The 4th Annual Forum of the EU Strategy for the Danube Region (EUSDR) – under the title “Smart, social, sustainable – Innovation for the Danube Region” – took place on the 29-30th of October 2015 in Ulm, jointly organized by the European Commission, the State of Baden-Württemberg and the City of Ulm.

During the two days, four thematic sessions with several panels and workshops gave the opportunity to the participants and stakeholders of the macro region to exchange and share their latest results and plans for the joint development of the Danube Region.

The „Environmental Risks” Priority Area (PA5) of the EUSDR also contributed to the success of the event by organizing a panel with the involvement of the International Commission for the Protection of the Danube River (ICPDR) on „Improving the Flood Safety (The 1st Flood Risk Management Plan for Danube Basin and the synergies, projects of EUSDR PA5 and ICPDR)” on the second day of the Forum.

The audience was welcomed by Mr Joó, Ministerial Commissioner responsible for the implementation of the Danube Region Strategy in Hungary and Mr Kurecic, President of the ICPDR. They both emphasized the necessity of the cooperation and joint work and reinforcing synergy between EUSDR PA5 and ICPDR in the field of flood protection. During the panel the keynote speakers and panelists – involving among others Mr Kremlis, Head of DG Environment from the European Commission and Mr Gombás, Chair of the ICPDR Flood Protection Expert Group – informed the audience about the successful joint work of the last year and highlighted the already achieved joint results of EUSDR PA5 and ICPDR, such as the project ideas/proposals presented in the Annex II of the Flood Risk Management Plan which include the Measures developed by EUSDR PA5 in the Danube Region Operative Flood Management and Cooperation Programme based on the 14 Danube Region countries’ needs.

Priority Area 5 was also involved in the integrated horizontal workshop of the Environmental Pillar of EUSDR on the first day of the Forum: „Protecting the Environment in the Danube Region” which serves as an outstanding example of horizontal and transnational cooperation between Priority Areas of the same Pillar.