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The role of research in the implementation of European Strategies and Directives in a Lower and Danube Delta regional context -

Research and innovation have become decisive factors in EU policies on account of their influence in the Lisbon Agenda and EU2020 Strategy, as well as in a number of policies with a strong territorial impact (regional policy, integrated maritime policy, etc.) or which are specifically dedicated to this area (Horizon 2020, COSME, specific state aid regulations concerning R&D). The Conference of Peripheral Maritime Regions of is, according to the statements on official website, “actively involved in innovation and research issues. It believes that innovation and research can boost the competitiveness of territories taking on board their specific circumstances, and that support for innovation and research should have an additional objective of ensuring a balanced development of the European territory”. (http://www.crpm.org/index.php?act=13,18).

On the other hand, the report from the commission to the european parliament, the council, the european economic and social committee and the committee of the regions concerning the Strategy for the Danube presented in Brussels last month concluded that “the Strategy provides a robust integrated framework for countries and regions to address issues which cannot be handled satisfactorily in an isolated way, but instead require transnational strategic approaches, projects and networking. It allows for better cooperation to improve the effectiveness, leverage and impact of policies, at EU, national and local level, utilising existing policies and programmes and creating synergies between them.”(http://www.crpm.org/) In the same time the report said that “The Strategy operates at an intermediate level between national and EU-wide work on topics such as research and innovation, migration or security. It strengthens the integration of countries with the EU, and brings countries in the Western , and regions of the closer to the Union.” It is not the first time that global or European Union funded programmes are encouraging the participation in regional projects in the Lower Danube and Danube Delta region but this strategy has a strong research component. We started with this strategy because the conclusion of the report fits into the he objective of the Balkan and Regional Commission of the Conference of Peripheral Maritime Regions of Europe (CPMR). This objective is “to encourage dialogue and cooperation between sub-state spheres of government. The aim is to constitute a lasting institutional framework to support the integration of these areas and improve their relations with the EU in the context of enlargement. Strengthening interregional cooperation and developing joint projects in sectors such as transport, the environment and economic development are ways of helping to establish peace and stability in this part of the world.” ( http://www.balkansblacksea.org/)

Regarding the projects, policies and networks for the Danube Region, “the Strategy focuses particularly on concrete and strategic projects and initiatives with amacro-regional impact. The Strategy and its Action Plan are organised around four pillars toaddress the major issues. It facilitates new projects, gives new momentum to existing projects and supports networks for the Region”. (http://www.crpm.org/)

Pillar 1 - Connecting the Danube Region – New research projects on innovative vessels, such as the project NEWS, are developing technological solutions to renew the Danube fleet, with more competitive and environmentally friendlier approaches, e.g. through more efficient, cleaner engines, and better ship body design. This contributes to the overall goal to increase sustainable cargo transport on the river by 20 % by 2020, compared to 2010;

Pillar 2 - Protecting the environment in the Danube Region – The Commission Directorate General for Research and Innovation has launched a call for research projects, to design environmental research and improve the uptake of results in the Region. This has mobilised significant actors and resources from public (national and EU) and private sources for efficient river-delta-coast-sea management overall; – The Danube Sturgeon Task Force has been created to secure viable populations of this important fish in the river, facilitating projects, measures and initiatives for bringing sturgeon back. It promotes a cross-cutting approach, linking biodiversity to policy areas such as water quality, permeability of habitats, economic development, environmental education, and even prevention of crime (related to the illegal caviar trade). Experts from our institute are members of the Danube Sturgeon Task Force and they participated last year in January in the first meeting in Vienna. – The DANUBE FLOODRISK project explores methods and databases on which countries can work together jointly. In all, 19 institutions in 8 Danube countries were participating, and accelerating progress towards shared databases and flood mapping. The project is just finished, it was a success and we are proud to say that Danube Delta National Institute for Research and Development based here, in Tulcea, was one of the most important partners.

Pillar 3 - Building prosperity in the Danube Region – The Commission Directorate General for Communication Networks, Content and Technology has launched a new e-infrastructure project under the 7th Framework Programme to improve access to and provision of advanced computing services to researchers. The new e-infrastructure will act as a bridge to the supercomputer facilities of the European PRACE initiative for countries in the Danube region, and indeed also for some countries. The SEERA-EI project capitalises on this, placing it and other work on a Danube regional agenda; – The Danube Region Business Forum, coordinated by the Austrian Chamber of Commerce, provides an important networking platform, encouraging business-to-business meetings, and supporting links with knowledge providers such as research institutes and universities. – Work has started to create a Danube Research and Innovation Fund, pooling national and regional funds, building on the experiences of the BONUS programme in the Baltic Sea Region. A joint Declaration of Danube Region Ministers for Research was signed in Ulm on 9 July 2012, paving the way for preparatory work. The Directorate General for Research and Innovation and the Directorate General for Regional and Urban Policy supports this work, notably through a Danube INCO.net and other assistance.

