The exhibition “The Journey of a Grain of Sand” has just opened

This exhibition, organized by SOS Loire Vivante – ERN with support from the Loire-Bretagne Water Agency as part of the Haut-Allier territorial contract, invites you to follow the journey of rocks and grains of sand from the headwaters of the Allier to the Atlantic Ocean. You’ll learn about their role in how rivers function and the vital role that flooding plays in maintaining healthy rivers. You’ll see how human activities can disrupt sediment transport. Many restoration projects are possible, from upstream to downstream, and have in fact been carried out on the Allier and the Loire. Come check out the six panels! (in french only) :

Panel 1: Discovering Sediments
Panel 2: From the Mountains to the Ocean
Panel 3: “From Station to Station” to the Rhythm of Floods…
Panel 4: The River: The Largest Sand Transport Company!
Panel 5: A Journey Full of Pitfalls…
Panel 6: Letting Travelers Pass

View the exhibition in PDF ; a printed version on an 85×200 roll-up banner is available for loan upon request—please contact us

 

 

Photo Vogelgrün

Exclusive webinar on the expiration of hydroelectric power concessions: Thursday, May 7, 2026, from 2:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.


Le projet de loi visant à relancer les investissements dans « la grande hydroélectricité » est en cours d’adoption. Ce texte vise à réformer le régime juridique des concessions hydroélectriques et faire cesser le contentieux européen.Pour nous expliquer ce qui va changer Marie-Noëlle Battistel (SOC, Isère) et Philippe Bolo (Dem, Maine-et-Loire), viendront nous présenter le projet de loi en rappelant le cadre, les implications pour les installations du territoire, les éventuels points encore en discussions et les problématiques que cela soulève.Programme : 45 min. de présentations , 45 min. Questions & RéponsesAnimation : Roberto Epple, Président SOS Loire Vivante – ERN et Corinne Ronot co-directrice SOS Loire VIvante=ERN

 

les questions essentielles qui seront abordées :– Quelles sont les différences entre le régime de concessions et les futures ‘autorisations’

– Quel est le parc d’équipement concerné, les concessions en cours sont-elles également concernées ?

– Quelle sera la gouvernance lors du changement de régime de chaque installation ? et pendant la phase d’exploitation ?

– L’Etat restera-t-il le propriétaire des barrages ?

– Quelle est la contrepartie pour l’Europe ? % d’énergie revendu ? à quel prix, à qui ?

– Est-ce une opportunité de réduire les impacts environnementaux des installations sur les milieux aquatiques ? Comment, Pourquoi ?

les panelistes (des représentants d’ONG, en cours d’invitation) viendront aussi poser leurs questions.

Si vous avez des questions complémentaires vous pouvez les envoyer à corinne.ronot (at)rivernet.org avant le 4 mai 2026. Elles seront compilées et relayées aux intervenants et panélistes sous réserve d’acceptation

 

Cet évènement s’adresse à un public large : gestionnaires des milieux aquatiques, ONG, services de l’Etat, citoyens.

Il a le soutien financier de l’OFB et participe aux actions du centre de ressource cours d’eau

Plus d’infos et inscription

webinaire Open Rivers Programme , le 5 mai de 16h à 17h

Venez y découvrir les appels à projet de Open Rivers Programme. Celui-ci finance des effacements d’obstacles transversaux en rivière partout en Europe.

 Collectivités, Syndicats de rivières, associations sont éligibles. Prochain dépôt de candidatures possible du 1er au 26 juin 2026.

Webinaire organisé par ERN avec le soutien de l’OFB et de Open Rivers Programme

Pendant 1 h : Présentation du Programme, retour d’expérience, conseils pour bien préparer sa candidatures, Q&R, animé par Corinne Ronot, ERN

Inscription obligatoire 

Civil society and water suppliers urge the European Commission not to weaken or remove fundamental water protection rules

On February 18, a group of associations representing the three pillars of the European Water Resilience Strategy published an open letter opposing the revision of the Water Framework Directive (WFD) announced by the European Commission for the second quarter of 2026.

