The Evaluation Report of the EU Strategy for the Danube Region (EUSDR) for the period 2020–2024 has recently been published. It outlines key implementation challenges, highlights best practices, and provides recommendations for improvement across six key dimensions: political commitment, governance, technical implementation and stakeholder cooperation, funding, policy impact, and external influences. The main findings are summarised below.
Political Commitment
Political support for the EUSDR has generally remained stable or improved since 2020, particularly in EU candidate countries that see the Strategy as a pathway to EU accession. However, some stakeholders perceive declining commitment, attributing it to the Strategy’s long duration and inconsistent engagement from national-level decision-makers. The EUSDR Action Plan remains relevant but must retain the flexibility to adapt to evolving challenges.
Governance
Core stakeholders often struggle to fulfil their roles due to limited time, staffing, funding, and staff turnover. A positive step has been the development of the EUSDR Governance Architecture Paper, which helps clarify roles and responsibilities. Nonetheless, improvements are needed – such as simplifying the document, better illustrating stakeholder relationships, enhancing communication and information exchange, increasing high-level EU engagement, and more meaningfully involving the Danube Youth Council. Similarly, the Danube Youth Organisation Network has potential to boost youth involvement, but it requires a clearer mandate and adequate funding.
Technical Implementation and Cooperation
Stakeholder engagement has improved since 2020, but coordination at the national level and information sharing among EUSDR administrators need further development. Engagement with external stakeholders, including EU institutions and civil society, has progressed but should be expanded – especially at regional and local levels.
Funding
The Strategy is mainly financed through the Interreg Danube Region Programme (DRP) and other EU funding instruments. While DRP is generally accessible, administrative hurdles remain. Strengthening collaboration with other programmes, especially when designing post-2027 strategies, will be essential. The EUSDR aligns with EU Cohesion Policy, but its Action Plan will need adjustments to remain relevant in future funding frameworks.
Policy Impact
The EUSDR has delivered strategic benefits such as strengthened networks, knowledge sharing, and increased attention to regional priorities. It has also supported EU enlargement and enabled concrete results – like harmonised border procedures, infrastructure developments, and cross-border healthcare. Nonetheless, there are concerns about the Strategy becoming overly project-driven, and some Priority Area Coordinators feel excluded from key funding discussions.
External Factors
The Strategy’s implementation has been shaped by significant external events. The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted physical meetings but also led to more online and written procedures. The Russian invasion of Ukraine, while devastating, has reinforced the value of macro-regional cooperation and solidarity among EUSDR stakeholders.
