Leaders meet for talks on Danube region
(VIENNA) - European leaders met for talks here Thursday on an EU strategy for the Danube region to improve cross-border transportation while protecting the environment and local heritage.
At a two-day conference, leaders and ministers from 14 countries in the Danube region discussed the future of one of the longest rivers of Europe.
The goal was to "improve the quality of life of 115 million people" living in the region, EU regional policy commissioner Johannes Hahn said at the conference.
The Danube strategy will be drafted by the European Commission and could be adopted in spring 2011 under Hungary's presidency of the bloc, Hahn added.
The document will lay out international cooperation regarding transportation in the Danube basin, by river and rail, and the building of motorways and bridges, according to Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Balazs.
Further highlights include "the environment, agricultural development, tourism, education, culture, sports, food security and immigration issues," he noted.
The EU strategy includes Danube countries like Germany, Austria, Slovakia, Hungary, Romania and Bulgaria, but also neighbouring EU states like Czech Republic and Slovenia.
Participating states from outside the EU include Croatia, Serbia, Bosnia-Hercegovina, Montenegro, Moldova and Ukraine.
Text and Picture Copyright 2010 AFP. All other Copyright 2010 EUbusiness Ltd. All rights reserved. This material is intended solely for personal use. Any other reproduction, publication or redistribution of this material without the written agreement of the copyright owner is strictly forbidden and any breach of copyright will be considered actionable.