Ukraine, the European Commission, and Romania have come together to discuss improving and developing export capacities through the Ukrainian and Romanian channels of the Danube river. The meeting was supported by the European Union and attended by representatives from the Danube Commission.
The Meeting Details
The talks, which were held with the support of the European Union, aimed to coordinate efforts to improve the export capacity of the Danube River, particularly through the Ukrainian and Romanian channels. The meeting was attended by Maja Bakran, Deputy Director-General of the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Mobility and Transport, and representatives from Romania and Ukraine, including Yurii Vaskov, Deputy Minister for Communities, Territories and Infrastructure Development, Mihnea Drumea, State Secretary of the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection, and Ionel Scrioșteanu, State Secretary of the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure. The parties discussed the possibility of joint depth measurement of parts of the Danube River with representatives of Romania and Ukraine. The aim is to improve navigation and increase the number of vessels calling at Danube ports.
Positive Outcomes
The meeting resulted in positive outcomes, with all parties agreeing that the development of efficient and safe navigation on the Danube River is possible through productive and coordinated cooperation between the European Commission, Romania, Ukraine, and the Danube Commission. Deputy Minister for Communities, Territories and Infrastructure Development Yurii Vaskov affirmed that no operational dredging was currently being carried out on the Danube River. Instead, the parties focused on finding new ways to improve pilotage in the joint Ukrainian-Romanian sector of the river to increase the number of vessels calling at Danube ports.
Overall, the trilateral meeting between Ukraine, the European Commission, and Romania was deemed successful in identifying areas for collaboration and improvement. The parties agreed to continue working together to enhance navigation on the Danube River, increase vessel traffic, and develop the Danube ports’ potential as an essential route for trade between EU countries and Ukraine.
