Hungary on top of Danube Strategy, says govt commissioner

Budapest, March 2 (MTI) – Hungary has retained its leading position in the implementation of the European Union’s Danube Strategy, Istvan Joo, the ministerial commissioner in charge of the strategy, told Parliament’s EU committee on Monday.

Under the strategy, countries of the Danube region coordinate their activities in 12 different areas, Joo said, adding that in the areas of promoting sustainable energy, preserving the quality of water, and environmental risk management Hungary played a key role. Nearly all Hungarian ministries contribute to the effort, and an interministerial team is working on the country’s position, Joo added.

He said the goal was to include as many Hungarian-led projects in the programme as possible, while Hungary also strives to share its experience with other countries.

Heads of the European Union approved the community’s second macro-regional development concept in 2011. The strategy involves 9 EU members along the Danube as well as Bosnia-Herzegovina, Montenegro, Moldova, Serbia, and Ukraine. The strategy was designed to coordinate development policies of those countries in order to improve ties and strengthen the region as well as to promote environment protection.

Source: http://mtva.hu/hu/hungary-matters