EUSDR REVISION OF TARGETS

he European Strategy for the Danube Region (EUSDR) targets’ revision exercise has been ongoing since March 2015. The issue of relevance of correct targets was raised in relation to the selection criteria of the Danube Transnational Programme, referring specifically to the EUSDR targets in the assessment of project proposals. 

During the PAC meetings of 21 March 2015 and 8 May 2015, the issue of relevance of correct targets was raised in relation to the selection criteria of the Danube Transnational Programme, referring specifically to the EUSDR targets in the assessment of project proposals, with a view to give extra points to proposals which implement the EUSDR. At the “Floating Conference” (common NC & PAC Meeting on24/25 June 2015) it was therefore decided that all EUSDR Priority Areas will assess the respective targets in view of proposing adaptation or revision. PA built on the structure of the existing targets, but at the same they should provide for realistic and feasible targets on which basis the needed monitoring and evaluation would be subsequently developed. Therefore, targets were not only to be updated, but their use in terms of monitoring the implementation progress of the EUSDR needed to be also ensured.

Annex 1 presents the list of revised EUSDR targets as a result of the review finalised in April 2016. In a first step, EUSDR Priority Areas assessed their respective targets in view of proposing adaptations or revisions. DG REGIO and the DSP undertook an overall assessment of the received proposals with the involvement of the relevant EC Directorates-General with the objective to avoid possible duplications between EU policy objectives and EUSDR targets.