Danube Day 2015: Get active!

„Over the last decade, Danube Day has become the biggest river festival in the world. Today, we are joining tens of thousands of people to celebrate past achievements in making our rivers healthier for everyone to enjoy”, says Mr Dražen Kurečić, ICPDR President 2015. “This is also an opportunity to call the people of all Danube countries to support the management plans that we currently develop for the future.”

Mr Kurečić refers to the public consultation activities for the Danube River Basin Management Plan Update 2015 and the Flood Risk Management Plan. “The public is invited to contribute to these plans – by sending comments, filling out online questionnaires or through a stakeholder consultation workshop that we will organise here in Zagreb in early July. Everybody can have a say.” Further information on the management plans and public consultation measures is available on here.

“Last year, several countries of the Balkans suffered from devastating floods. The Croatian presidency of the ICPDR in 2015 poses an opportunity to call into our minds that working on sustainable flood risk management is vital for the future of the people and their rivers”, says Mr Kurečić when elaborating on the significance of the Flood Risk Management Plan.

“Danube Day is a cheerful occasion, but we should not forget the responsibility that shared waters bring for the people affected by them. I am very happy that until the end of this year, we will see the finalisation of the first Flood Risk Management Plan for the Danube River Basin, so that flood events such as those of last year will be less damaging in the future.”

“This year’s Danube Day calls the people of the Danube River Basin to get active”, says ICPDR Executive Secretary Ivan Zavadsky, reflecting on the official motto of Danube Day 2015. “This could fit as a call for any year, but 2015 is in fact a special one. Our two management plans, which will be finalised until December, remind us of the importance of living our lives in balance with the needs of the environment. The two management plans for the Danube River Basin are a roadmap towards this.”

However, Mr Zavadsky does not only see the work of the future as a key message of today. “Danube Day is a happy occasion, one to celebrate our achievements. Let us not forget that through our joint efforts, the Danube and its tributaries have become healthier rivers over the past two decades. We should use this day to enjoy our rivers!”

About Danube Day

Danube Day is celebrated on June 29, the signing date of the Danube River Protection Convention, throughout the Danube river basin. Folk celebrations pay tribute to the vital role the Danube and its tributaries play in people’s lives: providing water, food, power, transport, recreation and prosperity; while drawing attention to the importance of conservation. Danube Day was first held in 2004 and has grown from one year to another ever since.

Activities such as water-related games, field trips, round tables, seminars and workshops, competitions, etc. help people bond with their Danube. Well-known celebrities and artists show their dedication to protecting the environment and help inspire everyone to take action for the Danube in their every-day lives. Danube Day is supported by the “Green Danube Partnership” between the ICPDR and the Coca Cola system, comprising of The Coca-Cola Company and Coca-Cola Hellenic.

About the Danube River Basin

The Danube River Basin is Europe's second largest river basin, with a total area of 801,463 km². It is the world's most international river basin as it includes the territories of 19 countries: Germany, Austria, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Serbia, Bulgaria, Romania, Moldova and Ukraine, with catchment areas larger than 2000km²; and Switzerland, Italy, Poland, the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and Albania with smaller areas. The ecosystems of the Danube river basin are highly valuable in environmental, economic, historical and social terms, but they are subject to increasing pressure and serious pollution from agriculture, industry and municipal communities. The Danube River Basin is home to 81 million people with a wide range of cultures, languages and historical backgrounds.

About the ICPDR

The International Commission for the Protection of the Danube River (ICPDR) is an International Organisation consisting of 14 cooperating states and the European Union. Since its establishment in 1998, the ICPDR has grown into one of the largest and most active international bodies of river basin management expertise in Europe. The ICPDR deals not only with the Danube itself, but also with the whole Danube River Basin, which includes its tributaries and the ground water resources.

The goal of the ICPDR is to implement the Danube River Protection Convention (DRPC) and make it a living tool. In addition, the ICPDR is the body that coordinates the implementation of EU Water Framework Directive and EU Floods Directive in the Danube River Basin.

The ICPDR mission is to promote and coordinate sustainable and equitable water management, including conservation, improvement and rational use of waters for the benefit of the Danube River Basin countries and their people. The ICPDR pursues this mission by making recommendations for the improvement of water quality, developing mechanisms for flood and accident control, agreeing standards for emissions and by assuring that these are reflected in the Contracting Parties' national legislations and applied in their policies.

About Coca-Cola Hellenic and The Coca Cola Company

Coca-Cola Hellenic is one of the world's largest bottlers of products of The Coca-Cola Company with sales of more than 2 billion unit cases. It has broad geographic reach with operations in 28 countries serving a population of approximately 560 million people. Coca-Cola Hellenic offers a diverse range of ready-to-drink non-alcoholic beverages in the sparkling, juice, water, sport, energy, tea and coffee categories. Coca-Cola Hellenic is committed to promoting sustainable development in order to create value for its business and for society.  This includes providing products that meet the beverage needs of consumers, fostering an open and inclusive work environment, conducting our business in ways that protect and preserve the environment and contribute to the socio-economic development of our local communities. Coca-Cola Hellenic‘s shares are listed on the Athens Exchange (ATHEX: EEEK), with a secondary listing on the London Stock Exchange (LSE: CCB). Coca-Cola Hellenic’s American Depositary Receipts (ADRs) are listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: CCH). Coca-Cola Hellenic is included in the Dow Jones Sustainability and FTSE4Good Indexes. For more information, please visit www.coca-colahellenic.com

The Coca-Cola Company is the world’s largest beverage company, refreshing consumers with more than 500 sparkling and still brands. Along with Coca-Cola®, recognized as the world’s most valuable brand, the Company’s portfolio includes 12 other billion dollar brands, including Diet Coke®, Fanta®, Sprite®, Coca-Cola Zero®, vitaminwater®, POWERADE®, Minute Maid®, Simply® and Georgia Coffee®. Globally, we are the No. 1 provider of sparkling beverages, juices and juice drinks and ready-to-drink teas and coffees. Through the world’s largest beverage distribution system, consumers in more than 200 countries enjoy the Company’s beverages at a rate of 1.6 billion servings a day. With an enduring commitment to building sustainable communities, our Company is focused on initiatives that protect the environment, conserve resources and enhance the economic development of the communities where we operate. For more information about our Company, please visit our website at www.thecoca-colacompany.com.