Cross-Border and Regional Cooperation in the Middle Danube Region

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The Fourteenth International Scientific Conference "Danube - River of Cooperation" took place from November 13th to 15th 2003, in Belgrade, Grocka and Kladovo.

The objective of the Conference was to review the actual situation of cross-boundary and regional cooperation in the Middle Danube region, and to consider opportunities offered by different types of cooperation. The accent is placed on Euro-regions, and the linking of local communities within the framework of the action of "Twinning of the Cities". However, other questions were not neglected on how to strengthen good relations between neighbor states, and bring them closer to the European Union.

The Conference considered also problems that hinder cross-boundary relationships and cooperation, such as the boundary issues on the river Danube between Croatia and Serbia-Montenegro, questions that are triggered by the entrance of Hungary in the EU, etc. The accent was on finding the best ways of how to deal with such problems in the spirit of good neighborhood and respecting European criteria, as well on the promotion of joint actions in the fields of environment and economic development. Setting up Euro-regions, cross-boundary linkage between local communities, and other types of cross-boundary cooperation offer great opportunities for efficient solution of open questions, to the benefit of all partners.

The focus of the Conference was on specific regional projects, which have already been initiated by the Forum. Some of these are:

  1. "Programme of the Basic Water-way of Danube-region for recreational crafts through Serbia", as the initial fase of the macroproject "Danube Propeller". The International Scientific Forum "Danube - River of Cooperation" contracted for the realization of this project with the Ministry of Commerce, Tourism and Services.
  2. The project "Euro-region Middle Danube - Iron Gates", initiated in conjunction with local authorities in Serbia and Romania on the occasion of the 13th International Conference "Danube - River of Cooperation", with the title "Danube - Integrating the Region" in Kladovo, 2002, by signing the Declaration of setting up of the Euro-region.
  3. "Universitas Danubiana", Seminar of International Cooperation, the educational programme of the International Scientific Forum "Danube - River of Cooperation" with regional programmes for the period 2004-2008.
  4. The Round Table for Sustainable Use of Natural Resources of Middle-Danube Region - the regional project which rely on the results of previous conferences organized jointly with "Vasilije Karanović" Foundation for Sustainable Use of Natural Resources - every year on May 11th.
  5. Cross-boder cooperation of local authorities, experts associations and non governmental organizations in the Middle Danube within the framework of the initiative "Twinning of the cities" - opportunities to promote existing contacts: Budafok (Hungary) - Grocka (Serbia); cooperation of Ecological-Educative Section of the ISF "DRC" in Kovin with the "Hungarian Association of Professors and Teachers for the Protection of Natural and Human Environment".
  6. "Danube International Business Club" - which worked few years ago within framework of the ISF "DRC" as specific Investment Forum - now with a suggestion to continue the process to turn to regional projects.
  7. "Middle Danube Nautical Tourist Region" - During the elaboration of the "Programme of the Basic Water-way of Danube-region for recreational crafts through Serbia" and in accordance with our mission to promote international regional cooperation, we concluded that it is necessary to develop the system of international projects in the connection with the main tributaries of the Danube (the rivers Drava, Sava, Tisa, Morava, and the Danub-Tisa-Danube canal). That has to be done in accordance with the "Standards for Use of Inland Waterways by recreational Craft".

The conference was organized jointly with the Institute of International Politics and Economics (Belgrade), under the auspicies of the Ministry of Commerce, Tourism and Services and the minister Dr. Slobodan Milosavljević.

The total number of registered participants of the Conference was 119: 32 foreign and 87 from Srebia. The participants from abroad were from the following countries: 9 from Romania, 7 from Hungary, 6 from England, 5 from France, and one each from Danmark, Czech Republic, Netherland, Germany, Ukraine. Detailed list of participants.

Reactions from participants after the conference.

Final Document of the XIV International Conference: Cross-Border and Regional Cooperation in the Middle Danube (GoogleDocs )

The Course of the Conference

November 13th

Welcome reception, informal talks and presentations of projects "Danube Propeller" and "Nautical-tourist Region Middle Danube" at the hotel "Excelsior"

November 14th

Official opening of the Conference at the Institute of International Politics and Economics, by Dr. Slobodan Milosavljević, Minister for Commerce, Tourism, and Services of the Government of Serbia. In his speech he emphasized the importance of the cooperation in the Middle Danube, that it is the right way to connect neighbouring states in the process of including them into the European programmes of integration. And he evaluated the successful contribution of the International Scientific Forum "Danube-River of Cooperation" to all that.

