The Danube Region Transport Days 2025, the Ninth Annual Stakeholders’ Conference under the EU Strategy for the Danube Region (EUSDR), was held in Ljubljana, Slovenia on 9-10 December 2025.

The event gathered leading experts, policymakers, operators, and stakeholders from across the macro-region. Hosted under Priority Area 1b – Mobility & Multimodality (Rail, Road and Air), the 2025 edition highlighted how road and rail can work together to create a more resilient, sustainable, and better-connected Danube Region.

This year’s theme — “Road & Rail: Working Together for a Better Connected Danube Region” — underscored the crucial complementarity between transport modes and the importance of cooperation, integration, and coordinated investment.

AGENDA (with presentations attached)
Day 1 – December 9, 2025
Welcome and Introductory Speeches
Mr. Beno FEKONJA, EUSDR Priority Area Coordinator, Ministry of infrastructure, Slovenia
Mr. Midhat DŽEMIĆ, EUSDR Presidency 2025, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Mr. Johan MAGNUSSON, Team Leader, DG REGIO, the European CommissionKeynote Speeches:
“Road and Rail Together: Unlocking Multimodal Potential”
– Mr. Andrej RAJH, State secretary, Ministry of Infrastructure, Slovenia
 
“The Western Balkans-Eastern Mediterranean Corridor – implementation that matters!”
– Mr. Marian-Jean MARINESCU, European Coordinator, TEN-T WBEM ETC

Mini-Session: “Ljubljana Passenger Hub as a Model for Road–Rail Integration”

“TEN-T Urban Nodes: Ljubljana Hub” – visual presentation
– Mr.Goran Korošec, Project Manager,DRSI (Slovenian Infrastructure Agency), Slovenija

Session 1: WHY ROAD AND RAIL MATTER – ENABLING THE TRANSPORT SYSTEM

Moderator: Ms. Vlasta Kampoš Jerenec, Head of Unit, Ministry of Infrastructure

Speakers:

“Combined Transport: Turning Complementarity into Competitive Advantage”
– Mr. Ralf-Charley SCHULZE, Director General, International Union for Road-Rail Combined Transport (UIRR)

“Bridging the Missing Links: The Regional Transport Agenda 2025–2030”
– Mr. Matej Zakonjšek, Director, Transport Community Permanent Secretariat

“Strengthening Road and Rail Links in the Danube Region: Hungary’s Priorities and Projects”
–  Mr. Marcell Gábor, Ministry of Construction and Transport, Hungary

“TER and TEM Projects – regional collaboration for better Rail and Road Connectivity”
– Mr. Nenad Nikolić, UNECE Regional Advisor

Session 2: STATE OF PLAY – TRANSPORT INFRASTRUCTURE IN THE DANUBE REGION

Moderator: Mr. Matej Zakonjšek, Director, Transport Community

Speakers:

“Danube Region Transport Networks – Progress and Gaps”
– Mr. Franc Žepič, Secretary, Ministry of Infrastructure, Slovenia

“Building roads and railways for improved multimodality”
– Mr.Marko Boban, Ministry of the Sea, Transport and Infrastructure, Croatia

“Serbia on the Move: Large-Scale Investments in Roads and Railways for a Connected Region”
– Mr.Katarina Kostadinović, Advisor,Ministry of Construction, Transport and Infrastructure, Serbia

“Unlocking New Possibilities with the Extended WBEM RFC”
– Ms. Saša Jerele, PMO AWB RFC, SŽ infrastructure, Slovenia

 

AGENDA (with presentations attached)
Day 2 – December 10, 2025
Session 3: INTERMODALITY IN MOTION – Road and Rail in Coaction

Moderator: Mr. Nenad Nikolić, Regional Advisor, UNECESpeakers:“Connecting Modes, Moving Goods: Building Integrated Freight Services in the Danube Region”
– Mr. Robert Sever, Chamber of Commerce, Slovenia
 
“Smart Terminals and Efficient Corridors – The Adria Kombi Experience”
– Mr. Janez Merlak, CEO, Adria Kombi, Slovenia
 
“Integrating Motorway Operations into the Intermodal Chain: A Road Operator’s Perspective”
– Mr. Ulrich Zorin, DARS d.d. (Motorway Company), Slovenia 

The Next Generation View: How Young Professionals See the Future of Road-Rail Logistics”
– Ms. Mia Poledica, Junior Transport Associate, Project Implementation Unit of the World Bank – Serbia Railway Sector Modernization Project, Serbia
 
“The Adriatic Gateway: How Ports Anchor Intermodality in the Danube Region”
– Mr. Roberto Richter, Luka Koper, Slovenia

Session 4: DIGITAL INNOVATION & SAFETY – SMART SOLUTIONS FOR ROAD & RAIL

Moderator:  Mr. Igor Žula, President, Slovenian Logistic Association

Speakers:

“Modern approaches to digital transformation of logistics sector” 
– Mr. Igor Žula, President of Slovenian Logistic Association, Slovenia

“Smart, Safe, Sustainable: Rail Cargo Group’s Digital Solutions for Rail Freight”
– Mr. Marko Gršič, Head of Intermodal,Rail Cargo, Austria

“X4ITS: information exchange for improved cross-border traffic and transport”
– Mr. Gerald Miklin, Office of the Carinthian State Government, Austria

“The Crucial Element of TEN-T Connectivity in Central Europe”
– Mr. Petr Košťák, Projects’ Specialist, Správa železnic, státní organizace (SZCZ), Czech Republic

Session 5: PROJECTS THAT DELIVER TANGIBLE RESULTS

Moderator: dr. Tomislav Letnik, Universe of Maribor

Speakers:

“Delivering Major Infrastructure with Environmental Responsibility”
– Mr. Kristijan Novak, Professional associate, 2nd Rail Line Koper–Divača, Slovenia

“Comprehensive solutions for logistics: moving extraordinary load”
– Ms.Patricija Butala, Procurator,COMARK ltd., Slovenija
 
“Delivering Results: Efficient and Sustainable Intermodal Logistics in the Danube Region”
– Mr. Jan Štefe, CEO, Eurosender, Slovenia

“The CE project “BIM4CE”
Mr. Matjaž Sokol, Cestel ltd, Slovenia

“REDU-CE-D: customized Environmental Management System (EMS) to increase energy efficiency and reduce energy consumption of different transport modes in Central Europe”
Mr. Jernej Počivalnik and Mr. Domen Kuhar, University of Maribor, Slovenia

We extend our sincere appreciation to all speakers and attendees for their insightful contributions, which significantly enriched the discussion on a topic of vital importance for the entire Danube Region.