The European Commission released today a communication on the EU Action plan for the Danube region. The plan aims to promote cooperation around the Danube region, developing a long-term strategy of EU neighbourhood policy based on environmentally-friendly transport connections and energy infrastructures and stimulating economic and social growth among the countries in Central and South-East Europe.

Ramona MANESCU, MEP, ALDE REGI Coordinator (PNL, Romania) said :
"The strategy will help the countries to improve their connectivity and communication systems, covering in particular transport, energy and the information society issues, to preserve the environment and guard against natural risks and to strengthen the potential for socio-economic development."

"A major advantage of this Strategy would be its complementarity with existing structural funds as well as the EU neighbourhood policy which includes member states and non-member states such as Croatia, Serbia, Ukraine and Moldova, she added."

Filiz Hyusmenova, (MRF, Bulgaria) said : "As Vice-Chairwoman of the Committee on Regional Development and a  Bulgarian citizen I expect that soon everybody will be convinced of the important role the Danube strategy will play for the acceleration of economic and social cohesion in the macro region, as well as for strengthening and broadening of the territorial cooperation. Citizens and local communities must be closely involved in the development of the strategy if it is to be a success."

"The Danube represents successful integration between East and West and may be symbolic for the integration of southern Europe on the basis of the transfer of technology, skills and economic know-how", added Micheal Theurer (FDP, Germany), deputy chairman of the Danube Forum. 

This Strategy will be the next "macro-region" to be established by the European Union. The initiative aims to deepen cooperation among 14 countries, which includes eight EU Member States: Austria, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia. The six other countries involved are Bosnia Herzegovina, Croatia, Serbia, Moldova, Montenegro and Ukraine.

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