Often,  they  lack  knowledge  and  capacities  to 
develop projects in the environmental area.  Under this action, the local authorities would be 
provided with training, an expert group helping regions and cities resolving problems would be 
established, and networks for exchange of good practices.  

68   Synergies should be found with the project "The Danube treasure chest: children and young people experience the 

world's most international river", developed by Naturschutz Bayern e.V 

53

 
 
 
 
                                                 
C)  BUILDING PROSPERITY IN THE DANUBE REGION 

54

 
 
 
 
BUILDING PROSPERITY IN THE DANUBE REGION 

This  pillar  focuses  on  innovation,  information  society,  competitiveness  of  enterprises,  education, 
labour market and marginalised communities. The overall objective is to improve the prosperity of 
the Danube Region. This can be done by improved cooperation in order to reduce the pronounced 
divide across the Region in many of the fields covered by these actions. This cooperation can cover 
legislative improvements, exchange of experiences and implementation of joint projects. 

It  will  focus  on  three  Priority  Areas:  (1)  To  develop  the  knowledge  society  through  research, 
education and information technologies; (2) To support the competitiveness of enterprises; and (3) 
To  invest  in  people  and  skills  (education  and  training,  labour  market  and  marginalised 
communities). 

This pillar strongly supports the Europe 2020 Strategy:  

1.  It contributes to smart growth as it reinforces all the three topics of this objective: innovation 
by  improving  the  framework  conditions  to  transform  ideas  into  marketable  products  or 
services; education by improving the human capital of the Region; and the digital society by 
improving the access to internet and the availability of e-content. 

2.  It  contributes  to  sustainable  growth  as  innovation  and  new  technologies  will  contribute  to 
fighting  climate  change,  to  increasing  the  energy  efficiency  and  to  reducing  the  pollution 
from  transport.  In  addition  the  priority  area  on  the  competitiveness  of  enterprises  will 
improve the business environment, especially for SMEs. 

3.  It contributes to inclusive growth as it reinforces the human capital through education and 
training.  This  will  be  complemented  by  better  functioning  of  the  macro-regional  labour 
market.  It  also  emphasises  the  fight  against  poverty,  especially  against  the  marginalised 
communities. 

These  priority  areas  have  to  be  considered  with  other  policy  fields.  The  Strategy  encourages  an 
integrated  approach.  For  example,  improving  the  competitiveness  of  enterprises  has  a  positive 
impact  on  the  economy  and  the  labour  market,  but  must  be  balanced  in  relation  to  the 
attractiveness  of  cities  and  regions,  the  quality  of  life  of  citizens  and  the  environment.  All  these 
impacts cannot be taken in isolation, but have to be addressed in a holistic way, to reach the most 
sustainable solution.  

55

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Examples of financing covering the Region 

Expenditures budgeted by the Structural Funds69 in 2007-201370 

Research, innovation, entrepreneurship  EUR 13.9 b 

EUR 5.1 b 
Innovation in enterprises 
EUR 2.6 b 
RTD infrastructures 
Technology transfer 
EUR 1.4 b 
RTD activities in research centres  EUR 0.9 b 
EUR 3.9 b 
Other 

Information Society   

EUR 3.6 b 

EUR 1.8 b 
Services and applications   
Technologies and infrastructures  EUR 1.4 b 
EUR 0.4 b 
Other 

Human capital 

EUR 13.0 b 

EUR 3.0 b 
Adaptability of workers 
Access to employment 
EUR 3.4 b 
Education and education systems  EUR 3.5 b 
EUR 1.6 b 
Life-long learning 
EUR 1.5 b 
Other  

Inclusion 

EUR 7.6 b 

Social inclusion 
Health infrastructure 
Education infrastructure 
Other  

EUR 1.6 b 
EUR 2.2 b 
EUR 1.8 b 
EUR 2.0 b 

Other sources of financing 

Other  EU  programmes  contribute  to  this  pillar,  in  particular:  the  7th
  Research  Framework 
Programme, 
the  Instrument  for  Pre-Accession  Assistance  (IPA)  National,  Cross-border 
Cooperation  and  Multi-beneficiary  country  programmes,  several  programmes  of  the  European 
Neighbourhood  and  Partnership  Instrument  (ENPI)  (such  as  the  Regional  programmes  or  the 
Cross-border  Cooperation  Programmes),  the  European  Agriculture  Fund  for  Rural  Development 
(EAFRD),  the  European  Fisheries  Fund  (EFF)  and  the  Competitiveness  and  Innovation 
Programme.  National,  regional  and  local  policies  also  finance  important  projects.  In  addition, 
significant  financing  is  already  provided  to  a  large  number  of  projects  via  lending  and/  or  co-
financing  from  various  International  and  Bilateral  Finance  Institutions  such  as  the  European 
Investment  Bank  (EIB),  the  European  Bank  for  Reconstruction  and  Development  (EBRD),  the 
World Bank, the Council of Europe Development Bank (CEB) or other lenders. 

69   European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) including cross-border cooperation, Cohesion Fund and European 
Social  Fund  for  the  Member  States.  The  Instrument  for  Pre-Accession  Assistance  and  the  European 
Neighbourhood and Partnership Instrument (ENPI) are not included. 

70   However,  the  use  of  Structural  Funds  depends  on  the  specific  operational  programmes,  developed  and  agreed 
upon  at  the  beginning  of  the  2007-2013  programming  period  in  close  collaboration  between  the  European 
Commission and the respective Member States/ Regions. These should offer opportunities for funding for specific 
actions/  projects,  depending  on  the  priorities  and  measurements/  actions  identified  in  the  respective  operational 
programmes. 

56

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
                                                 
More  recently,  for  the  countries  of  the  Western  Balkans,  additional  efforts  have  been  made  to 
better coordinate and blend instruments for grants and loans via the Western Balkans Investment 
Framework71 (WBIF).  A similar instrument to the WBIF, the Neighbourhood Investment Facility 
operates for the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine. 

71   The Western Balkan Investment Framework (WBIF) is a blending instrument for grants and loans for candidate 

countries and potential candidates. 

57

 
 
 
 
 
 
                                                 
7)  TO  DEVELOP  THE  KNOWLEDGE  SOCIETY  THROUGH  RESEARCH,  EDUCATION  AND 

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGIES 

Presentation of the issue 

A  society's  ability  to  create  and  exploit  knowledge  is  a  key  factor  for  progress  and  growth.  A 
society  based  on  knowledge  needs  competitive  research  and  education  infrastructure,  innovation 
supporting  and  facilitating  institutions,  and  high  performing  information  and  communication 
technologies.  These  framework  conditions  differ  remarkably  throughout  the  Danube  Region  but 
remain, overall, below the level of EU27. Here, the European Social Fund  (ESF)  could be more 
widely used to support actions and projects. 

The European Innovation Progress Report classifies some countries in the Region as "innovation 
leaders",  but  others  only  as  "catching  up  innovators".  In  terms  of  tertiary  education  quality  and 
competitive  standing  within  the  globalised  educational  environment,  a  similar  divide  can  be 
observed.  Studies  on  researchers’  mobility  (students,  graduates  and  higher  education  staff)  show 
south-east  European  countries  at  a  disadvantage  compared  to  other  EU  countries,  especially  in  
international  research  mobility,  as  well  as  in  the  ability  to  attract  bilateral  R&D  cooperation. 
However, even though diverse, the Region is also linked through long standing and intensive trade 
links and shared historical and political developments, which provide a good basis for cooperation. 

The application of information and communication technology may particularly advance growth in 
the Danube Region. There is an opportunity to modernise quickly, using cutting edge technology 
and  by-passing  intermediate  steps.  The  private  and  public  sectors  could  progress  rapidly,  to 
provide services more effectively and efficiently, for example through e-government, e-business, 
e-education and e-health, or through intelligent co-modal use of transport infrastructure supported 
by  technologies  such  as  river  information  service  systems  or  e-freight.  There  could  be  much 
improved  information  and  knowledge  exchange  between  business,  academia,  administration  and 
citizens.  Acknowledging  this,  the  Europe  2020  strategy  therefore  stresses  the  importance  of 
making full use of information and communication technologies72 to ensure that innovative ideas 
can  be  turned  into  new  products  and  services  that  create  growth,  quality  jobs  and  help  address 
European  and  global  societal  challenges.  Healthy  and  Active  Ageing  has  been  selected  by  the 
European  Commission  as  the  first  challenge  to  be  tackled  through  the  European  Innovation 
Partnership, introduced by the Innovation Union  communication on 6 October 201073. However, 
this must be set against the reality that indicators on information and communication technologies, 
such as internet access by households or broadband penetration show low values for parts of the 
Danube Region, underlining the need for investment and cooperation in this field.74  

72   Participation of citizens and enterprises in the information society depends on easy availability to of Information 
and  Communication  Technologies.  People  need  access  to  computers,  to  good  internet  connections  and  to  e-
content  /  e-services.  In  the  frame  of  EU2020,  the  EU  has  set  the  following  targets:  (1)  Everybody  should  have 
access to broadband by 2013; (2) Everybody should have access to high speed internet by 2020 (> 30Mbps); and 
(3) > 50% of European households have subscribed to internet connections > 100 Mbps by 2020.  

73   http://ec.europa.eu/research/innovation-union/pdf/innovation-union-

communication_en.pdf#view=fit&pagemode=none 

74  

In 2009 internet access by households in the European Union (measured as a percentage of the total population) 
was  65%  but  much  lower  in  the  Danube  Region  (e.g.  30%  in  Bulgaria  and  Romania).  Regarding  broadband, 
whilst  fixed  broadband  penetration  was  23  %  in  the  EU  (number  of  fixed  broadband  lines  per  100  inhabitants, 

58

 
 
 
 
 
                                                 
Danube region specifics 

Given  the  polarisation  within  the  Danube  Region  concerning  innovation  and  ICT  indicators, 
diffusion mechanisms as well as targeted support for research infrastructure should be promoted. 
To stimulate excellence in research and development, cooperation between knowledge providers, 
companies  and  the  public  sector  should  be  enhanced  and  incentives  for  stronger  cooperation 
developed. A better coordination of national and regional funds is needed to stimulate research and 
development  in  the  Region  and  to  benefit  fully  from  the  European  Research  Area.  Existing 
bilateral  agreements  should  be  used  and  improved  through  multilateral  coordination.  Such 
cooperation could either be driven by geographic proximity or by fields of excellence. Cooperation 
should build on already existing structures, such as the  Danube Rectors conference75 and should 
draw  on  experiences  developed  for  sub-regions,  such  as  the  SEE-ERA  net  plus76  research 
programme. 

Actions 

The  actions  proposed  here  are  in  line  with  several  pillars  of  the  Digital  Agenda  for  Europe, 
especially pillars n°4 on ’Fast and ultra fast Internet access’, n°5 on ’Research and Innovation’, 
n°6  ’Digital  literacy,  skills  and  inclusion’  and  n°7  on  ’Information  and  Communication 
Technologies - enabled benefits for the EU society’.  

(cid:190)  Action  -  “To  cooperate  in  implementing  the  flagship  initiative  “Innovation  Union77  of  the 
Europe 2020 Strategy” in the Danube Region countries” and ultimately, monitor the process 
in reaching the targets of Europe 2020 with regard to R&D, innovation, entrepreneurship and 
education. 

(cid:214)  Example  of  project  -  “To  establish  a  peer-review  mechanism  of  regional  smart 
specialisation  strategies”78,  in  order  to  enhance  regional  co-operation  and  to  avoid 
overlaps  and  dispersion  of  policy  efforts  and  financial  resources.  Experts  of  Danube 
Region  research  and  development/  educational  institutions  and  policy-makers  from 
Danube  Region  administrations  could  take  part  to  the  review.  The  issue  of  the  “critical 
mass”,  one  of  the  core  points  of  smart  specialisation,  could  be  assessed,  where 
appropriate, at the Danube Region level. (Lead: proposed by Joint Research Centre). 

(cid:190)  Action  -  “To  coordinate  better  national,  regional  and  EU  funds  to  stimulate  excellence  in 
research  and  development,  in  research  areas  specific  for  the  Danube  Region”.  Innovation 
policies, 
instruments  and  funding  programmes  should  foster  excellence  and  smart 
specialisation,  i.e.  focus  on  key  challenges  of  the  Danube  Region  and  develop  key  research 
strengths in areas important for the long term competitive development of the Region. Best use 
should  be  made  of  existing  national,  regional  and  EU  programmes,  such  as  Structural  Funds 

including  both  households  and  enterprises),  it  was  much  lower  in  the  countries  of  the  Danube  Region  (e.g.  for 
Bulgaria and Slovakia it was 11% and for Romania 12%).  

75   The  Danube  Rectors  Conference  (comprises  51  member  institutions  from  13  countries,  which  however  lacks 

common resources, both financially and institutionally).  

76   SEE-ERA-Net  plus  is  a  networking  project  aimed  at  integrating  EU  member  states  and  Southeast  European 
countries  in  the  European  Research  Area  by  linking  research  activities  within  existing  national,  bilateral  and 
regional RTD programmes. (http://plus.see-era.net/start.html)  

77  The 

"Innovation  Union" 

– 

turning 

ideas 

into 

jobs, 

green 

growth 

and 

social 

progress 

(http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/10/1288&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&
guiLanguage=en) 

78   Communication from the European Commission on Regional Policy contributing to smart growth in Europe 2020 
(http://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/sources/docoffic/official/communic/smart_growth/comm2010_553_en.pdf) 

59

 
 
 
 
                                                                                                                                                                
programmes,  Rural  Development  Funds, 
the 
Competitiveness  and  Innovation  Programme  and  the  Strategic  Energy  Technology  Plan. 
Coordination is needed with initiatives in candidate countries and potential candidates. 

the  7th  R&D  Framework  Programme, 

(cid:214)  Example of project - “To create a Danube research area through coordination of funds”. 
The project will draw its funds from existing national and regional research funds to create 
a Danube Research Area. Already existing initiatives, such as SEE-ERA- net plus will serve 
as  good  examples.  The  project  commonly  identifies  research  areas79  of  particular 
relevance  for  the  Danube  Region  and  develops  calls  for  projects.  The  project  will 
furthermore  identify  regional  centres  of  excellence.  Particular  emphasis  will  be  given  to 
raising  the  institutional  capacity  and  research  capacity  of  potential  research  partners  in 
Member  States  and  Non  Member  States.  The  work  will  build  upon  and  make  best  use  of 
already existing initiatives and institutions.80 (Lead: proposed by DG Research, Hungary). 

