9^th Danube Participation Day

Agenda, registration and further information:

https://capacitycooperation.danube-region.eu/events/9th-danube-participation-day

• Sustainable development of the Danube Region
• Unprecedented challenges for the Danube Region (energy, navigation, and food security)
• Deepening of the regional and cross-MRS cooperation

OPENING OF THE 11^th EUSDR ANNUAL FORUM

Key note Messages (online/video message):

• Olha STEFANISHYNA, Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic integration of Ukraine
• Veronika REMIŠOVÁ, Deputy Prime Minister of the Slovak Republic

Moderators: Dávid SCHUN & Michal JANTOŠKA

• Elisa FERREIRA, EU Commissioner for Cohesion and Reforms
• Virginijus SINKEVIČIUS, EU Commissioner for Environment, Oceans and Fisheries
• Radim DVORAK, Deputy Head of Representation, Head of Political Section, Representation of the European Commission in Slovakia on behalf Adina Ioana VĂLEAN, EU Commissioner for Transport
• Dušan VELIČ, State Secretary of the Ministry of Investments, Regional Development and Informatization of the Slovak Republic
• Marko ŠTUCIN, State Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Slovenia
• Filiep DECORTE, Chief, Programme Development Branch, Interim Emergency Director, UN-Habitat Global Solutions Division
• Maksym MARCHENKO, Head of the Odesa Regional State Military Administration

Moderator: Ihor KORKHOVYI, Ukrainian EUSDR Presidency, Deputy Minister, Ministry for Communities and Territories Development of Ukraine

The Russian invasion of Ukraine has shown how strongly interconnected the Danube Region is. Issues like migration, transport connectivity, energy, digital transition and food security have become central in the Danube Region countries. These challenges require closer cooperation among Danube Region countries to jointly tackle mutual threats. The tremendous role of transport connectivity should be noted in strengthening the economic ties, assisting the grain export from Ukrainian blocked ports towards elimination of a potential food crisis. The EUSDR calls for further consolidation of participating countries, a joint reaction to the threats that have emerged and the use of new opportunities to strengthen the macro-region.

• Ihor KORKHOVYI, Ukrainian EUSDR Presidency
• Petra ČESEN ČATAR, Slovenian EUSDR Presidency

• Imre CSALAGOVITS, Head of the Managing Authority
• Nada BOJANIĆ, Assistant Director, Directorate for European Integration, Bosnia and Herzegovina
• Katalin KOVACS- KASZA, MA/ JS, coordinator innovation topic
• Horst SCHINDLER, MA/ JS, coordinator energy and transport topics
• Gusztav CSOMOR, MA/ JS, coordinator environment topics
• Andreea STRACHINESCU, Head of Unit, DG Affairs and Fisheries, European Commission
• Stephen HALLIGAN MA/ JS, coordinator social issues
• Natalia LIHOLOT, MA/ JS coordinator culture topic
• Johannes GABRIEL, MA/ JS, coordinator governance topic
• Simona ENE, Head of Joint Secretariat

Moderator: Stephen HALLIGAN, MA JS, Danube Region Programme

DRP foundation is the territorial analysis which highlighted both the existing challenges of the region in terms of innovation, environment, governance and energy, and also the emerging ones which relate to the social aspects of the region. In the context of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, these challenges became even more stringent and DRP is prepared to lay the ground for addressing them in a coordinated way among the Danube Region countries. Together with the receipt of the EU candidate status of UA and MD the EU integration of Balkan countries became even more necessary and DRP offers the ideal cooperation platform for preparation for EU accession.

• Yaroslav DEMCHENKOV, Deputy Minister of Energy of Ukraine on EU Integration
• Valerii BEZUS, Head of State Agency on Energy Efficiency and Energy Savings of Ukraine
• Chiara TROVATI, Policy Officer, Energy | Climate | Sustainability, DG Energy, European Commission
• Elizabeth PRESS, Director, Planning and Programme Support (PPS), IRENA (International Renewable Energy Agency)
• Borbála TÓTH, Senior Research Associate, Regional Centre for Energy Policy Research (REKK)
• Ana LEGANEL, expert on Energy issues in the Danube Region

Moderator: Nadija AFANASIEVA, Director, Ukrainian Institute for International Politics, UA PCY Team member

Sustainable economic development and energy security have become priorities for the Ukrainian EUSDR Presidency.

