Working together for a resilient Danube – 4th FAIRway Danube II Advisory Committee Meeting in Brussels
The latest insights into one of the most important European infrastructure and modernisation projects along the Danube: On 4 November 2026, representatives from the European Commission, the inland waterway transport sector, environmental organisations and the project partners gathered in Brussels for the 4th FAIRway Danube II Advisory Committee Meeting. The event focused on how the Danube can become more resilient in the face of growing climate challenges and what role FAIRway Danube II plays in this.
Foto: © Sander De Wilde
Since the project began in 2023, FAIRway Danube II has been working to further develop the infrastructure and services along the Danube in a targeted manner and to ensure the waterway is prepared for the future. During the Advisory Committee meeting, the project partners presented the latest progress, including the intermediate results of the ‘Flexible Infrastructure’ pilot, the further development of the WAMOS waterway monitoring system, and the modernisation of mooring infrastructure along the Danube.
In his welcome address Herbert Pribitzer (Adviser to the European Coordinator of the Rhine-Danube Corridor, DG MOVE) provided an overview of the latest developments in the Rhine-Danube Corridor. Tea Krizan (Project Adviser, CINEA) spoke about the projects on the Danube funded by the Connecting Europe Facility. Catalin Tiganus (General Director, NAVROM - one of the largest shipping companies on the Danube) highlighted the impact of low water levels and called for measures to improve the infrastructure, whilst Menno de Sera (Vice President of Nautical Operations, Viking – one of the largest providers of river cruises) confirmed that the information services provided by FAIRway Danube II are valuable, but that further harmonisation along the entire length of the Danube would be desirable. Viking is making an important contribution to crew training through the operation of a simulator.
During the panel discussion with Theresia Hacksteiner (EBU), Irene Lucius (WWF) and Michael Kalb (viadonau), which focused on measures to enhance low water resilience of the waterways, it became clear that the challenges of climate change can only be tackled collectively: through international cooperation, innovative approaches and a balanced between the requirements of shipping and the protection of ecosystems.
FAIRway Danube II is co-financed by the European Union through the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) and is a follow-up project to the CEF flagship FAIRway Danube (www.fairwaydanube.eu), which has already significantly expanded the knowledge about shoals and maintenance measures on the Danube.
