The conference ended with a joint statement in which the Danube parliamentarians, among other things, stressed the importance of harmonised cross-border anti-flood protection for the entire territory of the Danube basin and its tributaries.

Speaking about anti-flood protection within the EU Danube Strategy (EUSDR), Gojkovic stressed that the catastrophic impact of the May floods in the region had demonstrated the significance of cooperation and how important it is to draft and conduct joint anti-flooding protection projects.

The National Assembly Speaker said that strengthening Danube strategy projects on eco-risk management is a priority listing as best practice example the use of several IPA cross-border cooperation projects Serbia conducts with Romania, in the amount of about seven million EUR.

“Besides the solidarity demonstrated by the citizens, region and the international community, the situation helped us learn important lessons about the necessity of cooperation on the goals and priorities life sets us”, said Gojkovic.

The National Assembly Speaker said that the Danube strategy hold special importance for Serbia as the first EU strategy that includes countries not in the EU, adding that the 14-country cooperation is an important experience and encouragement for Serbia’s European integration.

Serbia will be hosting the 2015 Conference of Danube Parliamentarians since its candidacy, proposed by the National Assembly Speaker, was accepted.