One river, two countries. At the transboundary river forum, another step was taken toward creating the first transboundary wild river national park in Europe: Aoos/Vjosa.
Olsi Nika (center) from our Albanian partner organization EcoAlbania reports at the forum on his experiences with the Vjosa Wild River National Park.
© Yorgos Gounezos/MedINA
Demonstration at River Aoos for strict protection of the wild Greek river.
© Yorgos Gounezos/MedINAA strong message of cooperation between Greece and Albania, with the contribution of scientists, institutional representatives, local communities, and environmental organisations, marked the successful conclusion of the Transboundary River Forum (TRF). The Forum was organised by MedINA, in collaboration with EuroNatur and EcoAlbania, in the framework of the international Save the Blue Heart of Europe campaign, and took place in Ioannina and Konitsa on September 24–27, 2025. At the heart of the Forum lay a shared commitment: the creation of Europe’s first Transboundary Wild River Park, Aoos/Vjosa.
Discussions addressed the complex challenges facing transboundary rivers – ranging from development pressures, biodiversity loss, and the climate crisis, to institutional and governance gaps – highlighting the need to strengthen community participation in decision-making. At the same time, successful examples of cross-border cooperation, such as the Prespa Lakes, the Danube River and others, were presented, offering important lessons learnt and a hopeful path forward.
Throughout the Forum, participants emphasised the urgent need for a unified protection status for the Aoos/Vjosa, from its springs to its delta, and the fundamental importance of transboundary cooperation for the river’s protection, conservation, and restoration. In this context, Manolis Christodoulakis, Member of Parliament for Eastern Attica and Head of the Environment Sector of PASOK-KINAL’s Parliamentary Group, underlined the importance of spatial and environmental planning for sustainable land use planning, noting: “Transboundary rivers should unite us and become fields of cooperation, not conflict”.
“Nature protection is not a sprint, but a marathon that requires cooperation, trust, a common vision, and collective effort,” stressed Pavlos Vasakos, President of the Cultural Association of Gorgopotamos. His message resonated with Olsi Nika, Founder and Executive Director of EcoAlbania, who described the decade-long struggle of communities and organisations to establish the Vjosa National Park on the Albanian side of the border: “From 2013 until 2023, when the first Wild River National Park in Europe was established, we managed to build bridges of collaboration with researchers, scientists, lawyers, the media, and engaged citizens. Through tireless effort, we confronted all the threats the river faced, overturned plans for dozens of hydropower plants, and realised our shared vision.”
Alexis Katsaros, Executive Director of MedINA, closed the Forum saying: “This Forum marks a renewed commitment to transboundary rivers that connect, sustain people and nature, and inspire across borders. For the Aoos River, we are hopeful that it will be protected more effectively from now on, through fruitful cross-border collaboration, the active participation of local communities, and the adoption and implementation of a strong institutional framework.”