News

Barely a month after hosting the 24th ICPDR Standing Working Group Meeting in Uzhhorod, Ukraine, brought the Danube community together again. On July 24th, Ukraine hosted its 6th National Participation Day in Odesa as part of the EU Strategy for the Danube Region (EUSDR). The event highlighted the alignment between the priorities of Ukraine’s ICPDR Presidency and the country’s path towards EU membership.

The Sava Commission, Danube Commission, and ICPDR have come together to launch the Joint Statement 2.0 process, marking a significant step forward in harmonizing navigation and environmental protection in the Danube River Basin. With the first Stakeholder Workshop underway, this updated framework aims to address new challenges, including climate change impacts, sustainable transport, and innovative river management solutions. Discover how this initiative is set to shape the future of the region's waterways.

The ICPDR held a highly successful workshop titled "Sustainable Hydropower Development and Environmental Objectives – Framework, Challenges, and Ways Forward" on 4-5 June 2024 at the BOKU River Lab in Vienna. Building on workshops from 2017 and 2021, the event brought together experts from energy and environmental policy sectors, the hydropower industry, NGOs, and researchers.

For many countries in the Danube region, achieving universal access to water services while safeguarding water resources remains a significant challenge, particularly in rural areas.

The project involves 15 partners from 8 countries and aims to restore and conserve 34 islands from Germany to Romania. With the support of the EU Commission, the International Commission for the Protection of the Danube River, and the Ramsar Convention, the LIFE WILDisland project is set to become a great example of transboundary cooperation.

(Press Release) VIENNA, 28 February (International Commission for the Protection of the Danube River) – Serbia has now taken over the Presidency of the International Commission for the Protection of the Danube River (ICPDR) and has announced its priorities for the upcoming term. Incoming President Vedrana Ilić who is Serbia’s Assistant Minister responsible for international relations at the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management, presented Serbia’s goals hopes for its tenure, during an online ceremony.

A recent large-scale modelling study has shown that restoring floodplains and reconnecting cut-off water bodies with the Danube River, and its tributaries could play a significant role in improving water quality and removing nitrate pollution in the Danube River Basin.

The European Commission proposes to cut the use of chemical pesticides in half by 2030, one of the flagship legislative proposals to follow the Biodiversity and Farm to Fork Strategies. The new rules on chemical pesticides will reduce the environmental footprint of the EU's food system, protect the health and well-being of citizens and agricultural workers, and help mitigate the pesticide use-related economic losses.

(Press Release) VIENNA, 26 January (International Commission for the Protection of the Danube River) – Romania is taking over the 2022 Presidency of the International Commission for the Protection of the Danube River (ICPDR). Incoming President Róbert–Eugen Szép set out some goals for his forthcoming term at an online event, describing Romania’s plans for the all-important Danube Ministerial Meeting 2022.

The ICPDR has published a Guidance Document on Sustainable Agriculture, along with a Policy Paper.