About the Summit

For over ten years, the “Save the Blue Heart of Europe” campaign has tirelessly worked towards protecting free-flowing rivers from Slovenia to Greece. This effort has grown into an incredible movement, with activists all over the Balkan Peninsula achieving tremendous successes in halting dam projects and saving river jewels of the Blue Heart. However, the fight is far from over, as new challenges and opportunities for river protection continue to emerge.

This year’s Balkan River Summit will provide a forum for all river protectors and supporters to reconnect, celebrate successes, exchange stories, inspire each other, and jointly strategise for the future.

The Balkan River Summit 2024 will occur in Podgorica, Montenegro from 29 September to 3 October 2024. On the 29th of September, we will all celebrate World Rivers Day together! Download the programme.

Registration is now full. You may still register to join our waiting list. 

Summit Sessions

The summit's session formats include various engaging and interactive activities. Participants can look forward to

• Networking impulses where you can connect and share ideas with like-minded individuals.
• "Pitch Your Fight" sessions will feature campaign and project presentations, allowing attendees to showcase their efforts and gain support.
• Capacity-building workshops to enhance skills and knowledge.
• Exchange, brainstorming, and planning sessions will provide collaborative thinking and strategising opportunities.
• Keynote speeches and panel discussions will offer in-depth explorations of key topics led by experts in the field.

Programme

Download the programme!

29 September, Sunday 

14.00 – 16.30: World Rivers Day Special Event  

• • • Opening speech
    • Guided flotilla on Moraça
    • Appeals to protect and safeguard the Moraça
    • Big jump Moraça

17.30 – 20.00: Balkan River Summit Opening 

• • • Opening remarks and welcome speeches
    • Keynote 1: How are the rivers in Europe first ecological state?
    • Film
    • Keynote 2: (Re-)Uniting voices for Balkan rivers within and across borders
    • Social evening event

30 September, Monday 

9.00 – 13.00: Summit Part I:

• • • Opening remarks and ice breaker
    • Keynote 3: 10+ years defending the Blue Heart of Europe
    • Panel Discussion I: 10+ years Defending the Blue Heart of Europe: new challenges, activist responses, and ideas for river protection in the Balkans (Moderated Debate)
    • Networking Impulse
    • Meet the Activists I: Participants Pitches 

14.15 – 18.00: Summit Part II 

• • • Capacity Building & Skill Sharing Workshops I
    • Panel Discussion II: View from the Outside – Mobilising media for river protection in the Balkans (Moderated Debate)
    • Meet the Activists II: Participants pitches
    • Buffet dinner

1 October, Tuesday 

9.00 – 13.15: Summit Part III

• • • Keynote IV: Do we need more dams? Climate change, biodiversity loss and the renewables transition
    • Panel Discussion III: Do we need more dams? Climate change, biodiversity loss and the renewables transition (Moderated Debate)
    • Parallel Session I: European Green Deal and the Western Balkans – river protection policies and EU accession (Moderated Debate)
    • Parallel Session II: Science for Balkan Rivers (Moderated Debate)
    • Breakout groups: Exchange, brainstorm and strategising on different river protection topics

14.30 – 18.00: Summit Part IV 

• • • Capacity Building & Skill Sharing Workshops II
    • Parallel Session III: River Protection in Montenegro (Moderated Debate)
    • Parallel Session IV: Pan-regional river protection efforts in the Balkans (Moderated Debate)
    • Parallel Session V: Living with wild rivers – River protection and rural development
    • Final Plenary Discussion & Summit Closing
    • Party 

2 October, Wednesday

Fieldtrip (to choose from)

• • • Fieldtrip A: Morača River & Mrtvica Canyon Hike
    • Fieldtrip B: Morača River & Skadar Lake Kayaking
    • Fieldtrip C: Zeta River
    • Fieldtrip D: Komarnica Canyon & Zeta River (two days)

Have any questions? Contact us!

Email: balkanriversummit24@euronatur.org