EU Strategy for the Danube Region: 15 Years of Cooperation and Cohesion
Fifteen years ago, the European Union and the countries of the Danube Region set a clear and ambitious direction: to address shared challenges together and unlock the full potential of one of Europe’s most diverse macro‑regions. The foundation of the Strategy dates back to 2009, when the European Council invited the European Commission to prepare a dedicated macro‑regional strategy for the Danube Basin. The aim was to improve coordination among existing policies, actors, and financial instruments. The European Commission adopted the EUSDR Action Plan and Communication in 2010, and the European Council officially endorsed the Strategy and launched its implementation on 13 April 2011. Since then, the EU Strategy for the Danube Region (EUSDR) has grown into a long‑term framework advancing connectivity, resilience, and sustainable development.
A Region Connected by One River
Spanning from the Black Forest in Germany to the Black Sea in Romania, Ukraine, and the Republic of Moldova, the Danube Region is home to around 115 million inhabitants. The Danube is the most international river in the word, bringing together 14 participating states, including nine EU Member States (Austria, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czechia, Germany, Hungary, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia) and five EU-accession Countries (Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Republic of Moldova, Serbia, Ukraine). This cooperation framework allows the region to jointly address topics that transcend national borders and that can be dealt with best in a cooperative and holistic approach.
As Commissioner Danuta Hübner emphasised in 2008:
“ A one-size-fits all approach doesn’t work in an EU of 27 Member States and 271 regions. We need a targeted policy for the Danube that meets its ecological, transport and socio-economic needs.”
This vision still guides the Danube Strategy today.
Growth and Impact of the Danube Region Strategy
The EUSDR is built around four thematic pillars: Connecting the Region, Protecting the Environment, Building Prosperity, and Strengthening the Region, implemented through 12 Priority Areas. Over the past 15 years, the Strategy has strengthened cooperation in areas such as water quality, climate resilience, energy networks, transport modernisation, digital transformation, research and innovation, skills development, and regional security.
A robust governance structure supports this work, including rotating Presidencies, Priority Area Coordinators, National Coordinators, representatives of the Danube youth, ministerial meetings, Annual Fora, and broad stakeholder participation across all levels of governance. Today the core of EUSDR connects over 170 ministries and public institutions from the whole of the Danube Region.
Marking 15 Years: Enduring Relevance
The EUSDR’s mission remains profoundly relevant as the Europe and the Danube Region face challenges including environmental degradation, demographic shifts, climate change, geopolitical instability, economic disparities, and the need for modernised infrastructure. Through transnational and cross‑border cooperation, the Strategy transforms shared challenges into shared opportunities and upholds its guiding principle of “Prosperity through Diversity.”
A dedicated logo (pictured) and a hashtag – #EUSDR15 – have been created to mark the occasion.
