EUSDR and Priority Area 9

 

European Union Strategy for the Danube Region

 

The EU Strategy for the Danube Region (EUSDR) was adopted by the European Commission in 2010 and was endorsed by the European Council in 2011. It aims to boost the overall development of the region. All citizens should enjoy better prospects of education, employment and prosperity. The Strategy seeks to create synergies and coordination between existing policies and initiatives taking place across the Danube Region while addressing common challenges. The Strategy is both about more efficient funding and closer cooperation in the region. The EUSDR covers a territory that stretches from the Black Forest (Germany) to the Black Sea (Romania-Ukraine-Moldova) and is home to approx. 115 million people. The Strategy includes a wide range of issues addressed by 4 pillars and 12 priority areas – Priority Area (PA) 9 „People and Skills“ contributes to the pillar „Building Prosperity“.

 

Priority Area 9

 

The Region encompasses extremes of the EU in economic and social terms. From its most competitive to its poorest regions, from the most highly skilled to the least educated, and from the highest to the lowest standard of living, the differences are striking. By investing in people and promoting human capital, the Danube Region can grow in a smart and inclusive way. Making the Danube Region competitive, cohesive, resilient and more prosperous in the future means investing in people, in their education and training, their skills, their creativity, and their capacity to innovate. In this respect, the European Pillar of Social Rights, supporting quality and inclusive education, training and life-long learning, quality employment and social inclusion, plays a key role. Priority Area 9 „People and Skills“ is focusing on policies and actions in the fields of education and training, labour market and marginalised communities. The Priority Area is coordinated by Austria, the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine. Its implementation involves a wide network of key players and stakeholders from the 14 countries of the Danube Region.