2017 Review

In Moldova, activities recalled past traditions and helped forge sustainable futures. Around 1000 people attended the events, which were publicised across the country on the national news. In Djurdjulesti, Moldovan and Romanian counterparts met to facilitate cross-border cooperation. Regional customs were celebrated at folk festivals in the town centre and at its port where people also toured the facilities. Danube Day messages were spread through summer camps and lectures for Chisinau University students.

In Bulgaria, 2000 visitors enjoyed the special events in all 7 Danube provinces. Culinary delights featured at Vidin's floating feast, Kozloduy's fish festival and at the annual BBQ at Baykal's wreath ceremony and festival. Danube banks were cleared across the region including actions in Lom and Nikopol. In Ruse, Romanian experts joined Bulgarian counterparts for a scientific conference. WWF's environmental education activities inspired young sturgeon envoys at Belene's 'Danube Days' festival. Across the region, sport, music, art and the Danube rivers brought people together.

Romania's events covered all 11 Water Basin Administrations: thousands got active and inspired for cleaner rivers. State Secretary Negru joined 150 experts and stakeholders to discuss projects and visit Galati's Danube fiesta. Attracting 1000 visitors, there was something for everyone in Galati: a grand summer parade, treasure hunt, cruises, water pollution lessons, music, sport, art and rubbish clearance actions. Around 70 similar activities took place across southern Romania and a joint event was held with Ukraine (see above).

In Serbia, 20 actions in 12 towns inspired young people to take action. In Prahovo, WWF Serbia's role-play and eco games helped cultivate young sturgeon ambassadors living within fishing communities. At Zemun Quay, the Republic Directorate for Water held its annual family festival. The 'Great Belgrade Regatta' brought four days of fun on and besides the Danube in an international event that attracted people from 10 countries. In addition, students enjoying the 10th 'Save the Danube' eco camp gained valuable water management experience from national experts.

In Bosnia-Herzegovina, Ilidža students were crowned national Danube Art Masters for 'Bridge', their ingenious construction of plastic bottles and plaited bags. Traversing a Bosna tributary, the artwork emphasized both the river's role in linking people but also the pollution pressure it faces.

Croatia's 'Month of Rivers' delivered action in Vukovar, Županja, Slavonski Brod, Sisak, Zagreb and Hungarian borderlands. High-level officials rolled up sleeves to assist divers in rubbish clearance and met with water management stakeholders in Vukovar. The ministry's youth awareness roadshow launched a new book and riverside fairs celebrated the 10th year of 'Our Beautiful Sava'.

In Slovenia, thousands of people were mobilised into action. Communicating concern for the Sava and Drava rivers, young Art Masters from Zagorje, Voličina and Maribor were awarded alongside corporate and public sector winners of a 3-country Bled Water Festival stewardship contest. 15,000 people cleared 8 tonnes of rubbish in the 8th 'Moja reka' contest and 1000 pupils took on micro-plastic pollution in the 20th 'Water Detective' contest.

In Hungary, 2000 people got active at events in Barcs, Budapest and Győr. The Drava river set the stage for a joint Hungary-Croatia day: neighbouring communities shared traditions, boat trips and fish soup; while international, state, local and civil society officials discussed flood and sustainable river management. Flood education was the focus at an EUSDR workshop in Budapest and water-themed family fun on Children's Island and in the Győr Festival attracted many visitors.

Slovakia's events saw around 4,500 people celebrate their rivers in Gabčíkovo, Bratislava and Komárno. An exhilarating day at Gabčíkovo included dramatic river rescue displays, riding, climbing, and for many their first trip through the dam. Being engulfed in foam and bouncing on inflatables was a big hit, as were music and dance performances on the big stage. Cruises in Komárno and Bratislava brought 1400 residents closer to their river: views of the capital's night-scape from the water were stunning. 36 districts also undertook bank clean-up actions.

Austria embraced its rivers, with 40 organisations contributing to Danube Day. A young Slovak delegation joined 1000 children in solving action-packed eco challenges in the Vienna Stadtpark Puzzle Race. Actress Julia Cencig donned special wellies and partnered Minister Andrä Rupprechter for a group waltz. Children tried out being Environmental Officers; met European March Turtles; mixed their own water cocktails and built floodwater protection walls. Plus across Austria, 900 pupils got creative in the Danube Art Master contest. Get a flavour of the day from Danube Day Austria's video.

In the Czech Republic, the village of Mosty u Jablunkova's in Moravia-Silesia held an end of term 'Children's Challenge' with support from the Environment Ministry. Toddlers to teens joined in a series of river-themed puzzles, art and eco activities to win the latest ICPDR Danube goodies.

In Germany, creativity and environmental awareness were celebrated at the Danube Art Master awards at Schloss Grünau. Among the prize winners was teenager Jakob Bauch, who impressed ministry judges with his ingenious animation on pollution, and received a workshop with a professional film company as his prize. In Baden-Württemberg, the public joined ministry officials for a tour of Sigmaringen Sewage Works, a model of how effective treatment protects wildlife. Whilst in Neu Ulm, youngsters were delighted by a Donaubüro nature story-telling art workshop led by local author Claudia König.

International highlights in 2017

• Joint Hungary - Croatia Danube Drava Festival near Barcs. International, state, local and civil society officials met to discuss cross-border flood and sustainable river management. Neighbouring communities shared traditions, music, river trips and a children's paper boat launch, as well as competing in a friendly fish soup cook-off. A visiting delegation from India accompanied ICPDR officials to find out more about river basin management in Europe.
   
• Danube Art Master Schools Competition: 2017 saw the 14th year of this 14-country youth competition that unites children across the basin in an artistic extravaganza. 
   
• International Workshop on Flood Protection Education in Budapest. Organised by Hungary's EUSDR Priority Area 5 coordination office and National University Public Service Faculty of Water Science, the event promoted the Flood Protection Education Network amongst universities and vocational schools in the Danube region.
   
• Shared Ukraine - Romania Tisza celebration in Tyachiv, Zakarpattya. An all-new River Quest for school children, the first ever video Water Oscars, recycling actions and the creation of an 80m2 mural of Tisza life inspired local communities to act for their rivers. Locals and officials from Romania attended as special guests. 
   
• Cross-border Bulgarian - Romanian scientific conference in Ruse. Water resource issues were under discussion at the conference attended by scientists and officials from research organisations.
   
• Slovak guests at Austria's children's festival in Vienna. A delegation of Slovak school pupils joined in Vienna's Danube Day. They presented a message of Danube solidarity to their Austrian peers and joined in the many water-themed activities in Vienna's Stadtpark.
   
• Moldovan and Romanian counterparts met to facilitate cross-border cooperation in Djurdjulesti. Organised by the Moldovan Ministry of Regional Development and Construction as part of the Danube Connects project, the government, institution, and NGO representatives later joined in the annual festivities in the town.
   
• Great Belgrade Regatta. The 4-day international regatta attracted 400 participants from 10 countries for fun on and besides the Danube in Serbia.