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Bulgaria Leads EU Danube Strategy to Bridge Economic Gaps in 2026

From Berlin to the Balkans, leaders gather to reshape Europe's future. Can Bulgaria's vision close the gaps dividing the Danube's diverse regions?

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The image shows a paper with a map of the lower Danube and its adjacent provinces. The map is...
The image shows a paper with a map of the lower Danube and its adjacent provinces. The map is detailed and shows the various geographical features of the region, such as rivers, mountains, and cities. The text on the paper provides additional information about the region.

Bulgaria Leads EU Danube Strategy to Bridge Economic Gaps in 2026

Bulgaria, as the 2026 presidency holder of the EU Strategy for the Danube Region (EUSDR), co-hosted the 11th Danube Salon in Berlin on March 5. The event brought together over 520 guests from politics, business, and diplomacy to discuss regional cooperation and economic resilience. Organised by the Baden-Württemberg State Ministry and the Bulgarian Embassy, the salon focused on reducing disparities across the Danube regions.

The 11th Danube Salon centred on the theme 'Connecting Regions, Strengthening Cohesion: Economic Resilience and Reducing Disparities in the Danube Region'. Winfried Hermann, Baden-Württemberg's Minister of Transport, opened the event, while Grigor Porozhanov, Bulgaria's Ambassador to Germany, was among the key attendees. A keynote address and panel discussion explored the region's current challenges, including institutional capacity building and economic cooperation—especially for non-EU states in the accession process.

The EUSDR, launched 15 years ago, aims to boost political collaboration, regional cohesion, and cross-border links in economics, society, and culture. Fourteen countries—Germany, Austria, Slovakia, Czech Republic, Hungary, Slovenia, Croatia, Romania, Bulgaria, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, North Macedonia, and Moldova—are part of the strategy. Successes so far include stronger transnational partnerships under EU macro-regional frameworks like the EUSDR.

Bulgaria's presidency priorities align with these goals, emphasising EU enlargement and deeper regional integration. The event highlighted the need for continued interregional teamwork to address shared economic and social challenges.

The salon underscored the importance of sustained cooperation among Danube regions. Bulgaria's presidency will focus on advancing EU enlargement and reducing regional inequalities. With 14 nations involved, the EUSDR remains a key platform for fostering political, economic, and cultural ties across the regions.

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