Danube Ports - Centres for Regional Development and Economic Growth

Danube ports must be seen as important co-modal transhipment nodes and ideal business platforms for the local and regional economy. For this to be achieved, Pro Danube International proposes the elaboration of a dedicated transnational development strategy for Danube ports together with long-term action plans in the framework of EUSDR. Such strategy should address

  • investment needs of port infrastructure
  • required improvements of rail and road access infrastructure
  • connecting business parks as areas for private investment
  • (cross-border) regional development plans and actions
  • combination of public and private funding schemes
  • efficient planning and project execution strategies and instruments
  • development of national state aid funding schemes
  • alignment of national funding schemes with EU funding schemes
Based on this strategy a series of pilot projects should be developed with the help of EU flagship projects. These flagship projects should trigger national implementation projects that are supported by national port development funding schemes similar to Western Europe.