Special Co-ordinator Hombach to participate at Environment Summit on the Danube Region in Bucharest, 30 April 2001

On April 30, the Government of Romania is hosting a Ministerial Conference, which will deal with issues related to the Danube region in its environmental dimension. The Special Co-ordinator welcomes this summit as important contribution to the overall framework of the Stability Pact’s Danube Basin activities. (See below) As a reminder to media: In February, Bodo Hombach proposed to hold a high-level Danube-Conference later in 2001, the objective of which is to promote the renewal of the Danube basin after several years of interrupted navigation. Areas such as infrastructure, economic development, environmental rehabilitation, tourism and culture will be addressed. The Danube Commission and the riparian countries welcomed the initiative. It is the Stability Pact’s firm intention to conduct these rehabilitation efforts by governments and organisations within existing institutions. A high-level Danube Conference shall take place only after navigation on the Danube is re-established and the still prevailing blockage at Novi Sad cleared. Austria has offered to host the Conference. A Project Committee has been established, which will steer Conference preparations.