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The International Commission for the Protection of the Danube River (ICPDR) successfully launched its webinar series “It Takes Two to Tango” on 28 April 2026, bringing together about 100 participants from across the Danube River Basin and beyond. This initiative seeks to address the growing challenges of water scarcity, pollution, and climate change that threaten both water resources and food security in the Danube River Basin.

A remarkable discovery has been made in the Drava River: an angler in Croatia recently caught a ship sturgeon (Acipenser nudiventris), a species long believed to be extinct in the Danube River Basin. Measuring 176 centimetres and weighing 35 kilograms, the fish was safely released back into the river after being identified by local authorities. The sighting is encouraging as it marks the first confirmed record of the species in many decades.

The ICPDR supports the active involment of stakeholders and civil society an all levels of its work. Two of the most important plans to the ICPDR are the DANUBE River Basin Managment Plan and the Flood Risk Managment Plan, aiming to implement the legal requirements of WFD and FD, comprising strategic guiding plans for water management over the course of six years. Both are to be developed with a range of public consultation measures.

Bucharest, Romania – Nine countries along the Danube River have joined forces to protect some of Europe’s most endangered species: the sturgeons. On 9–10 July, thirteen project partners and strategic allies – including national ministries, universities, NGOs and research bodies – gathered in Bucharest to launch “MonStur in the Danube,” a new cross-border effort to monitor and protect these ancient migratory fish.

Sturgeons, the most endangered group of species worldwide, are facing a perilous situation in Europe. These migratory species, which once freely swam from the Black Sea up to Germany, now find their ecological corridors severed by multiple barriers. Human interventions - such as hydropower, sediment extraction, navigation, river channelisation, by-catch and illegal fishing - are exerting severe pressure on habitats and populations, calling for immediate, coordinated actions.

The newly launched Danube Hydrological Information System (DanubeHIS) offers near real-time and validated long-term hydrological and meteorological data for the entire Danube basin. This system is instrumental in enhancing flood risk management and supporting water-related scientific research. Explore this valuable resource and its near real-time data capabilities to better understand and manage the complexities of the Danube basin.

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.

On October 10th and 11th, the much-anticipated biannual Danube Forecasting Forum (DAFF) took place in Budapest, Hungary. Organized in collaboration with the International Commission for the Protection of the Danube River (ICPDR) and the EU Joint Research Center (EU JRC), this event brought together stakeholders from the 13 countries along the Danube and members of the Danube Youth Council (DYC) under EUSDR PA5.