Danube Strategy: Commissioner Johannes Hahn visits Danube region to take stock of progress - Montesquieu Instituut

One year after the launch of the Danube Strategy, Commissioner for Regional Policy, Johannes Hahn is making a tour of the region to meet those who are putting the plan into action. He will discuss how to accelerate implementation of the Strategy which can be an important instrument in creating jobs and growth. The trip is also an opportunity for him to see at first-hand the progress being made through macro-regional cooperation, and to raise awareness, at political and public level, of the added value of the strategy. During the tour which will comprise seven countries, the Commissioner will meet high-level political representatives as well as stakeholders and pay visits to flagship projects. A Danube Day's event will be celebrated in Belgrade and in each country there will be one or several press events.

Inhoudsopgave van deze pagina:

Delen

1. Achtergrond
2. Bijeenkomst
3. Bronnen
4. Perscontacten
5. Achtergrond

6. Bijeenkomst
7. Bronnen
8. Perscontacten
9. Europese Commissie (EC)
10. Meer over...

The following countries are involved in the EU Strategy for the Danube Region: Germany (Baden-Württemberg and Bavaria), Austria, Hungary, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Slovenia, Bulgaria, Romania, Croatia, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Moldova, and Ukraine.

The Commission proposed the Strategy at the request of the European Council in December 2010. It was formally endorsed by the Member States in April 2011. It is designed for the better coordination and cooperation between the countries and regions involved in order to address such common challenges as:

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  environmental threats (water pollution, floods, climate change)
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  untapped shipping potential and lack of road and rail transport connections
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  insufficient energy connections
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  uneven socio-economic development
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  uncoordinated education, research and innovation systems
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  shortcomings in safety and security

The tour will comprise the following countries (in chronological order): Austria, Slovakia, Hungary, Croatia, Serbia, Romania and Bulgaria. It will start with a major press event in Vienna, taking place on 27 June directly at the Danube (Marina Wien) with the participation of the Austrian Vice-Chancellor and Foreign Minister. The visit to the other Danube countries will follow the same pattern: meeting with high-level politicians, stakeholders and visit of regional projects. Press conferences and –events will be held along the way in Vienna, Bratislava, Budapest, Vukovar, Novi Sad, Drobeta-Turnu Severin and Vidin.

IPs with the detailed programme will be available via the respective EC Representations and Delegations.

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  Available on EbS

EU Strategy for the Danube Region:

http://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/cooperate/danube/index_en.cfm#4

##EUSDR @EU_Regional

Danube Trip photos on Flickr: https://www.flickr.com/photos/euregional

Annemarie Huber +32 2 299 33 10 Annemarie.Huber@ec.europa.eu

Ton Van Lierop +32 2 296 65 65 Ton.Van-Lierop@ec.europa.eu

Sunday 1st July: New roaming rules enter into force

On 1 July 2012 the new Roaming Regulation will enter into force bringing significant reductions to the cost of using mobile phones whilst travelling in another EU country. For the first time price caps will be introduced for downloading data from the internet using a mobile connection. Prices for voice and text calls will also be reduced.

The new prices caps will be:

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  29 cents per minute to make a call, plus VAT, down from 35 cents
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  8 cents per minute to receive a call, plus VAT, down from 11 cents
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  9 cents to send a text message, plus VAT, down from 11 cents
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  70 cents per Megabyte (MB) to download data (charged per Kilobyte used), plus VAT. There is no current price cap on this.

By 2014, as prices are cut further, the maximum cost of downloading data will be just 20 cents per MB, plus VAT. Operators are free to offer cheaper rates. Price caps are a maximum level, acting as a safeguard, and competition should drive them lower. The regulation also introduces new rules as from July 2014, allowing customers to shop around and sign up for a separate mobile roaming contract that best suits them. 0r, if they prefer, they can pick one when they arrive at their destination, like selecting a WiFi provider. In addition, as from 1 July 2012, the current warning customers receive if they are running up a high data bill will be extended to countries beyond the EU.

The EU first introduced caps on roaming prices in 2007 (IP/07/870), ensuring that mobile phone subscribers pay similar roaming tariffs across the EU. In July 2009, revised rules were adopted that cut roaming prices further in instalments so that by July 2011 the maximum roaming charges was 35 cents per minute for calls made and 11 cents for calls received while abroad (see IP/09/1064 and MEMO/09/309). The 2009 roaming rules are applicable until the end of June 2012.

The new Roaming Regulation will enter into force. Press material will be available.

European Commission's roaming website:

http://ec.europa.eu/information_society/activities/roaming/index_en.htm

Neelie Kroes' website:

http://ec.europa.eu/commission_2010-2014/kroes/index_en.htm

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  I-070376 Roaming

Ryan Heath: +32 2 296 17 16 ryan.heath@ec.europa.eu

Linda Cain: +32 2 299 90 19 linda.cain@ec.europa.eu