The European Commission adopted the first ever single report on the implementation of the four existing European Union (EU) macro-regional strategies: the EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region, the EU Strategy for the Danube Region, the EU Strategy for the Adriatic and Ionian Region and the EU Strategy for the Alpine Region ((COM(2016)805)).

The report provides an assessment of the state of implementation of the current strategies and takes stock of the main results achieved to date. It draws lessons from the experience gained so far and presents a number of recommendations on possible developments of the strategies and their action plans, also in the light of the future cohesion policy. The report is accompanied by a Commission Staff Working Document which provides more detailed information concerning the state of implementation of each macro-regional strategy, as well as specific recommendations.

It also highlights the improved dialogue and cooperation of EUSDR with existing international organisations in the region (e.g. International Commission for the Protection of the Danube River, Carpathian Convention) through the development of joint initiatives and synergies.

More information (including the full text of the report and the Staff Working document) is available here:

http://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/en/newsroom/news/2016/12/16-12-2016-the-commission-publishes-the-first-ever-single-report-on-the-implementation-of-eu-macro-regional-strategies