Many participants coming from catching-up countries count on outside help for mastering the change process ahead. It is clearly expected that the European layer — and particularly Austria, Bavaria and Baden‐Württemberg — leads in this catching‐up exercise as local governments and public administrations are not perceived as a stable factor in economic development. This is because strategies — if existent at all — are not being implemented, priorities are being changed frequently, responsibilities and responsible persons are moved around in unpredictable ways, there is corruption, short‐term policy‐making etc.

Changes in the administration and erratic moves are too often mirroring developments in the political sphere. This is not the sole responsibility of local administrations and not valid for all countries and subregions to the same extent but a reality in many regions.

For a functioning catching‐up process and for knitting closer ties within the Danube Region, the public sector must be in the driving seat — relying on efficient structures, well working processes and fast decisions