(cid:190)  Action  -  “To  strengthen  the  capacities  of  research  infrastructure”.  The  aim  is  to  upgrade 
regional  innovation  systems  throughout  the  Region,  to  reinforce  the  capacity  of  research 
infrastructure  and  to  link  better  existing  science  foundations  in  order  to  improve  innovation 
conditions. Where competitive research infrastructure is lacking, new infrastructure should be 
established. Existing EU and national programmes and initiatives in the Region should be used 
as a basis. 

(cid:214)  Example  of  project  -  “To  establish  joint  international  research  centres  for  advanced 
studies”. Centres will attract world class scientists and provide research infrastructures in 
areas where this is missing. A pilot project is proposed by Romania on a research centre 
focusing on research topics related to the Danube river. (Lead: Romania).  

(cid:190)  Action  -  “To  strengthen  cooperation  among  universities  and  research  facilities  and  to 
upgrade  research  and  education  outcomes  by  focusing  on  unique  selling  points”. 
Universities  and  research  institutes  in  the  Danube  Region  should  engage  in  stronger 
cooperation in various fields, such as analysing existing education and research programmes in 
the  Region  and  developing  joint  programmes  of  common  interest,  mobility  schemes  for 
students  and  researchers,  common  research  projects,  exchange  of  best  practices  (e.g.  in 
implementing the Bologna process), or developing innovative education programmes for target 
groups  new  to  universities  (e.g.  life  long  learning  programmes  for  older  citizens).  Future 
cooperation  should  build  on  existing  programmes,  such  as  the  EU  programmes  Erasmus  and 
Erasmus  Mundus,  Leonardo  da  Vinci  or  the  Jean  Monnet  Programme  and  make  best  use  of 
existing structures like the Danube Rector's Conference.81 

(cid:214)  Example of project - “To promote the exchange of students and scientists in the Danube 
Region”.  The  project  BAYHOST82  promotes,  identifies  and  coordinates  the  exchange  of 

79   Areas  with  key  research  interest  in  the  Danube  Region  could  include,  among  others,  sustainable  transport 
solutions,  risk  prevention  and  risk  management,  water,  climate  change,  forestry  or  eco-efficient  and  renewable 
energy, green technologies or ICT. 

80   Existing FP7 activities such as ERA-WIDE, WBC steering platform, Marie Curie Fellowships, IRSES or Euraxess 
Service Centres.  Activities should also build upon capacity building programmes like "Regions of Knowledge & 
Research  Potential"  and  their  related  cluster  networks,  e.g.  the  "Food  Cluster  Initiative"  .  Initiatives  under  the 
Instrument  for  Pre-Accession  Assistance  to  strengthen  research  capacities  in  candidate  countries  and  potential 
candidates should be used where appropriate.  

81   Example  of  existing  institutions  and  initiatives:  the  Danube  Rectors  Conference,  linking  universities  in  the 
Danube Region (www.d-r-c.org), the Rectors Conference of the Alps-Adriatic Universities, the Regional Network 
for Central and South-East Europe of the Association of European Life Science Universities (ICA – CASEE), or 
the Salzburg Group. 

82   BAYHOST stands for Bavarian Academic Centre for Central, Eastern and South-Eastern Europe.  

60

 
 
 
 
                                                 
students and scientists in Central, Eastern and South-Eastern Europe through scholarship 
programmes and projects. Furthermore, the BAYHOST Danube Forum is dedicated to the 
exchange between the career services in the countries of the Danube Region, exchanging 
best practices and success stories. (Lead: Bavaria) 

(cid:214)  Example  of  project  -  “To  emphasise  Danube  Region  specifics  in  the  curricula  of 
university  programmes”.  A  pilot  project  is  being  proposed  by  the  Andrassy  University 
Budapest.83 A specific added value may lie in the development of study joint programmes 
with other universities of the Region, on topics of particular Danube Region relevance. EU 
programmes such as TEMPUS or Jean Monnet should be used. (Lead: Andrassy University 
Budapest) 

(cid:190)  Action  -  “To  develop  and  implement  strategies  to  improve  the  provision  and  uptake  of 
Information  and  Communication  Technologies  in  the  Danube  Region”.  Special  emphasis 
should be given to improve the coverage and penetration of broadband in rural areas. Certain 
parts  of  society  are  in  particular  need  for  targeted  ICT  policies,  such  as  groups  with  a  low 
uptake,  those  excluded  from  access  or  others  with  particular  training  needs.  Considering  that 
more that 30% of Europeans do not use the internet at all or not regularly, Europe 2020 and the 
European Digital Agenda identify digital literacy as a key priority.84  

(cid:214)  Example  of  project  -  “To  build  upon  the  existing  projects  to  promote  the  Information 
Society in lagging or in rural areas85”. This could be done by encouraging stakeholders of 
the Danube Region to join existing EU projects86.  

(cid:214)  Example  of  project  -  “To  build  upon  the  existing  projects  to  promote  the  Information 
Society  for  SMEs87”.  This  could  be  done  by  encouraging  stakeholders  of  the  Danube 
Region to join or build upon existing EU projects88.  

(cid:214)  Example of project - “To provide ICT based training for the general public, especially for 
prioritized target groups such as low-income, elderly or disabled”. The e-Hungary Public 
Internet Access Points, setting the frame for several projects, could serve as an example. 
Among others, the programme e-Consultants, provides educational ICT training and thus 
fosters the digital competences of the general public. (Lead: Hungary) 

(cid:190)  Action - “To draw up internet strategies”. These strategies would address issues such as the 
availability  of  internet  access,  the  freedom  of  expression  on  the  web,  and  the  protection  of 
critical infrastructures. 

83   The German speaking Andrassy University in Budapest features a Danube Institute (www.andrassyuni.hu). 
84   In  particular  excluded  groups  to  be  targeted  include  the  low-income,  low-education,  elderly,  disabled, 

marginalised youngsters, migrants and other groups, such as the Roma. 

85   The CADSES programme (INTERREG IIIB) has financed two important projects in this fields: TELEACCESS 
(creation of telecenters to support access to the Information Society in rural areas) and EMBRACE (network of 
SMEs providing tools to their members such as e-commerce facilities). 

86   In particular, the Competitiveness and Innovation Programme foresees the possibility to have partners joining an 

existing project. 

87   The  CADSES  programme  (INTERREG  IIIB)  has  financed  two  important  projects  in  this  fields:  EMBRACE 
(network  of  SMEs  providing  tools  to  their  members  such  as  e-commerce  facilities)  and  ELISA  (e-learning 
platform  for  SMEs).  Also,  the  CIP-ICT  Policy  Support  Programme  is  supporting  the  RFID-ROI-SME  project 
which aims at raising awareness of European SMEs on the potential of RFID to foster their integration into global 
competition while enhancing their productivity. 

88   In  particular,  the  Competitiveness  and  Innovation  Programme,  PROGRESS  and  LLL  foresee  the  possibility  to 

have partners joining an existing project. 

61

 
 
 
 
                                                 
(cid:190)  Action  -  “To  use  e-content  and  e-services  to  improve  the  efficiency  and  effectiveness  of 
public  and  private  services”.  Information  and  Communication  Technologies  in  general,  and 
more  specifically  e-government,  e-education,  e-culture,  e-health,  e-business  and  e-inclusion,  
addressing  active  and  healthy  aging  as  well  as  independent  living,  can  make  public  services 
faster, more effective, more efficient and more accessible thus saving resources on the side of 
the provider and user. Emphasis needs to be put on the availability of technical infrastructure 
such as broadband and technical equipment, on capacity building and on the exchange of best 
practices regarding the design and implementation of e-content, e.g. through Information and 
Communication  Technologies  Competence  Centres’  at  national  and  regional  level.  Best  use 
should  be  made  of  EU  Funds  (Structural  Funds  or  the  EU  Recovery  package89,  European 
Agricultural  Fund  for  Rural  Development).  In  particular,  satellite  communications  could  be 
used  in  dispersed  remote  regions  thanks  to  the  ‘Galileo  Advanced  Innovation  Services 
(GAINS)’90  project.  There  should  also  be  better  synergies  between  the  building  of  energy, 
transport and telecom networks, in order to reduce the cost of broadband installation.  

(cid:214)  Example of project - “To increase the use of electronic signatures/ e-identification for e-
commerce and e-administration” in cooperation with authorities in the Danube Region, in 
line with the November 2008 Action Plan on e-signatures and e-authentication91. This also 
aims to ensure that electronic signature and authentication applications are interoperable 
across borders, following the Large Scale Pilot project STORK where many of the regions 
Member  states  are  partners92.  It  should  enable  a  cost-effective  and  a  more  expedient 
conduct  in  the  provision  of  public  services  across  the  region.  Experiences  of  the  project 
S.A.F.E  could  be  useful,  especially  with  regard  to  the  implementation  phase.93(Lead: 
proposed by Slovenia) 

(cid:214)  Example  of  project  -  “To  promote  the  availability  of  e-Government  services  across  the 
region”. This can act as a catalyst for the development of the whole region via e.g. projects 
designed to promote and facilitate cross-border e-Procurement such as the PEPPOL (Pan-
European Public Procurement On-Line) project.94 An overall vision for this project can be 
obtained through the Ministerial Declaration on e-Government95 and the forthcoming EU 
e-Government Action Plan. (Lead: proposed by Slovenia, Baden Württemberg) 

(cid:214)  Example  of  project  -  “To  promote  the  availability  of  e-Health  services  across  the 
Region”.  The  Danube  Region  should  aim  at  replicating  and  scaling  up  the  preliminary 
results  of  the  Large  Scale  Pilot  project  epSOS96  aiming  at  developing,  testing  and 
validating  interoperability  of  patient  summaries  and  e-prescription  across  national 

89   The EU Recovery package has earmarked around EUR 360 m for the development of broadband communications 
in rural areas (for EU-27). This package is aimed to boost broadband coverage to 100% throughout the Union by 
2010 or 2013 at the latest.  

90   ‘Galileo  Advanced  Innovation  Services  (GAINS)’  is  a  project  (co-financed  by  the  7th  EU  Research  Framework 
Programme)  that  aims  to  implement  an  “innovation  highway”  as  a  seamless  process  of  coordinated  Galileo 
downstream  application  innovation  services,  in  the  three  main  phases:  idea  recognition,  product  and  services 
development, and new ventures creation. 

91   COM(2008) 798, 28.11.2008 
92   www.eid-stork.eu 
93   S.A.F.E. - Secure Access to Federated E-Justice/E-Government 
94   www.peppol.eu 
95   November 2009, http://www.egov2009.se/wp-content/uploads/Ministerial-Declaration-on-eGovernment.pdf 
96   www.epsos.eu 

62

 
 
 
 
                                                 
borders,  as  well  as  of  the  Netc@rds  project  97  aiming  at  facilitating  access  to  and 
reimbursement of unplanned healthcare services received abroad. This would contribute to 
ensuring  patient  safety,  increase  efficiency  of  healthcare  and  support  the  economy.  This 
action would be particularly relevant due to the high touristic nature of the Danube Region 
and the high mobility of citizens in the area (Lead: to proposed by DG Information Society) 

(cid:190)  Action - “To stimulate the emergence of innovative ideas for products and services and their 
wide  validation  in  the  field  of  the  Information  Society,  using  the  concept  of  Living  Labs”. 
Through Living Labs, businesses, universities and public administration are jointly developing 
new products by involving customers/users from very early stages, including design. Openness 
to new research and market developments in a public and people oriented approach could be 
targeted initially at parts of the Region with similar needs or characteristics, and later employed 
more widely as appropriate. 

(cid:214)  Example of project - “To promote innovation and business' success in new markets”. The 
project  aims  to  foster  and  support  the  development  of  a  more  widespread  innovation 
culture  in  and  for  new  markets,  including  the  initiatives  to  stimulate  the  creation  of  new 
markets, the diffusion of new technologies, enhancement of intellectual property protection 
and  standards  and  impact  assessments  of  new  legislative  or  regulatory  proposals  on 
innovation.  

97   www.netcards-project.com 

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8)  TO SUPPORT THE COMPETITIVENESS OF ENTERPRISES, INCLUDING CLUSTER DEVELOPMENT 

Presentation of the issue 

Some  of  the  top-performing  regions  in  Europe  can  be  found  in  this  macro-region,  but  others 
considerably  lag  behind.  The  leading  regions  exhibit  strong  and  well  established  innovation 
support systems, while in other regions institutions and framework conditions are lacking, are only 
newly established or reformed. Agriculture, rural and traditional enterprises have a strong base and 
presence standing to benefit from technological and organisational modernisation. To draw the full 
benefits  from  the  Region's  growth  potential  and  to  support  the  competitiveness  of  sectors, 
framework conditions need to be improved and made more coherent. There are many possibilities 
to achieve this.  

