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Our recent General Assembly provided an ideal platform for members to come together, celebrate achievements, and outline the next steps towards a more sustainable and resilient inland waterway transport sector in the Danube Region.

A Year of Growth & Engagement

2024 was a year of remarkable progress for Pro Danube. One of our most significant achievements was the growth of our membership, reinforcing the strength of our collective efforts. A strong network is the backbone of any successful initiative, and with an expanding community, we continue to enhance our influence and impact in the sector.

Additionally, we launched a new initiative aimed at strengthening ties with our esteemed Members. This initiative fosters closer collaboration, enhances knowledge-sharing, and ensures that the voices of our members are heard and represented effectively.

Active Representation at the Transnational Level

Advocacy and representation have always been at the heart of Pro Danube’s mission. In 2024, we continued to amplify our members’ needs and priorities at the transnational level by actively participating in various European expert groups.

Through these engagements, we worked to shape policies and initiatives that support a more efficient, sustainable, and integrated inland waterway transport system. By providing expert insights and representing the interests of our members, we ensured that the Danube Region remained a key focus in European transport strategies.

What Lies Ahead in 2025?

Looking ahead, 2025 promises to be a year of continued collaboration, innovation, and progress. Pro Danube remains committed to fostering a greener and more resilient inland waterway transport sector. Our focus will be on:

• Strengthening partnerships with key stakeholders across the region.

• Advocating for sustainable policies and infrastructure investments.

• Supporting digitalisation and innovation in IWT.

• Ensuring that the voices of our members continue to be heard at the European level.

Pro Danube is excited to navigate the opportunities of 2025. We invite our members and stakeholders to stay engaged, collaborate, and contribute to shaping the future of inland waterway transport in the Danube Region.

Together, we can drive meaningful change and ensure that inland waterway transport remains a key pillar of sustainable and efficient logistics in Europe.

Check out our Annual Report 2024 & Outlook on 2025 here.

"Dunărea de Jos" University of Galați, located in South-East Romania, is a leading institution recognized for academic excellence and innovative research. With 22,000 students, 1,000 teaching staff, and over 300 international students, the university fosters intellectual growth through 14 faculties offering more than 80 bachelor’s, 50 master’s, and 19 doctoral programs. Its 38 research centers drive advancements in science, technology, and innovation, collaborating with academia, industry, and government.

The university promotes a competitive research environment, focused on technological progress and innovation. Among the reference projects is REXDAN, a 20 million euro European project aimed at building the largest research vessel in the European Union. This allows for complex studies on the Danube River, addressing topics such as biodiversity, pollution and climate change. Other projects under Horizon and Erasmus+ focus on sediment management, industry digitalization, renewable energy, bioeconomy, and academic mobility. Structural funds have modernized research infrastructure and aligned education with labor market needs.

Through these initiatives, the “Dunarea de Jos” University significantly contributes to the development of the Galați region, job creation, technology transfer and the promotion of sustainability. Active involvement in European projects and collaboration with international institutions reinforces its status as a pole of excellence in education and research, aligned with the strategic objectives of the European Union.

Website: www.ugal.ro 

Herfried Leitner, a leading expert with decades of experience in inland waterway transport (IWT) and Chairman of Pro Danube, shares his insights into the sector’s journey towards climate neutrality. In this interview, led by Christian Stark and published in the Journal of iC, we discuss the challenges IWT faces, the opportunities it offers for sustainable transport, and the uncertainties that lie ahead.

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Organised on 29 and 30 October by Pro Danube and hosted by the Danube Commission, Danube Ports Days 2024, supported by the EU-funded projects MultiRELOAD, Green Inland Ports Study and SYNERGETICS and the Danube Ports Network successfully concluded. The event brought together policymakers, industry leaders, and experts to discuss and evaluate innovative solutions aimed at achieving climate neutrality within inland ports in particular and inland waterway transport (IWT) in general.

The event focused on critical themes including the modal shift to eco-friendly transportation, emission insights, and green energy solutions. It showcased cutting-edge digitalisation tools and strategies that are transforming port operations across Europe. 

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