On 24 July, the team of the Association of Ukrainian Regions «EU Strategy for the Danube Region» took part in the 6th National Day of Ukraine’s Participation in the EU Strategy for the Danube Region, dedicated to strengthening dialogue and cross-sectoral cooperation for integrated water resources management.
During the meeting, participants discussed integrated water resources management, the implementation of River Basin Management Plans (RBMPs), which form the basis for implementing the EU Water Framework Directive, as well as climate change adaptation, water security, and ecosystem restoration.
A separate focus of the discussion was the impact of the full-scale war on the environment of the Danube Region. Representatives of public authorities, the academic community, and civil society organisations emphasised the need for joint action to assess environmental damage, restore water resources, and strengthen the resilience of the region.
Participants also considered prospects for international cooperation within the Danube Region, including the priorities of Ukraine’s presidency of the International Commission for the Protection of the Danube River (ICPDR) and further cooperation with European partners.
For the Ukrainian Danube Region, these issues go far beyond environmental concerns. They are closely linked to community development, water security, cross-border cooperation, and Ukraine’s European integration.
For our Association, which has been working for more than ten years to foster cooperation among communities in the Ukrainian Danube Region, advance the objectives of the EU Strategy for the Danube Region, and strengthen cross-border partnerships, such events provide an opportunity to contribute to professional dialogue on the future of the region and to exchange practical experience.
We would like to thank the organisers, the Institute of Danube Research and the Centre for Regional Studies, for the meaningful dialogue and the opportunity to contribute to the discussion on the future of the Danube Region. We are convinced that partnership, knowledge exchange, and joint efforts are key to creating the conditions for the sustainable development of the Ukrainian Danube Region.
