On 13 June 2017, the EU Strategy for Danube Region (EUSDR) National Coordinators have conferred the “EUSDR Strategic Project” status on nine projects, showcasing the successful progress, joint efforts and commitment of the Danube Region countries and relevant stakeholders in implementing the Strategy through projects.
This is the result of a collective effort led by the Danube Strategy Point (DSP) — involving the key implementers of the EUSDR i.e. the Priority Areas Coordinators (PACs) and Steering Group Members, project promoters and ultimately the National Coordinators — which aimed at identifying projects with high macro-regional impact benefitting the Danube Region and its EU Strategy.
The EUSDR Strategic Projects’ selection and validation process followed a bottom-up approach in line with the methodology and selection criteria set up in the Concept Paper for EUSDR Strategic Projects.
The overall process considered some 31 projects initially identified by five EUSDR Priority Areas which have decided to pursuing the status of “EUSDR Strategic Project” for selected projects in their respective areas, namely PA1a (Mobility Waterways), PA3 (Culture & Tourism), PA6 (Biodiversity & Landscapes), PA9 (People & Skills), and PA10 (Institutional Capacity). This pre-selection phase was followed by a comprehensive quality review conducted by the DSP which has led to the recommendation that nine projects meet the EUSDR strategic value and attributes defined in the Concept paper. This outcome was agreed upon and confirmed by the EUSDR National Coordinators during their meeting of 13 June 2017 in Budapest. Accordingly, the “EUSDR Strategic Project” status has been conferred on the following nine projects :
- FAIRway Danube – Coordinated deployment of the Fairway Rehabilitation & Maintenance Master Plan for the Danube and its Navigable Tributaries;
Overall Objective : to implement the “Fairway Rehabilitation and Maintenance Master Plan of the Danube and its navigable tributaries”, attain and ensure good navigation conditions throughout the year by providing a minimum level of service.
Quick facts
– project duration : July 2015 – June 2020
– total budget : 23,428,467.00 EUR (co-financing by CEF)
Website : http://www.fairwaydanube.eu/
2. Danube STREAM – Smart, Integrated and Harmonized Waterway Management;
Overall Objective : to establish and maintain an efficient and environmentally-friendly transportation network (Danube and its navigable tributaries) by further developing effective waterway infrastructure management.
Quick facts
– project duration : January 2017 – June 2019
– total budget : 2,108,661.42 EUR (co-financing by ERDF + IPA)
Website : http://www.interreg-danube.eu/approved-projects/danube-stream
3. Energy Barge – Building a Green Energy and Logistics Belt;
Overall objective : to exploit the potential for green energy in the form of biomass along the Danube river in a sustainable way, thereby increasing energy security and efficiency in the Danube countries, considering: the Renewable Energy Directive 2009/28/EC, the EU2020 climate goals, and the EUSDR’s objective.
Quick facts
– project duration : January 2017 – June 2019
– total budget : 2,323,519.65 EUR (co-financing by ERDF)
Website : www.interreg-danube.eu/energy-barge
4. DAPhNE – Danube Ports Network;
Overall Objective : to facilitate a balanced development of Danube Ports as eco-friendly, well accessible multimodal hubs for the transport system of the region, turning them into buzzing economic centres functioning as catalysts for economic growth and creation of high value jobs.
Quick facts
– project duration : January 2017 – June 2019
– total budget : 2,985,406.15 EUR (co-financing by ERDF + IPA)
Website : www.interreg-danube.eu/daphne
5. DANTE – Improving Administrative Procedures and Processes for Danube IWT;
Overall Objective : to identify and eliminate administrative barriers for inland waterway transport (IWT) on the Danube & its navigable tributaries as a joint initiative of the private sector and the national public authorities responsible for these barriers. “Same River – Same Rules !”.
Quick facts
– project duration : January 2017 – June 2019
– total budget : 1,982,786.00 EUR (co-financing by ERDF + IPA)
Website : http://www.interreg-danube.eu/approved-projects/dante
6. Danube SKILLS – Increased institutional capacity in Danube navigation by boosting joint transnational competences and skills in education and public development services;
Overall Objective : to increase institutional and organisational capacity in the Danube Region by building-up joint transnational capacities for the education and public services providers in the inland navigation.
Quick facts
– project duration : January 2017 – June 2019
– budget : 2,023,100.00 EUR (co-financing by ERDF + IPA)
Website : http://www.interreg-danube.eu/approved-projects/danube-skills
7. CultPlatForm_21 – Danube Culture Platform – Creative Spaces of the 21st Century;
Overall Objective : to establish an innovative multi-level policy framework benefitting the cultural routes in the Danube Region.
Quick facts
– project duration : January 2017 – June 2019
– budget : 1,676,878.64 EUR (co-financing by ERDF + IPA)
Website : http://www.interreg-danube.eu/approved-projects/cultplatform-21
8. EDU-LAB – New Danubian Governance in Labour market relevance of higher education;
Overall Objective : to improve institutional capacities to increase the labour market relevance of higher education with a view to retain more young talents studying and working in the region. A new governance model will be developed with the goal to create a binding commitment by the “Danubian Charter for young talents”.
Quick facts
– project duration : January 2017 – June 2019
– budget : 2,528,088.90 EUR (co-financing by ERDF + IPA)
Website : http://www.interreg-danube.eu/approved-projects/edu-lab
9. CrowdInno – Crowdfunding to drive regional Innovation;
Overall Objective : to establish innovation networks enabling the public sector to support SMEs, spin-offs and start-ups to access qualitative alternative financing (crowdfunding) and to exploit the resulting findings for more innovation in the Danube Region.
Quick facts
– project duration : April 2016 – April 2019
– budget : 2,708,470.00 EUR
Website : https://www.keep.eu/keep/project-ext/42774/CrowdInno
