Ukraine Officially Assumes the Presidency of the International Commission for the Protection of the Danube River in 2026

On December 11, in Vienna (Austria), the official handover ceremony of the Presidency of the International Commission for the Protection of the Danube River (ICPDR) took place, transferring leadership from the Republic of Slovenia to Ukraine. The Ukrainian delegation participated in the 28th Meeting of Heads of Delegations and the official Presidency handover ceremony, led by Iryna Ovcharenko, Deputy Minister of Economy, Environment and Agriculture of Ukraine.

Ukraine’s Presidency will last for one year and will be the country’s second time holding this position, following its first Presidency in 2011.

According to Iryna Ovcharenko, for Ukraine this Presidency is more than a rotational role:
“It is a recognition of Ukraine’s role in protecting transboundary waters and of our responsibility to the entire Danube community. Our focus will be on water security, environmental resilience, and joint efforts to address the consequences of Russia’s aggressive war. We will continue to uphold the principles of the Danube Convention and strengthen partnerships among all Danube Basin countries.”

During its Presidency, Ukraine will focus on three key priorities:

-         strengthening water resources management under climate change, with particular attention to floods, droughts, and water resilience;

-         assessing the environmental impacts of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine on the Danube River, its delta, and sub-basins;

-         supporting the implementation of the updated Danube River Basin Management Plan by 2027 and enhancing interstate cooperation.

As part of the ceremony, the traditional handover of a bottle of Danube water took place from the 2025 ICPDR President, Lidia Globevnik of Slovenia, symbolizing shared responsibility for the sustainable management of the Danube River Basin. Ukraine also received the Danube Flag—an initiative launched during Ukraine’s previous Presidency in 2011—which, after visiting all Danube Basin countries, has returned to Ukraine as a symbol of solidarity among Danube states.

Ukraine’s Presidency of the ICPDR highlights the country’s growing role in shaping European water policy, promotes the harmonization of environmental legislation, and strengthens Ukraine’s position in the context of EU accession negotiations.

Commentary by the Institute of Danube Research

Ukraine’s Presidency of the ICPDR in 2026 has strategic importance for the entire Danube Region. Amid the full-scale war, Ukraine is for the first time leading one of Europe’s key institutions for transboundary water governance, shaping the agenda on water security, climate adaptation, and environmental recovery.

Of particular importance is the focus on assessing the environmental impacts of the war on the Danube River, its delta, and sub-basins—issues directly affecting the Lower Danube, the Danube delta, and the Black Sea basin. Ukraine’s Presidency opens additional opportunities to integrate scientific assessments, regional interests, and practical recovery instruments into the broader European water policy framework.