Danube Day celebrated in southern locality of Moldova

Chisinau, 29 June /MOLDPRES/ – There are planned more activities for Saturday, 29 June, in locality Giurgiulesti, Cahul district, occasioned by the Danube Day. The programme aims to develop relations for increasing the level of participation of Moldova in agenda for the EU Strategy for the Danube Region (SUERD).

Additionally to other informative and cultural activities, there were set open – air exhibitions in Giurgiulesti, aiming to present projects financed from international programmes for the Danube macro – region, at which Moldova also participates.

The event is organised by the Ministry of Agriculture, Regional Development and Environment (MADRM), City Hall of Giurgiulesti, Danube Logistics and EU Water Initiative (EUWI+).

"The Danube Day is an opportunity to focus the public attention on the need to protect the basin of this river and highlight the duties and responsibilities to prevent pollution of waters with dangerous substances for environment and health of population," said sources of MADRM.

The EU Strategy for the Danube Region stands for development of economic potential and improvement of environmental conditions in the area. Also, it encourages long – term cooperation of local and regional public authorities (APL), (APR), as well as central public administration (APC), private sector (SP) and non – governmental organisations (NGOs), by generating projects for development of Moldova.

The Danube Day was celebrated firstly in 2004 at the suggestion of representatives of riparian countries under the leadership of the International Commission for the Protection of the Danube River and financially supported by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and Global Environmental Facility (GEF).

Thus, on 29 June, 19 Danube River Basin states celebrated the Danube Day to draw the attention of public opinion and decision – makers to importance of the Danube for socio – economic development of macro – region and the need for river protection.

The Danube is the IInd longest river in Europe (after the Volga). It springs from the Black Forest Mountains in Germany and flows to the southeast, at a distance of 2,858 km, to the Black Sea. The Danube Delta was formed when the river was shed in the Black Sea.

The Danube is a vital international river way, flowing through 10 states – Germany, Austria, Slovakia, Hungary, Croatia, Serbia, Romania, Bulgaria, Moldova, Ukraine, and tributaries from 07 other states. It passes throughout 04 European capitals: Vienna, Bratislava, Budapest and Belgrade.

The Danube has a catchment area of ​​over 800 thousand km2, which accounts for 8 per cent of European territory, where dwell 10 per cent of Europeans.