29 September 2026 | Brussels

15–17 September 2026 | Rotterdam

17 September 2026 | ZAGREB

VIENNA, September 16, 2026 — The General Director of the Secretariat of the Danube Commission, Mr. Manfred Seitz, participated in the 68th Conference of Directors of Danube Navigation Companies – Members of the Bratislava Agreements, hosted by DDSG MAHART Kft.

On 8–9 September, the DC Secretariat hosted a meeting of PIANC’s Inland Waterborne Navigation Commission (InCom) in Budapest for the first time, bringing together experts from Belgium, France, China, Spain, Argentina, Brazil, the USA, Germany and other countries. PIANC – the World Association for Waterborne Transport Infrastructure – is a global network of professionals sharing knowledge and developing technical guidance for sustainable waterborne transport infrastructure.

We, the Representatives of the Member States of the Danube Commission,

express our serious concern about the increasingly frequent occurrence of periods of extreme water levels on the Danube River and the growing consequences thereof for navigation, economic connectivity, energy security, aquatic ecosystems and the sustainable development of the Danube region.

The Danube is a vital transboundary artery connecting countries, economies, communities and people. The reliable functioning of the river is of strategic importance not only for the transport sector, but also for energy security, industry, tourism, water resources and the protection of Europe’s natural heritage.

The Danube Commission welcomes the decision of European Commission (2026/1179), to recognize across the EU the inland navigation certificates of qualification issued by Serbia.