Final Conference “Green Inland Ports” Held in Vienna

The final conference “Green Inland Ports” was held on 26–27 November 2025, organised by thinkport VIENNA. The event gathered around 50 participants, including experts from Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova involved through a study visit to Austria and Slovakia arranged by the Transport Community Treaty (TCT) Secretariat.

The Danube Commission Secretariat has been actively engaged in the GRIP project since its launch in 2023. The initiative brings together ten ports across Europe along the Danube, Drava, and the Black Sea, with four ports – Vienna, Constanța, Vukovar, and Osijek – participating in the pilot phase.

Keynote addresses were delivered by representatives of the European Commission (DG MOVE), the European Barge Union (EBU), the Austrian Federal Ministry for Transport, Innovation, and Technology, as well as the Danube Commission Secretariat. Speakers highlighted the importance of strengthening cooperation among inland ports to reach ambitious environmental and sustainability objectives.

Panel discussions with representatives of the pilot ports focused on sharing practical experience with the Environmental and Sustainable Management System tools, including an in-depth presentation of the Environmental Impact Calculator for Ports, designed to assess and reduce the ecological footprint of port operations. Stakeholders from across Europe exchanged insights on how inland ports can measure, manage, and accelerate their pathways towards sustainability.

The second day of the conference focused on the Masterplan for Digitalisation of Inland Ports and Terminals, including the potential for modal shift towards short-distance freight transport via EU inland waterways. The sessions demonstrated how digitalisation and the DMAT (Digital Multimodal Assessment Tool) can contribute to creating greener, more efficient, and future-ready inland ports aligned with the EU IWT Digitalisation Vision.

Commentary by the Institute of Danube Research (IDR)

The Institute of Danube Research (IDR) underscores that the “Green Inland Ports” conference represents a significant milestone in shaping a modern, sustainable, and digitally-integrated future for inland ports across the Danube macro-region.

According to IDR, GRIP is one of the most impactful initiatives for green transformation of inland ports, laying the groundwork for harmonised European standards in sustainable port management.

The participation of Vienna, Constanța, Vukovar, and Osijek in the pilot phase provides valuable models that can be replicated across the Danube and Black Sea region, including by ports in Ukraine and Moldova.

Environmental Impact Calculator and sustainability management tools are essential for evidence-based decision-making, enabling measurable reduction of emissions and environmental impacts.

Digitalisation through DMAT and related tools offers inland ports new opportunities to integrate into multimodal logistics chains, boosting efficiency and alignment with the European Green Deal.

The active involvement of Ukrainian and Moldovan experts highlights both countries’ increasing integration into EU transport policies and readiness to adopt advanced environmental and digital standards.

IDR emphasizes that developing sustainable inland ports is not only a technological upgrade but also a strategic foundation for enhancing transport resilience, environmental safety, and the competitiveness of the entire Danube–Black Sea region.