1. EU-Strategy for the Danube Region

2. 3rd Steering Group meeting of PA 8 of the EUSDR 23rd/24th April, 2012 in Split, Croatia Dr. Hans Peter Herdlitschka Ministry of Finance and Economics Baden-Wuerttemberg / Germany

3. EU-Strategy for the Danube Region Initial Position Longitude of about 3,000km and 14 states/regions Danube catchment area: about 115m residents Goals? EU-Integration „Europe 2020“ Strategy for intelligent, sustainable and integrative growth

4. EU-Strategy for the Danube Region Main issues of the action plan (economy) 1/2 Increase in trade and investments Improvement of legal frameworks, especially concerning SME (i.e. simplifying bureaucracy, contract certainty) Improved frameworks for economic organizations such as chambers, associations etc. Improvement of the interdisciplinary cooperation and the transfer of technology between companies, science and public administration (i.e. cluster politics)

5. EU-Strategy for the Danube Region Advancement of the infrastructure (i.e. environmental technology, transportation, communications infrastructure, centres for exhibitions, technology parks) Capital provision of the economy Improvement of information, counselling and strengthening of vocational education (‘dual system’) Strengthening of frameworks for research and development as well as internationalisation Strengthening of rural zones Removal of cross-border barriers Main issues of the action plan (economy) 2/2

6. EU-Strategy for the Danube Region Donaustrategie Mobilitätsbranche TIME-Branche (Telekommunikation, Informationstechnologie, Medien, Elektronik) Industrielle Prozesstechnologie Umwelttechnologie Health Care Sektor

7. EU-Strategy for the Danube Region Implementation ● Framework 1/2 No additional EU funds No new institutions No new laws and directives

8. EU-Strategy for the Danube Region Implementation ● Framework 2/2 National and regional support programmes EU support programmes, such as EU structural funds (EFDF, ESF), cohesion fund and more IPA EIB, EIF, EBRD

9. EU-Strategy for the Danube Region Implementation ● Architecture EU-strategy  EU Council and Commission Action plan  EU Commission and national …contact points Priority Areas  Coordinators (Priority …Area Coordinators, PAC) Spheres of activity /Projects  Project manager

10. Priority Area Coordinator Competitiveness (08) Baden-Württemberg & Croatia National Contact Points Annual meeting with other PACs European Commission DG Regio Stakeholder Participation (International Industry associations, intergovernmental organisations,…) Steering Group group of members of governments and others Subgroups: - Innovation and Technology Transfer - Environmental Technology - Clusters of Excellence - Vocational Training - Network Cooperation of business organisations - Competitiveness of Rural Areas - Competitiveness in general Flagships and other projects Coordination and Support Exchange Facilitation + Support Report Facilitation Feedback Information + Involvement Coordination Information Participation Involvement Initiation Facilitation + Support Report Implementation Report Coordination of Priority Area

12. EU-Strategy for the Danube Region

13. EUSDR: Possible PA 8 Flagship projects: Highlighted target for PA 8: Improvement of the technological transfer through establishing measures like consulting services by Technology Transfer Centers (TTC) or chambers and/or other institutions/organizations, typically in cooperation with the Priority Area Coordinator from Priority Area 7 "knowledge society" during 2013 –Action: To improve business support to strengthen the capacities of SMEs for cooperation and trade –Action: To prioritize the effective implementation of measures provided for under the Small Business Act for Europe –Action: To improve framework conditions for SMEs in areas where competitive infrastructure is missing. Highlighted target for PA 8: Establishing a cluster network for the EUSDR (identification of the founded institutions in this connection, as well as the existing networks) by end of 2013 –Action: To foster cooperation and exchange of knowledge between SMEs, academia and the public sector in areas of competence in the Danube Region –Action: To eliminate cross border barriers and bottlenecks to people and business - Seamless Europe for a livable Danube Region

14. EU-Strategy for the Danube Region EUSDR: Possible PA 8 Flagship projects: Highlighted target for PA 8: Improvement of the vocational training, subject to participation by the private sector (a dual system of practice and theory) through pilot projects (identifying the potential institutions, as well as the partners and projects) –Action: To support enterprises through high performing training and qualification schemes –Young enterpreneurs, women in business etc Highlighted target for PA 8: To improve the competitiveness of cities and rural areas and in particular of the agricultural sector. Highlighted target for PA 8: Better use of environmental technologies, like for example: sewage treatment, refuse disposal, generation of energy from renewable resources, etc., first of all, through determination of the regional decision-makers concerning submission of the applications

15. EU-Strategy for the Danube Region EUSDR: Possible PA 8 Flagship projects: Internal market and cooperation in the customs and tax areas Priority Area 8 aims to remove hindrances to the internal market in the Danube Region, including improving cooperation in the customs and tax area. There are seven flagship projects under this Priority Area: 1. Remove remaining single market barriers 2. Implement European space for maritime transport without borders in the Danube riparian Region 3. Increase the use of electronic signatures/e-identification 4. Encourage sharing of competences between accreditation bodies 5. Monitor border situations 6. Coordinate the use of the digital dividend Research and innovation Priority Area 8 seeks to exploit the full potential of the region in research and innovation. 1. Develop a Danube Region Programme for Innovation, Clusters and SME-Networks – EUSDR Network of Excellence 2. Create an EUSDR Fund for Innovation and Research 3. Develop a common EUSDr Region strategy to promote services innovation 4. Set up cross-sectoral reference projects for innovation in SMART Spec. for each country/region 5. Setting up an EUSDR Science Link Technology Transfer Centres (TTC)

16. EU-Strategy for the Danube Region EUSDR: Possible PA 8 Flagship projects: Entrepreneurship, SMEs and Qualification/Capacity building / VET/ human resources Priority Area 8 implements the Small Business Act in order to promote entrepreneurship, strengthen SMEs and increase the efficient use of human resources. There are eight flagship projects under this Priority Area: 1. Promote young entrepreneurs; espec. women in business 2. Develop deeper cooperation on environmental technology to create new business opportunities 3. Implement a project Sustainable Production through Innovation in Small and Medium sized Enterprises 4. Make the Danube region an eco-efficient region 5. Make the most of the European Code of Best Practices Facilitating Access by SMEs to Public Procurement 6. Make the Danube Region a leader in design 7. Implement the Danube region Labour Network project 8. Cooperation between Public Employment services

17. EU-Strategy for the Danube Region

19. Benefits for local / regional institutions Creation and funding of projects -Developing of project ideas -Communication among stakeholders on local, regional and international level -Design of project application and submission - Support by National Contact Point

20. EU-Strategy for the Danube Region Thank you for your attention! Dr. Hans Peter Herdlitschka Ministry of Finance and Economics Baden-Württemberg Theodor-Heuss-Str. 4 D-70174 Stuttgart Tel.: 0049 711 123 - 2413 Fax: 0049 711 123 – 2250 E-Mail: hans-peter.herdlitschka@mfw.bwl.de Further information : www.donau-wirtschaft.eu