The EU Strategy for the Danube Region. The implications for Poland and the Visegrad Group - Gniazdowski, Mateusz 1974-; Strážay, Tomáš (Ośrodek Studiów Wschodnich im. Marka Karpia, 2012)
The Danube strategy is the second example, after the Baltic Sea strategy, of the growing importance of macro-regions in the EU. The regional policy is being more and more often looked at through the prism of not only ensuring internal cohesion but also promoting better connection for a country with its external – both EU and non-EU environment. Poland is a Baltic Sea strategy contributor, but has not been incorporated into the inner circle of states preparing the Danube strategy. The challenge for the Visegrad Group is to define a position on the role of macro-regional strategies in building the cohesion of Central Europe and the harmonic development of the whole EU. Demands for a better co-ordination of EU policies and funds in order to pursue macro-regional strategies should also be treated as a call for closer co-operation between Poland and its southern neighbours who are directly involved in the Danube strategy