Pillar 4 - Strengthening the Danube Region – The Joint Research Centre has launched an initiative to provide scientific support to the Strategy, in cooperation with key scientific partners from the Region. Work has started on setting up a Danube-wide reference data and service infrastructure on common challenges such as environment protection, navigability, irrigation and agricultural development and energy production. Four thematic scientific clusters are being launched to foster scientific cooperation and to streamline research activities.

Regarding another objective, to create synergies and align funding sources, a possibility is to improve the way in which resources and knowhow, often already available to the Region, are utilised through better coordination. Building on this approach, the Strategy aims to achieve better results and greater impact by aligning existing funds and policies at EU, national and regional level. Examples include: – infrastructure projects, such as the wastewater treatment plant in Budapest, ensuring better water quality throughout the Region, financed from European Structural and Investment Funds; – cross-border programmes, such as -, and Romania – Moldova - Ukraine, are increasingly aligned with the Strategy, using specific calls or attributing extra points in selection procedures; – transnational cooperation programmes, such as South East Europe, and Black Sea, have financed new Danube Strategy projects; Danube Delta National Institute for Research and Development was partner in 7 projects. – the 7th Framework Programme for Research has launched three calls specifically addressing Danube Region challenges, on an innovative fleet, on environmental solutions, and on the coordination of science and technology policies; Danube Delta National Institute for Research and Development was participating in 6 projects.

In our opinion a dedicated research fund to the Danube Delta Region - and we understood that the Governor of the Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve Authority already promoted this to the European Commission level – will lead to better environmental solutions, and on the coordination of science and technology projects, including solution for the implementation of sensitive European Directives as Natura 2000(Birds and Habitats Directives), Water Framework Directive, Inspire Directive or Floods Directive.

We will end with an example of successful research project at a regional level: the Joint Danube Delta Survey (JDDS). The joint research expedition was hold during the period from September 26th till October 7th 2011 within the project “Joint environmental monitoring, assessment and exchange of information for integrated management of the Danube delta region” with the assistance of scientists from Ukraine, Romania and Moldova. The Project is implemented by the International Commission for the Protection of the Danube River (ICPDR) through the “Environment and Security” initiative (ENVSEC) in cooperation with UNEP, UNECE and regional partners, including representatives of the three Danube Delta countries (Romania, Ukraine and Moldova). The Centre for Regional Studies (CRS), Odessa, is responsible for the regional project management in the Danube Delta Sub-basin, and the Danube Delta National Institute for Research and Development was the Romanian National co-rdinator. The JDDS is the first practical step towards a harmonisation of the monitoring systems of Ukraine, Romania and Moldova, by collecting and exchange of homogeneous data about the state of the Danube Delta water resourses using unified approach and methods. The JDDS was based on the approach of the Second Joint Danube Survey (JDS2) which was organized in 2007 under the auspices of the ICPDR. Following jointly agreed Monitoring Program the JDDS was focused on assessment of the chemical, biological and hydromorphological parameters of the state of the Danube Delta inland waters including the main branches, canals, channels and inner lakes of the Delta covering the area from the mouth of the Prut River to the Black Sea. Proposed JDDS sampling network fixed 16 sampling points including 6 existing stations of the Transnational Monitoring Network (TNMN) of the ICPDR. The JDDS was conducted in two phases on board of the research vessel “Tsyklon” provided by the Danube Hydrometeorological Observatory (Ukraine) and vessel “ROUA” of the Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve (Romania). The first stage of the JDDS was held from 26 till 29 September 2011 in the border zone of Ukraine and Romania with sampling in the mouth of the Prut River, towns of Reni, Izmail, Kilia, Vilkovo and the mouth of the Bysrtoe arm.

During the first stage the JDDS Press Conference was held at the passenger terminal of the Port of Izmail and on the vessel “Tsyklon” on 28th of September. The second stage of the JDDS was held from 30 September to 5 October 2011 in Romania. Sampling was carried out at the following points: Tulcea, Sulina, Sf.George, Uzlina, Erenciuc Lake, Isak Lake, Cuibul cu lebede Lake. The final JDDS event was the Press Conference held on 5 October 2011 at the Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve Authority headquarters in Tulcea, Romania. The survey involved 23 experts from three countries and crew of the research vessels and service staff (in total 41 participants). For the period of the JDDS more than 150 samples were collected. Analysis of the samples was done in the laboratories of the relevant organizations in Ukraine, Romania and Moldova. Preliminary results, as well as the preparation of the JDDS Report were discussed during the Working meeting of the Project on December 6-7, 2011 in the city of Izmail. Now the JDDS Report is under preparation involving international experts and with consulting support from the ICPDR.

In conclusion, we strongly believe that the Conference of Peripheral Maritime Regions of Europe needs and could be at a great help for research and developments projects and activities, and this could be done by including these type of projects into the priority objectives of the Balkan and Black Sea Regional Commission (BBSRC) among the 30 Regions from , , Romania, , , and Ukraine currently brought together.

Thank you.

Roman Pirvulescu, Director Danube Delta National Institute for Research and Development

Marian Tudor, Deputy Scientific Director Danube Delta National Institute for Research and Development