Conciliation without losing sight of our values

The aim of the Danube Strategy is to ensure the sustainable development of the region along the Danube through the strengthening of territorial, economic and social cohesion following the example of the Baltic Sea Strategy. Tthis plan will most probably be finalized by the end of the year and it will constitute one of the main priorities of the Hungarian presidency.

The European Parliament adopted a motion for a resolution in its plenary sitting in Strasbourg regarding the Danube Strategy stating that the EP „proposes that an EU Danube Summit involving local and regional stakeholders as well as civil society be held every two years and its conclusions be presented to the European Council and Parliament”. The vote was preceded by the MEP’s vivid debate. DAHR’s MEP Sógor Csaba took part in this debate and stressed the social and historical importance of the Danube in Central and South-Eastern Europe.

- I am making reference to the historical importance of the Danube in our decisional responsibility in this debate because we face a much more complex issue than in the case of the Baltic Sea Strategy – said the Hungarian MEP from Transylvania. Not all the states in our region are members of the European Union, some have recently been stricken by war, some have been held back in their development by the Iron Curtain. So their interests regarding the river are rarely convergent, sometimes even completely opposite. The region was different social and economic backgrounds. The interests of the states taking part in the Baltic Sea Strategy had the same general motivation and their cultural background also implied the common use of debate and empathy – detailed his thoughts Sógor Csaba. 

He believes that it is much harder to reach an agreement in the question of the Danube than in the case of the Baltic example in spite of the fact that the sustainable peace and welfare brought forth by the EU can be an answer to the most of the current challenges the Danube region faces.

- In my opinion it is much harder to conduct a debate and reach an agreement reassuring all parties involved in those community matters that only affect some of the member states. The willingness for debate, the openness and the need for correspondence is much higher when all 27 members are involved. We must find the solution to the questions and challenges of our everyday life, to the economical inequalities and the social tensions in a way that does not endanger our existence, health, water supply and environment. Let’s remember the historical example: the region had a boost in development when we managed to conciliate between opposing interests and also to keep our values intact – concluded Sógor Csaba.