Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Gordan Grlić Radman 6 November 2019 in Vukovar attended a presentation of the programme of Croatia’s presidency of the EU Strategy for the Danube Region (EUSDR).
Addressing the conference, Grlić Radman said that Croatia’s EUSDR presidency would coincide with its Council of the EU chairmanship. “We will have a unique opportunity to boost cross-border and inter-regional cooperation, notably on the level of counties, municipalities and cities, as Croatia is a part of the Danube Basin,” he said.
The EUSDR encompasses 14 countries, nine of which are EU members and total more than 100 million people. Since its establishment in 2009, Croatia has been involved in shaping and implementing the EUSDR and its Action Plan, with a large number of projects successfully realized – from biodiversity and wood industry cluster in Vukovar-Srijem County to the harmonization of Danube transport and cooperation of Danube countries’ chambers of economy with those of the Adriatic-Ionian countries.
As the national coordinator, the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs will advocate the interests of all state institutions, civil society organisations, the academic community and other stakeholders and support a balanced and sustainable development and cooperation.
The conference marked the start of Croatia’s one-year EUSDR presidency, which will last until 31 October 2020.