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Rivers are a natural resource that have been a focal point of transboundary governance for centuries. It is challenging to manage them for the benefit of riparian communities – especially if they are transboundary. This requires the development of a water infrastructure to harvest the socioeconomic benefits, while at the same time protecting the ecosystem for future generations.

River Basin Organizations (RBOs) have been established in many of the world’s basins to better coordinate different stakeholders’ actions and foster cooperation instead of conflict. Based on the experiences of several RBOs worldwide, several key characteristics for their effectiveness can be identified.

Switzerland, officially the Swiss Confederation, is a landlocked country located at the convergence of Western, Central Southern Europe. Switzerland's natural landscape is marked by its numerous lakes and mountains, geographically divided among the Swiss Plateau, the Alps, and the Jura.

Poland, officially the Republic of Poland, is a country in Central Europe. Poland has a temperate transitional climate, and its territory traverses the Central European Plain, extending from the Baltic Sea in the north to Sudeten and Carpathian Mountains in the south.

North Macedonia, officially the Republic of North Macedonia, is a landlocked country in Southeast Europe. Its terrain is mostly rugged, located between the Šar Mountains and Osogovo, which frame the valley of the Vardar River. Three large lakes - Lake Ohrid, Lake Prespa, and Dojran Lake - lie on the southern borders, bisected by the frontiers with Albania and Greece. Ohrid is considered one of the world's oldest lakes and biotopes.

Albania, officially the Republic of Albania, is a country in Southeastern Europe. The country is located in the Balkans on the Adriatic and Ionian Seas within the Mediterranean Sea. Albania has a variety of climatic, geological, hydrological, and morphological conditions. Albania boasts a significant diversity, with the landscape ranging from the snow-capped mountains in the Albanian Alps and the Korab, Skanderbeg, Pindus, and Ceraunian Mountains, to the hot and sunny Albanian Adriatic and Ionian Sea Coasts.

Italy, officially the Italian Republic or the Republic of Italy, is a country located in Southwestern Europe. Situated in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea, it consists of a peninsula delimited by the Alps and surrounded by several islands; its territory largely coincides with the homonymous geographical region.

The IRF European Riverprize is awarded annually since 2013 to reward best practice river basin management from the Urals to the Atlantic. The award was launched in a partnership between the ICPDR, the Coca-Cola Compay, the International River Foundation (IRF) and the European Center for River Restoration.

Montenegro, literally meaning the “black mountain”, is a small upland country. Just over half of its territory lies within the Danube River Basin, the remainder being in the Adriatic Sea catchment. Notable Danube rivers are the Tara, Piva, Lim and Ćehotina and the Ibar. In October 2008, the Convention on Cooperation for the Protection and Sustainable Use of the Danube River came into force in Montenegro.

Three sub-basins of the Danube are partly located in Ukraine - the Tisza, Prut and Siret basins, as well as part of the Danube Delta. Furthermore, 2.7 million people live in the Ukrainian part of the Danube Basin, which is 3.3% of the total Danube Basin District. Ukraine has been a Signatory State to the Danube River Protection Convention since 1994. The Convention was ratified by the Ukrainian Parliament in 2002.