In defence of the Danube ecosystem Considered among the most important European bodies of water, the Danube and Black Sea are threatened by environmental hazards and must be protected by surrounding nations. Climate Change and Environment © Thinkstock The majestic Danube River, which passes through four European capitals and empties into the Black Sea, affects numerous ecosystems in central and eastern Europe. Indeed, both the Danube and the Black Sea represent important natural areas that must be conserved in order to preserve Europe's biodiversity and ecological balance. The EU-funded project ERA-ENV empowered new and upcoming EU states to preserve this balance. In more specific terms, the project helped research associations and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) fromEU Associated Candidate Countries (ACCs) and New Member States (NMSs) to participate in environmentally led EU projects. It promoted the EU's existing research initiatives and aided partners from target countries to join these project consortia. This was achieved through an awareness campaign in each concerned country to market the project's objectives and by developing a continuously updated database to access resources and partners. Other project initiatives in this direction included extensive training for researchers and representatives from SMEs, as well as efforts to help candidates formulate their proposals for project participation. The training sessions outlined rules for participation in calls under the EU's Sixth Framework Programme (FP6) and provided recommendations to facilitate project enrollment. The drive eventually led to the participation of many parties from ACCs and NMSs in EU projects on the environment, contributing to implementation of the EU's 'Sustainable Development and Global Change and Ecosystems' programme. ERA-ENV thus led to new EU partnerships with countries around the Black Sea and Danube River, helping to highlight these key natural resources and safeguard them for future generations.