Long  term,  transnational  cooperation  networks  between  innovation  and  business  supporting 
institutions need to be developed for the different sectors, also utilising the opportunities within the 
framework  of  the  European  Research  Area  (ERA).  The  development  of  clusters  and  centres  of 
excellence should be fostered and cluster cooperation across borders and across sectors should be 
facilitated. Links to education and research policy should be established. Existing cluster mapping 
studies  conducted  in  the  Region  and  through  European  initiatives  should  be  exploited  and  built 
on.98  To  improve  the  conditions  for  enterprises,  especially  SMEs,  the  institutional  capacities  of 
business support agencies and industry associations should be strengthened throughout the Region.  

The  Danube  Region  also  has  great  potential  to  advance  towards  the  completion  of  the  Single 
Market. Due to the most recent EU enlargement processes, implementation gaps, especially related 
to  the  service  industry,  tax  competition  and  migration  flows  still  exist.  The  existing  trade  links 
among companies in the Danube Region however suggest a large potential for future growth and 
economic  integration,  if  barriers  for  doing  business  across  borders  could  be  brought  down  and 
existing  rules  could  be  simplified.99  Furthermore,  transport  bottlenecks  in  the  region  (hampering 
regional and even more international mobility and trade) need to be removed. 

Danube region specifics 

For the Danube Region, being composed of different countries and innovation milieus of different 
levels of maturity, it is crucial to strengthen transnational co-operation. This has to happen both at 
the policy and business level, thus achieving higher regional coherence and sustainable economic 
growth. Greatest added value will be achieved if priority is given to sectors where the Region has 
existing strengths.  

Actions 

(cid:190)  Action - “To foster cooperation and exchange of knowledge between SMEs, academia and 
the  public  sector  in  areas  of  competence  in  the  Danube  Region”.  This  can  be  achieved 
through developing clusters, through the construction of new and the use of existing technology 
parks and through linking of existing networks. Cooperation should be fostered in areas where 
there is particular knowledge in the Danube Region. Cooperation and knowledge exchange on 

98   European  Cluster  Observatory;  CEE-ClusterNetwork  for  Central  and  Eastern  Europe;  European  Cluster  Policy 

Group 

99   European Innovation Scoreboard 2009/ Socio Economic Analysis for the EU Strategy for the Danube Region 

64

 
 
 
 
 
                                                 
smart specialisation strategies could steer specialisation choices to make them consistent with 
the  development  perspectives  of  the  whole  Danube  Region100.  Emphasis  should  be  laid 
specifically  on  actions  supporting 
internationalisation  of  SMEs  and  facilitating 
interdisciplinary  cooperation.  Existing  initiative  like  the  European  Cluster  Observatory,  the 
European  Cluster  Excellence  Initiative,  the  Science  and  Industry  Network,  the  CEE-
ClusterNetwork, or the project ACCESS should be used as bases on which to build. 

the 

(cid:214)  Example  of  project  -  “To  develop  a  Danube  Region  programme  for  clusters  and  SME-
networks”.  The  objective  is  to  foster  cluster  development  and  transnational  cluster 
collaboration  including  innovation  systems  and  SME  networks  in  order  to  strengthen 
economic growth. As a first step the project should roll out the support instruments of the 
European  Cluster  Excellence  Initiative101  into  the  Danube  Region  area,  notably  the 
training scheme for cluster organisations, the quality indicators and benchmarking scheme 
on  cluster  management  and  the  online  European  Cluster  Collaboration  Platform102. 
Secondly  the  project  should  foster  cluster  cooperation  and  joint  cluster  branding  in  the 
Danube Region. To this end, the project can take use of the European Cluster Managers’ 
Club by setting up a decentralised platform in the Danube Region. (Lead: DG Enterprise 
and Industry).   

(cid:214)  Example  of  project  -  “To  facilitate  the  transfer  of  creative  knowledge  in  the  Danube 
Region”. This can be achieved through the construction of new design centres, including 
craft  design,  that  aim  at  supporting  local  or  regional  industries  in  all  sectors  on  the 
development of new products and services. Furthermore, new forms of innovation support, 
such  as  innovation  vouchers,  could  be  considered  that  facilitate  knowledge  transfer  from 
creative services to traditional businesses." (Lead: DG Enterprise and Industry).   

(cid:214)  Example  of  project  -  “To  promote  services  innovation  in  the  Danube  Region”.  The 
project has three main objectives: (a) to collect high quality statistical data from Danube 
Region  countries  to  analyse  the  current  status  and  potential  of  innovation  in  knowledge-
intensive  services;  (b)  to  identify  the  scope  and  objectives  for  trans-national  cooperation 
between clusters operating in the service sub-sectors such as ICT, creative industries and 
the cultural sector in general, eco/green-innovation, mobility industries, tourism, transport 
and  energy;  (c)  to  harmonize  small-scale  national  and  regional  funding  for  cooperative 
innovation  projects;  (d)  to  improve  the  framework  conditions  needed  to  support  cluster 
cooperation  in  the  domain  of  services  in  a  sustainable  way,  as  well  as  to  facilitate  the 
internationalisation of high growth service businesses. This work will liaise with relevant 
existing  initiatives,  like  EU  INNO-Net  project  funded  under  the  PRO  INNO  Europe 
initiative for the period 2009-2012. (Lead: DG Enterprise and Industry).   

(cid:214)  Example of project - “To utilise better the performing, heritage and cultural assets of the 
Region  by  developing  strengths  in  the  creative,  cultural,  entertainment  and  tourism 
industries”.  Where  possible  this  project  should  focus  on  existing  initiatives  on  local  and 
EU  level  and  should  foster  the  cooperation  between  them.  Strong  potential  in  enhanced 
cooperation  can  for  example  be  found  in  the  media  industries  (TV,  radio,  movies)  in 
festivals, popular music and sports.  

100   Smart specialisation strategies are aimed at maximising the impact of Regional Policy programmes for reaching 
the  goals  set  in  the  Europe  2020  Strategy,  as  laid  out  in  the  Commission  Communication  “Regional  Policy 
contributing to smart growth in Europe 2020”. 
(http://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/sources/docoffic/official/communic/smart_growth/comm2010_553_en.pdf) 

101   See more at www.cluster-excellence.eu 
102   See more at www.cluster-excellence.eu/collaboration 

65

 
 
 
 
                                                 
 
(cid:214)  Example  of  project  -  “To  establish  a  Danube  Region  network  for  innovative 
environmental  technologies”  in  order  to  foster  the  development  of  an  attractive, 
competitive  and  sustainable  infrastructure  in  the  Danube  region.  The  network  links 
companies,  research  facilities,  regional  and  local  authorities  and  aims  at  implementing 
innovative  environmental  technologies  in  the  Danube  Region,  such  as  state-of-the-art 
waste  and  sewage  treatment  facilities,  innovative  (primarily  renewable  energy  and  high 
efficiency)  energy  systems  and  air  and  water  purification  technologies.  Existing 
cooperation  in  the  Danube  region  could  be  integrated  as  part  of  the  Danube  Region 
network. (Lead: Germany/ Baden Württemberg) 

(cid:214)  Example  of  project  -  “To  support  the  implementation  of  eco-efficient  production 
processes  in  SMEs”.  The  project  "actclean"  supports  SME  in  increasing  their 
environmental  performance,  reducing  costs  and  increasing  sales  through  consulting, 
matchmaking  and  exchange  of  knowledge.  Promoting  environmental  technologies  and 
management  systems  by  connecting  demand  and  supply  will  provide  SMEs  with 
technological  and  managerial  know-how  on  one  side  and  it  facilitates  the  marketing  of 
already existing solutions on the other. (Lead: Federal Environment Agency and Federal 
Ministry for the Environment Germany) 

(cid:190)  Action - “To improve business support to strengthen the capacities of SMEs for cooperation 
and  trade”.  The  cooperation  should  link  relevant  business  support  agencies,  cluster 
organisations, chambers of commerce or industry associations in the Danube Region to develop 
business  support  services 
trade  and 
internationalisation.103  A  key  element  of  the  cooperation  should  be  the  strengthening  of  the 
institutional  capacity  of  the  involved  business  support  agencies  through  targeted  support  and 
the exchange of experiences and best practice. Best use should be made of existing forums and 
institutions, like the Enterprise Europe Network or already established networks of chambers of 
commerce,  such  as  the  Danube  Chambers  of  Commerce  Association.  Where  possible  and 
appropriate, the special situation of SMEs in candidate countries regarding financing should be 
considered.  

to  cross  border  R&D  cooperation, 

related 

(cid:214)  Example of project - “To hold annual business forums bringing together Danube Region 
businesses,  governments,  regional  organisations  and  the  academia”.  The  aim  is  to 
enhance cooperation and business opportunities for SMEs in the Danube Region within the 
private  sector,  but  also  with  academia  and  the  public  sector,  to  stimulate  growth, 
innovation  and  competitiveness  in  the  Danube  Region.  Existing  initiatives  upon  which  to 
build  include  those  of  Chambers  of  Commerce,  the  Central  Europe  Initiative,  Enterprise 
Europe Network or the Vienna Economic Forum. Where appropriate, best practices could 
be  exchanged  with  e.g.  the  Baltic  Development  Forum.  (Lead:  Austrian  Chamber  of 
Commerce, IEDC-Bled School of Management) 

(cid:214)  Example  of  project  -  “To  strengthen  Danube  Region  entrepreneurs  and  SMEs”.  This 
project  develops  in  a  coherent  manner  the  opportunities  and  challenges  for  SMEs  doing 
business  and  research  in  the  Danube  Region.  It  coordinates  work  of  chambers  of 
commerce,  industry  associations,  cluster  organisations  and  government  agencies  to 
identify  the  specific  needs  of  (potential)  growth  sectors  and  or  sectors  of  key 
competence.104  In  particular,  it  identifies  and  implements  innovative  approaches  to 

103   Such services could relate to information and advice on EU legislation, language training, consultancy services for 

R&D cooperation, joint business trips in the Region, cooperation/ network meetings. 

104   Such  areas  of  strengths  include  mechanical  engineering,  mechatronics,  eco-energy,  environmental  technology, 
environmentally-friendly  mobility,  plastics  technology,  material  technology,  health,  life  science,  ICT,  creative 
industry, food and biotechnology. 

66

 
 
 
 
                                                 
knowledge  transfer  from  universities  and  research  institutes  to  businesses,  especially 
SMEs.105 It makes best use of existing initiatives such as the South East European Centre 
for Entrepreneurial Learning – SEECEL106.  

(cid:190)  Action  -  “To  support  enterprises  through  high  performing  training  and  qualification 
schemes”. The shortage of skilled workers and the high unemployment of unskilled workers in 
the  Region  has  implications  on  the  competitiveness  of  enterprises  and  can  be  addressed  by 
improving  the  qualification  schemes  in  the  Danube  countries  thus  raising  the  overall 
qualification  levels  and  opportunities  of  the  labour  force.  Through  closer  cooperation  of 
relevant labour market institutions and chambers of commerce, existing best practices could be 
exchanged  thus  supporting  the  "European  Qualifications  Framework".  Support  instruments 
should be developed for enterprises engaged in increasing the capacity and productivity of their 
workforce. Full use should be made of existing institutions and bodies in the Region.107   

(cid:214)  Example  of  project  -  “To  develop  joint  programmes  for  professional  education  and 
vocational  training  together  with  enterprises”  with  the  aim  to  improve  the  efficiency  of 
training and qualification programmes in the Region. This could bring together the private 
sector, public administration in the fields of education and labour market, and civil society 
such  as  chambers  of  commerce  to  develop  and  coordinate  professional  and  language 
training programmes, coordinate curricula and exchange of guest lecturers and students. 
Furthermore the need for new pilot training centres should be analysed. The creation of a 
centre for professional education in the electro-technical industry in Bratislava is proposed 
as an example. (Lead: Slovakia; Danube Chambers of Commerce Association). 

(cid:190)  Action  -  “To  prioritise  the  effective  implementation  of  measures  provided  for  under  the 
Small  Business  Act  for  Europe108”.  Administrative  simplification  for  starting  a  business,  for 
obtaining business licenses or for filing for bankruptcy should be improved. Emphasis should 
also be given to secure access to capital for SMEs by promoting existing and where appropriate 
introducing  new  and  innovative  financing  instruments  for  the  Region,  particularly  for 
enterprises  in  the  start  up  phase.109  Existing  EU  financial  instruments  should  be  used  in  the 
most  effective  way  in  order  to  secure  finance  to  SMEs  where  current  market  conditions  are 
difficult.110 Best practice examples of one-stop-shops should be exchanged and implemented. 
To help SMEs wishing to set up trade in the Western Balkans, existing business support centres 
in the Region should be used, cooperation between them reinforced, and services extended.  

(cid:190)  Action - “To improve the competitiveness of rural areas and in particular of the agricultural 
sector”  by  facilitating  rural  entrepreneurship,  supporting  innovation  and  cooperation  in  the 

105   Existing institutions and networks, such as the Southeast Europe Management Forum Bled – Kopaonik should be 

best used.   

106   With regard to Third Countries, coordination with the European Training Foundation, the initiatives of OECD and 

Regional Competitiveness Initiative for the Western Balkans should be facilitated.  

107   Coordination should also be sought with the European Training Foundation, which contributes to the development 

of the education and training systems of the EU partner countries.  

108   Small Business Act for Europe: http://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/policies/sme/small-business-act/ 
109   Examples could involve cross-border venture capital funds, cross-border guarantee schemes or cross border small 
grant  funds  that  would  make  it  possible  to  exploit  economies  of  scale  and  scope  when  investing  in  SMEs  or 
guaranteeing their lending. 

