News

Brussels, 16 July 2014. An international donors conference raised millions in support of flood victims in Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina. High-level speakers including French minister of foreign affairs Laurent Fabius also underlined the importance of river basin management and the role of ICPDR and ISRBC.

Vienna, 26/27 June 2014. The 3rd EUSDR Annual Conference put the spotlight on the ICPDR at several occasions: the commission’s 20th anniversary was celebrated through a special session; and exhibitions, plenary and working group sessions dealt with improving the alignment of ICPDR and EUSDR work – reinforced by a ministerial declaration.

Luxemburg, 13 May 2014. According to an EU Audit, the union has only partially succeeded in integrating water policy goals into the common agricultural policy (CAP). The audit highlighted weaknesses in the two instruments currently used to integrate water concerns into the CAP and pointed out delays and weaknesses in the implementation of the WFD.

Western Balkans, 19 May 2014 (updated 27 May). Resulting from the most intensive rain in a century, the worst floods in the Balkans for decades caused more than 40 dead and forced tens of thousands of people to leave their homes.

Ho Chi Minh City, 7 April 2014. The Second Mekong River Commission Summit and International Conference has convened in Ho Chi Minh City last week. Highlights of the conference included current trends in trans-boundary water management related to water, energy and food security – including climate change.

Danube Basin, 24 May 2014. The first "World Fish Migration Day" calls attention to the need to safeguard free flowing rivers and to restore the connections in rivers for migratory fish. A cause of high concern for the Danube River Basin, too.

Danube Basin, 22 March 2014. Water and energy are closely interlinked and interdependent - this is the key-message of “World Water Day 2014”. Like anywhere in the world, energy generation is often dependent on water resources in the Danube River Basin. World Water Day is an occasion to look at the ICPDR’s efforts to align economic and environmental needs in the field of hydropower.

Vienna, 7 March 2014. A group of environmental scientists from Austria recently published the study „The Danube so colourful: A potpourri of plastic litter outnumbers fish larvae in Europe's second largest river”. Here, you find some comments on plastic waste in rivers and on ICPDR activities to tackle the issue.

Zagreb, 4-5 Feb 2014. The 5th Follow-up of the Joint Statement Meeting was held in Zagreb on 4-5 February. Hosted by the International Sava River Basin Commission, representatives from navigation and environment discussed projects and policies.

Vienna, 3 Feb 2014. Wolfgang Stalzer of Austria and Fritz Holzwarth of Germany are the first dignatories of a new ICPDR honorary function: as ICPDR Goodwill Ambassadors, they will resume a representative role for the Commission in international matters.