17th Joint Statement Follow-up Meeting Addresses Low Water and Climate Adaptation

ZAGREB, September 17, 2026 — Hosted by the International Sava River Basin Commission (ISRBC) alongside the Danube Commission (DC) and International Commission for the Protection of the Danube River (ICPDR), the 17th Joint Statement Follow-up Meeting brought together representatives of the three river commissions, the European Commission, waterway administrations and other experts to focus on the practical implementation of Joint Statement 2.0.

Alongside progress on the JS Manual and the Online Knowledge Management System, the main topic of discussion was this summer’s record-low water levels and their effect on shipping and river ecosystems.

Recognizing the urgent need of coordinated action, the DC Secretariat proposed to elaborate an “Action Plan for Adapting Danube Navigation to Climate Change Impact,” an activity which shall be further discussed by the DC / Technical Working Group in November. The plan introduces a coherent, Danube-wide approach centered on proactive dredging, fairway marking, intensive monitoring of shallow sections, flexible infrastructure, and enhanced communication between river authorities and shipping companies. It also targets the elimination of existing bottlenecks through national and EU funding while ensuring alignment with Joint Statement 2.0, the Fairway Rehabilitation Maintenance Master Plan (FRMMP), TEN-T, and NAIADES III, to support a consistent approach towards the European Commission rather than parallel national processes. Looking ahead, the plan shall be designed to feed into a future CEF3-centred investment programme (2028-2034).

The meeting concluded with a shared commitment: dynamic river management as the region’s way forward — adapting infrastructure and maintenance to actual river conditions. FAIRway Danube II is already showing what that means in practice, with modern equipment, advanced monitoring and flexible infrastructure pilots underway.