Danube Commission Press Release: Working Group on Technical Matters (12-13 May 2026).
The meeting of the Working Group on Technical Matters, convened under the chairmanship of Milan Nikolić (Serbia), was attended by delegations of Danube states, representatives of international organisations, counsellors, and experts of the DC Secretariat.
In his welcoming remarks, the Director-General of the DC Secretariat expressed his gratitude for the participation of the delegation of Ukraine, noting that the meeting was taking place in the context of the ongoing military aggression of Russia against Ukraine, which results in the loss of lives, as well as the destruction of industrial and civil infrastructure in Ukraine.
The discussions focused on several topics of interest for the technical work of the organisation:
Navigation: monitoring of the implementation of the DFND (2023) in Danube navigation, reviewing proposals submitted by the DC members for amending the DFND and updating the “Local Rules for Danube Navigation” (2024), deployment of new information technologies in inland navigation, European inland waterways autonomous navigation technologies, as well as DC Secretariat’s participation in the DiVINE project.
Professional requirements for crew and vessel personnel: monitoring the implementation of Directive (EU) 2017/2397 in Danube navigation, the results of the joint seminar DC – EDINNA (28 January 2026), EM PERS (29 January 2026), as well as the DC’s participation in relevant events at the European level regarding the development of standards for new competencies of IWT crew members (CESNI/QP).
Fairway maintenance: workshop “Review of fairway conditions on the Danube in 2025 and measures to enhance sustainability” (4 March 2026), DC – EUSDR Priority Area 1a, and the results of the EM HYDRO (5 March 2026).
Operations: cooperation among the DC, ICPDR, and ISRBC on the adoption of a new version of the Joint Statement (JS 2.0), participation in cross-border projects of the Rhine-Danube TEN-T corridor, in particular the FAIRway Danube II project. outcomes of the 27th meeting of the EUSDR PA 1a Steering Group (24 April 2026), outcomes of the EM PORTS (23 April 2026, Ruse, Bulgaria).
Technology, including radio communication: implementation of the ES-TRIN standard in Danube navigation, status of “DC Recommendations on Technical Requirements for Inland Navigation Vessels”(2014), and its further consideration at the next meeting in November 2026, to reach a well-founded decision.
Safety of navigation on the Danube: activities related to the implementation “DC Recommendations for Ensuring the Security of Navigation on the Danube”, following the results of EM SEC (12 March 2025).
Fleet modernization and measures to reduce air pollution from inland waterway transport: discussions on the Roadmap for the Modernization of the Danube Fleet (version – May 2026), possible scenarios for the gradual reduction of harmful emissions and the achievement of climate neutrality for the Danube fleet, as well as the transition to alternative fuels and the improvement in energy efficiency, following the DC – PA 1a EUSDR workshops (2024 and 2025), implementation of the PLATINA4Action project in Danube navigation.
Radio communication: implementation of the new edition of the “Handbook on radiocommunication for Inland Navigation – Danube Regional Part” as well as cooperation with the RAINWAT Committee.
Transport of Dangerous Goods: DC participation in the session of the ADN Committee and the implementation of the relevant DC Recommendations, outcomes of the Informal Meeting of the EM WASTE (25 February 2026).