For information only - not an official document
UNIS/OUS/409
28 June 2019
VIENNA, 29 June 2019 (International Commission for the Protection of the Danube River) - Eighty-one million people in all 14 Danube countries are invited to 'Get active for a safer Danube' on 29 June as part of the celebrations for the 14th annual Danube Day.
The theme this year is a "Safer Danube", inspired by the 2016 Danube Declaration. The declaration made it a priority for all Danube Basin countries to work on making the Danube River Basin cleaner, healthier, and safer for all citizens to enjoy.
Danube Day celebrates the Danube and the rivers that flow into it, and the vital role they play in providing water, food, power, recreation and livelihood. This year however, Danube Day is especially notable for commemorating the 25th anniversary of the signing of the Danube River Protection Convention in Sofia, Bulgaria, in 1994.
Danube Day has become the largest river festival in the world, with huge festivals on the riverbanks and public meetings as well as educational events. It is also a basin-wide celebration reflecting the diversity of the region. On the international level, the coordination is carried out by the International Commission for the Protection of the Danube River (ICPDR) Permanent Secretariat; nationally, the member countries and partners organize the events. Danube Day is supported by corporate local partners.
The President of the ICPDR Péter Kovács said: "This year, and on the momentous occasion of the ICPDR's 25th anniversary, we would like to join all the citizens of our Danube River Basin in celebrating the convention that has given - and will continue to give - all of us the tools to ensure a safe River Basin for generations to come."
The International Commission for the Protection of the Danube River is an International Organisation consisting of 14 cooperating states and the European Union. Since its establishment in 1998, it has grown into one of the largest and most active international bodies engaged in river basin management in Europe. Its activities relate not only to the Danube River, but also the tributaries and ground water resources of the entire Danube River Basin.
The ultimate goal of the ICPDR is to implement the Danube River Protection Convention, and make it a "living" instrument. Its mission is to promote and coordinate sustainable and equitable water management, including conservation, and improvement and rational use of waters for the benefit of the Danube River Basin countries and their people. The ICPDR pursues its mission by making recommendations for the improvement of water quality, developing mechanisms for flood and accident control, agreeing on standards for emissions and by assuring that these measures are reflected in the Contracting Parties' national legislations and are applied in their policies.
In addition, the International Danube Art Master - a creative schools' competition - is being held in all Danube countries in cooperation with the GWP CEE during Danube Day. The contest invites young people from 14 countries to create artwork inspired by the rivers and their surroundings. The international winner will be announced in fall.
Furthermore, this year's Danube Day coincides with the launch of JDS4 - the fourth Joint Danube Survey - a vast scientific survey of the entire Danube River Basin. Both events are to be kicked off at various events in the region, including a day of speeches and sampling demonstrations on Budapest's Margaret Island on 27 June, 2019 for the commencement of the survey.
To find out more about the numerous Danube Day events, please visit: www.danubeday.org and www.icpdr.org.
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For further information, please contact:
Hélène
Masliah-Gilkarov
Public Participation & Communication
ICPDR Secretariat at UNOV
Telephone: (+43-1) 26060-4373
Fax: (+43-1) 26060-5895
Mobile: (+43 676) 845 200 220
E-mail: helene.masliah-gilkarov[at]icpdr.org
Web:
www.icpdr.org
