What is the Mission?
With a 2030 target, the EU Mission: Restore our Ocean and Waters aims to protect and restore the health of our ocean and waters through research and innovation, citizen engagement and blue investments. The Mission’s new approach will address the ocean and waters as one and play a key role in achieving climate neutrality and restoring nature.
The SUNDANSE project, as a proud member of the Mission, aims to restore balance by assessing and
improving sediment management along the Danube, from Vienna to the Black Sea.
The Missions’ objectives
By fostering regional collaboration and innovation, the Mission aims to play a crucial role in achieving climate neutrality and safeguarding biodiversity. At the core of the Mission are three overarching objectives that guide its efforts:
- Protect and restore marine and freshwater ecosystems and biodiversity, in line with the EU Biodiversity Strategy 2030;
- Prevent and eliminate pollution of our ocean, seas and waters, in line with the EU Action Plan Towards Zero Pollution for Air, Water and Soil;
- Make the sustainable blue economy carbon-neutral and circular, in line with the proposed European Climate Law and the holistic vision enshrined in the Sustainable Blue Economy Strategy.
Area-based Lighthouses guiding the Mission
The Mission supports regional engagement and cooperation through area-based Lighthouses in major sea and river basins. There are four main regional Lighthouses that are pawing Missions’ way towards the objectives:
- Atlantic-Arctic,
- Mediterranean Sea,
- Baltic-North Sea, and
- Danube-Black Sea.
Mission Lighthouses are sites to pilot, demonstrate, develop and deploy the Mission activities across EU seas and river basins.
SUNDANSE operates within the Danube-Black Sea Lighthouse, where it plays a key role in achieving a better climate and a restored natural environment in the Danube River ecosystem, while contributing to the EU’s 2030 biodiversity strategy through enhanced efforts to preserve the natural functions of rivers.
Besides SUNDANSE, this Lighthouse currently includes five other projects: EcoDaLLi (as Coordination and Support Action), DANUBE4all, DALIA, DaWetRest and Restore4Life as four Innovation Actions.
The Mission Charter
A key tool is the Mission Charter, which serves as the main resource for showcasing actions that contribute to the Mission’s objectives and for quantifying the Missions’ impact and success. The European Commission is calling on a wide range of stakeholders to join forces in achieving the Mission’s 2030 goals.
SUNDANSE is proud to be part of the Missions’ journey and is committed to develop sustainable sediment management solutions for the Danube-Black Sea system, serving as our legacy to the future generations.
Public and private organizations, local and regional authorities (including cities and ports), philanthropists, investors, enterprises, civil society groups, and academia are all encouraged to commit to the Mission Charter. By submitting concrete actions and initiatives, stakeholders can contribute to the shared vision of restoring Europe’s ocean and waters. This collaborative approach ensures that the Mission’s ambitious goals can be realized, leading to healthier ecosystems, cleaner waters, and a more sustainable blue economy.
