Danube Strategy: Coordinated implementation

Government Commissioner, Etelka Barsi-Pataky, emphasised the coordinating role of the Danube Region Strategy,at an international conference which was held in the Hungarian Parliament building, with the representatives of 27 countries - most of them - participating in the new macro-regional cooperation of the EU in attendance.

In her speech, Mrs Barsi-Pataky branded opinions, suggesting that the strategy failed to represent any added value, and created unnecessary administrative layer in the regional structure of the Union, as “ill-conceived”. The Government Commissioner said the voluntary nature of participation, also proves that the strategy intends to accomplish improved outcomes by matching existing objectives and means rather than to create a bureaucratic structure.

The Government Commissioner also stressed the symbolic significance of the Danube Strategy. It strengthens integration inside the Union. It also tightens good neighbourly relations between adjacent areas, since six non-EU countries also participate in the cooperation, in addition to eight member states.

The aim of the Hungarian presidency is to ensure that preparations are complete and the implementation can start as soon as the member states approve  the strategy, at the June meeting of the Council of Europe. Mrs. Barsi-Pataky said the purpose of the current “preliminary preparation”phase, is to ensure that the coordinators of each priority area, have held a kick-start meeting by the end of April, to determine the work plan, the objectives and the methods of cooperation.

Hungarian Minister for Foreign Affairs, János Martonyi, and Johannes Hahn, European Commissioner for Regional Policy, introduced the coordinators of the 11 priority areas, on 3 February in Budapest. At least two countries will be responsible for implementing each objective.