EU macro-regional strategies (MRS), as integrated frameworks, address societal and ecological challenges shared within a wider territory. Due to their nature, they provide a good platform for coordination and exchange within a specific MRS but also across all four macro regions. In 2018, the EU Strategy for the Danube Region priority area ‘Water quality’ (EUSDR PA4) in cooperation with Interact Programme initiated the first meeting of experts working on water-related issues in all four MRS. The workshop focused on freshwater-related matters and common freshwater-marine topics in the MRS. This second meeting aims to continue the discussion. It will address thematic cross-MRS cooperation around topics such as nutrient load reduction, hazardous substances control and prevention, climate change related risks. Participants will discuss practical steps on how to maintain the exchange across MRS in a systematic and long-term perspective. The meeting will also enable discussions on how to work with emerging topics and plan related actions.

The Study "Water Related Themes in EU Macro-regional Strategies" conducted by TRENECON Ltd under the contract with EUSDR PA4 will serve the background for the discussions.

Primarily target group for the event is thematic coordinators from all four MRS dealing with the relevant themes.