Like no other crisis before, war threatens our coexistence in the European Union. The term “turning point” aptly describes the distinctive phase in which we find ourselves. It is therefore important for the EU to take a clear and united stance. The European gaze is strongly directed towards the East. Cooperation is becoming even more important.

Since 2011, the Baden-Württemberg Ministry of Economics, Labour and Tourism has been playing a leading role in the EU Strategy for the Danube Region (EUSDR) in the area of SME po- licy. New formats of cooperation were sought and found in the new event series “The Danube Region at the Turn of Times”. The goal is to find solutions in the community of Danube countries, to strengthen each other and to actively shape the transformation. Support for Ukraine is the focus of everything. In addition, topics such as the Green Deal, energy security, resilient value chains and the associated valuebased business community, or the greater use of economic potential in the neighbourhood (so-called nearshoring) also play a major role – all topics that will shape the future of coming generations.

“After the pandemic and in the current difficult time of crisis, it is even more important that the partners and friends from the Danube region meet and coordinate their basic attitude and concrete cooperation in politics, economy and society,” said Dr Patrick Rapp, State Secretary in the Ministry of Economy, Labour and Tourism.

The event “The Danube Region at the Turn of Times – Actively Shaping the Transformation. Solution approaches for politics and business“, which will take place on 10 July 2023 in Stuttgart, is jointly organised by the Ministry of State and the Ministry of Economics, Labour and Tourism. State Secretary Florian Hassler and State Secretary Dr Patrick Rapp will be on hand to provide impetus and exchange ideas with guests from the Danube region.

The first two events of the series in summer 2022 in Ulm were already highlights, organised in connection with the International Danube Festival and the Eastern Europe Forum in autumn 2022 at Global Connect in Stuttgart. “At both events, it became visible how important and profitable the great foundation of transnational cooperation in the Danube region is. We use the solid foundation of the Danube Region Strategy and expand it with important building blocks. Therefore, we are burning to host the events and hope for a great interest,” says Carmen Hawkins, EUSDR Priority Area 8 Coordinator.