News

To ensure that water and sanitation are available and sustainably managed for everyone, the European Union (EU) has collaborated with the international community to present a Water Action Agenda at the UN Water Conference on World Water Day. The EU has announced 33 commitments that reflect its vision for a world that can withstand water stress and offer water security to all.

On March 15, 2023, the Neptune Water Prize winners, including the Neptune State Prize, were announced by Federal Minister Norbert Totschnig, along with the partners of the Neptune State Prize for Water and other Austrian water representatives. Participants competed in five categories: WasserGEMEINDE, WasserWIEN, WasserFORSCHT, WasserBILDUNG, and WasserKREATIV, with prizes awarded every two years to outstanding water-related projects.

(Press Release) VIENNA, 22 March 2023 – The International Commission for the Protection of the Danube River (ICPDR) is proud to join the world in celebrating World Water Day on March 22, 2023. The theme for this year's celebration is "Be the Change," which highlights the vital importance of water and how we can protect and manage this precious resource for future generations.

On March 4th, 2023, the Global Environment Facility (GEF) drafted a new agreement under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea on the conservation and sustainable use of marine biodiversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction.

With the start of her tenure as our Executive Secretary last summer, Birgit Vogel has set out to prioritize building solid professional relationships with ICPDR stakeholders and members, planning to personally visit as many Danube countries as possible. Ms. Vogel met with Uroš Brežan. Slovenian Water Minister, and a broad range of water actors on her latest visit to Slovenia.

Vienna, 12 December 2018 - This morning WWF presented a Gift to the Earth, its highest award, to the International Commission for the Protection of the Danube River (ICPDR) at a ceremony at the UN in Vienna.

The signing of the grant agreement between the International Commission for the Protection of the Danube River (ICPDR) and DG REGIO will enable a feasibility study that aims to identify ways forward to preserve of fish stocks at the Romanian-Serbian border. This action is an important step in the ongoing efforts to achieve a central objective of the EU Strategy for the Danube River: saving the Danube sturgeons from extinction. Despite its longevity, this “dinosaur fish” is considered one of the most endangered species in the world.

Vienna, 17 December 2014. The Danube River Basin Management Plan Update 2015 and the 1st Flood Risk Management Plan for the DRB are published here for comments until 22 July 2015.

Vienna, 10 December 2014. Croatia will take over the ICPDR Presidency 2015. In the frame of the 17th Ordinary Meeting of the commission, incoming president Mr. Drazen Kurecic received a bottle of Danube water as a symbol for the presidency from acting president Ms. Emilia Kraeva of Bulgaria.

Belene, 18 November 2014. WWF has released some 5,000 sterlets into the Danube River today as part of a 50,000-strong sturgeon restocking programme. This is the first restocking of endangered sturgeons performed by a non-government organization in Bulgaria, after years of scientific research, climatic and biological challenges.