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More than 100 representatives from port authorities, operators, industry, policymakers, technology providers and other stakeholders from across the Danube region gathered in Belgrade on 23–24 September for Danube Ports Days 2026, organised by Pro Danube International back-to-back with EUSDR Priority Area 1a – Waterways Mobility.

Hosted at the IN Hotel Belgrade, the two-day event brought together stakeholders including DP World Serbia, Prvo Parobrodsko Društvo, Lüftner Cruises, Elixir Group, ILR Logistica Romania, the Maritime Ports Administration Constanța, Port “Dunav” Pančevo, Port Governance Agency, iC Consulenten, Dewatering and Silent Piling Romania, Connect4Shore and representatives of the European Commission, the Danube Commission, the Transport Community as well as national port authorities and related ministries. 

From the EU Ports Strategy to implementation on the ground

The first day opened with a high-level discussion on the EU Ports Strategy, bringing together perspectives from Pro Danube International, EUSDR PA1a, the European Commission’s DG MOVE, the Danube Commission and the Transport Community.

The discussion provided a broader European and regional context for the development of ports and inland waterways, with a focus on sustainability, competitiveness, resilience and multimodal connectivity. The following session, “Ports, Policy and Benefits: What the EU Ports Strategy Means for Business,” brought the discussion closer to the realities faced by ports, logistics operators and industry.

Representatives of the Serbian Ministry of Construction, Transport and Infrastructure, Port Governance Agency, DP World Serbia, Prvo Parobrodsko Društvo and Lüftner Cruises discussed issues including port governance, infrastructure development, logistics integration and the conditions needed for ports to contribute effectively to competitive transport chains, as well as being attractive touristic destinations.

Where strategy meets execution

The afternoon session, “Where Strategy Meets Execution,” brought together representatives from the SYNERGETICS project, Port “Dunav” Pančevo, Elixir Group, ILR Logistica Romania, Maritime Ports Administration Constanța and Pro Danube International. Moderated by Saša Jovanović of iC Consulenten, the panel provided a direct look at the operational realities facing inland navigation and inland ports.

The discussion highlighted how the impact of prolonged drought and low water levels on the Danube is felt directly by businesses operating along the transport chain. Low water affects vessel utilisation, transport costs and the reliability of inland waterway transport, reinforcing the need for timely and effective interventions at critical waterway sections. For companies such as Elixir Group and ILR Logistica Romania, the reliability of inland waterway transport is directly connected to the ability to move goods efficiently between production facilities, ports and international markets.

At the same time, participants stressed that improving navigation conditions alone is not sufficient. The Danube transport system functions as an interconnected network, where the performance of waterways, ports, railways, roads and logistics services directly affects the overall reliability of the transport chain. A modern and reliable port therefore also requires efficient hinterland connections, adequate capacity, appropriate services, reliable information and the ability to respond to changing conditions.

The discussion highlighted the importance of moving beyond individual projects and considering the entire transport chain and corridor as a connected system.

From planning to delivery

Another central message of Danube Ports Days 2026 was the need to turn strategies and project plans into concrete implementation.

The challenges discussed during the event require action from different stakeholders. Public authorities need to create appropriate framework conditions and advance infrastructure investments; ports and operators need to develop competitive and reliable services; industry needs predictable transport solutions; while technology and innovation projects need pathways from demonstration towards practical deployment.

The participation of companies and organisations working directly across these areas – from port operations and logistics to infrastructure development, engineering and digital solutions – provided practical perspectives on what implementation means on the ground. 

Looking at the port as part of the transport chain

The second day, held on 24 September, continued with the EUSDR PA1a Workshop on Port Infrastructure and Management.

Following contributions from the EUSDR PA1a Coordinators and the Danube Commission, the workshop focused on developments in port infrastructure and future alignments with the EU Ports Strategy, including updates on port policies and infrastructure projects from Danube-riparian countries.

A particularly relevant theme was the role of ports in ensuring the reliability of the wider inland waterway transport system. The workshop presented the Good Inland Ports Status (GIPS) initiative, an industry initiative exploring how inland ports can become more reliable and predictable for their users. The discussion raised an important question for the future of the Danube transport network: Can a transport network be truly reliable if its waterways are reliable, but its ports are not? This perspective complements the focus on Good Navigation Status (GNS) by looking not only at the navigability of the waterway, but also at the performance and operational readiness of ports as critical nodes within the transport chain.

Cooperation and innovation across the Danube

The second day also showcased transnational initiatives and business solutions, including Dewatering & Silent Piling Romania and Connect4Shore, demonstrating the role of cross-border cooperation, innovation and knowledge exchange in addressing common infrastructure and operational challenges. The participation of companies such as Dewatering & Silent Piling Romania, active in infrastructure and construction solutions in the Danube and Black Sea region, highlighted the importance of bringing practical engineering expertise into discussions on the future development of ports and waterways.

Across both days, networking remained an important part of the programme. Bringing together stakeholders from different countries, sectors and levels of the transport system created opportunities to exchange experience, identify common challenges and explore potential areas for cooperation.

The discussions in Belgrade underlined that the future performance of the Danube transport corridor will depend not only on the quality of individual infrastructure projects, but also on how effectively the different parts of the system work together and need to adapt to changing conditions.

