The European Commission has released its fifth report on the implementation of the EU’s macro-regional strategies — a document assessing progress in the Danube, Baltic, Adriatic-Ionian, and Alpine regions. For the first time, the report clearly articulates Ukraine’s role as a driver of change.
At the same time, the 13th Annual Stakeholder Conference of the EU Strategy for the Danube Region and the first National Participation Day took place in Sarajevo. Our team from the Association “EU Strategy for the Danube Region” represented Ukraine as an active partner already operating according to European standards — and capable of setting a new dynamic.
“If Ukraine is not integrated into macro-regional strategies, it’s a gap not only for us, but for the whole of Europe,” was the message echoed during the conference.
Ukraine cannot develop effectively in a European context without full integration into cross-border cooperation and macro-regional strategies. Participation in the Danube Strategy gives Ukraine access to infrastructure planning, funding, policy coordination, and genuine dialogue. It is a foundation for the sustainable development of border regions that have long remained in the shadows.
Since the start of the full-scale invasion and the blockade of Black Sea ports, Danube routes have become critical arteries. In 2023, the ports of Izmail, Reni, Kiliia, and Ust-Dunaisk handled over 27 million tons of cargo, transforming into strategic transport hubs within the EC’s Solidarity Lanes initiative.
Since May 2022, Ukraine has exported over 179 million tons of goods, including around 84 million tons of grain, oilseeds, and related products. Another 88 million tons consisted of industrial cargo — ore, steel, and other metallurgical goods. In monetary terms, the total value of trade, including both exports and imports, exceeded €211 billion.
These figures speak for themselves: the Danube is no longer an alternative. It has become the main channel for delivering grain, metals, energy, and industrial resources to the EU. Ukraine’s infrastructure in the Danube region has become an integral part of regional logistics, strengthening not only national resilience but also the functioning of the entire EU trade system.
We emphasize that the lack of clear cooperation mechanisms leaves Ukraine’s border regions outside of holistic European development. Ukraine is not waiting to be included — it is already shaping solutions and mobilizing local resources. Its role is not peripheral, but structural. Recognizing, strengthening, and institutionalizing this role is not a gesture of solidarity, but a strategic necessity for the resilience and unity of the entire Danube region and the broader European area.
“Today’s Danube is not just about logistics. It’s about a new quality of cooperation and a shared space of solutions, where Ukraine already acts as a full-fledged partner. And here lies the opportunity to make this participation stable, predictable, and strategically beneficial for everyone,” comments Yuriy Maslov, President of the Association “EU Strategy for the Danube Region”.
Ukraine is already part of the European space — through actions, initiatives, and decisions. Our ports, communities, experts, and organizations prove this every day. The next step is to formalize this role institutionally, expand influence, and ensure sustainable participation mechanisms.