EU Strategy for the Danube Region Consolidated Input Document of the Danube Countries for the Revision of the EUSDR Action Plan FINAL VERSION 5th July 2019, handed over to the European Commission / DG Regio on 5th July 2019 1/103 Table of Contents PRELUDE ........................................................................................................................................... 3 PART A: ............................................................................................................................................. 4 1. Scope of the Revision Process of the EUSDR Action Plan ...................................................... 4 1.1. EUSDR History ................................................................................................................... 4 1.2. The Reasons for revising the Action Plan ........................................................................ 5 1.3. The scope of the revision ................................................................................................. 8 2. Description of the Revision Process of the EUSDR Action Plan ............................................. 8 3. Results and recommendations from the evaluation ........................................................... 10 4. Proposals for drafting a Narrative for the Danube Region .................................................. 14 5. Strategic Objectives for increasing the Quality of Living in the Danube Region ................ 15 5.1. Spatial Trends in the Danube Region ............................................................................ 15 5.2. Acknowledgment of superior goals and objectives ...................................................... 18 5.3. Strategic Objectives of EUSDR ....................................................................................... 20 6. Priorities and Pillars, Specific Objectives and Targets ......................................................... 23 6.1. Priorities and Pillars of EUSDR ....................................................................................... 23 6.2. Specific Objectives of EUSDR: ........................................................................................ 24 6.3. Cross-cutting Issues ........................................................................................................ 26 7. EUSDR Governance ................................................................................................................ 27 7.1. Internal governance – core EUSDR actors .................................................................... 28 7.2. External governance ....................................................................................................... 33 7.3. Cooperation with other MRS and sea-basin strategies ................................................ 35 8. Interplay of EUSDR with European funding facilities ........................................................... 35 PART B: Revised targets, actions and projects for the EUSDR .................................................... 39 PA 1A - WATERWAYS MOBILITY ................................................................................................ 40 PA 1B - RAIL-ROAD-AIR MOBILITY ............................................................................................. 44 PA 02 - SUSTAINABLE ENERGY .................................................................................................. 52 PA 03 - CULTURE & TOURISM ................................................................................................... 57 PA 04 - WATER QUALITY ............................................................................................................ 63 PA 05 - ENVIRONMENTAL RISKS ............................................................................................... 69 PA 6 - BIODIVERSITY & LANDSCAPES ........................................................................................ 75 PA 07 - KNOWLEDGE SOCIETY .................................................................................................. 82 PA 08 - COMPETITIVENESS OF ENTERPRISES ........................................................................... 87 PA 09 - PEOPLE & SKILLS ........................................................................................................... 92 PA 10 - INSTITUTIONAL CAPACITY & COOPERATION ............................................................... 96 PA 11 - SECURITY ....................................................................................................................... 99 ANNEX 1 ....................................................................................................................................... 102 2/103 Revision of the EUSDR Action Plan: Consolidated Input Document of the Danube Countries (5th June 2019) PRELUDE This “Consolidated Input Document of the Danube Countries” was elaborated by the Danube Strategy Point (DSP) in its role as process facilitator, jointly agreed and approved by the EUSDR National Coordinators and handed over to the European Commission / DG Regio, on 5th July 2019. This document compiles and contextualizes the outcomes of multifaceted consultations. As it stems from the actors directly concerned with steering and implementing the EUSDR, it constitutes the primary basis for the revised Action Plan, which is to be elaborated by the European Commission / DG Regio until autumn 2019. The document consists of two parts: Part A of this document describes the envisaged strategic and operational framework for of the revised Action Plan (scope and description of the revision process, results and recommendations of the Operational Evaluation, thematic orientation of the EUSDR, governance and interplay with funding facilities). Part B then transfers “words into action” and demonstrates envisaged future foci at Priority Area level (targets, actions, strategic projects / activities). 3/103 Revision of the EUSDR Action Plan: Consolidated Input Document of the Danube Countries (5th June 2019) PART A: 1. Scope of the Revision Process of the EUSDR Action Plan 1.1. EUSDR History In 2008, the Prime Ministers of Austria and Romania introduced the idea of creating a strategy for the Danube Region in a letter to the President of the European Commission, José Manuel Barroso. The actual start of EUSDR is 19th June 2009, when the European Council requested the European Commission to prepare a European Union Strategy for the Danube Region before the end of 2010 (Scoping Paper for the public consultation 2010). On 8th December 2010, the European Commission adopted two main documents: the Communication to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions (COM(2010) 715), and an accompanying Action Plan (SEC(2010)1489/3), a Commission Staff Working Document which complements the Communication. The Communication (COM(2010) 715) describes the challenges and opportunities of the Danube Region, recommends an integrated approach, proposes the Action Plan (AP) (SEC(2010) 1489/3) and asks for a strong commitment from the participating countries and stakeholders. In the Communication, 4 Pillars and 12 Priority Areas (PAs) are listed. The Action Plan facilitates the transfer from ‘words to actions’ by identifying concrete actions for each of the 12 Priority Areas. On 13th April 2011, the European Council endorsed the Council Conclusions on EUSDR (3083rd GENERAL AFFAIRS Council meeting) thanks to the efforts of Hungary during its EU Presidency. The Action Plan states that each Priority Area allocates the coordination to a Priority Area Coordinator (PAC). The Danube Region countries established for each of the 12 Priority Areas 2 Priority Area Coordinators from different countries. A Steering Group as board consisting of representatives of the Danube Region countries accompanies each of the Priority Areas. In 2012, each Priority Area specifies actions to tasks and summarizes them to their Priority Areas’ Targets and Actions adopted by their Steering Groups. In May 2016 a new/updated set of targets per Priority Areas was validated by the National Coordinators (NCs) and Priority Area Coordinators at a joint meeting held in Bratislava (Slovakia). For enhancing the coordinative capacity, the Danube Strategy Point (DSP) was established in 2015. The DSP implemented communication tools and helped to harmonize activities and reporting of PACs. The work of DSP stopped in 2017 and was re-established and re-organized in autumn 2018 as supportive body for all actors of EUSDR. Both acting bodies, the PACs and DSP are funded by the Danube Transnational Programme (DTP), which facilitates the necessary organizational structure for EUSDR activities, thus acting in the framework of transnational projects. Another tool for enhancing cooperation, which also offers the opportunity for exchanging important thematic issues are the Annual Fora (AF), organized by the respective year’s Presidency of EUSDR. Usually the Annual Fora are a market place for ideas and important events e.g. for political conferences. 4/103 Revision of the EUSDR Action Plan: Consolidated Input Document of the Danube Countries (5th June 2019) 1.2. The Reasons for revising the Action Plan The EUSDR Action Plan was designed to remain stable for a certain period. However, over the years, the priorities evolved and hence, some of the actions and projects became outdated. Therefore, as the valid Action Plan states “actions and projects may be