The EU strategies for the Baltic Sea and Danube region focus on transport system development, economic cooperation and environmental protection. Even though the projects which are about to be implemented are not yet self-financed, the programmes will benefit from EU financing through the regional policy, cohesion and neighbourhood policy funds.
The Baltic Sea is surrounded by 8 EU member states and Russia, with approximately 100 million inhabitants. In order to ensure regional development and to stimulate economic growth, the European Commission has launched a strategy which includes a plan for economic cooperation and the elimination of maritime pollution, as well as projects for transport development.
Water deterioration, flawed transport links, trade barriers and deficient energy supply systems represent the main problems in the Baltic Sea region, which require immediate solutions. “The European strategy for the Baltic Sea region represents a major step. It marks a new type of cooperation within the European Union. This strategy doesn’t involve new laws or institutions; it is however based on the willpower of the governments and citizens of this region to solve these common challenges”, said Danuta Hübner, European Commissioner for Regional Policy, in June 2009, when the Commission proposed the strategy for this region. A few months later, in October, the EU member states adopted the Baltic Sea Strategy, which is based on four main directions. These four directions are formulated in a way that covers all the important aspects. According to this strategy, the Baltic Sea region will become a sustainable area from the point of view of environmental protection. To that end, EUR 9.8 Billion have been allocated, including EUR 3.1 Billion for wastewater treatment. The Baltic Sea region faces big problems when it comes to the state of the water, which is gradually deteriorating because of the excessive nitrate and phosphate spills. The ecosystem is very vulnerable, because the water is not deep, but it is highly polluted, affecting not only the populations, but also maritime transport.
Securing this region through the implementation of risk prevention systems is another aspect stipulated in the Baltic Sea Strategy. To that end, EUR 697 Billion will be allocated. Another aspect stipulated in the Strategy is the level of competitiveness. In order to increase this level, EUR 6.7 Billion have been allocated, including EUR 2.4 Billion for encouraging innovation within SMEs. In regards to the transport system in the region, the Strategy stipulates the creation of “accessible areas by improving transport systems”. To that end, EUR 23.1 Billion will be allocated. Considering the environmental protection requirements, railway transport represents a viable alternative. That is why the Strategy proposes the finalization of the Baltica project by 2013. This project ensures a rail link with Warsaw. Currently, air transport is mainly used on the Warsaw-Tallin route, because a journey by train takes around 36 hours. When the rail link becomes operational, railway transport will compete with air transport. In order to create accessible areas, the Strategy stipulates the implementation of programmes in the energy sector, for which EUR 2.6 Billion will be allocated, and in the field of information society, which will benefit from EUR 1.4 Billion. Although the East and North sides of this region represent a gateway to Asia, they continue to remain isolated from the rest of the Union, because North Finland, Sweden and the Baltic countries have the lowest level of accessibility compared to the rest of Europe. The Strategy is not self-financed, but the Baltic Sea region will benefit from European financing through the regional policy, cohesion and neighbourhood policy funds for 2007-2013.
Danube Region Strategy
Based on the model of the Baltic Sea Strategy, the Danube region represents a main concern in terms of promoting inter-regional cooperation, developing the transport and energy infrastructure and intensifying the economic sector.
Trans-European watercourse, the Danube ensures strong economic, political and social links. Considering the frequent changes in these sectors, the Danube represents a vital premise for ensuring cooperation between the countries it crosses. The challenges imposed have determined the European institutions to elaborate an EU Strategy for the Danube Region.
To that end, in June 2009, the European Council officially requested the elaboration of this strategy, which should be launched by the end of 2010. Once the consultation process is finalized (the draft will be submitted for consultation in mid-2010), the European Commission will develop an action plan, which will be debated and implemented in the beginning of 2011.
Currently, the main countries involved are those included in the Danube Cooperation Process: Germany, Austria, Slovakia, Czech Republic, Hungary, Slovenia, Croatia, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Romania, Bulgaria, Moldova and Ukraine. Eight of these countries are EU member states, while the remaining 6 are not part of the communitarian space.
In regards to the proposed cooperation and priorities, the Strategy is based on three main pillars: improving the connection and communication system (Danube access, transport and energy networks and information society development), fighting against environmental issues and supporting socio-economic development.
Strategic evaluations and environmental impact analyses will be carried out, as well as analyses concerning the impact on the entire Danube ecosystem. The conclusions of these evaluations will represent mandatory requirements for all the projects developed in the field of transport and energy infrastructures. As for the transport sector, waterways are important for the development of all the other modes of transport in the region. In order to implement projects for infrastructure and economic development, the EU member states currently benefit from the necessary financial means. Euro Deputy Adrina Ţicău explained that “the development of the transport infrastructure is essential to the development of this region. Modernising ports, ensuring intermodality in the region and improving the link with the Black Sea area through road/railway transport routes – railway freight corridors and high-speed trains – are only some of the priorities for transport development in the region”. To that end, it is vital to improve the TEN-T network. The necessary financing for the projects developed in the Danube region will be obtained through the development of powerful synergies between the various EU policies, such as the cohesion policy and the neighbourhood policy. Euro-parliamentarians support the need for a well-coordinated approach, focused on a more efficient absorption of the available EU funds in the countries located along the Danube.
by Pamela Luică
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