The Danube as a development resource: Perception and activities of local administration

The paper presents the results of multidisciplinary studies that were reached during the interviews in the local administrations in 24 cities and municipalities through which the river Danube flows on the territory of the Republic of Serbia. The Danube is an extraordinary resource that links the North and the Black Sea through the Rhine-Main-Danube Canal, and flows through 13 European countries. There are almost 3 million inhabitants on its banks in Serbia, and it is also the region with the largest economic activity in the territory of the Republic of Serbia. Local administrations took responsibility for their own development by making a series of strategic documents related to local economic development in which they analyzed the current situation and predicted development measures and incentives to improve the investment environment. In this paper we analyze the eco-chemical characteristics of water, arrangements of banks and riverbed, supporting infrastructure, business infrastructure, development measures and incentives, as well as cooperation with other local communities in the Danube region. The aim of this study was to determine awareness, knowledge and commitment of decision-making capabilities of local communities on the Danube as a development resource, especially in the context of the modern concept of sustainable development.