Danube Commission – Donaukommission – Commission du Danube – Дунайская Комиссия

European Commission – Directorate General for Mobility and Transport (EC/DG MOVE)

The Danube Commission and the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Mobility and Transport EC/DG MOVE cooperate in supporting the implementation of key EU inland waterway policies as well as the harmonisation of EU and Danube countries’ regulations.

In 2015, the Director-General for mobility and transport of the European Commission (EC/DG MOVE) and the Director General of the Danube Commission signed an administrative arrangement aimed at strengthening the partnership between the two organisations (press release). The administrative arrangement promotes the following main areas of cooperation:

  • implementation of a Master Plan for the rehabilitation and maintenance of the Danube River;
  • elaboration of technical standards for navigation, in particular, infrastructure maintenance;
  • elaboration of technical standards for inland waterway vessels;
  • market observation for the Danube River basin

By aligning priorities and promoting common standards, this cooperation enhances policy coherence and provides the inland navigation sector with a clear and efficient governance framework.
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Currently, DG MOVE and the Danube Commission cooperate in the framework of the Grant Agreement (GRANT 3) “Technical Assistance grant for the support to the Danube Commission with regard to the development of projects of common interest relating to efficient, interconnected and multimodal networks and infrastructure for smart, interoperable, sustainable, inclusive, accessible, safe and secure mobility on the TEN-T Rhine-Danube Corridor (Project 101127323 – 22-HU-TG-GRANT 3 – DANUBE)” signed in 2023. Duration of the project is 60 months.

The activities of the Danube Commission include the elimination of administrative barriers and distortion of competition in Danube navigation, implementation of Market Observation, contribute to TEN-T Rhine-Danube Corridor management and EUSDR/PA1a, implementation of the Joint Statement for inland navigation and environmental protection, contribute to greening fleet and ports process in the view of climate change, supporting the European Solidarity Lanes.