1. "EU Strategy for the Danube Region (EUSDR)
Dr. Hans Peter Herdlitschka
Vukovar/Croatia 10 March 2015
"EU Strategy for the Danube Region (EUSDR)
and promotion of SMEs"

2. EU STRATEGY FOR THE DANUBE REGION (EUSDR) | www.danube-region.eu
Big data or the EU Danube Strategy / EUSDR
is like teenage sex:
 everyone talks about it,
 nobody really knows how to do it,
 everyone thinks everyone else is doing it,
 so everyone claims they are doing it …
Dan Ariely
EU STRATEGY FOR THE DANUBE REGION (EUSDR) |

3. EU STRATEGY FOR THE DANUBE REGION (EUSDR) | www.danube-region.eu
The EUSDR in general and its goals
Longitude of about 3000 km and 14 states/regions
About 115 Million people live in the Danube Region
An idea of the 14 member states/regions which was formed according to the principles of subsidiarity
Basis of all activities is the Action Plan, which was developed with support of the EU Commission
No financing programme  Networking!
„Europe 2020“
Strategy for intelligent, sustainable and integrative growth
EU-Integration
Goals?
EU STRATEGY FOR THE DANUBE REGION (EUSDR) |

4. 1 Strategy – 4 Pillars – 11 Priorities
Connecting the Region
Protecting the Environment
Building Prosperity
Strengthening the Region
PA 1
Mobility and Multimodality
PA 4
Water Quality
PA 7
Knowledge Society
PA 10 Institutional Capacity and Cooperation
PA 2
Sustainable Energy
PA 5
Environmental Risks
PA 8
Competitive-ness
PA 11
Security
PA Culture and Tourism; People to People
PA 6 Biodiversity, Landscapes, Air and Soil Quality
PA 9
People and Skills

5. Working Groups (WG) of PA 8
Environmental Technology and Energy Efficiency
Innovation and Technology Transfer
Cluster of Excellence
Vocational Training
Entrepreneurial Learning
Cooperation of Business Organizations
Competitiveness in Rural and Urban Areas
EU STRATEGY FOR THE DANUBE REGION (EUSDR) |

6. EU STRATEGY FOR THE DANUBE REGION (EUSDR) | www.danube-region.eu
Socio-economic Study
In order to fulfil the goal of Priority Area 8, a socio-economic assessment of the Danube Region has been commissioned.
An interactive, ongoing process with stakeholders in the target region
Objectives:
analyse potentials and recognize needs and challenges
provide the stakeholders with possible advices how to improve the co-operation and networking
suggestions on how the resources of the upcoming EU funding period ( ) can be used
EU STRATEGY FOR THE DANUBE REGION (EUSDR) |

7. EU STRATEGY FOR THE DANUBE REGION (EUSDR) | www.danube-region.eu
Implementation Framework
Danube Strategy
National and regional support programmes
EU support programmes such as EU structural funds (ERDF,ESF), cohesion fund and more e.g. Horizon 2020, COSME and INTERREG
IPA
EIB, EIF, EBRD
EU STRATEGY FOR THE DANUBE REGION (EUSDR) |

8. EU STRATEGY FOR THE DANUBE REGION (EUSDR) | www.danube-region.eu
Funding possibilities
Structural Funds (ERDF & ESF)
Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance (IPA)
Neighbourhood Instrument (ENI)
INTERREG V B
The Danube Region Program (previous SEE)
thematic objectives + min. 3 different States
est. €200 Million; 85% co-financing
Horizon 2020
biggest EU Research and Innovation Program - €80 Billion
COSME
("Smart specialisation)
EU STRATEGY FOR THE DANUBE REGION (EUSDR) |

9. EU STRATEGY FOR THE DANUBE REGION (EUSDR) | www.danube-region.eu
Conclusion / Possible Contribution
Cooperation and networking between all involved institutions is essential All stakeholders should participate actively and care about the permanent exchange of opinions
Development and execution of projects in reference to the EU Danube Strategy
Creative ideas to support the elaboration of the strategy
EU STRATEGY FOR THE DANUBE REGION (EUSDR) |

10. EU STRATEGY FOR THE DANUBE REGION (EUSDR) | www.danube-region.eu
Thank you for your attention! Further information:
EU STRATEGY FOR THE DANUBE REGION (EUSDR) |

11. EU STRATEGY FOR THE DANUBE REGION (EUSDR) | www.danube-region.eu
Funding possibilities
Structural Funds (ERDF & ESF)
Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance (IPA)
Neighbourhood Instrument (ENI)
INTERREG V B
The Danube Region Program (previous SEE)
thematic objectives + min. 3 different States
2014 to 2020 est. €200 Million; 85% co-financing
Horizon 2020
biggest EU Research and Innovation Program - €80 bn
COSME
(Smart Specialisation)
2014 to 2020 planned budget of €2.3 bn
COSME is the EU programme for the Competitiveness of Enterprises and Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) running from 2014 to 2020 with a planned budget of €2.3bn. COSME will support SMEs in the following area.
EU STRATEGY FOR THE DANUBE REGION (EUSDR) |