International co-operation for healthy rivers in Europe

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Vienna, 27 February 2012. The ICPDR and the International River Foundation (IRF) signed a Memorandum of Understanding to cooperate in programmes and activities that promote and strengthen efforts towards good river basin management in Europe and throughout the world.

The MOU is part of the ICPDR commitment to share experience from the Danube with other regions of the world. A key element of the MoU is the commitment from the ICPDR to help establish a European River Prize, an award planned to be given for the first time in 2013. The Prize would be modelled on, and provide a stepping stone to receiving, the International River Prize which the ICPDR won in 2007.

The memorandum was signed by President Wolfgang Stalzer on behalf of the ICPDR and Matthew Reddy, CEO of the IRF. Representatives of the European Centre for River Restoration, GEF IW Learn and the Thames River (another River Prize winner) attended the ceremony and participated in the discussions on creating a European River Prize. See pictures of the signing of the MoUs, which took place at the ICPDR secretariat in Vienna, below.