Programm: Interreg Danube Transnational Programme

The cooperation programme is structured across four priority axes (a fifth priority axis is related to the Technical Assistance of the Danube Transnational Programme) that intend to develop coordinated policies and actions in the programme area reinforcing the commitments of the Europe 2020 strategy towards the three dimensions of smart, sustainable and inclusive growth.

The projects supported by the Danube Transnational Programme (DTP) must form transnational partnerships to cooperate together in the following four thematic priorities and specific objectives:

INNOVATIVE AND SOCIALLY RESPONSIBLE DANUBE REGION

In order to contribute to the implementation of the flagship initiative “Innovation Union of the Europe 2020 Strategy” in the Danube Region countries, the programme pays specific attention to a number of innovation topics of broad relevance in the cooperation area such as eco-innovation, knowledge transfer, cluster policy, social innovation and skilled entrepreneurship including technological and non-technological innovation aspects. The social dimension in innovation (social innovation, educational aspects, and entrepreneurship skills) is given high importance. Research and innovation is interlinked with other thematic objectives addressed by the programme.

Specific Objectives:

• Improve framework conditions for innovation
• Increase competences for business and social innovation

ENVIRONMENT AND CULTURE RESPONSIBLE DANUBE REGION

The Danube Transnational Programme strengthens joint and integrated approaches to preserve and manage the diversity of natural and cultural assets in the Danube region as a basis for sustainable development and growth strategies. Moreover the programme envisages investing in the creation and/or maintenance of ecological corridors of transnational relevance in the Danube region. This intervention is directly interlinked with water management and the control of environmental risk factors such as flood risks. Furthermore, disaster prevention and disaster management (risk management) is addressed related to risks that are caused by non-functioning ecosystems and man-made changes in climate conditions.

Specific Objectives:

• Strengthen transnational water management and flood risk prevention
• Foster sustainable use of natural and cultural heritage and resources
• Foster the restoration and management of ecological corridors
• Improve preparedness for environmental risk management

BETTER CONNECTED AND ENERGY RESPONSIBLE DANUBE REGION

The cooperation programme tackles common challenges related to environmentally-friendly (including low-noise), low-carbon and safe transport systems including inland waterways & ports and multimodal links in order to contribute to sustainable regional and local mobility, modal integration and intelligent transport. The programme intends also to support the regional connectivity and the balanced accessibility of urban and rural areas. Better management of regional mobility and better permeability of borders at the regional level should ensure that urban and rural areas benefit from the opportunities created by the major transportation networks which are developed at the European level. On the other hand, energy is a typical issue in which a transnational approach is essential in order to ensure the security of supply of the countries, market integration and more effective regional planning, as well as to jointly identify the most critical infrastructure developments. Regional energy planning and coordination should be improved across the Danube region within the wider context of EU energy policy-making to safeguard the security and efficiency of energy supplies. Another aspect is the development of smart distribution systems where the programme area is still in the early stages. The programme aims to contribute within its specific scope to the development of smart energy distribution systems to make the significant investments of regions in renewable energy sources, energy efficiency and smart grids more efficient.

Specific Objectives:

• Support environmentally-friendly and safe transport systems and balanced accessibility of urban and rural areas
• Improve energy security and energy efficiency

WELL-GOVERNED DANUBE REGION

Institutional cooperation and capacity is a key target and the vital element of the programme at the same time. Institutional capacity is not just a technical matter of training civil servants, but it relates to how public authorities interact with and deliver services to businesses and citizens. "Good governance" is the basis and ultimate objective for institutional capacity building. Good governance builds trust and social capital. States with a high level of social capital tend to perform better economically. The need has been identified by the analysis to develop the capacities of the public authorities and other public and civil society stakeholders to become able to tackle more effectively the challenges of highest relevance for the region. Establishing institutional cooperation by the programme should lead to improving legal and policy frameworks, developing strategies and action plans, development of joint capacities and coordinated delivery of services in areas with major societal challenges such as labour market policies, education systems and policies, demographic change and migration challenges, inclusion of vulnerable and marginalized groups, participatory planning process and involvement of civil society, urban-rural cooperation and partnership, cooperation on safety, justice and security issues. In addition, Priotity 4 addresses the need to strengthen the governance and to ease the implementation of the EUSDR through targeted support measures. 

Specific Objectives:

• Improve institutional capacities to tackle major societal challenges
• Support to the governance and implementation of the EUSDR

Each project has to involve at least three financing partners from three different countries of the programme area: the Lead Partner and at least two project partners. Out of these financing partners, at least one, the Lead Partner, has to be located on the territory of an EU Member state of the Programme area.                                                                                                                                                                          

Private bodies whose main scope of activities within their business profile, as well as their project role, consists of project management, communication, financial monitoring or other activities that are of supporting character cannot be involved as project partners, but need to be subcontracted following the public procurement rules.

Up to 85% co-funding.

National coordination and contact points:
http://www.interreg-danube.eu/contacts/national-coordination-and-contact-points