The Danube is Ukraine’s “Silk Road,” the main transport artery connecting nine EU member states and five non-EU countries. In 2023, more than 29 million tons of cargo passed through its ports—almost six times more than before the war. The river has become a key logistical route for Ukrainian trade, unlocking new economic opportunities.
However, the growing economic role of the Danube is accompanied by environmental degradation. Research shows that pollution levels in some sections of the river exceed permissible limits. Cases of fish mortality linked to water contamination have been recorded in the Danube Biosphere Reserve. In the Izmail district, the concentration of heavy metals, including lead and cadmium, sometimes surpasses acceptable levels, posing a threat to aquatic ecosystems. In the Kuchurhan River, phosphate levels exceed the norm by 1.6 times, while chemical oxygen demand indicates poor water quality, affecting drinking water supply and agriculture.
Pollution of the river reduces fish populations, lowers agricultural yields due to poor irrigation water quality, and threatens the drinking water supply for millions of people.
EU countries, including Austria, Germany, and Romania, have long implemented strict environmental standards and rigorously enforce compliance. For integration into the European economic system, Ukraine must adapt its environmental policy, reduce industrial and agricultural discharges, control the use of fertilizers and pesticides, and enhance water quality monitoring.
A clean Danube is a strategic step toward Ukraine’s economic strengthening. But first and foremost, this step requires strong political will and the engagement of the entire society.
Analytical Report 2024: CLEAN DANUBE – A STRATEGIC STEP TOWARDS STRENGTHENING UKRAINE’S ECONOMY
This research examines the role of the Danube as a transport artery during wartime, the importance of its ecological state for Ukraine’s economy and international relations, the activities of the Association of Ukrainian Regions within the framework of the EU Strategy for the Danube Region, as well as changes in the river’s ecological condition since 1991 and existing initiatives aimed at its improvement.
