Working Community of the Danube Regions

 

Presidency of Upper Austria in 2009: "Sustainably Shaping the Future of the Danube Regions"

 

The year 2009 and the following years are of special importance for the Danube region. The "iron curtain" which has separated Europe over decades fell twenty years ago. Five years ago, the European Union (EU) was successfully enlarged towards the east. The cooperation of the Danube Regions enabled an economic growth that resulted in a prosperity by which all Europe has profited. After Linz in 2009, Pécs is the European Cultural Capital in the year 2010. The European Cultural Capitals Essen (as well as the Rhine district) and Pécs create a "European culture mile" along the rivers Rhine, Main, and Danube. With Hungary (2011), Slovakia (2016), and Bulgaria (2018) as well as Austria and Romania (2019) five States along the river Danube will have the Presidency of the European Union within the next decade. With Croatia another state of the Danube Region is a candidate for the European Union. Serbia is also a candidate and has signed a stability agreement with the EU on April 29, 2008.
 
During this important year 2009, Upper Austria had the presidency of the Working Community of the Danube Regions for the second time after 1994. The presidency had the main topic "Sustainably Shaping the Future of the Danube Regions". Top priorities of the Upper Austrian presidency were, among other things, the overcoming of the recent economic and financial crisis, the EU strategy for the Danube region, and improving the cooperation between the Danube states and regions in the fields of environment and climate protection as well as in the fields of energy, traffic, and transport. During the year 2009, many conferences, meetings, and projects relating to the Danube region were held in Upper Austria.

 

Presidency 2010: City and State of Vienna

 

On January 1, 2010, the city and state of Vienna took the presidency of the Working Community of the Danube Regions. Also in Vienna the jubilee conference for the celebration of 20 years Working Community of the Danube Regions will take place in May 2010. The main focus of the Vienna presidency are the continued effort of the Working Community for the EU Strategy for the Danube Region, the Partnership for Joint Action against Climate Change, and the acknowledgement of the Danube Limes as world cultural heritage of the UNESCO.

 

Gallery of photos