Expert Meeting on Personnel Issues in Navigation on the Danube (EM PERS) addresses the importance of qualified personnel for the future of Danube navigation

On 29 January 2026, the Danube Commission (DC) convened its Expert Group on Personnel Issues (EM PERS) to address acute labour shortages and the implementation status of EU legislation in inland navigation on the Danube. The meeting followed a joint workshop with EDINNA on 28 January and brought together over 75 experts from Danube countries, including representatives of the transport ministries and waterway administrations, the European Commission (DG MOVE), CESNI, ELA, Transport Community, the social partners, as well as the inland waterway transport industry, training centers, and educational institutions

Discussions covered EU policy on inland navigation personnel, implementation and enforcement of EU Directives and Regulations, education and training, digitalisation, and labour market data. ‘People are the most important asset in Danube navigation – only with well-trained personnel can digitalization, the energy transition, and economic challenges be mastered,’ said the Director General of the DC Secretariat, Manfred Seitz, in his opening remarks.

A key focus was Directive (EU) 2017/2397 on the recognition of professional qualifications. Significant implementation gaps remain, as several EU Member States have not yet fully transposed the Directive. Among candidate countries in the Danube basin, Serbia and Ukraine are progressing towards recognition under EU law, while the Republic of Moldova has not yet submitted a request.

The representative of the European Commission (DG MOVE) informed that it does not intend to introduce mandatory harmonised crewing requirements at this stage. Instead, CESNI (standards are expected to be finalised by the end of 2026 and integrated into a non-binding Commission Recommendation. At the same time, the use of digital tools, including the European Crew Database (ECDB) and electronic service record books and logbooks, is becoming mandatory. Experts stressed the need for better coordination of enforcement, improved access to digital systems such as the ECDB for enforcement authorities, and increased investment in modern, harmonised, high-quality training. Ongoing challenges include an ageing workforce, shortages of qualified personnel—particularly boat masters— barriers to side entry, language barriers, and fragmented labour market data.

The meeting outcomes will feed into the DC Technical Working Group meeting on 12 May 2026. Priorities for 2026 include further cooperation activities with EDINNA, support for a labour mobility study commissioned by the European Labour Authority (ELA), and initiatives to harmonise vocational training and to stimulate recruitment activities with the help of EU funding. The next EM PERS meeting is planned for January 2027.

The presentations from the EM PERS meeting are available here