The Danube, the world’s most international river, is one of the European rivers that will play an important role in DANUBIUS-RI with several Supersites planned along its course. At the occasion of the EU Presidency of the International Commission for the Protection of the Danube River (ICPDR) the “Our Danube” event was organised at the 8th of November 2017 at the European Parliament in Brussels. The new ICPDR President, Peter Gammeltoft (EC DG Environment), in his speech (see Photo) expressed that energy (hydropower dams) and navigation in the Danube should not go at the cost of natural capital and biodiversity. He praised the ICPDR “Guiding Principles on Sustainable Hydropower” and mentioned that the EU is supportive to restore the Danube river continuum. Here he explicitly mentioned EU support to making passages for the sturgeon to circumvent the Iron Gates dams. Although the sturgeon is the Danube flagship species, it is only ‘the tip of the biodiversity iceberg’, according to Gammeltoft. Sustainability of activities and attention for natural capital are key challenges for the Danube. Furthermore, Gammeltoft is going to devote energy under his presidency to showcase the Danube as an exemplar regarding international cooperation in the implementation of EU policies.
