The Ukrainian Danube Region is a strategic gateway for Ukraine to the European Union and a key element of security across the wider Black Sea–Danube area. This was emphasised by Yurii Maslov, President of the Association of Local Governments “EU Strategy for the Danube Region”, during his address at the Odesa Region Recovery Forum “Land that Unites”.
Participating in a panel discussion dedicated to regional security and logistics in wartime, Yurii Maslov presented a comprehensive vision for the development of southern Odesa Oblast as a resilient European transport and economic hub. The continued enemy attacks on the critical infrastructure of Greater Odesa demonstrate that the Danube port cluster in Izmail, Reni and Ust-Dunaisk has become a genuine “lifeline” for Ukrainian exports.
The key task today is to move beyond situational responses and ensure the systematic integration of Danube ports and transport routes into the European TEN-T transport network.
Building resilient logistics requires the creation of an integrated multimodal cluster connecting seaports, railways and river transport. Strategic steps in this direction include the implementation of the project to construct a bridge across the Danube to Romania, the development of new land routes bypassing vulnerable sections, and the restoration of Izmail Airport to facilitate rapid medical evacuation and humanitarian missions.
At the same time, the development of the transport system is impossible without addressing the environmental crisis in the river delta. Artificial redistribution of water flows, the critical shallowing of the Kiliya branch of the Danube, the drying-up of Lakes Katlabuh and China, and the lack of drinking water for many communities require proactive water diplomacy.
We once again emphasised the importance of implementing the EU Water Framework Directive and making active use of Ukraine’s presidency of the International Commission for the Protection of the Danube River (ICPDR) to promote a fair and sustainable allocation of water resources.
The EU Strategy for the Danube Region is a key instrument for addressing these large-scale challenges, enabling communities to directly access European grant funding through Interreg programmes. Our communities must become genuine partners of the European Union and adopt modern governance standards now, without waiting for the country’s formal accession to the EU.
Strengthening security, logistics and environmental resilience in the Ukrainian Danube Region is a matter of national security for the entire country. Our Association continues to systematically bring together government, business and international partners to advance this goal.
