The EU Strategy for the Danube Region (EUSDR) is the second macro-regional strategy launched by the European Commission and involves 14 participating countries. Between 16 May and 21 June 2024, Austria - holding the rotating presidency of the EUSDR during a time of transition for the Danube macro-region - hosted a series of events in Vienna. These events aimed to strengthen cross-border cooperation and address key issues such as the sustainable modernization of inland navigation, as well as challenges and opportunities in the labour market and education sector across the Danube Region.
On 16 May 2024, Ms L. Martes, expert adviser at CERONAV, attended the 24th Steering Group meeting of Priority Area 1A – Improving Mobility and Multimodality: Inland Waterways. On the topic of “Education and Jobs,” Ms L. Martes addressed the ongoing shortage of qualified nautical personnel in the Danube Region—a challenge that calls for joint efforts and innovative approaches. Discussions focused on key initiatives aimed at attracting new talent, particularly young people, and improving working conditions to enhance staff retention in the sector.
On 23 May 2024, Ms M. Vintilă, Head of the European Projects Department at CERONAV, participated in the International Conference on the Challenges and Opportunities of a Just, Green, and Digital Transition in the Labour Market and Education in the Danube Region, organized by Priority Area 9. During Working Group 3 – Vulnerable Groups and a Just Transition, she presented the Sail IN initiative and outlined CERONAV’s vision for supporting disadvantaged groups, particularly young people from rural areas, by facilitating their integration into the labour market within the inland navigation sector.
CERONAV was also represented at the 13th edition of the EUSDR Annual Forum by Ms G. Capotă. Held from 20 to 21 June 2024, the forum served as a platform for regional and international stakeholders to collaborate, address shared challenges, and explore pathways toward a more prosperous future. Organized by the Austrian EUSDR Presidency in cooperation with the European Commission and the Danube Strategy Point, and hosted in partnership with the City of Vienna, the event brought together ministers, mayors, experts, and civil society representatives from EU Member States and five EU candidate countries. The forum's agenda reflected the priorities of the Austrian Presidency, focusing on enhancing stability and security, fostering innovation, promoting skills development and business opportunities, and strengthening ecosystems to support the ecological transition in the Danube Region. Additional key topics included the preservation of cultural and historical heritage, the role of cities as drivers of transformation, and the importance of stimulating innovation and skills - issues that sparked vibrant discussion and hold particular relevance for the region’s future.
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