The Ukrainian EUSDR Presidency together with the former Slovak EUSDR Presidency, the European Commission and the Danube Strategy Point, and financially supported by the Danube Transnational Programme organised the 11th EUSDR Annual Forum on 19-20 October 2022, close to the Ukraine border in Košice, Slovakia and online.

The first day of the Forum was dedicated to the new challenges and opportunities for the Danube Region, which also arise from the current energy and economic crisis and the war in Ukraine. Solutions for new challenges can be found through the Danube Region Programme projects for which the 1st call is opened until 21 November 2022.

The main topic discussed during the second day of the Forum was energy security and sustainable economic development, which became the priorities of the Ukrainian EUSDR Presidency. However, not only were the current energy crisis, the diversification of energy sources with regard to the principles of the European Green Deal discussed, also human capital and labour markets, involvement of youth into the EUSDR and strengthened cooperation and integration of EU and Ukrainian companies in European value chains were themes of the Forum. The last panel discussion was focused on embedding EUSDR into EU programmes.

PA4 team presented the promotion materials and brochures on relevant topics, and discussed water quality issues with interested stakeholders.