110   Among others, existing EU programmes with the possibility to address SME financing are: Competitiveness and 
Innovation Programme (CIP), Framework Programmes, Structural Funds, the JASMINE initiative, the European 
Agricultural  Fund  for  Rural  Development  and  IPA-multi  beneficiary  programmes.  Furthermore,  the  "Practical 
Guide" 
should  be  promoted: 
http://cordis.europa.eu/eu-funding-guide/home_en.html 

for  potential  beneficiaries  of  CIP  and  Framework  Programmes 

67

 
 
 
 
                                                 
agricultural  industry  and  supporting  the  diversification  of  rural  economies,  including  the 
exploitation  of  mobility  industries.  This  can  be  achieved  through  training  and  education 
programmes,  enhanced  cooperation  in  production,  distribution  and  marketing  e.g.  through 
clusters, and through jointly developing and implementing best practices in agricultural product 
quality. Mutual exchange of good practices by competent authorities, food business operators 
and  farmers  along  the  entire  food  chain  should  be  fostered  and  close  cooperation  with  the 
European Food Safety Authority should be sought. In this respect, best use should be made of 
the  training  initiative  "Better  Training  for  Safer  Food"  for  Member  States  and  third 
countries.111  Urban  rural  links  and  the  potential  of  IT  to  facilitate  relocation  of  formerly 
predominantly urban enterprises, jobs and activities should be fully exploited. Full use should 
be  made  of  funding  available  in  the  European  Agricultural  Fund  for  Rural  Development  via 
national support programmes and trans-national cooperation (Leader approach).   

(cid:214)  Example of project - “To support the development of fisheries areas with the involvement 
of  Fisheries  Local  Action  Groups  (FLAGS)”  for  promoting  diversification  of  economic 
activities  and  creating  new  employment  opportunities  in  fisheries  areas.  FLAGS  are 
tripartite  partenerial  structures  (economic  actor,  local  authorities  and  civil  society), 
covering  both  rural  and  small  urban  communities  with  a  high  percentage  of  economic 
activities  related  to  fisheries.  They  are  affected  by  the  scarce  availability  of  fishing 
resources,  water  pollution  or  limited  economic  efficiency  of  these  economic  activities. 
Funding  under  the  European  Fisheries  Fund  is  available  for  the  implementation  of 
integrated  sustainable  local  development  in  fisheries  areas  aimed  at  valorisation  of  the 
artistic  and  cultural  patrimony,  promoting  innovation,  diversification  of  economic 
activities  especially  (eco)tourism,  traditional  crafts and  bringing  value added to fisheries 
products, at the same time with the protection of natural habitats. 

(cid:190)  Action  -  “To  eliminate  cross  border  barriers  and  bottlenecks  to  people  and  business  - 
Seamless  Europe  for  a  livable  Danube  Region.”112  Specific  attention  is  needed  where 
implementation  gaps  in  the  Single  Market  still  exist,  such  as  those  related  to  services,  tax 
competition  and  migration  flows.  Activities  should  build  upon  well  established  instruments, 
such as SOLVIT-centres, which can help citizens and businesses to make use of their EU rights 
to  move  and  do  business  across  border.  Where  appropriate,  attention  should  also  be  given  to 
physical infrastructure to facilitate the free movement of goods and people.  

(cid:190)  Action  -  “To  improve  framework  conditions  for  SMEs  in  areas  where  competitive 
infrastructure is missing”. This could be done through the construction of joined or networked 
industrial and technological parks, as well as transportation, logistics and exhibition centres. A 
specific focus should be put on rural and border regions, where competitive infrastructure for 
SME is often weakly developed or missing. 

111   Better Training for Safer Food Programme: http://ec.europa.eu/food/training_strategy/index_en.htm 
112   Initiatives to incorporate candidate countries and potential candidates into the European Single Market should be 
could furthermore contribute to this action. Countries of the Central European Free Trade Agreement (CEFTA), 
which  are  addressing  these  issues  between  the  candidate  countries  and  potential  candidates,  may  consider  to 
contribute to this Action. 

68

 
 
 
 
 
                                                 
9)  TO INVEST IN PEOPLE AND SKILLS 

Presentation of the issue 

By investing in people and making best use of its human capital, the Danube Region can progress 
and  grow  in  a  smart  and  inclusive  way.  To  arrive  at  a  knowledge  based  and  inclusive  growth  it 
requires  empowering  people  through  high  levels  of  employment,  investing  in  skills,  fighting 
poverty and modernising labour markets, training and social protection systems.  

Making best use  of its human  capital,  the  Danube  Region  can  build  on  several  opportunities  but 
also  needs  to  address  certain  challenges113.  The  Danube  Region's  population  is  younger  than  the 
average  of  EU  27,  although  the  overall  population  has  started  to  decline  due  to  a  negative  birth 
balance. Indicators on early school leavers are considerably better in the Danube Region than in 
EU  27,  despite  the  fact  that  the  share  of  population  with  tertiary  education  is  lower. 
Unemployment is less pronounced in the Danube Region, but less people are in employment and 
the  shares  of  employment  in  traditional  sectors,  such  as  agriculture,  are  still  high.  On  the  job 
market, mobility of workers needs attention. This is to give people real opportunities to work near 
where  they  live,  and  to  make  well  informed  choices  on  mobility  that  benefit  all.  Better 
opportunities  to  live  and  work  close  to  family  and  place  of  origin  require  better  local  job 
opportunities, also important so that the Region does not suffer brain drain and its accompanying 
loss  of  return  on  skills  investment.  Mobility  issues  are  especially  in  relation  to  legal  and 
administrative  factors,  linked  to  social  security  and  the  recognition  of  qualifications.  In  addition 
indirect  obstacles  linked  to  accommodation,  language,  the  employment  of  partners  and  spouses 
and the “psychological” obstacles, in particular the issue of returning to the country of origin and 
the lack of recognition of mobility, need to be addressed. Work induced migration flows follow an 
east-west  pattern,  motivated  by  considerable  income  disparities  in  the  Danube  Region,  thus 
resulting  in  brain  drain  in  some  parts  and  excess  supply  in  others.  The  opening  of  German  and 
Austrian  labour  markets  to  the  Czech  Republic,  Slovakia,  Hungary  and  Slovenia  may  also 
reinforce this development. Mobility of researchers and students, and thus knowledge, is lower in 
most of the Danube Region than in other parts of Europe and needs special attention.114 

To  make  use  of  the  full  potential  of  the  labour  force  and  to  fight  poverty,  the  Danube  Region's 
labour  market  also  needs  to  be  more  inclusive.  Regarding  equal  opportunities  between  men  and 
women,  inequalities  are  more  pronounced  in  upper  parts  of  the  Region  than  in  lower  parts.  The 
general  employment  rate  for  women  and  men  is  lower  than  in  EU  27.  In  addition,  a  healthy 
population is a critical factor behind sustainable economic development, and severe disparities in 
health conditions still prevail in the Region. About one third of EU's population in risk of poverty 
live here, many of them coming from marginalised groups, and including 80% of Roma in Europe. 
Apart  from  poverty,  Roma  communities  especially  suffer  from  social  and  economic  exclusion, 
spatial  segregation  and  sub-standard  living  conditions.  While  their  inclusion  is  many  times 
approached only from the point of discrimination, the socio-economic aspects and environmental 
consequences  of  improper  living  conditions  and  infrastructure  are  equally  important.  Failing  to 
address adequately the Region's ten million Roma has implications for the whole EU.  

113   Sources: Eurostat, European Innovation Scoreboard 2009, DG Education and Culture, Socio Economic Analysis. 
114   Low levels of inbound mobility of students in large parts of the Region, except for Austria and Germany; High 
levels  of  outbound  mobility  in  Bulgaria,  Slovakia,  Croatia,  Germany  and  Austria.  (EUROSTAT  and  DG 
Education and Culture) 

69

 
 
 
 
 
                                                 
Danube Region specifics 

This analysis calls for actions across a whole range of fields, with emphasis on more coherence. 
Policies  in  the  fields  of  education,  labour  market,  integration,  research and innovation should be 
mutually  reinforcing.  Prominence  should  be  given  to  capacity  building  on  all  levels,  whether 
individual, organisational, regional, national or macro-regional. It should include developing key 
competencies  and  organisational  skills,  promotion  of  innovative  partnerships,  and  governance  in 
the regional/ national context. Stronger joint efforts are needed to enhance performance by shared 
European benchmarks in education and training.  

Stronger  cooperation  of  labour  market  institutions  regarding  policies,  measures  and  information 
exchange  is  needed.  To  encourage  mutual  exchanges  of  employees,  researchers,  students  and 
practitioners  and  to  reduce  one-way  migration  flows,  cooperation  between  bodies  in  primary, 
secondary  and  tertiary  education  needs  to  be  strengthened  and  the  mutual  recognition  of 
professions and diplomas accelerated. Specific added value lies in the greater participation of the 
Western  Balkan  countries  and  other  third  countries  in  the  Region  in  existing  programmes  and 
cooperation  structures.  Existing  cooperation  between  Member  States  and  third  countries  could 
serve as a base. 

There is also much scope in the Danube Region to work together to fight the social and economic 
exclusion  of  marginalised  communities,  especially  Roma.  Funding  needs  to  be  targeted.  Policies 
need to be developed together based on best international practice. Actions need to be enlightened 
and  effective.  On  the  level  of  governance,  it  is  often  at  the  level  of  ordinary  interventions  in 
regions  and  cities  that  human  rights  need  to  be  further  emphasised.  Local,  regional  and  national 
authorities have a key role to play in their day-to-day application. As noted, particular attention has 
to be paid to the situation of the Roma communities115. Projects that open community boundaries 
and bring together Roma and people from other communities are particularly important.  

Actions 

(cid:190)  Action  -  “To  enhance  performance  of  education  systems  through  closer  cooperation  of 
education  institutions,  systems  and  policies”.  Fostering  efficiency,  innovation  and  good 
governance  in  education  and  training  is  crucial  in  the  face  of  the  challenges  posed  by 
globalisation, demographic changes, rapid technological developments and increasing pressure 
on public budgets. This should be done in particular through the exchange of best practices of 
different education and training systems through transnational cooperation, joint development 
of  programmes  and  materials,  promotion  of  research  on  the  economics  of  education,  peer 
learning, and capacity building, i.e. for evidence-based policy and practice and for facilitating 
the policy learning process, strategy formulation and policy action. Specific added value lies in 
the  inclusion  of  third countries  and  best  use  should  be  made  of  already  existing  programmes 
and cooperation structures.116  

115  Ten  basic  principles  for  Roma  inclusion  have  been  established  in  the  conclusions  of  the  EU  Council  on 
Employment, Social policy, Health and Consumers affairs of 8 June 2009. Some of them were used as baseline for 
the amendment of the ERDF regulation on housing. The amendment will allow explicitly though not exclusively 
to invest in new housing or renovate existing stock in both urban and rural areas if part of an integrated approach – 
coordinating education, housing, employment, and health policies. It is also important to develop linkages with, 
and reinforce actions undertaken as part of the Roma Decade (2005-2015). 

116  The  main  aim  is  to  reinforce  the  European  Area  of  Education  (EAE)  thus  contributing  to  the  success  and 
sustainability of the EU integration process. Country specific needs and the demands of the EAE according to the 
EU Work Programme "Education and Training 2020" need to be taken into account and follow up. Work should 
build upon already existing bilateral cooperation projects and multilateral initiative. 

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(cid:214)  Example of project - “To support sustainable education reforms in the Danube Region”. 
Cooperation  platforms  for  sustainable  education  reforms  can  improve  educational 
outcomes  and  the  quality  of  education  systems  in  the  Danube  Region.  Well  established 
platforms  include  CECE117,  focusing  on  mutual  learning,  capacity  building  and  joint 
projects between EU Member States of the Region, and ERI SEE118, focusing in particular 
on capacity building and know-how transfer between EU Member States and non Member 
States  and  acting  as  an  interface  to  developments  in  relevant  EU,  European  and 
international  initiatives  in  education.  Both  projects  take  into  account  the  strategic 
framework  for  European  cooperation  in  education  and  training  (“ET  2020“).119  (Lead: 
Proposed by the Austrian Federal Ministry for Education, Arts and Culture). 

(cid:214)  Example of project - “To strengthen the networks of schools in the Danube Region”. The 
Academy  of  Central  European  Schools  (ACES)120  aims  to  support  the  establishment  of  a 
Central European network of schools in the currently fifteen partner countries. The aim is 
to foster dialogue and cooperation of young people and to create a sustainable network of 
shared  knowledge,  mutual  learning  and  innovation.  Best  practices  should  be  exchanged 
with other ongoing international school partnerships, such as the project PASCH121 (Lead: 
Proposed by the Austrian Federal Ministry for Education, Arts and Culture). 

(cid:190)  Action  -  “To  foster  cooperation  between  key  stakeholders  of  labour  market,  education  and 
research  policies  in  order  to  develop  learning  regions  and  environments”.  To  increase 
innovative capacities of the labour force in the Danube Region, new forms of partnerships and 
cooperation  among  key  stakeholders  (labour  market,  education  and  training,  research  and 
employers)  need  to  be  further  developed.  Employers  (private,  public  and  voluntary)  have  an 
important role to play in identifying the knowledge, skills and competences needed in working 
life. To increase the employability and entrepreneurial potential of all learners, communication 
and active cooperation should be further developed between education and training institutions 
on the one hand and employers on the other.  

(cid:214)  Example of project - “To reinforce the Danube Region labour market, in the context of 
the EU labour market”. While national labour markets in the Danube Region are subject 
to  different  framework  conditions,  economic  ties  and  worker  migration  have  started  to 
dismantle  borders  between  countries  and  markets.  This  project  aims  to  build  on  existing 
bilateral  cooperation  projects,  enlarging  them  to  the  Danube  Region.  It  could  emphasise 
mutual  recognition  of  professions  and  qualifications,  as  well  as  targeted  labour  market 
policies (women, youth, long-term unemployed, minorities etc.) thus reinforcing a Danube 
Region labour market.  

