Cohesion Policy: strengthening cooperation in the Danube Region to face challenges together

The European Commission welcomes the revised Action Plan of the EU Strategy for the Danube Region which provides a cooperation framework for the 14 EU and non-EU participating countries, including new strategic actions for EU policy implementation. Commissioner for Cohesion and Reforms, Elisa Ferreira, said: “Cooperation is at the essence of Cohesion Policy, which is at the heart of the European project. More than ever today, we need to reinforce the cooperative approach when solving issues that know no borders, such as the coronavirus pandemic. The revised Action Plan of the Danube macro-regional strategy, which celebrates 10 years in 2020, comes into force at a perfect time for the countries involved to cooperate in tackling the economic consequences of this crisis.” The revised Action Plan is based on the initial 2010 plan. After one and a half years of intensive work, it has now been updated, providing streamlined actions and orientations to use relevant funding instruments in the region, to link it to the new Commission’s priorities such as the European Green Deal, sustainable development, digitalisation, migration and demographic change. Moreover, the Plan also presents the Danube Strategy’s new measures to support small and medium-sized businesses, also in the tourism sector, which is especially relevant considering the impact of the current coronavirus crisis in these sectors. More information on EU macro-regional strategies can be found here.