Opening event of "Danube and Black Sea Lighthouse" initiative

On April 3 and 4, Bucharest, Romania, hosted the opening event of the "Danube and Black Sea Lighthouse" initiative within the framework of the European Commission's "Restoring our oceans and waters" mission. Association of Danube Municipalities "Danube" was represented by the Chairman of the Board and Mayor of the Municipality of Silistra Dr. Julian Naydenov, who participated with a speech on the topic "Bulgarian-Romanian Synergies".

The main highlight of the two-day forum was the presentation of the "ECOsystem-based governance with DAnube lighthouse Living Lab for sustainable Innovation processes - EcoDaLLi" project, launched in early 2023, financed under the HORIZON-MISS-2021-OCEAN-02-04 procedure — Danube river basin lighthouse of the Horizon Europe Program. Association of Danube Municipalities "Danube" is a partner in the Project. The leading partner is Steinbeis-Europa-Zentrum, Germany, and the Executive Agency "Maritime Administration" also participates on the Bulgarian side.

The main objective of the EcoDaLLi project is to centralize governance structures in the Danube River Basin regarding innovative solutions for improved ecological restoration, protection and conservation of the Danube River Basin and its delta by fostering a stronger innovation ecosystem within a well-connected A living laboratory. EcoDaLLi brings together 19 European partners and one supporting partner (Water JPI) from government, business, academia and civil society who co-create and transfer smart knowledge with complementary public and/or private organizations and networks to integrate innovation for conservation and the restoration of waters at the level of the Danube basin, to coordinate and improve tools and services (Platform for missions, charter).

The participation of the Association of Danube Municipalities "Danube" in the innovation ecosystem in the Danube river basin is key to the fulfillment of its mission, as well as the tasks arising from the Development Vision of the "Danube" ADO for the period 2021 - 2030. namely development of the Danube municipalities and the region through pilot and large-scale introduction of innovative technologies and processes and through partnerships with all interested parties.