Macro-Regional Strategy Of The European Union As A Legal Framework For Cooperation Between The Danube River States

Macro-regional strategies of the European Union are a framework of integration that arise at the initiative of the Commission and with the consent of the Council and the European Council to address the common challenges faced by a certain geographical region. The strategy refers to the European Union Member States and third countries wishing to participate in it and aims to achieve economic and social harmony in a particular region. Bearing in mind that the Danube flow is the most important waterway within the European Union, the EU has decided to create in 2011 a macroregional strategy to globally regulate the transport, energy, environmental protection and cultural cooperation. Increasing the volume of goods transport on the Danube, the modernisation of the fleet, energy connectivity, environmental protection, tourism exchange, scientific and security cooperation are an integral part of the EU Strategy for the Danube Region. This strategy should bring what the Danube River States have always been lacking, and it is a vision of common development, common and solidary access to problems, specifically planned actions and the means of financing them. The European Union now has political authority and integrative potential to stimulate and coordinate this macro-regional strategy, but it remains to be seen to what extent the previously mentioned will berealised in practice.