Presentation by Ms. Birgit Vogel, Executive Secretary, International Commission for the Protection of the Danube River

1. Danube River Basin Experience
EU4Environment – Regional Workshop
28 June 2023
Vienna / Austria
Birgit Vogel
Executive Secretary
ICPDR

2. The Danube River Basin
 Most international river basin
 10% of surface Continental Europe
 19 countries
 Role model in transboundary cooperation

3. 1,
4,
5,
6:
iStockphoto;
3:
wikipedia,
GFDL
Many Challenges and Pressures in the Danube River Basin

4. Monitoring and assessment to understand details
behinds all SWMIs
5 Significant Water Management Issues

5. Transnational Monitoring to Tackle Challenges
Improvement = not possible without measuring
1985 – 1988: Monitoring programme under Bucharest Declaration
• 11 monitoring sites where river formed or crossed border
1993: design of Transnational Monitoring Network (TNMN)
1996: TNMN is in operation – 61 sampling sites
2001: First Joint Danube Survey (2007, 2013, 2019, 2025, etc.)
2007: Full adaptation to EU WFD requirements – 101 sampling sites

6. 2007: EU WFD Transnational Monitoring Network
• 101 sampling sites

7. Improving Basin-Wide Wastewater Treatment and Water Status
SWMIs addressed in Danube RBM Plan with:
• Visions
• Management Objectives
• Monitoring
• Joint Programme of Measures
• Timeline: 2027
Since 2009 organic and nutrient emissions have been
significantly reduced through measures towards
Good Water Status/Water Quality by 2027

8. Reference Urban Wastewater Treatment 2009 Reference Urban Wastewater Treatment 2018
Monitoring and Improving Basin-Wide Wastewater Treatment
Implementation success

9. Monitoring and Improving Basin-Wide Wastewater Treatment
- 30% nitrogen
emissions
- 50%
phosphorous
emissions
- 60% organic
emission
Investments € 28 billion
Wastewater Infrastructure 45 million PE / appr. 6000 projects
Ongoing/Planned Projects 26 million PE
Investments € 12 billion
Nutrient Removal 35 million PE / appr. 1700 projects
Ongoing/Planned Projects 13 million PE
Agricultural Best Practice > € 95 billion

10. Improving River Continuity for Fish Migration
Since 2009:
• 127 fish migration ais constructed
• More than 60,000 ha of wetlands/floodplains reconnected
Iron Gate I & II – utmost priority for
LDM
Gabčikovo Dam – utmost priority
800 km
Feasibility options to make Iron
Gate Dams passable for fish &
sturgeons

11. Challenge: Good Ecological Water Status

12. New Challenges for Tackling and Activities
 Climate Change – drought event/low water levels
 ICPDR declared it an important topic – activities are launched
 Clear trend in increasing temperatures and less precipitation over last 30 years
 Drought events and low flows became increasingly frequent in DRB
 Economic losses are linked to drought events
 Severe droughts in the DRB since the beginning of 2022
 Adaptation of the Joint Statement for Navigation and Environment in 2023/2024
 Joint activities of ICPDR, Danube and Sava Commission
 Adaptation to quickly changing climate and river dynamics: integrative and flexible solutions

13. Thank you for your attention !
www.icpdr.org
Contact:
birgit.vogel@icpdr.org