Socio-Economic Assessment of the Danube Region: State of the Region, Challenges and Strategy Development

Aim of the study is the socio-economic development of the Danube Region within the EU-Strategy for the Danube Region (EUSDR) and the overall objectives of the EU's growth strategy “Europe 2020”. In order to develop a strategy to strengthen the Danube Region data to assess the state of the region will be collected. The analysis will identify strengths and weaknesses, propose areas of activity and will provide recommendations for the future strategic orientation of the EUSDR. The EUSDR is a macro strategy within the European transnational, interregional and territorial cooperation that aims to make European regions more competitive, innovative, attractive and accessible. The EUSDR area includes a part of Germany (Baden-Wuerttemberg, Bavaria), Austria, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Slovenia, Croatia, Serbia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Montenegro, Romania, Bulgaria, Moldova, and some border regions of Ukraine.

Within the EUSDR, the Ministry of Finance and Economics Baden-Wuerttemberg coordinates the Priority Area 8 (PA 8) which aims at supporting competitiveness of enterprises, including cluster development and has commissioned the project with financial support from the Directorate-General for Regional and Urban Policy of the European Commission.

IAW conducts the study in cooperation with the Centre for European Economic Research (ZEW) Mannheim, the Vienna Institute for International Economic Studies (wiiw) and several local experts from the Danube region.

Project Information:

• About the Project

More information on the EU-Strategy for the Danube Region can be found under EUSDR and Danube Region Strategy.

Reports:

• Final Report Part I (October 2015)
• Final Report Part II
• Selected Findings (Flyer)

Policy Papers:

• Economic prosperity of the Danube Region
• Regional Policy in the Danube Region
• Entrepreneurship and SMEs
• Labour Market and Migration