(cid:214)  Example of project - “To develop joint Danube Region labour market statistic”. To form 
the  basis  for  common  labour  market  strategies  the  project  aims  at  producing  sound 
statistical  data  on  the  Danube  Region  labour  market,  including  data  on  specific  labour 
market  demands,  workforce  flows,  drivers  and  barriers  of  transnational  labour  mobility, 
differences in working conditions, disposable income and social security systems. Specific 
added  value  lies  in  the  inclusion  of  Non-EU  Member  States  in  this  cooperation.  Existing 

117   Central European Cooperation in Education: www.bmukk.gv.at/europa/bibildung/cece.xml 
118   The Education Reform Initiative of South Eastern Europe: www.erisee.org 
119   ET 2020 http://ec.europa.eu/education/lifelong-learning-policy/doc36_en.htm 
120   http://www.aces.or.at/start.asp?ID=120245&b=829 
121   http://www.pasch-net.de/deindex.htm 

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bilateral  cooperation  projects  should  be  used  to  develop  cooperation  on  the  macro-
regional level.  

(cid:190)  Action 

-  “To  support  creativity  and  entrepreneurship”.  A 

towards 
entrepreneurship  and  creativity  is  important  as  a  prerequisite  for  businesses,  in  particular  for 
small  and  medium  sized  enterprises,  and  thus  for  Europe's  competitiveness.  This  could  be 
achieved  through  the  introduction  of  innovative  teaching  methods  to  support  creativity  and 
entrepreneurship at all levels of education, through the promotion of intercultural dialogue or 
through  language  training,  making  use  of  the  linguistic  and  cultural  diversity  of  the  Danube 
Region.  Specific  attention  should  be  drawn  to  rural  areas  and  to  developing  alternative 
employment  opportunities  and  economic  diversification  for  people  occupied  in  traditional 
sectors where restructuring is still under way such as agriculture. 

reorientation 

(cid:190)  Action  -  “To  support  the  mobility  of  workers,  researchers  and  students  through 
implementing the European Qualification Framework”. Countries in the Danube Region will 
coordinate  on  the  development  of  National  Qualification  Frameworks.  Specific  added  value 
lies  in  supporting  non-EU  Member  States  in  drawing  up  their  National  Qualification 
Frameworks.122 

(cid:214)  Example  of  project  -  “To  enhance  capacities  of  key  stakeholders  in  education,  science 
and  research”.  The  project  Mobility  programme  for  Capacity  Building  in  Regional 
Cooperation  in  Education,  Science  and  Research123  aims  at  fostering  relevant  capacities 
through  peer-learning  and  exchange  of  expertise  and  know-how  within  ministries 
responsible  for  education,  science  and  research  in  managing  regional  and  international 
activities  and  programmes  in  the  sectors  concerned.  As  a  measure  of  stakeholder 
empowerment,  the  project  contributes  to  the  strengthening  of  sustainable  regional 
partnerships and consists of short-term placements at key institutions and networks in the 
area of cooperation for building human capital. (Lead: Proposed by the Austrian Federal 
Ministry for Education, Arts and Culture). 

(cid:190)  Action  -  “To  jointly  analyse  implementation  gaps  in  life  long  learning  (LLL)  policies  and 
exchange  best  practices  in  implementation”.  Comprehensive  LLL  strategies  and  their 
implementation have been identified as a priority for the development of knowledge societies. 
Making  these  effective  and  increasing  their  impact  for  individual  learners  remains  a  critical 
challenge.  Institutional  capacity  building  of  LLL  bodies  is  a  prerequisite  for  implementing 
these policies.   

(cid:190)  Action - “To improve cross-sector policy coordination to address demographic and migration 
challenges”.  Enhanced  efforts  should  be  pursuit  to  develop  knowledge  on  the  status  quo,  on 
drivers  and  impacts  of  migration  flows  and  demographic  change,  so  to  develop  a  basis  for 
enhanced  cooperation  of  different  policies  at  all  levels  of  governance.  Cross-sector  policy 
coordination between relevant government departments, education authorities, social services, 
healthcare services, cultural policy authorities, housing and spatial planning authorities as well 
as  asylum  and  immigration  services  at  local,  regional  and  national  level,  as  well  as  dialogue 
with civil society are essential to ensure an adequate level of support. Spatial consequences of 
migration-induced  social,  economical  and  cultural  changes  and  possible  responses  in  the 
framework  of  urban  and  rural  development  should  be  considered.  Cooperation  with  existing 
organisations, such as the International Organisation for Migration (IOM), with their existing 
analysis and recommendations, would be particularly useful.  

122   Coordination should be sought with the European Training Foundation.  
123   http://www.taskforcehumancapital.info/fileadmin/documents/TF_Mobility_Programme_2010.pdf 

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(cid:190)  Action - “To fight poverty and social exclusion of marginalised communities in the Danube 
Region,  especially  the  Roma  communities”.  To  make  full  use  of  the  Danube  Region's 
population specific focus needs to be put at empowering in particular groups in risk of poverty 
and  ensuring  them  access  and  opportunities.  Children,  old  people,  mentally  and  physically 
disabled,  immigrants,  homeless,  representatives  of  marginalised  ethnic  groups  are  the  most 
vulnerable. Roma communities, whose conditions are often especially dire and with no place in 
21st century Europe, need special attention. Actions to reduce the number of people in risk of 
poverty need to complement each other, applying an integrated approach124.  

(cid:214)  Example  of  project  -  “To  improve  the  living  conditions  of  Roma  communities”.  In  the 
Danube Region, Roma are often living in environments with no drinking water, no sewage 
systems, no access to energy and no access to telecommunication services. In addition to 
these  third  world  standards,  they  face  natural  risks  such  as  floods,  ground  instability  or 
proximity  to  dangerous  waste.  Projects  need  to  focus  on  basic  infrastructure  needs,  but 
also on creating sustainable rural livelihoods, especially for Roma populations, combining 
poverty  alleviation  and  sustainable  resource  management.  Much  better  use  needs  to  be 
made of funding opportunities, especially e.g. Structural Funds.  

(cid:214)  Example of project - “To implement the Roma dialogue with non-Roma” is a long-term 
commitment  to  improve  the  situation  of  Roma  in  European  society  by  giving  Roma 
opportunities outside their own communities in social, environmental and cultural projects. 
The  objective  should  be  to  broaden  knowledge  and  skills  and  to  support  their 
entrepreneurship skills. It also includes non-Roma involvement in local community projects 
involving Roma, followed by engagement e.g. in public education. Initiatives could be built 
on  existing  mechanisms–  the  EU  Roma  platform  and  the  Roma  Decade  and  could  be 
implemented through existing grant schemes and in cooperation with NGOs.  

(cid:190)  Action - “To implement the actions undertaken in the Roma Decade and to establish further 
actions to be implemented”. The coordination of efforts between existing initiatives and actors, 
such as the Roma Decade (2005-2015), EU Roma platform for Roma Inclusion125, EU-Roma 
network and NGOs active in this field in the Danube Region is indispensable for improving the 
situation for Roma. The participation of non-EU Member States in the EU Platform for Roma 
inclusion should be encouraged. Activities of the Platform should improve the coordination of 
the  implementation  and  the  use  of  the  resources  at  EU  level,  but  also  among  candidate  and 
potential candidates in the Danube Region, which will result in increased impact and effective 
utilisation  of  available  resources.  There  is  a  particular  need  to  capitalise  on  best  practice 
elsewhere, applying enlightened approaches from the rest of Europe and the world to a chronic 
and dramatic social and cultural issue. Roma pride and dignity must better prosper.  

124   In particular such actions could focus on the eradicating of child poverty, improving equity in education programs 
(from early childhood to postgraduate training), reducing the number of early school leavers124, providing access 
to  health  care,  promoting  active  inclusion  in  the  labour  market,  making  efforts  to  provide  decent  housing  for 
everyone, tackling indebtedness or on providing conducted training programs for local officials on governance of 
multiethnic communities. 

125   The Roma inclusion Platform was endorsed and launched during the Czech Presidency in October 2008. Its main 
objective  is  to  call  governments  and  main  stakeholders  to  debate  Roma  inclusion,  on  topics  such  as  education, 
health and housing, meeting on a twice-yearly basis. 

73

 
 
 
 
 
                                                 
D)  STRENGTHENING THE DANUBE REGION 

74

 
 
 
 
STRENGTHENING THE DANUBE REGION 

The pillar on “strengthening the Danube region” addresses two priority areas: 'Institution Building 
and Cooperation' and 'Security Issues'. 

The  actions  and  projects  aim  at  strengthening  the  functioning  of  democratic  institutions,  public 
administrations  and  central,  regional  and  local  level  organisations,  with  special  focus  on 
cooperation in the region. Special emphasis is also needed on making the Danube region a safer 
place  to  live.  Better  political,  civil  and  administrative  structures  and  better  security  are  key 
conditions for smart, sustainable and inclusive growth. 

An  active  and  well  organised  civil  society  needs  also  to  be  more  widely  encouraged.  Stronger 
participation of civil society can improve public services and strengthen public confidence towards 
them. It also facilitates commonly agreed solutions for problems through a regular dialogue. The 
inclusion of civil society in implementing the strategy and the association of civil stakeholders is 
crucial to the success of the Strategy.  

In  this  respect,  territorial  cohesion  stresses  the  added  value  of  partnership  with  a  strong  local 
dimension. This ensures that policies are designed and implemented with local knowledge, which 
should help their success. 

As  examples,  this  includes  reflections  on  improving  ownership  and  participation  in  the 
implementation of the Strategy by parliaments and at regional and local level with an emphasis on 
cooperation. 

Mobility  and  a  more  integrated  region  also  bear  the  danger  of  downsides  in  terms  of  lack  of 
security. In order to address the risks of greater mobility accompanied by rising cross-border trade 
and growing economic integration, security and cooperation on security measures needs to be in 
focus. 

The  pillar  therefore  also  addresses  the  fight  against  corruption  and  organised  and  serious  crime, 
practical cooperation in the field of political asylum and the prevention of illegal border crossings 
in  the  Danube  region.  Concrete  actions  involve  moving  from  pure  information,  and  strategic 
agreements with countries, to operational agreements with a view to clear results.  

The  pillar  contributes  to  EU2020.  Only  a  safe  and  well  governed  region  can  genuinely  become 
prosperous and attractive within which to live. Coordination of efforts at all levels of government 
and non-governmental organisations is needed to achieve the goals of the Strategy.  

75

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Examples of financing covering the Region 

Expenditures budgeted by the Structural Funds126 in 2007-2013127 

Technical Assistance  

EUR 3.4 b 

Preparation, implementation 
Studies and communication 

EUR 2.5 b 
EUR 0.9 b 

Other sources of financing 

Other  EU  programmes  contribute  to  this  pillar,  in  particular:  the  Instrument  for  Pre-Accession 
Assistance (IPA) National, Cross-border  Cooperation and Multi-beneficiary country programmes 
and several programmes of the European Neighbourhood and Partnership Instrument (ENPI) (such 
as the Regional Programmes or the Cross-border Cooperation Programmes). National, regional and 
local  policies  are  also  financing  important  projects.  In  addition,  significant  financing  is  already 
provided to a large number of projects via lending and/ or co-financing from various International 
and  Bilateral  Finance  Institutions  such  as  the  European  Investment  Bank  (EIB),  the  European 
Bank  for  Reconstruction  and  Development  (EBRD),  the  World  Bank,  the  Council  of  Europe 
Development Bank (CEB) or other lenders. 

More  recently,  for  the  countries  of  the  Western  Balkans,  additional  efforts  have  been  made  to 
better coordinate and blend instruments for grants and loans via the Western Balkans Investment 
Framework128 (WBIF).  A similar instrument to the WBIF, the Neighbourhood Investment Facility 
operates for the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine. 

126   European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) including cross-border cooperation, Cohesion Fund and European 
Social  Fund  for  the  Member  States.  The  Instrument  for  Pre-Accession  Assistance  and  the  European 
Neighbourhood and Partnership Instrument (ENPI) are not included. 

127   However,  the  use  of  Structural  Funds  depends  on  the  specific  operational  programmes,  developed  and  agreed 
upon  at  the  beginning  of  the  2007-2013  programming  period  in  close  collaboration  between  the  European 
Commission and the respective Member States/ Regions. These should offer opportunities for funding for specific 
actions/  projects,  depending  on  the  priorities  and  measurements/  actions  identified  in  the  respective  operational 
programmes. 

128  The Western Balkan Investment Framework (WBIF) is a blending instrument for grants and loans for candidate 

countries and potential candidates. 

76

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
                                                 
10)  TO STEP UP INSTITUTIONAL CAPACITY AND COOPERATION 

Presentation of the issue 

The countries in the Danube region are characterised by different backgrounds in relation to rule of 
law,  transparency,  democracy,  the  market  economy,  and  general  political  stability.  The 
governments  show  varying  degrees  of  decentralisation.  There  are  different  funding  structures, 
policy mandates, political competences, territorial scopes, and different stages in their relation with 
the EU. 

There  are  also  differences  of  political  bargaining  power  and  institutional  capacity  among  the 
countries, among different levels of public administration and institutions and civil society, as well 
as  between  urban  and  rural  areas.  The  institutional  capacities  are  affected  by  differences  of 
economic performance.  

The importance of cities to the Danube Region must be emphasised. The Danube river itself has 
more  capital  cities  than  any  other  river.  However,  not  only  capital  cities  are  important  for  the 
territory, but also a great number of other large and medium sized cities, smaller towns and regions 
present  a  relatively  polycentric  structure.  The  balanced  urban  and  regional  structure  offers  much 
potential for sustainable development, if adequate use is made of strengthened regional and local 
authorities. 

