On Friday, 16 January 2026, the SUNDANSE project team took part in a strategic event organised by the Ministry of Environment, Waters and Forests, in Bucharest, Romania. The clustering workshop focused on the Nexus Water–Sediments–Biodiversity, serving as a convergence platform for EU-funded projects including our sister projects DANSER and iNNO SED, as well as Danube Sediment Q2. The event focused on the vital links between sediment management, biodiversity, and climate change adaptation, ensuring these efforts align with European Union policy objectives like the Water Framework Directive and the Mission Ocean & Waters.
Presentation of the SUNDANSE activities
During the session, Lucian Georgescu, Project Director of REXDAN, Professor at “Dunarea de Jos” University of Galati and Project Coordinator for SUNDANSE, presented project’s core objectives and latest results. The discussion was particularly relevant given the presence of key stakeholders responsible for monitoring transport and maintaining the quality of surface aquatic ecosystems on the Danube.
A significant highlight was the presentation of the SUNDANSE Open Call #1 – THE DANUBE CALL which targets institutions from Danube-bordering countries that are not part of the project consortium: Croatia, Germany, Hungary, Moldova and Slovakia. During the project presentation, the SUNDANSE coordinator invited them to contribute to the project’s mission of restoring and protecting regional waters.
Bridging the gap between science and policy
The agenda of this clustering workshop brought together a diverse group of participants, from national authorities to economic operators. The discussions were structured to bridge the gap between scientific research and practical application:
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Institutional Opening: Led by the Ministry of Environment, Waters and Forests, this session addressed the increasing pressures of drought and climate change, alongside the legal obligations of EU member states.
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Scientific Framework: The DANSER project provided a technical foundation for the “Nexus” concept, explaining how water, sediment, and biodiversity are inextricably linked.
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Shared Problem Framework: A joint session involving SUNDANSE and its sister projects DANSER and iNNO SED, as well as Danube Sediment Q2 allowed for the identification of common challenges in river management.
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Operator Perspectives: Representatives from Hidroelectrica, ANAR, and AFDJ shared the practicalities of managing these ecosystems from an operational and economic standpoint.
Round table dialog
The event concluded with a dedicated round table discussion. This facilitated a direct dialogue between project researchers, government authorities, and hydrotechnical operators. The goal was to ensure that scientific findings regarding sediment and biodiversity are effectively integrated into future public policies and industrial practices.