The 14th Annual Forum of the EU Strategy for the Danube Region (EUSDR) brought together ministers, coordinators, and stakeholders from across Europe to reaffirm a shared vision for a united, secure, and sustainable Danube Region. Hosted under the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Forum highlighted how macro-regional cooperation strengthens integration, resilience, and the green transition across borders.

A highlight of this year’s event was the Joint Meeting of EUSDR and EU Strategy for the Adriatic – Ionian Region – EUSAIR National Coordinators — a valuable opportunity to exchange experiences between the Danube and Adriatic–Ionian macro-regions. Representatives from PA5 were also glad to connect with colleagues from the EUSBSR (Baltic Sea Region) Presidency such as Andreas Sepp. They were able to discuss synergies on regenerative tourism and other cross-regional initiatives. These exchanges truly reflect the spirit of cooperation behind the Sarajevo Danube Declaration.

Slovak colleagues coordinating Priority Area 4 (Water Quality) led the joint PA4–PA5–PA6 side event “Increasing Water Security: A Key to the Achievement of SDGs.” László Balatonyi greatly contributed on Strengthening Water Security, as he highlighted how flood and drought management, nature-based solutions, and cross-sector cooperation under Priority Area 5 (Environmental Risks) help deliver the ambitions of the Sarajevo Danube Declaration.

He also recalled the tragic flashfloods in Bosnia and Herzegovina, which underlined the need for data exchange and coordinated early warning. EUSDR Priority Area 5 provided financial support for Bosnia and Herzegovina to join the ICPDR ’s Danube Hydrological Information System (DanubeHIS) — strengthening regional forecasting and response capacity.

The coordination of PA5 also established the Danube Forecasting Forum (Budapest, 2023), now jointly continued by EUSDR PA5, ICPDR, and the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre (JRC). Building on this, they launched the 2025 Mostar Consultation and continued outreach in Montenegro (2025) after visits to Serbia (2024) — with Moldova and Ukraine next on our path.

Unity, cooperation, and water security remain the foundations of peace and sustainability in the Danube Region.