Full  use  of  this  potential  requires  efforts  improving  transnational,  national,  regional  and  local 
governance  systems.  They  should  focus  on  administrative  capacity  and  optimisation  of 
management practices. In the context of the EU Strategy for the Danube Region they should assist 
in intensifying cooperation.  

Common  challenges  in  the  Danube  region  can  be  best  addressed  by  multilevel  cooperative 
structures. Shared experience and know how leading to real results will be facilitated by genuinely 
effective multi-level governance. This is a key practical aspect of the territorial cohesion objective 
now  enshrined  in  the  Lisbon  Treaty.  Cooperation  optimises  governance  by  a  better  use  of  urban 
and regional potential and it also contributes to a more balanced development in the region.  

Existing initiatives and forms of cooperation are valuable and should serve as a starting point for 
action before creating new mechanisms129. In addition, the European Social Fund (ESF) could be 
more widely used to support actions and projects. 

Danube Region specifics 

The  Region  has  a  heritage  of  deep  political  transformation,  including  post-communist  transition, 
national separatism and the foundation of new states.  

This  makes  bridging  political  divides  particularly  important  as  well  as  improving  institutional 
capacity  and  management  mechanisms  at  supranational  level.  A  good  relation  with  the 
neighbouring  countries  is  crucial.  Although  accession  or  prospective  accession  to  the  EU  has 
improved  the  situation,  new  systems  take  time  to  be  implemented.  They  require  changes  in 

129   E.g. existing governance structures in the framework of the Visegrad Group Cooperation since 1991.  

77

 
 
 
 
 
                                                 
mentalities, building confidence amongst stakeholders and improvement of skills130. Many aspects 
of this can best be done together by transferring knowledge and exchanging experiences. 

This is especially true when the challenges require cooperation across borders. As the recent crisis 
shows,  this  also  extends  to  financial  governance,  which  needs  reinforcing  in  all  countries  of  the 
region, as part of EU wide efforts. 

In addition civil society in some countries remains relatively weak. Cooperation with authorities, 
and  even  communication  remain  limited.  The  capacity  of  civil  society  to  influence  region-wide 
decision making processes, policy-making and implementation needs to be developed further. 

One manifestation of these weaknesses is that the capacity for absorbing development funds in an 
efficient  and  effective  way  varies  throughout  the  region.  In  practical  terms,  this  needs  to  be 
strengthened  and  better  coordinated,  through  know-how  transfer  and  other  measures  e.g.  by 
providing assistance to strengthen skills in designing and implementing projects with cross border 
impact. 

Actions 

(cid:190)  Action - “To combat institutional capacity and public service related problems in the Danube 
region”  –  This  action  aims  at  improving  the  quality  of  public  services  and  optimising 
governance mechanisms for international cooperation at all levels of government. National or 
international partnerships of different national, regional or local authorities play a crucial role 
in  achieving  this  target.  The  institutional  capacity  building  role  of  civil  society  organisations 
should  also  be  strengthened.  Cutting  excessive  bureaucracy,  improving  the  quality  of 
legislation  and  administrative  procedures  should  be  a  focus.  E-government  practices  and 
exchange  of  experience  on  major  infrastructure  projects  of  mutual  interest  should  also  be 
addressed.  Measures  against  corruption  need  to  be  reinforced.  Activities  involved  could  take 
the form of trainings and capacity building on good practices and know how covering efficient 
decision  making,  transparency  requirements,  information  flow,  consultation  methods  and 
proactive  policy  planning.  Financial  engineering, 
schemes,  design  and 
implementation  of  public  finance  reforms,  project  preparation,  impact  assessments,  and 
implementation  arrangements  also  need  common  attention.  Networking  activities  should 
contribute  to  improve  skills,  competence  and  motivation  of  staff  in  the  public  sector. 
Innovative and sustainable regional and urban development and sustainable agriculture should 
be  encouraged  through  common  learning  and  good  practice  including  e.g.  green  urban 
technologies. Social inclusion can be addressed through new and better approaches being more 
widely  shared.  In  this  relation  the  interaction  with  interregional  organizations,  such  as  the 
Danube  Countries  Working  Group,  the  European  Regions  Assembly,  the  International 
Association for Danube Research, the European Regions Institute are crucial. 

financial 

(cid:214)  Example of project - “To increase knowledge of public finance management” – Training 
and exchange of experience is needed to share knowledge in the design and implementation 
of  public  finance  reforms.  Guidance  will  be  provided  for  current  and  future  tasks  in 
reforming  public  financial  management,  streamlining  central  banking,  and  adopting 
international standards by involving relevant training and research institution (e.g. Centre 
of Excellence in Finance, Ljubljana, Slovenia).  

(cid:214)  Example of project - “To build on the experience of the Council of Ministers of Culture 
of  South  Eastern  Europe”  –  Recognising  that  sharing  cultural  values,  exchanging 

130   The  European  project  of  the  newly  established  Regional  School  for  Public  Administration  for  the  Western 

Balkans in Danilovgrad, Montenegro contributes to this goal. (http://www.respaweb.eu) 

78

 
 
 
 
                                                 
experiences  and  patrimony  constitutes  a  unique  instrument  for  maintaining  peace, 
prosperity  and  harmony  in  the  Region  Albania,  Bosnia  and  Herzegovina,  Bulgaria, 
Croatia,  Montenegro,  Romania,  Serbia,  The  Former  Yougoslav  Republic  of  Macedonia 
and Turkey are cooperating also in the framework of the Council of Ministers of Culture of 
South Eastern Europe (Austria has observer status)131. This could be reinforced, especially 
in respect of its joint action plan, adopted in April 2009.  

(cid:214)  Example of project - “To implement the Acta Danubiana -  a proposal for international 
harmonisation of scientific studies of the Danube” - There is a need for harmonised basic 
studies. A concerted effort is also required to synthesise the various studies, investigations, 
designed and built  investments of the  countries along the Danube,  harmonizing  data  and 
monitoring.  

(cid:214)  Example of project - “To use European Groupings for Territorial Cooperation (EGTC) 
in the Danube Region” - EGTCs can support the implementation of the Danube Strategy. 
They  can  complement  and  link  up  with  the  existing  intergovernmental  cooperation 
initiatives and facilitate the cooperation of local players.  

(cid:190)  Action  -  “To  improve  the  trust  of  citizens  and  stakeholders  in  political  authorities”  –  This 
action  should  open  up  a  discussion  about  the  role  of  civil  society  in  this  respect.  An  open 
dialogue  with  different  authorities  and  institutions,  and  a  better  acknowledgement  of  civil 
society  expertise  and  views  in  public  service  is  needed.  The  communication  skills  of  civil 
society  should  be  reinforced  to  promote  confidence  building  measures  (inc.  post-conflict 
management) in the region. There is a need to strengthen a networking culture (e.g. regional, 
local  or  city  networks,  links  with  the  private  sector  as  well  as  religious  and  cultural 
communities)132.  

(cid:190)  Action - “To establish a Danube Civil Society Forum” – promoting the idea of a Danube Civil 
Forum  as  a  pillar  of  civil  society  participation  in  the  Strategy.  Such  projects  could  offer 
experience  within  the  field  of  civil  society-state  dialogue  as  well  as  cross-border  and  trans-
national networking. “To establish a Danube Civil Society Forum” – promoting the idea of a 
Danube  Civil  Forum  as  a  pillar  of  civil  society  participation  in  the  Strategy.  Such  projects 
could  offer  experience  within  the  field  of  civil  society-state  dialogue  as  well  as  cross-border 
and trans-national networking. The European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) and its 
equivalents  in  partner  countries  should  play  a  key  role,  especially  regarding  business, 
employment, labour and social issues. 

(cid:190)  Action - “To ensure sufficient information flow and exchange at all levels” – Improvement 
of  the  capacity  of  administration  to  share  information  and  know  how  needs  to  be  addressed 
(inc.  new  mechanisms  for  sharing  scientific  know  how  and  knowledge).  Strengthening  inter-
disciplinary  and  inter-institutional  working  and  consultation  mechanisms  also  at  international 
level will help to address cross cutting issues and to take into account cross sectoral linkages. 
Examples  can  also  cover  networks  of  cities,  regions,  urban  and  rural  areas.  The  Council  of 
Danube  Cities  and  Regions133  can  be  a  strategic  partner  participating  actively  in  the 

131   www.culturesee.org 
132   “Education Twinning for European Citizenship, Heading for Excellence in the CENTROPE Region (EdTWIN)” - 
is implemented under the lead partnership of Vienna (Vienna Board of Education). This project aims (1) to raise 
awareness for the cultures and the languages of the neighbours, (2) to build up positive attitudes and (3) to set the 
relevant  measures  in  order  to  improve  the  necessary  competence  standards  for  opening  doors  and  widening 
pathways to CENTROPE, a region of excellence in Central Europe. 

133   Final Declaration of the IVth European Conference of the Danube Cities and Regions in Budapest on 11th June 

2009. 

79

 
 
 
 
                                                 
development of joint projects. Such networks can promote cooperation in urban revitalisation, 
support for modern urban technologies, housing projects and organise knowledge transfer etc. 
European  Groupings  for  Territorial  Cooperation  (EGTC)  may  be  especially  useful  in  this 
respect.  Cooperation  is  also  needed  between  planning  institutes  and  the  institutions  dealing 
with  authority-related  tasks,  through  the  development  and  implementation  of  cross-border 
cooperation in settlement and regional planning and licensing procedures134. 

(cid:214)  Example  of  project  -  “To  build  on  the  Danube  Environmental  Forum”  –  one  of  the 
largest  environmental  networks  in  Europe.  This  and  similar  organisations  could  be 
supported  in  order  to  reach  their  potential  to  participate  effectively  in  environmental 
governance, public education, and other important civil society functions in the region.  

(cid:214)  Example of project - “To establish a cooperation map” – of the Danube Region. Such a 
map  could  help  to  measure  and  map  the  currently  existing,  planned  or  merely  suggested 
cooperation projects of the settlements and regions along the Danube.  

(cid:214)  Example of project - “To establish common guidelines for improving spatial planning” – 
This  would  be  useful  to  advise  the  local  authorities  on  best  practices  for  the  human 
settlements  in  the  Danube  Region  and  on  the  way  to  prioritise  infrastructure  and  other 
investments.  Integrated  spatial  planning  should  ensure  that  development  balances 
infrastructural  and  economic  aspects  on  the  one  hand  with  environmental  and  social 
aspects on the other. 

(cid:214)  Example  of  project  -  “To  transfer  knowledge  and  enhance  urban  technologies  and 
strategies”  –  Agglomerations  of  the  Danube  region  need  to  exchange  and  transfer  their 
know-how, and to develop and implement modern technologies and strategies. There is a 
need  for  innovative  and  sustainable  solutions  for  example  in  the  housing  sector,  in 
mobility,  in  coping  with  economic  structural  changes,  and  in  upgrading  public  services. 
There are environmental-friendly technologies and strategies for cities and municipalities, 
which should be better shared.  

(cid:190)  Action  -  “To  facilitate  the  administrative  cooperation  of  communities  living  in  border 
regions” – Eliminating and overcoming administrative and legal obstacles for cooperation and 
adjusting  regional  competences  to  local  needs  would  strengthen  cooperation  between 
institutions  and  local  municipalities  both  at  local,  regional  and  international  levels.  Direct 
regional and local cooperation across borders should be promoted. One of the Danube Region’s 
features is that different national minorities live in the border areas. This also points to a need 
for  easier  crossings  and  better  cooperation.  Indeed,  minorities  have  repeatedly  expressed 
proposals  aimed  at  improving  cross-border  relationships.  Citizens,  entrepreneurs  and 
municipalities of border areas need better information and services. The countries participating 
in  the  Danube  Region  Strategy  could  agree  to  revise  internal  legal  standards  and  other 
administrative prescriptions that obstruct the development of economic and social cross-border 
ties. A discussion on and an overview of possible multilateral reconciliation mechanisms could 
also  contribute  to  improve  political  cooperation  and  good  neighbourly  relations.  Certain 
difficult issues need mutually acceptable solutions for common prosperity. 

134   A  cooperation  exercise  in  this  area  is  in  progress  in  the  countries  of  the  Visegrad  Group  (Czech  Republic, 
Hungary,  Poland,  Slovakia)  together  with  Romania  and  Bulgaria  resulting  in  the  coordination  of  spatial 
development  measures.  Ministerial  Conclusions  of  the  meeting  of  Ministers  responsibnle  for  regional 
development  of  the  Visegrad  Four  countries,  Bulgaria  and  Romania  held  in  Budapest  (Hungary)  on  29  March 
2010. 

80

 
 
 
 
                                                 
(cid:190)  Action - “To build Metropolitan Regions in the Danube Region” – A platform of existing and 
emerging metropolis regions should be initiated in order to establish a framework for learning 
and  development  of  common  ideas  in  all  areas  relevant  to  metropolitan  development.  City 
networks should promote cooperation and exchange of information and experience among e.g. 
administrative  experts,  municipal  and  regional  parliaments.  There  is  a  scope  for  knowledge 
exchange  of  agglomeration  development  strategies.  This  will  lead  to  faster  dissemination  of 
good practice and the detection of promising fields of concrete cooperation on public authority 
level and for business. 

(cid:190)  Action  -  “To  review  bottlenecks  relating  to  the  low  absorption  rate  of  EU  funds  and  to 
ensure  better  coordination  of  funding”  –  The  use  of  different  funding  opportunities  in  the 
region should be improved. Support to potential beneficiaries in their preparation, and in order 
to address better the target groups is needed. The JASPERS135 initiative is a form of assistance 
to  the Central  and  Eastern  EU  Member  States in  the  preparation  of  major  projects  which 
efficient  use  will  gear  towards  accelerating  the  absorption  of  the  available  funds.  Linkages 
between “internal“ EU funding instruments (Structural Funds programmes including European 
Territorial  Cooperation  programmes,  etc.)  and  “external“  EU  funding  instruments  (European 
Neighbouring Policy Instrument (ENPI), Instrument for Pre-accession Assistance (IPA) should 
also be improved.  

