Danube Day marked in Croatia and Serbia with environmental activities

On June 29, Croatia and Serbia celebrated International Danube Day under the slogan “United by the Danube.”

In Croatia, events centred on the Danube’s banks in Vukovar and Ilok, with special focus on the Kopački Rit Nature Park, the largest inland Danube delta in Europe. Early results from the Fifth Joint Danube Survey show a long‑term reduction of pollution along the river and its tributaries, attributed to coordinated cross‑border water‑management and wastewater‑treatment investments. Organisers also announced the Danube Art Master 2026 competition, inviting children and youth (ages 6‑18) to create art from natural materials to promote river protection.

In Serbia, the water utility Srbijavode and the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management organised a week‑long programme in Smederevo, including river‑bank clean‑ups, educational workshops on waste sorting and recycling, and a rowing regatta at the Metalac club, marking the company’s eight‑decade milestone. Director Goran Puzović highlighted that the slogan “United by the Danube – play for water” underscores the shared responsibility of the ten Danube‑bordering nations. The activities also aim to raise awareness ahead of the specialized Expo 2027 exhibition on sustainable water management.