On 6 November 2025, during the 14th Annual Forum of the EU Strategy for the Danube Region (EUSDR), held under the Bosnian and Herzegovinian EUSDR Presidency, a historic milestone was achieved. For the first time, and at the invitation of the EUSDR Presidency, the four Presidencies of the EU macro-regional strategies (EUSDR, EUSAIR, EUSALP, EUSBSR) met within the framework of EUSDR Annual Forum.
The Joint Meeting EUSDR and EUSAIR National Coordinators, entitled “Enhancing EU Accession Support for Candidate Countries in EUSDR and EUSAIR” marked an important step towards strengthening regional cooperation, advancing EU integration, and fostering mutual learning across Europe.
🔹Midhat Džemić, Bosnian and Herzegovinian EUSDR Presidency, highlighted “The Macro-regional strategies as vital policy networks for enlargement, which can support the EU enlargement process through concrete and tangible initiatives at regional level.”
🔹Zuica Zmejkovska, North Macedonian EUSAIR Presidency, added:
“Now is the right moment to initiate a specific joint action that will result in concrete actions from which the whole region can benefit from. Today we want to set the ground for the future.”
🔹Elvira Habota, Director of the Directorate for European Integration, Bosnia and Herzegovina underlined: “Bosnia and Herzegovina attaches great importance to regional cooperation and to the implementation of both the EUSDR and EUSAIR strategies, which are vital frameworks for fostering integration, stability, and sustainable development across the region.”
This first joint session reflects a shared vision of a united, stable, and prosperous Europe, founded on partnership, solidarity, and shared responsibility – strengthening institutional capacities and aligning regional priorities with EU standards to build a more cohesive and resilient future.