However, the countries and the Danube Strategy member states have experienced unprecedented security threats provoked by the Russian invasion of Ukraine. It has become clear that without security in Europe and in the Danube Region, no sustainable economic development is possible.

It is indispensable to take rapid actions to gain energy security and independence from Russian fossil fuels: natural gas, oil and coal. Russian aggressive foreign policy and energy blackmailing are unacceptable in the European continent. In this field it is worth discussing the energy crisis in terms of the European Green Deal principles and energy diversification, that is an important issue for all macro-regional strategies.

• Risto RAIVIO, Senior Expert, DG Employment, European Social Fund plus, European Commission (tbc)
• Iryna SHUMIK, Head of the Directorate for VET, Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine, EUSDR PA 9
• Maryna POPATENKO, Deputy Minister, Ministry for Youth and Sports of Ukraine
• Erja KAIKKONEN, Head of Policy and Public Outreach Department, European Training Foundation
• Prof. Zdravko KAČIČ, Rector, University of Maribor, incumbent President of “Danube Rectors’ Conference”
• Anders BERGSTRÖM, Policy Area Coordinator, PA Education, Science and Social affairs, EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region
• Stephen Jonathan HALLIGAN, Senior Project Officer, Danube Region Programme Joint Secretariat

Moderator: Nadija AFANASIEVA, Director, Ukrainian Institute for International Politics, SG member of PA 9, UA PCY Team member

The current state of play in the Region demonstrates the importance of investing in the development of civil society, human capital and labour markets, which are key to economic and social stability in times of crisis. The Danube Region remains very sensitive to issues of employment and professional training while confronting the unprecedented social, economic and security challenges. This panel discussion will focus on current developments in the fields of education, training and employment in the Danube Region. It is crucial to continue to invest into these areas for harmonious development of societies and economies.

• Sławomir TOKARSKI, Director, European Territorial Cooperation, EU macro-regions Interreg and Programme Implementation, DG Regional and Urban Policy, European Commission
• Irene SCHNAIT, Project Officer, Danube Strategy Point, EUSDR
• Biljana POPOVIĆ & Julian STÖCKLE, Danube Youth Council representatives
• Claudia SINGER, Coordinator, EUSDR PA 10 Institutional Capacity and Cooperation, EUSDR
• Stefan BARTH, Managing Partner, Agapedia Foundation (Danube Youth Network)

Moderator: Robert LICHTNER, Coordinator, Danube Strategy Point

The EUSDR has paid special attention to the establishment of the Danube Youth Council (DYC), its structure, model, functional area and financing. Involvement of youth into the EUSDR governance aims at promoting the visibility of youth perspectives as well as the contribution of youth to the implementation of the EUSDR, by not only bringing in new ideas, but also to provide the young generation with opportunities for real impact.

This panel will focus on the role and mission of the DYC in the EUSDR as well as on the introduction of the DYC and its activities.

We also will tackle practical examples and advice for youth on how to get involved and influence the decision-making in their countries.

• Jakub BORATYNSKI, Director, EC DG Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs, Networks and Governance
• Denys KUDIN, First Deputy Minister, Ministry of Economy of Ukraine
• Antonio NOVO, the President of the European Clusters Alliance
• Alexander YURCHAK, the President of the Ukrainian Clusters Alliance
• Gerd MEIER ZU KÖCKER, WG-Leader, EUSDR PA 8, VDI/VDE Innovation + Technik

Moderator: Marek PRZEOR, Team Leader, Cluster Policy, DG Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs, European Commission

The European Union is pursuing the industrial policy where clusters lead the green transition, accelerate digital transition and build resilience. This panel will focus on how to better integrate collaboration among EU businesses in the Danube Region using clusters as integrators and facilitators of this collaboration. The COVID-19 pandemic and the Russian aggression on Ukraine raised concerns on the resilience of supply chains. In the past weeks, bilateral exchanges between Ukrainian and European clusters have shown that there are business opportunities for both sides, for example in the agri-food, construction, advanced manufacturing, or textile sectors. Ukrainian companies are looking for new orders and business opportunities and could be interesting partners for the European industry in the Danube Region.

