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(Press Release) VIENNA, 22 March 2024 – The International Commission for the Protection of the Danube River (ICPDR) is joining the global community in observing World Water Day on March 22nd 2024, and commemorating the 30th anniversary of the Danube River Protection Convention (DRPC). This year's theme, "Water for Peace," underscores the critical role of water management in fostering peace, supporting communities, and sustaining our environment, reflecting three decades of transboundary cooperation under the Convention.

The ICPDR has released its 2022 Annual Report, providing a comprehensive overview of the organization's activities and achievements in safeguarding the Danube River Basin in an eventful year.

(Press Release) VIENNA, 28 February (Permanent Mission of the Republic of Serbia to the OSCE and other International Organizations in Vienna) -
In keeping with its longstanding tradition of collaborative leadership, the International Commission for the Protection of the Danube River (ICPDR) announces the commencement of Slovakia's presidency, succeeding Serbia for the year 2024.

The Secretariat of the ICPDR is located at the United Nations Office at Vienna (UNOV). A team of approximately 10 staff members support the work of the ICPDR and its expert & task groups, assist with project development and implementation, and maintains the ICPDR's 'DANUBIS' information system.

The ICPDR comprises 15 Contracting Parties who have committed themselves to implement the Danube River Protection Convention.

The final goals are to co-operate on fundamental water management issues and to take all appropriate legal, administrative and technical measures to maintain and improve the quality of the Danube River and its environment.

Accidental pollution in the Danube River Basin can cause widespread damage to the environment, and endanger the health of local people and the state of local economies downstream. This was exemplified by the effects of the Baia Mare cyanide spill in Romania in 2000 or by the Hungarian redsludge accident at Ajka in 2010. The ICPDR is working to prevent accidental pollution and to improve response capability by compiling an inventory of all relevant "Accident Risk Spots".

Organic pollution has been on the rise in the Danube over the last century, as human activities have resulted in increasing loads of wastewater rich in organic matter. The most serious organic pollution problems occur in tributaries that regularly receive untreated or inadequately treated wastewater from industrial plants and municipalities. Thanks to the significant improvement of wastewater infrastructure and services in the Danube countries, the basin-wide organic emissions reduced by 60% since the mid 2000s.