Meeting on Danube Strategy in Belgrade

PM Mirko Cvetkovic says any effort made to strengthen cooperation on the development of projects on the Danube River is an investment in the European future. At a meeting on possibilities of financing of the Danube Strategy, Cvetkovic said that inclusion into the Strategy would bring Serbia not only the strengthening of competition, but also the key project for the development of transport infrastructure. Meeting on Danube Strategy in Belgrade The prime minister recalled that there are about 80 million people living along the banks of the Danube River, adding that the Danube Strategy has an important assignment to mobilize resources of the EU and the Danube countries so as to enhance economic development, traffic, tourism and security, suppress crime and preserve culture and identity of the people living in the area. Serbian Deputy Prime Minister Bozidar Djelic stated that he is aware of the fact that the funds within the European budget are limited, adding that a way of securing money within available funds should be found. He said that the development of the Danube River Basin is important not only for the regional countries, but for the entire EU, and underscored that the Danube Strategy should be expected to become a visible factor in the EU budget from 2014 to 2020. He said that Serbia has already allocated EUR 18.5mn for the preparation of the Danube projects. The development of Golubac Fortress and Silver Lake (southeastern Serbia) are just some of the major projects on the Danube River, Djelic said. The meeting today was organized in cooperation with the European Commission, with EU Commissioner for Regional Policy Johannes Hahn and European Investment Bank President Philippe Maystadt present today. National Danube Strategy coordinators from 14 countries of the Danube basin, representatives of the European Commission and financial institutions will attend the meeting, which is aimed at identifying adequate mechanisms of financing short, medium and long-term strategy activities of the Danube Strategy. The Belgrade meeting will launch a debate on main funding sources, aiming at stimulating future planning within the Danube Strategy, it was said in a press release from Djelic's office. The Danube River links 14 countries, eight of which are members of the European Union. (Beta) EIB interested The European Investment Bank (EIB) is interested in financing and supporting elements of the Danube Strategy, particularly the Danube navigation and environmental projects, EIB Vice-President Philippe Maystadt stated on Monday. The European Investment Bank is already funding projects that include the Danube embankment with the amount of eight to EUR 11bn a year, he told reporters. Evaluating that the Danube has a large potential, Maystadt recalled that the river is the main transport route from Rotterdam in Holland to Romania's Constanta. We should create conditions to support such a large project, he said and recalled that the EIB finances projects of 27 EU member states and the countries that hope to join it soon. European Commissioner for Regional Policy Johannes Hahn recalled that the European Commission allocates EUR 200mn every year, expressing his hope that the part of those funds finds the way to projects that include the Danube Strategy. Navigability of the Danube, reducing water pollution and ensuring security in the Danube region requires a lot of money, Hahn stressed.

Meeting on Danube Strategy in Belgrade

The prime minister recalled that there are about 80 million people living along the banks of the Danube River, adding that the Danube Strategy has an important assignment to mobilize resources of the EU and the Danube countries so as to enhance economic development, traffic, tourism and security, suppress crime and preserve culture and identity of the people living in the area.

Serbian Deputy Prime Minister Božidar Đelić stated that he is aware of the fact that the funds within the European budget are limited, adding that a way of securing money within available funds should be found.

He said that the development of the Danube River Basin is important not only for the regional countries, but for the entire EU, and underscored that the Danube Strategy should be expected to become a visible factor in the EU budget from 2014 to 2020.

He said that Serbia has already allocated EUR 18.5mn for the preparation of the Danube projects.

The development of Golubac Fortress and Silver Lake (southeastern Serbia) are just some of the major projects on the Danube River, Đelić said.

The meeting today was organized in cooperation with the European Commission, with EU Commissioner for Regional Policy Johannes Hahn and European Investment Bank President Philippe Maystadt present today.

National Danube Strategy coordinators from 14 countries of the Danube basin, representatives of the European Commission and financial institutions will attend the meeting, which is aimed at identifying adequate mechanisms of financing short, medium and long-term strategy activities of the Danube Strategy.

The Belgrade meeting will launch a debate on main funding sources, aiming at stimulating future planning within the Danube Strategy, it was said in a press release from Đelić's office.

The Danube River links 14 countries, eight of which are members of the European Union.

EIB interested

The European Investment Bank (EIB) is interested in financing and supporting elements of the Danube Strategy, particularly the Danube navigation and environmental projects, EIB Vice-President Philippe Maystadt stated on Monday.

The European Investment Bank is already funding projects that include the Danube embankment with the amount of eight to EUR 11bn a year, he told reporters.

Evaluating that the Danube has a large potential, Maystadt recalled that the river is the main transport route from Rotterdam in Holland to Romania's Constanta.

We should create conditions to support such a large project, he said and recalled that the EIB finances projects of 27 EU member states and the countries that hope to join it soon.

European Commissioner for Regional Policy Johannes Hahn recalled that the European Commission allocates EUR 200mn every year, expressing his hope that the part of those funds finds the way to projects that include the Danube Strategy.

Navigability of the Danube, reducing water pollution and ensuring security in the Danube region requires a lot of money, Hahn stressed.