EMBEDDING EUSDR INTO EU PROGRAMMES – PANEL DISCUSSION

Results of the Embedding in EU and non-EU countries is presented by:

• Johan MAGNUSSON, Team-Leader, DG Regional and Urban Policy, EU macro-regional strategies, European Commission
• Katharina LENZ, Pillar Officer, Danube Strategy Point, EUSDR
• František KOLOČÁNY, Transnational cooperation programs, Ministry of Investments, Regional Development and Informatization of the Slovak Republic, Slovak EUSDR Deputy NC
• Imre CSALAGOVITS, Head of Managing Authority, Danube Region Programme
• Andreea STRACHINESCU, Head of Unit, DG Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, European Commission
• Ioana MINDRU, Managing Authority, Romania-Serbia Interreg IPA CBC Programme
• Nicole HAUDER, Evaluation Officer, Danube Strategy Point, EUSDR

Embedding in non-EU/IPA countries:

• Mihajilo DAŠIĆ, Acting Assistant Minister of European Integration, Ministry of European Integration, Republic of Serbia (tbc)
• Igor MALAI, Chief of the Regional Development Policy Department, Ministry of Infrastructure and Regional Development, Republic of Moldova
• Besiana NINKA, Project Manager, Interact
• Ihor KORKHOVYI, Ukrainian EUSDR Presidency, Deputy Minister, Ministry for Communities and Territories Development of Ukraine
• Bojan VUJOVIĆ, Ministry of European Affairs, Government of Montenegro

Moderator: Robert LICHTNER, Coordinator, Danube Strategy Point

• Energy security and sustainable economy of the Region – Nadija AFANASIEVA
• Human capital and labour markets – Nadija AFANASIEVA
• Youth activities in the EUSDR / Presentation of the Danube Youth Council – Irene SCHNAIT
• European value chains – Marek PRZEOR

• Michal BLAŠKO, Director for transnational cooperation programs, Ministry of Investments, Regional Development and Informatization of the Slovak Republic, Slovak EUSDR NC
• Johan MAGNUSSON, Team-Leader, EC DG Regional and Urban Policy, EU macro-regional strategies
• Robert LICHTNER, Coordinator, Danube Strategy Point
• Ihor KORKHOVYI, Ukrainian EUSDR Presidency, Deputy Minister, Ministry for Communities and Territories Development of Ukraine

«EXHIBITION OF A COLLECTION OF THE UKRAINIAN PYSANKAS AND KOSIV CERAMICS» (ON-SITE ONLY)

The Ukrainian side organises an exhibition that presents traditional Ukrainian folk culture, its artistic, ritualistic, and symbolic heritage. Easter eggs from different regions of Ukraine and painted ceramics from the town of Kosiv included in the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity will be put on display at the exhibition.

OPEN СONFERENCE «POSSIBILITIES OF FUNCTIONING OF THE NATURE CONSERVATION FUND: MONITORING AND NATURE PROTECTION» (ONLINE ONLY)

In the framework of the 11^th EUSDR Annual Forum, the Institute of Market and Economic & Ecological Research of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine organises an open international conference aimed at discussing a new effective communication mechanism for environmentalists and other stakeholders of the Black Sea region and the Lower Danube through the promotion of the digital platforms for the exchange of monitoring data of the nature reserve fund objects, the experience of environmental activity in these areas.

OFFICIAL CEREMONY CELEBRATING 10 YEARS JUBILEE OF THE DANUBE TRANSFER CENTRES (ON-SITE ONLY) – Registration closed

The Danube Transfer Centre (DTC) Network, flagship project of the EUSDR Priority Area 8, Competitiveness, Working Group Innovation and Technology Transfer, coordinated by Steinbeis Europa Zentrum, celebrates its 10 years jubilee with an official ceremony of signatures of the newest members. We are especially pleased to be able to contribute to recovery, development and unity within the Danube region by welcoming a Ukrainian partner in our network in these troubling times. The DTC network contributes to enhanced networking and capacity building within the whole Danube macro-region in the field of innovation and technology transfer and generates a transnational added value by collaborating in various projects.