BRUSSELS, February 1, 2011
Romania’s Permanent Representation to the European Union organized, on 1 February 2011, an event devoted to promoting Romania’s goals related to the EU Strategy for the Danube Region. The conference “Romania facing the Danube Strategy challenges” was attended by Minister of Foreign Affairs Teodor Baconschi, President of the Committee of the Regions Mercedes Bresso, Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development Dacian Ciolos and the Ambassador of Romania to the European Union Mihnea Ioan Motoc. The event marked the release of the European Commission’s Communication on the Strategy and the beginning of the process of approval by the Council.
In his opening address, Minister Baconschi said: “Our Europe increasingly becomes an area of human contacts and intercultural dialogue, a dynamic structure oriented to a regional approach.” The Danube needs to become cleaner, and transport connections more efficient so that human contacts, tourism and investment should lead to higher standards of living for people in the region. Sustainable progress in the region required efficient allocation of resources, and joint coordination and planning by riparian states that are EU members, candidates or neighbours. The Danube can thus become a binder for a united Europe.
The European Commission as well as the European Parliament and the Committee of the Regions backed from the very beginning the idea Romania and Austria had launched, concerning a new cooperation format in the Danube region, that should propose new, politically and economically relevant mechanisms benefiting the life of people in the region.
Mercedes Bresso