The signatories, including environmental NGOs and stakeholders in the water sector, warn of the risk of weakening the text, even though its implementation remains incomplete in many Member States. “Rather than revising the WFD, its implementation must be accelerated,” they argue, emphasizing its crucial role in protecting ecosystems, food security, and adaptation to climate change.

The letter warns against premature revision, which could be motivated by industrial pressure, particularly to facilitate the extraction of raw materials. The associations call on the Commission to maintain a stable legal framework and to prioritize the application of existing rules.

C.Larroque ERN 2017

European laws that protect our environment are under threat. Sign the petition

Our nature and our health are under attack. European laws that guaranteed clean water, pure air and diverse ecosystems, including the Water Framework Directive, are being quietly dismantled under the pretext of ‘simplification’ and ‘reducing red tape’.

More infos about the petition launched by the European NGO coalition #HandsOffNature, which requires our national and European leaders to uphold laws that protect people and nature.

  Together, let’s protect the EU law on Water! 

 Petition :

 

Europe’s last wild rivers in the Balkans are in decline

The Balkans, the last refuge for Europe’s wild rivers, are losing a little more of their natural heritage every year.

A recent hydromorphological assessment reveals that nearly 2,500 km of pristine rivers in the Balkans have disappeared since 2012, causing the proportion of near-natural rivers to fall from 30% to 23%. Albania, which is leading this decline, is suffering the consequences of the expansion of hydroelectric dams and river development.

Despite the protection of 900 km of rivers, efforts remain insufficient. Experts and associations involved in the “Save the Blue Heart of Europe” campaign are calling for stronger measures at national and European level to save these unique ecosystems before it is too late.

Check out the interactive map to learn more about the state of Balkan rivers.

Webinar: Economic Instruments for Resilient River Basin Management

26 February 2026 | 10:00 am CET | in English

Meeting banner

Join three European research projects for a one-hour webinar on how water pricing and other economic instruments can help river basins become more resilient. Discover concrete examples from across Europe that illustrate how to integrate environmental externalities and support integrated and adapted water management in the context of climate change

Registration

Register “Barrier Removal for Flood Prevention and Safety” webinar

WWF Netherlands and ERN – on behalf of DRE – in collaboration with McMillen are organizing this Barrier Removal for Flood Prevention and Safety webinar.

programme & registration

logo Living Rivers Europe

𝐂𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 25 𝐲𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐖𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐅𝐫𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤 𝐃𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 💧🎉

For a quarter of a century, the Water Framework Directive (WFD) has been the cornerstone of #EU water management. It protects rivers, lakes, groundwater, coastal waters and establishes the principle that clean water is a shared public good.
📝 To celebrate this milestone, Friedrich Barth, former team leader for the European Commission, takes us back to the day it was adopted.

𝐘𝐞𝐭 𝐭𝐨𝐝𝐚𝐲, 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐢𝐬 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐨𝐧 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐫𝐧.
The European Commission has taken a dangerous step back and promised to reopen the #WFD, which would undermine decades of effort and put Europe’s ability to address pollution, biodiversity loss, and climate impacts on #water at risk.
The Living Rivers Europe coalition is worried.
⚠️𝐑𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐖𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐅𝐫𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤 𝐃𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐬 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 #𝐄𝐮𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐞 𝐡𝐚𝐬 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐞𝐝 25 𝐲𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐚𝐟𝐞𝐠𝐮𝐚𝐫𝐝 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐞!⚠️

Mor info see the news from 4 december

Interview with Friedrich Barth by Wetlands International

Gregor Subic

Vjosa : Albania fails to comply with Energy Community Law

Extract from Press release in common from Euronatur/ Ecoalbanian / Riverwatch

++ NGOs file complaint against Albania ++ Hydropower projects on Vjosa river clearly breach Energy Community rules ++

Tirana, Radolfzell, Vienna, February 26th, 2019.

Today, the Energy Community Secretariat received a complaint against the Albanian Government (find attached). EcoAlbania, Riverwatch and EuroNatur – the three organisations behind the campaign for the protection of the Vjosa River in Albania – have raised concerns about the procedures for the Kalivaç and Poçem hydropower projects (HPP) not being in line with Energy Community rules.

This is the first time a complaint has been filed with the Energy Community regarding hydropower developments in Albania… Read more