Danube Region

German regions involved

Baden-Wuerttemberg, Bavaria

The Danube as a linking element

The Danube Region is characterised by very different landscapes, economic and cultural areas. Being the river with the most riparian parties, the River Danube forms the linking element between these regions: Besides the nine EU member states Bulgaria, Germany (Baden-Wuerttemberg and Bavaria), Croatia, Austria, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Czech Republic and Hungary, the Danube Region comprises Bosnia-Hecegovina, Moldova, Montenegro, Serbia and parts of the Ukraine. A main challenge is the very diverse economic power of the regions involved. Innovation and industrial change as well as access to education and labour markets are therefore core areas of the Programme towards a more competitive and social Danube region. It is also important to exploit the potential of culture and tourism for regional development. Greater use of renewable energies in the energy and transport sectors, adaptation to climate change, and protection of the Danube and the environment are also addressed. In addition, capacity-building for better governance and cooperation is an important issue, given the fragmentation into many national and regional administrative units.

Themes of cooperation

The Danube Transnational Programme supports projects concerning the following four priorities:

A more competitive and smarter Danube Region

• Enhancing innovation and technology transfer in the Danube Region
• Development of skills for advancing smart specialisation strategies, industrial transformation and transition towards industry 4.0, including cross-sectorial collaborations

A greener, low-carbon Danube Region

• Support greening the energy and transport sectors in the Danube Region by enhancing the integration of renewable energy sources
• Promoting climate change adaptation capacities in the Danube Region and disaster management on transnational level in relation to environmental risks
• Sustainable, integrated, transnational water and sediment management in the Danube River Basin ensuring good quality and quantity of waters and sediment balance
• Protecting and preserving the biodiversity in ecological corridors and eco-regions of transnational relevance in the Danube Region

A more social Danube Region

• Accessible, inclusive and effective labour markets
• Accessible and inclusive quality services in education, training and lifelong learning
• Socio-economic development through heritage, culture and tourism

A better cooperation governance in the Danube Region

• Support for the governance of the EU Strategy for the Danube Region (EUSDR)
• Increased institutional capacities for territorial and macro-regional governance

Budget and funding

• Danube Region (2021 – 2027): 269 million euros
• among them Interreg funds: 215 million euros
• EU cofinancing rate: 80%
• eligible for funding: staff costs, organisation and travel costs, external expertise, equipment, investments (limited)

Types of projects

Regular projects:

• Partner: no limitation (according to the purpose)
• Duration: 36 months maximum, projects of the first call 30 months maximum

Small-scale projects:

• Smaller projects, e.g. in order to prepare projects contributing to the implementation of the EU Strategy for the Danube Region, may be supported by the Programme under the Seed Money Facility. Details have not yet been decided.

How to become a project partner

Under the Danube Transnational Programme, at least three partners from at least three different countries join within a project for usually three years, at least one country having to be an EU member state. A lead partner assumes the overall control of a project. The Programme addresses public and private stakeholders. Examples of partners eligible for funding under the Danube Transnational Programme:

• public authorities (national, regional, local authorities)
• (public) service providers
• research institutes and universities
• chambers, registered societies and associations
• business support organisations
• enterprises
• non-governmental organisations

Info: EU Strategy for the Danube Region

As the second macro-regional EU strategy adopted by the European Commission in 2010 and endorsed by the European Council in 2011, the EU Strategy for the Danube Region (EUSDR) is a European regional policy instrument. The aim of the Strategy is to strengthen the Danube region through better connectivity, environmental protection and the development of prosperity by promoting cross-border bilateral and multilateral cooperation between institutions in the Danube region. The Interreg Danube Transnational Programme is one of the most important funding programmes bringing the Strategy into life. But also other national and EU programmes are used to this end.

Programme website

New funding 2021 - 2027

Contact BBSR

National Contact Point