Dr. Robert Uzuna, the official representative of the Romanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, greeted the meeting and introduced the participants with the working results of the Fourth Business Conference in the framework of "The Process of Danube Cooperation". Other welcome addresses: In the name of the host, Dr. Vladimir Grečić, assistant of the general manager of the Institute of International Politics and Economics, and in the name of International Scientific Forum "Danube-River of Cooperation" Dr. Edita Stojić-Karanović, president of the Forum.

Introductory reports in connection with the conception of cross-border and regional cooperation in the Middle Danube and macro project "Danube-Propeller", submitted Dr. Edita Stojić-Karanović, Eng. Krsta Pašković and B.Sci. Eng. of Architecture Slobodan Mitrović, with multimedia, power point and flash presentations. Introductory reports on "Environmental Impact Assessment and European Community Law" was submitted by Prof. Dr. Michael Watson, and on "Importance of Education for Sustainable Development" by Prof. Dr. Petru Boeriu from UNESCO-IHE. In the morning session the Conference was greeted by Prof. Dr. Radulian Virgiliu vice-president of the Association of Romanian-Serbian Friendship.

The lunch break was used for sight-eeing Belgrade from the rivers Danube and Sava by ship "Sirona", with cocktails given by the Ministry of Transport and Telecommunications, Assistant of Minister, captain Željko Majer, with support of tourist agency "Putnik". On the same occasion the project of modern transport with "Hovercraft", the ship produced in Belgrade was presented.

The afternoon session was held in Hotel "Excelsior" in two groups. One working group discussed projects in tourism and "Danube-Propeller", the other group discussed cross-border and regional cooperation in the Middle Danube Region: Euro_regions and international partnership relation among towns and settlements, as well as the opportunities to promote ecological education in the region.

The first day of the Conference ended with the reception in the City Hall of Belgrade with multimedia presentations of the Tourist Organization of Belgrade, Town Construction Institute of Belgrade (projects of Marine Dorćol and Marine Ada Ciganlija, whose investor is the Parking Service), ISF "DRC" and "Danube Propeller", and the first phase under the title "Programme of the Basic inland waterways of the Middle Danube-region throughout Serbia". Ðorđe Stanišić, member of the Executive board of (City Hall) of Belgrade and president of Permanent Conference of Cities, welcomed the participants of the Conference. The reception ended with the performance of of young opera talents from the Music school of "Stankovic". Informal talks were continued during the dinner in the milieu of Skadarlija.

November 15th

Visiting settlements along Danube. The morning session in plenum was held in the Municipality Grocka. It was opened by Mr. Vladan Zarić, president of the Municipality Grocka. In the framework of this session, speakers were Dr Edita Stojić-Karanović, Per Bruhn, David Edwards-May, Porf. Dr Petru Boeriu and others.

After the session, reception in honour of participants of the Conference by the president of municipality Grocka was given. After that the participants of the Conference visited the river bank of Danube by Grocka.

Afternoon session was held in Kovin, opened by Dragomir Adamov, president of the Executive board in the Assembly of Municipality Kovin. The participants visited the left coast of Danube in Kovin. The work of the Conference was going on in two working groups. One group presented projects to develop tourism in the municipality Kovin and projects from Nautical-tourist field, beside "Danube Propeller" project corridor Danube-Karaš-Tamiš: "Ćenta 2003"; project of tourist complex for hunting, fishing and recreation on the stretch Danube - Deliblato sand land - Bela Crkva: "Labudovo okno"; Project of Hydro accumulative system Celije: "The future nautical, sport and ecological base of Rasina district"...

The other group discussed previous successful cooperation of teachers in municipality Kovin with the Hungarian Association of Professors and Teachers for the Protection of Nature and Environment established earlier this year at the Round Table conference of the International scientific Forum "Danube - River of Cooperation" on May 11th in Kovin. After the work in working groups, on the session in plenum, there have been given the suggestions for the final document of the Conference.

During formal dinner, there were awarded letters of thanks from the International Scientific Forum "Danube - River of Cooperation" to the most meritorious participants of the Conference. Musical folklore programme was performed by group "Talija" for the great pleasure of all participants of the Conference. On the way back to Belgrade, the video note of Milan Ognjanović, navigator from Vrbas, about his navigation by rubber boat from North to Black Sea in summer 2003 has been presented, with direct communication of author with participant of the Conference and great appreciation for this project.

Post conference activities

At the wish of some participants, these included the visit of the navigation lock near Bečej (constructed in 19th century according to the project of famous engineer, the creator of Eiffel tower in Paris) on November 16th and visit of some other localities on Danube on November 17th, 2003.