Ukraine to succeed Slovenia in ICPDR Presidency for 2026
VIENNA, 11 December (Diplomatic Academy of Vienna) – Ukraine will take over the Presidency of the International Commission for the Protection of the Danube River (ICPDR) in January 2026. Mariia Shpanchyk, Head of the Department of Water Management at the State Agency of Water Resources of Ukraine, will serve as its new President for one year. The annual transition in leadership reflects the ICPDR’s ongoing dedication to successful transboundary water management.
The celebration ceremony of the ICPDR Presidencies was commemorated with a reception at the Diplomatic Academy in Vienna, Austria, in the presence of Ambassador of Slovenia to Austria, Marko Štucin, Ambassador of Ukraine to Austria, Vasyl Khymynets, and Ambassador of Ukraine to the United Nations, OSCE and International Organizations, Yurii Vitrenko. As part of the ceremony, Ms. Shpanchyk received a bottle of Danube water from 2025 President Lidija Globevnik of Slovenia. The traditional exchange of the water bottle is a symbolic gesture of an enduring ICPDR tradition to emphasize the ICPDR incoming President’s commitment to shared responsibility and ensuring the sustainable management of the Danube River Basin.
Reflecting on the past year, President Lidija Globevnik said: “In 2025, together, we launched the 5th Joint Danube Survey, JDS5, a testament to our collective commitment to science, transparency, and public engagement. We advanced the Source-to-Sea approach, strengthened partnerships with the Black Sea Commission and the UN Environment Programme’s Mediterranean Action Plan (UNEP/MAP), and made meaningful strides in youth engagement. These achievements are not mine alone—they are ours, the result of your dedication, expertise, and collaboration.”
President Globevnik added: “I will remain in my role until January, when Ukraine officially takes over the Presidency. While my time as President may end, my connection to the ICPDR will always remain special. This organization, and the people who drive its mission, hold a permanent place in my heart.”
The President expressed her gratitude for the collective efforts of the ICPDR and extended her best wishes to Ms. Shpanchyk as she handed over the symbolic bottle of water. The handover ceremony was held early this year to accommodate the Ukrainian delegation, who are attending ICPDR’s 28th Ordinary Meeting in Vienna.
Ms. Shpanchyk brings extensive experience in Water Management and Nature Management, Ecology and environmental protection to her position. A member of the Bureau of the Water Convention (UNECE), she has been involved in discussions and projects related to national water policies, river basin management, and aligning Ukraine's water governance with EU standards.
Ms. Shpanchyk said: “The last time we held this Presidency in 2011 and our country was at peace. Since 2014, our reality has changed dramatically. First, Russia annexed Crimea and occupied part of the eastern region of Ukraine. And from 2022, Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine began, which continues to this day. Every day, we fight for our life, our freedom, and our future. Yet, even in these challenging times, our commitment to the Danube and to the ICPDR principles remains unwavering”.
As President, Ms. Shpanchyk will initiate a new activity - assessing the Impacts of War on the Lower Danube and Danube Delta as well as oversee key ICPDR initiatives, such as addressing Climate Change Impacts by enhancing drought to build water resilience across the Danube River Basin, ensuring we understand and mitigate the challenges together and supporting the Implementation of the Danube River Basin Management Plan through peer learning, best practice exchanges, and collaboration with the Prut Expert Group and the Dniester Commission. Ms. Shpanchyk’s leadership comes at a pivotal time ahead of the publication of the findings of the 5th iteration of the Joint Danube Survey, JDS5. This Joint Survey is the world’s most comprehensive surface water monitoring effort, providing critical insights into the health of the Danube and setting the stage for informed policymaking and sustainable water management across the Danube River Basin. Under Ukraine’s leadership the Commission aims to strengthen its role as a cornerstone of international cooperation in water management. It will conclude with the preparation towards the stakeholder consultation for the two management plans updates: the 2027 Danube River Basin Management Plan (DRBMP) and Danube Flood Risk Management Plan (DFRMP).
The ICPDR presidency rotates annually, providing each member state the opportunity to guide the organization’s strategic direction. Slovenia’s leadership marks a continued commitment to advancing sustainable policies and protecting the Danube River Basin for future generations.
For further information, please contact:
Hélène Masliah-Gilkarov, Public Participation & Communication
ICPDR Secretariat at UNOV
Telephone: (+43-1) 26060-4373
Fax: (+43-1) 26060-5895
Mobile: (+43 676) 845 200 220
E-mail: helene.masliah-gilkarov[at] icpdr.org
Web: www.icpdr.org