(cid:190)  Action  -  “To  support  the  development  of  local  financial  products  for  business  and 
community  development”  –  To  encourage  entrepreneurship  and  development  of  SMEs, 
empower  local  stakeholders  and  foster  communities,  while  encouraging  future-oriented 
businesses.  Rural  or  lagging  behind  areas  need  special  attention.  Activities  include  technical 
assistance, e.g. training in identifying opportunities for “green business“, business development 
and  planning;  micro-and  soft  credit  schemes,  e.g.  in  cooperation  with  commercial  lending 
institutions,  or  via  unbureaucratic  small  grants.  Such  product  development  should  not  mean 
creating  new  funding  sources.  The  efficient  and  harmonised  use  of  existing  financial 
mechanisms is recommended. 

(cid:190)  Action  -  “To  examine  the  feasibility  of  a  Danube  Investment  Framework”  –  Using  or 
expanding  the  experience  of  the  ‘Western  Balkans  Investment  Framework  (WBIF)’  without 
creating  parallel  structures,  this  could  bring  together  the  Institutions  which  finance  projects 
submitted  by  the  Priority  Area  Coordinators, representatives  of  the  European  Neighbourhood 
Partnership  Instrument  (ENPI),  the  national  funding  sources  and  International  Financial 
Institutions.  The  projects  would  be  presented  by  each  Priority  Area  Coordinator.  Projects 
would  be  examined  several  times  a  year,  for  example  during  meetings  with  all  parties 
concerned. The aim is to propose a funding possibility to the project applicants (grant, loan or 
blend of both). 

135   JASPERS offices are located in Vienna and Bucharest 

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11)  TO  WORK  TOGETHER  TO  PROMOTE  SECURITY  AND  TACKLE  ORGANISED  AND  SERIOUS 

CRIME 

Presentation of the issue 

Preconditions for further development of the Danube states in peace, freedom, security, justice and 
economic  prosperity  are  the  further  strengthening  of  the  rule  of  law,  the  fight  against  corruption 
and organised and serious crime, cooperation in the field of asylum and the prevention of irregular 
border crossings in the Danube region.  

Growing  economic  integration  and  rising  cross-border  trade  bear  the  danger  of  rising  organised 
and  serious  crime  in  the  region  (smuggling,  trafficking  in  human  beings,  black  market).  Besides 
the  social  damage  it  causes,  organised  crime  can  also  hinder  business  development  and  limit 
further  economic  growth.  The  recent  history  and  the  different  stages  of  EU  integration  of  the 
Danube  Region  make  this  issue  a  particular  problem.  Differences  in  the  national  legislative 
frameworks  can  make  cross-border  law  enforcement  lengthy  and  cumbersome  and  facilitate 
organised  and  serious  crime.  Therefore,  frameworks  of  international  cooperation  and  existing 
initiatives should be reinforced.  

In most countries of the Danube Region public administrations had to be radically modified after 
regime change in 1989 and  after the dissolution of Yugoslavia. Although accession to the EU (or 
the prospects for accession) has improved the situation, new forms of cooperation take time to be 
implemented as they require changes in mentalities, building confidence amongst stakeholders and 
skills improvements. This is crucial especially in relation to security and crime. Europol as one of 
the EU agencies offers new possibilities to reinforce actions in this area.  

Danube Region specifics 

Many  challenges  in  this  respect  are  shared  (or  have  effects)  across  the  region.  Although  the 
cooperation within the region has improved, certain discrepancies and disparities still need to be 
addressed. This requires both common actions and exchange of experience.   

The  area  is  characterised  by  increased  mobility  of  people  within  the  EU  and  across  its  external 
borders. Therefore, better trans-border cooperation is necessary to guarantee high level of security 
in the whole region without compromising the protection of human rights. The common efforts to 
enhance the cooperation at different levels of law enforcement should have a clear impact for the 
citizens living in the Danube Region 

The EU is gradually liberalising its visa policy in the Western Balkans and is making progress in 
discussions on visa-related issues with its close neighbours. Moldova has started its own dialogue 
with the EU on visas. These positive developments are widely welcomed in the Region and show 
that  the  EU  and  its  close  neighbours  increasingly  share  interests  in  the  way  the  movement  of 
people is managed.  

Actions 

(cid:190)  Action - “To support the Danube states in the administrative cooperation and improvement 
of  qualifications  of  law  enforcement,  judicial  authorities  and  other  services”.  The  existing 

82

 
 
 
 
 
programmes promoting cooperation between the Danube countries in this area should continue 
and  expand  wherever  possible.  The  common  actions  against  trafficking  in  human  beings  are 
crucial. The development of the criminal organisations and the trends of their activities need to be 
better  monitored.  The  following  forms  of  criminal  activities  are  common  threats  for  the 
watercourse and surrounding area of the Danube: smuggling of goods; misuse in circulation of 
goods by ship crews; commercial crime; smuggling of and trafficking in human beings. These 
need to be tackled together. The achievement in this area is crucial for the development of the 
region and its economic potential. 

(cid:214)  Example  of  project  -  “To  improve  information  flows  between  Member  States  and  non-
Member  States  in  the  Danube  Region”.  Exchange  of  know-how,  best  practice  and 
information  between  countries  upstream  and  downstream  the  Danube  River  is  essential. 
Quality  training  and  development  of  concepts  to  improve  transparency  both  in 
administrations  and  business  are  elements  of  this  project.  This  could  also  include  an 
excellence  network  of  existing  public  training  institutions  for  training  administrative 
officials from the Danube Region.   

(cid:214)  Example of project - “To set up a Europol Platform for Experts (EPE) on corruption in 
cooperation  with  the  EU  contact-point  network  against  corruption  (EACN)136,  to 
improve  information  flows  between  Member  States  and  non-Member  States  in  the 
Danube Region”. A pragmatic approach to the fight against corruption. The EPE would 
provide  experts  from  police  force  bodies  and  anti-corruption  authorities  at  national  and 
local level with a platform for the exchange of information and expertise. It would support 
the  development  and  the  promotion  of  common  working  standards  and  best  practices  as 
well  as  information  on  public  procurement,  calls  for  tender  etc.  Quality  training  and 
elaboration of concepts to improve transparency both in administrations and business are 
important  elements  of  this  project.  The  participation  of  private  partners  should  also  be 
considered.  

(cid:214)  Example  of  project  -  “To  enhance  the  better  cooperation  between  practitioners  and 
members of the academia  in the field of criminal law in order to support the Danube states 
in  improvement  of  qualifications  of  the  law  enforcement,  judicial  authorises  and  other 
services”.  

the 

following 

types  of  activities 

(cid:214)  Example  of  project  -  “To  implement  the  Fiscalis  programme”.137    The  programme138 
supports 
fiscal  policy:  
communication  and  information  exchange  system  development,  including  Common 
Communications Networks/ Common Systems Interface (CCN/ CSI), the VAT Information 
Exchange  System  (VIES),  excise  systems,  the  Excise  Movement  and  Control  System 
(EMCS). This includes implementation of multicultural control in relation to the taxation of 
individuals  in  different  participating  countries;  and  organising  seminars,  workshops, 
project groups, study visits and training activities.  

the  area  of 

in 

136   Council Decision 2008/852/JHA of 24 October 2008. 
137   The programme is open to all Member States, candidate countries and potential candidate countries and certain 
countries  participating  in  the  European  Neighbourhood  Policy,  depending  on  the  level  of  their  system’s 
harmonisation  with  the  acquis  communautaire.  The  programme  is  managed  by  the  Directorate-General  for 
Taxation and Customs Union (DG TAXUD) along with the Fiscalis 2013 Committee. 

138   The Memorandum of Understanding for participation in the Fiscalis 2007 programme was signed on 28 August 
2006 and was ratified on 1 December 2006. The application of this Memorandum was automatically extended to 
include the Fiscalis 2013 main actions.  

83

 
 
 
 
                                                 
(cid:190)  Action - “To improve target collection and share key criminal information; to draw a picture 
of the most significant threats in the countries involved; to produce a Serious and Organised 
Crime  Threat  Assessment  (OCTA)  for  the  Danube  Area”.  There is a clear need for tailored 
analyses  of  the  existing  threats  and  more  effective  use  of  Europol’s  cooperation  agreements 
with third countries.  Furthermore, a specific Serious and Organised Crime Threat Assessment 
(OCTA)  for  the  Danube  Area  should  be  produced.  Intelligence  requirements  should  be 
developed  in  consistency  with  the  existing  organised  crime  threat  assessments  produced  by 
Europol.  Single  intelligence  requirements  process  should  be  considered  for  both  EU  and 
Danube  Area  OCTAs.  Europol  will  identify  the  main  threats  of  Organised  Crime  (OC)  and 
Serious Crime (SC) groups and assess the level of corruption and business transparency in the 
Danube  Region.  This  Threat  Assessment  will  also  suggest 
targeted  objectives  and 
recommendations to address the most relevant OC and SC. Based on these recommendations a 
JHA Regional Strategy including security programmes and action plans, will be developed in 
order to lead to concrete operational activities. Based on the Europol External Strategy139 and 
Council Decision 2009/934/JHA140, the exchange of criminal intelligence between Europol and 
the third countries of the region has to be enhanced.  

(cid:214)  Example of project - “To increase the flow of criminal intelligence from countries of the 
Danube  Region  towards  Europol’s  Analytical  Work  File  (AWF)”.  Countries  of  the 
Danube Region should be encouraged to make the most of Europol’s capabilities and share 
relevant criminal intelligence in the framework of the AWFs in line with provisions of the 
Council  Decision  adopting  the  implementing  rules  for  Europol  AWFs141.  The  outcome  of 
the analysis will serve as a basis for the Danube Organised Crime Threat Assessment. An 
increased use of Europol’s AWFs will guarantee that  all the  strategic initiatives  taken in 
the  region  translate  in  a  concrete  operational  outcome  for  the  investigators.  Moreover, 
Europol  could  organise  awareness  and  training  sessions  in  order  to  increase  the 
contribution of Danube countries to Europol’s AWFs and to the threat assessment.  

(cid:214)  Example  of  project  -  “To  support  the  deployment  of  the  European  Secure  Information 
Exchange  Network  Application  (SIENA)  in  non-EU  Member  states  in  the  Danube 
Region”.  As  of  November  2010,  all  non-EU  Member  States  of  the  Danube  Region  with 
which Europol concluded a strategic cooperation agreement142 will have the possibility to 
to communicate and exchange information with all EU Member States via Europol/SIENA.  
Encouraging  the  generalisation  of  the  use  of  this  common  European  information  system 
(already used by EU member states) by all non-EU member countries in the region would 
greatly 
law 
enforcement agencies of the Region.  

interoperability,  cooperation  and 

flow  between 

information 

increase 

(cid:190)  Action - “To strengthen the cooperation of Europol with Southeast European Co-operative 
Initiative  –  Regional  Centre  for  Combating  Trans-border  Crime  (hereinafter:  SECI/ 
SELEC)” as an important player in the security area in the region. 

139   Europol External Strategy 2010 – 2014. 
140   Council  Decision  2009/934/JHA  of  30  November  2009  adopting  the  implementing  rules  governing  Europol’s 

relations with partners, including the exchange of personal data and classified information; O.J. L 325/6. 

141   Council  Decision  2009/936/JHA  of  30  November  2009  adopting  the  implementing  rules  for  Europol  analysis 

work files, O.J. L 325/14. 

142   Croatia, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Moldova, Ukraine. 

84

 
 
 
 
                                                 
(cid:190)  Action  -  “To  develop  further  well-functioning  border-management  systems143”.  There  is  a 
need: to reinforce inland waterways shipping border checks and border surveillance involving 
the  crossing  through  the  Danube  River    of  the  external  borders;  to  facilitate  the  exchange  of 
information between the border guard services of the Danube Region; to equip border crossing 
points  with  biometric  passport  readers,  CCTV  cameras,  online  interconnections  with  Interpol 
databases; to reinforce border surveillance with night-vision equipment, and infra-red sensors; 
to continue the training of border guards; to improve conditions (tariffs, licensing regulations, 
timetables  and  transport  routes)  for  cross-border  traffic  of  passengers  and  goods,  and  to 
introduce  uniform  quality  certification  systems  and  analyse  veterinary  and  public  health 
regulations which prevent free movement of goods and services. 

(cid:214)  Example of project - “To establish unified records, within the River Information Services,  
which  would  contain  data  on  legal  entities,  vessels  and  persons  interesting  from  the 
security aspect”, as well as records on movement of vessels, cargo and passengers in order 
to  enable  more  efficient  prevention  and  suppression  of  criminal  activities,  primarily 
smuggling and trafficking.  

(cid:190)  Action  -  “To  intensify  the  prosecution  of  Internet  crime  (cybercrime)”,  which  is  a  global, 
technical,  cross-border,  and  anonymous  threat  to  the  information  systems,  confronting  the 
national law enforcement agencies with ever new challenges. The central problems concern the 
field of property offences as well as child pornography.  

(cid:190)  Action - “To explore possibilities to extend the current pilot project on exchanges of advanced 
customs  information  in  the  Region”.  The  non-EU  Customs  administrations  in  the  Western 
Balkans are engaged already in developing two IT applications used for the electronic exchange 
of pre-arrival information, supported by EU assistance. Also Moldova and Ukraine are involved 
in an automated exchange of pre-arrival information project (under EUBAM assistance). 

