Continuing our promotion activities on the sustainable use of resources by integrating circular economy and bioeconomy principles across the Danube region, and thereby fostering innovation and environmental sustainability the Working Group Circular Economy and Bioeconomy (WG CE&BE) of the Priority area 8 Competitiveness of Enterprises of the EU strategy for the Danube Region (EUSDR) organized an online session on March 7, 2025.

Co-coordinators Carmen Howkins and Helia Grčić Kovačević addressed the welcoming greetings to the WG members on behalf of EUSDR Priority Axis 8.

The key point of today’s meeting was the mini-conference, which had as its topic the cross-fertilization of three flagship projects.

 

 

These programs are recognized as leading programs in the area of ​​PA8 – Competitiveness of entrepreneurs, and in addition, they are focused on innovative solutions and contribute to the implementation of the principles of circular economy and bioeconomy. The exchange of information and achievements presented by the project partners met with great interest this time as well. The WG received a clear signal that this practice should be continued.

 

The Water Quality Priority Area (PA4) has four major objectives to follow during its work. First, PA4 makes important steps to achieve the management objectives set out in the Danube River Basin Management Plan. Second, PA4 aims to reduce the nutrient levels in the Danube River to allow the recovery of the Black Sea ecosystems to conditions similar to 1960s. Third, PA4 elaborates a Danube Delta Analysis Report as a step towards completion of the Delta management Plan. And fourth Secure viable populations of Danube sturgeon species . Members of the WG showed great interest in the presentation of the Study on the possibilities of the utilisation of sewage sludge in the Danube Region conducted by PA 4 Water (Trenecon, Attila Fürstand).

The Priority Area 8 “Competitiveness of Enterprises” of the EU Strategy for the Danube Region (EUSDR) contracted a study to identify lighthouse projects in the Danube Region and to implement communication measures. The study will be implemented by Steinbeis Europa Zentrum (Steinbeis 2i GmbH) together with its subcontractors, the Chamber of Industry and Commerce of Slovenia (CCIS) and the Pannon Business Network (Hungary). Grit Ackermann introduced the audience to the implemented activities as well as expectations from this study. During the annual EUSDR forum, which will be held in November 2025 in Sarajevo, a workshop devoted to this topic will be organized.

Thanks to the support of the PA8 co-ordinator, the WG will organize a study trip dedicated to one of the priority topics in the coming period. The goal of the study trip is for members of the WG and companies of the SME sector to become more familiar with examples of good practice in the Danube macroregion and to make initial contacts suitable for future cooperation and raising their own competitiveness.

Foto : members of WG CE&BE – March 7, 2025