Pro Danube International thanks all speakers, partners and participants for their valuable contributions and for making Danube Ports Days 2026 a platform for constructive discussion, knowledge exchange and cooperation.

Press Release

The Danube Ports Days 2026 press release is available for download.

Presentations 

The presentations delivered during Danube Ports Days 2026 are available for download.

Day 1 - Danube Ports Days 2026 | 23 September 2026

Day 2 - EUSDR PA1a Workshop on Port Infrastructure and Management | 24 September 2026

Watch the Danube Ports Days 2026 recordings

The event was livestreamed from Belgrade on both days. The recordings are available on YouTube:

Day 1 – Danube Ports Days 2026 | 23 September 2026
Watch the Day 1 recording on YouTube

Day 2 – EUSDR PA1a Workshop on Port Infrastructure and Management | 24 September 2026
Watch the Day 2 recording on YouTube

Pro Danube International has issued an Open Letter calling for safe, reliable and predictable navigation on the Danube during and after the ongoing construction works in the vicinity of Paks. Pro Danube fully recognises the exceptional circumstances and the importance of safeguarding critical infrastructure. At the same time, the current uncertainty around navigation closures and temporary openings creates significant challenges for shipping companies, ports, industry and logistics operators.

Our call is clear: early information, advance forecasts, transparent communication, structured coordination and maximum possible continuity of navigation.

The Danube is a strategically important European transport corridor. Its reliability and predictability are essential for resilient supply chains, European industry and trade. 

Read our Open Letter and join us in calling for a safe, reliable and predictable Danube.

The HERFRIED project has been awarded funding under the European Union’s Horizon Europe Programme, paving the way for a new era of smart, sustainable and fully integrated inland waterway transport across Europe.

The project aims to digitally transform inland waterway transport (IWT) by creating a comprehensive Smart Inland Waterway Transport Framework that integrates smart vessels, smart infrastructure, smart data and smart administration into multimodal logistics networks. Through this approach, HERFRIED seeks to strengthen the role of inland waterways in Europe’s transport system while supporting the EU’s green and digital transition objectives.

Inland waterway transport offers considerable potential to reduce road congestion, lower greenhouse gas emissions and improve freight transport efficiency. HERFRIED will unlock this potential by improving interoperability, connectivity and real-time coordination between transport operators, infrastructure managers and logistics stakeholders.

To achieve these goals, the project will develop and validate a range of innovative digital solutions designed to automate cross-border information exchange related to voyages, traffic and infrastructure. The framework will also extend tracking capabilities to barges that are currently unmonitored, optimise transhipment processes in ports, and facilitate the discovery of available transport capacity and routes across inland waterways, rail and road networks.

By enabling real-time multimodal coordination and providing enhanced visibility for shippers and logistics providers, HERFRIED aims to make inland waterway transport more efficient, reliable and environmentally sustainable. The solutions will be tested and demonstrated in seven industry-led pilot projects across Europe, ensuring that innovations are validated in real operational environments.

"The funding awarded under Horizon Europe represents an important milestone for the project and reflects the growing recognition of inland waterways as a key component of Europe's sustainable transport future," the consortium stated.

HERFRIED addresses several strategic European priorities, including sustainability, digitalisation, resilience and transport efficiency. The project is expected to deliver measurable benefits for end-users while creating a scalable foundation for the large-scale deployment of cooperative Smart Shipping and Smart Logistics solutions beyond the project's duration.

The project is funded by the European Union under Horizon Europe call HORIZON-CL5-2026-01-D6-10, the EU's flagship programme for research and innovation.

HERFRIED stands for "Highly Efficient, Eco-Friendly, Resilient, Fully Integrated, Real-Time Innovative Inland Waterway Transport Enhancing Multimodal Competitiveness via Digitalisation."

The consortium is coordinated by the University of Applied Sciences Upper Austria and brings together 17 leading European organisations from the fields of research, logistics, transport operations, infrastructure management, digital technologies and policy support. Partners include etp-ALICE, imec, University of Antwerp, Pro Danube International, viadonau, Transport Trade Services, voestalpine, Chasqee, RSOE, Transporeon, 4shipping, De Vlaamse Waterweg, AI Cargofoundation, Panteia, Frequentis and Inuits.

Together, the consortium forms a strong European network dedicated to advancing innovation and sustainability in inland waterway transport and strengthening Europe's multimodal logistics ecosystem.

The press release can be downloaded here.

The final report of the “Study on Enabling Sustainable Management and Development of Inland Ports” has officially been published on the Publications Office of the EU. The study, carried out under the Green Inland Ports initiative, supports the transition of European inland ports towards becoming sustainable, zero-emission and digitally enabled logistics hubs.

Commissioned within the framework of the European Green Deal objectives, the report highlights the strategic role of inland ports in reducing transport emissions, strengthening multimodal connectivity and supporting sustainable regional development across Europe. The study also provides recommendations and practical tools for improving environmental performance, energy efficiency, digitalisation and operational sustainability in inland ports.

The final report brings together the outcomes of several workstreams covering environmental impacts, digitalisation, sustainable mobility, and Environmental Sustainable Management Systems (ESMS), alongside lessons learned from pilot ports and stakeholder consultations conducted throughout the project. The report is now available online on the Publications Office of the EU website here. Annex 3 with all supporting materials is available here.