(cid:214)  Example of project - “To set up the eJustice Project S.A.F.E., Secure Access to Federated 
eJustice/  eGovernment”.  S.A.F.E.  defines  a  technical  framework  for  interoperable  and  safe 
use  of  digital  identities  across  administrative  borders  („Trust-Domains“).  The  intention  of 
this initiative is upgrading of electronic communication infrastructure in the area of justice 
with  the  goal  of  defining  open,  interoperable  and  internationally  standardised  interfaces 
that  allow  secure  access  to  communication  services  as  well  as  secure  and  reliable 
electronic  communication.  The  S.A.F.E.  concept  aims  at  the  secure  registration, 
authentication  and  authorization  as  well  as  the  secure  storage  of  communication 
participants.  The  project  is  of  common  interest  for  most  e-government  services  going 
beyond communication and beyond e-justice.  

143   The EU policy related to customs and taxation in the Danube region is determined by the principles that apply to 
the  single  market  and  the  customs  union  (EU  Member  States),  by  the  Enlargement  Strategy  (Croatia,  Serbia, 
Montenegro and Bosnia and Herzegovina) and the European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP)/ Eastern Partnership 
(EaP) for Ukraine and Moldova. The EaP program has been adopted by the Council in May 2009. 

For  Ukraine  and  Moldova  specific  objectives  agreed  in  the  Partnership  and  Cooperation  Agreements  (PCA) 
Action  Plans  are  to  align  customs/  tax  legislation  with  the  EU  and  international  standards,  improve  customs 
control  including  risk  management,  improve  cooperation of  customs  and  tax  administrations with  the  economic 
operators and taxpayers, improve computerization of procedures and integrity standards. 

Under the Eastern Partnership the EU policy objectives are the facilitation of the development of legitimate trade 
and economic relations throughout the region and with the EU, enhance security and safety of the supply chain 
and  combat  customs  fraud.  For  taxation  area  the  objectives  are  to  provide  active  support  to  partner  countries 
taxation  reform,  approximation  of  indirect  taxation  systems,  cooperation  in  policies  to  counteract  fraud  and 
application of the principles of good governance in the taxation area. 

85

 
 
 
 
                                                 
 
 
(cid:190)  Action  -  “To  explore  possibilities  to  extend  the  current  pilot  project  on  exchanges  of 
advanced customs information in the Region”. The Customs administrations in the Western 
Balkans  are  engaged  already  in  developing  two  IT  applications  used  for  the  electronic 
exchange of pre-arrival information, supported by EU assistance. Also Moldova and Ukraine 
are  involved  in  an  automated  exchange  of  pre-arrival  information  project  (under  EUBAM 
assistance). 

(cid:214)  Example  of  project  -  “To  implement  the  DREWS  project  (the  Danube  River  Early 
Warning System)", which allows an automated exchange of information on cargo passing 
between  Serbia  and  Croatia  via  the  Danube  and  to  implement  SEEMS/  SEED,  which 
allows  exchanging consignment related pre-arrival information between several non EU-
countries in the Wesern Balkans.  

(cid:190)  Action - “To address the topic of better managing migration issues in the Danube Region”. 
A regional profile could be elaborated for the Danube Region based on the national Extended 
Migration  Profiles  of  the  14  countries  covered  by  the  Strategy  for  the  Danube  Region.  The 
regional  profile  could  be  complemented  with  recommendations  as  well  as  a  regional  action 
plan. Its goal would be to promote discussion and cooperation on migration policies, coherence 
and coordination between governments, ministries and other stakeholders at local and regional 
or provincial level (International Organisation for Migration). 

(cid:190)  Action  -  “To  continue  demining  in  the  mine-suspected  areas  of  the  Danube  area” 
(agriculture, water, canals, embankment, transport routes, flood prone areas, protected areas); 

(cid:190)  Action - “To improve food security” in the Region: By unifying technical standards and norms 
and consequently reducing technical barriers to trade in agricultural products, food security in 
the Danube region could be essentially improved. In this context, various countries have a vital 
interest in closer cooperation with other partners in the Danube region with regard to both the 
establishment of the food security system and the rural development in the wider sense.  

(cid:190)  Action  -  “To  establish  standardised  operational  procedures  for  joint  activities  in  case  of 

transboundary technical-technological water traffic accidents”. 

(cid:214)  Example  of  project  -  “To  set  up  a  waterway  emergency  centres”,  which  would  host  the 
offices,  authorities  and  training  facilities  involved  in  the  operative  activities  relating  to 
navigation (water police, fire department, the National Headquarters of the Customs and 
Finance Guard, navigation authority, rescue ship, emergency helipad, nautical information 
centre, training centre).  

86

 
 
 
 
ANNEX 

Role of the European Investment Bank (EIB) in the EU Strategy for the Danube Region 

The  Commission  and  the  European  Investment  Bank  (EIB)  have  a  long-standing  background  of 
working  together.  As  such,  the  role  of  the  EIB  in  the  Strategy  can  be  crucial,  especially  in 
mobilising and blending sources of finance for bankable projects. 

The EIB has much experience of cooperation with most of the Member and non Member Countries 
in the Danube region across a range of different sectors. EIB’s key role in ensuring the availability 
of  long-term  financing  to  key  infrastructure  is  underlined  by  the  already  substantial  support 
provided by the Bank in the Danube Region over the course of the last 10 years. Additionally, the 
JASPERS (Joint Assistance to Support Projects in European Regions) initiative144 set up in 2006 to 
help Member States to prepare better project applications proposed for EU Structural Fund grant 
support.  There  is  also  other  technical  assistance  activities  in  the  region,  including  the  Western 
Balkans  Initiative  which  provides  technical  assistance  based  on  their  experience  and  detailed 
insight  into  sector  policies  and  performance,  together  with  a  vast  network  including  Member 
States, the European Commission and other IFIs (international financial institutions).  

Strong EIB presence in the region is also marked by an increased lending volumes; loan signatures 
increased  from  EUR  8.6  billion  in  2007  to  EUR  11.8  billion  in  2009,  including  Structural 
Programme Loans in Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Romania and Slovakia to co-finance 
the  Operational  Programmes.  Sectorwise,  approximately  EUR  5.1  billion  was  dedicated  to 
sustainable transport and energy connectivity, EUR 4.1 billion to environment and water resources 
and EUR 1.9 billion to socio-economic and human development. Furthermore, in the beginning of 
2010,  there  were  274  active  and  122  completed  JASPERS  assignments  in  the  region,  with 
Romania, Czech Republic and Bulgaria as main recipients of technical assistance.    

The main objective of the Danube Action Plan currently developed under the EU Strategy for the 
Danube Region is to formulate a targeted policy for the Danube that meets its ecological, transport 
and socio-economic needs. The Danube Strategy draws extensively on the positive feedback from 
the  EU  Strategy  for  the  Baltic  Sea  Region,  which  was  adopted  by  the  European  Council  on  26 
October  2009  and  to  which  the  EIB  contributes.  In  the  past  the  Bank  has  financed  several 
wastewater  treatment  plants  and  co-financed  high  priority  de-pollution  projects.  The  EIB  has 
likewise  promoted  the  upgrading  of  necessary  infrastructure  to  integrate  the  various  individual 
regions into a larger Baltic Sea region. Overall, the EIB has lent more than EUR 20bn to activities 
in the Baltic Sea Region in the years 2007-2009, with lending volumes increasing from EUR 4bn 
to EUR 10bn annually between 2007 and 2009.  

EIB’s experience from the Baltic Sea Strategy is also a valuable input to the Danube Strategy. The 
Bank’s  contribution  to  the  Danube  Strategy  will  aim  at  providing  value  added  in  all  riparian 
countries. Given the Bank’s sector experience and its priority lending objectives, the EIB is well 
positioned to support developments in all sectors specified in the Danube River Strategy, with the 
particular emphasis on the following two areas: 

(cid:127)  EIB support to improving Navigation on the Danube; 

144   Shared by the EU Commission, the EIB, KfW and EBRD. 

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(cid:127)  EIB support to sustainable water management in the Danube River Basin. 

As in all areas of EIB activity, transport lending has been driven by EU policy. In particular, in line 
with the Transport Lending Policy (2007), inland waterways is one of the modes to which priority 
is  given  by  the  EIB  as  one  of  the  most  promising  modes  in  terms  of  reducing  greenhouse  gas 
emissions per transport unit. However, in the Danube region inland water transport (IWT) projects 
have been relatively limited in number in recent years (see Table 1). In the area of environmental 
management  of  the  Danube  basin,  the  Bank  is  proactively  involved  in  a  number  of  investment 
projects  including  technical  assistance  initiatives  with  a  direct  impact  on  restoration  of 
environmental  state  of  the  Danube  basin,  both  to  speed  up  investments  through  better,  faster 
project preparation and to support promoters to deliver their projects on time (see Table below).  

 The EIB could play a critical role in the implementation of the navigation and restoration of the 
environmental  state  components  of  the  Danube  River  Strategy.  In  addition  to  EIB’s  lending 
activity in the region, the EIB could also extend its technical assistance to support countries of the 
region  and  their  intergovernmental  organisations  in  (i)  providing  support  to  navigation  and 
strategies for the restoration of environmental state, (ii) institutional capacity, including support to 
weaker  promoters,  and  (iii)  in  the  preparation  to  identify  and  prepare  sound  projects  for  EIB 
financing. Technical Assistance is already provided in the region such as the JASPERS initiative, 
the  Western  Balkans  Investment  Framework  (WBIF)145,  or  other  dedicated  project,  sector  or 
financial instrument support. JESSICA (Joint European Support for Sustainable Investment in City 
Areas)  is  an  initiative  launched  in  2006  and  uses  2007-2013  Structural  Fund  allocations  to 
establish  revolving  investment  instruments  rather  than  grant  subsidies,  in  favour  of  urban 
development  projects.  The  JEREMIE  initiative146  (Joint  European  Resources  for  Small  and 
Medium-sized  Enterprises),  also  launched  in  2006,  offers  EU  Member  States,  through  their 
national or regional Managing Authorities, the opportunity to use part of their EU Structural Funds 
allocations  to  finance  small  and  medium-sized  enterprises  (SMEs)  by  means  of  equity,  loans  or 
guarantees,  through  a  revolving  Holding  Fund  acting  as  an  umbrella  fund.  EPEC  (the  European 
PPP  Expertise  Centre)147  was  launched  in  September  2008  and  aims  to  strengthen  the 
organisational  capacity  of  the  public  sector  to  engage  in  Public  Private  Partnership  (PPP) 
transactions. 

The  EIB  also  cooperates  with  other  International  Financial  Institutions  active  in  the  region 
(European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), World Bank, etc.) and EC project 
preparation facilities to upstream build a pipeline of potential projects. 

Examples of selected flagship EIB and JASPERS projects in the Danube Region 

Navigation on the Danube 

Restoration  of  the  environmental  state  of 
the Danube River Basin 

EIB Projects 

Romania: Sulina canal bank protection: 
improvement of navigation conditions on 
the Danube Delta (EUR 38 million) 

Czech Republic: Flood Damage 
Reconstruction 2009 Reconstruction of 
damage caused by floods in Moravia and 
Southern Bohemia in June 2009 (EUR 265 
million) 

145   EIB, in partnership with the European Commission, EBRD and CEB. 
146   Developed by the European Commission and the European Investment Fund (EIF), which is part of the European 

Investment Bank Group. 

147   Launched by the EIB and the European Commission. 

88

 
 
 
 
 
                                                 
Bulgaria: Danube Port of Lom: 
reconstruction and modernisation of port 
infrastructure and equipment (Pan-European 
Corridor VII)  (EUR 17 million) 

Bulgaria: Danube bridge: construction of a 
new combined (road and railway) bridge on 
the Pan-European Corridor IV between 
Vidin (Bulgaria) and Calafat (Romania) 
(EUR 70 million) 

Czech Republic: Water Sector Framework 
Loan III Investment mostly for upgrading, 
improvement, modernisation and expansion 
of water supply and waste water systems 
(EUR 112 million) 

Austria: Sicherung Energieversorgung Linz 

Construction of a waste-to-energy co-
generation plant and expansion of a gas-fired 
combined-cycle power plant in the city of 
Linz (EUR 110 million) 

Slovakia: Košická Bridge Bratislava: 
construction of a new road bridge across the 
Danube, together with connecting urban 
roads (EUR 45 million) 

Romania: Cluj/Salaj Cassa Water Project: 
Investment loan for co-financing the 
extension and rehabilitation of water and 
wastewater systems in Cluj and Salaj 
counties, Romania, supported by Cohesion 
Funds (EUR 26 million) 

JASPERS Projects 

Danube navigation improvement – 
Romania: Section 1 Common Sector 
between Romania and Bulgaria; Section 3 
Navigable channels (Convoy 
formation/dismantling); Section 4 Port of 
Calafat 

Hungary: Flood Prevention: Danube 
reinforcement of embankments 

Modernisation and development of 
Constanta Port – Romania – completed & 
closed 

Slovakia: Water and Wastewater Treatment: 
WWTP Intensification, sewerage and 
drinking water supply in Puchov region 

Development of Public infrastructure along 
Danube and in Danube ports – Romania: 
Development of Public infrastructure in 
Danube ports; Waste collection system - 
depolluting vessels on Danube Sulina – 
Braila; Waste collection system - 
depolluting vessels on Danube Harsova – 
Bazias; RORIS II - Danube VTMIS  - 
Canals – completed & closed; RORIS II - 
Danube VTMIS – Danube – completed & 
closed 

Bank protection works on Sulina Channel – 
Romania 

Slovakia: Water and Wastewater Treatment: 
Ruzomberok, Liptovska Tepla, Liplovske 
Sliace Wastewater Collection and Treatment 
Project 

Romania: Water and Wastewater Treatment: 
Extension/ modernisation water supply/ 
sewerage system in Iasi county 

Environmental Monitoring on the Danube – 
Romania 

Romania: Flood Prevention: Protection 
against coastal erosion 

89