Russia loses its powers in the Danube Commission, even though not a Danube state

Budapest, Hungary (PortSEurope) April 13, 2022 - The Danube Commission has decided to terminate Russia's powers in the commission in connection with the Russian invasion in Ukraine and the violation of the basic principles of the Belgrade Convention. The decision was made an extraordinary session of the organisation in March. The powers of any representative of the Russian Federation in the Danube Commission or its deputies are stopped until the establishment of peace, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine within its internationally recognized borders, the organisation said. Representatives of the Russian Federation have been suspended from all meetings of the Danube Commission and its working bodies. Russian citizens will be dismissed from the diplomatic and administrative-technical positions of the Secretariat of the Danube Commission. The Danube Commission The Danube Commission is an international intergovernmental organization established by the Convention regarding the regime of navigation on the Danube signed in Belgrade in August 1948. The main objectives of the Commission are to provide and develop free navigation on the Danube for the commercial vessels flying the flag of all states in accordance with interests and sovereign rights of the Member States of the Belgrade Convention. Member States of the Danube Commission are Austria, Bulgaria, Hungary, Germany, Moldova, Russia, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Ukraine and Croatia. The Commission condemned the violation of the principles of free and safe navigation on the Danube, as well as the interests and sovereign rights of Ukraine. Russia is held liable for economic damage due to the reduction in cargo turnover in the Danube Delta and in the Black Sea due to military dangers. Interestingly, the resolution provides for an appeal to the Committee for the Revision of the Belgrade Convention to seek decisions on whether Russia, as a non-Danube River state, can be a party to the Convention in the future. Ukrainian grains and metals exporters, faced with a total Russian blockade of all country’s Black and Azov Seas ports, have resorted to railway and Danube River for the transport for their cargo. Ukraine’s Danube ports of Reni, Izmail and Ust-Dunaysk are now taking over the shipments that were previously sent via the Black Sea port of Kherson which is still controlled by Russian occupying army. Russian missiles keep hitting near Black Sea ports of Odessa and Mykolaiv/Nikolaev. Ukraine became a landlocked country after Russia blocked the Azov Sea and forced closure of all its Black Sea ports after its invasion in Ukraine started on February 24. Kiev can still use Danube River for water transport towards Europe. PortSEurope observations are that the cargo traffic in Danube’s Austrian section has intensified in the past two weeks. More PortSEurope news about the Ukrainian crisis Copyright (C) PortSEurope. All Rights Reserved. 2022.

Russia loses its powers in the Danube Commission, even though not a Danube state

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Russia loses its powers in the Danube Commission, even though not a Danube state

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EU delegation visits Gioia Tauro port to see anti-drug efforts

Table: Russian ports monthly cargo results Oct’23-Oct’24

Russian ports handled 743 mln tonnes of cargo Jan-Oct’24

Reference: Russian occupation of neighbours’ territory

HHLA reports positive growth in the first nine months of 2024

Our Expert Analysis

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