Slovakia joins Danube-Oder-Elbe navigation project

Slovakia has joined the Czech Republic and Poland is preparations for whether a massive transport project linking the Danube, Oder, and Elbe rivers and making them navigable would be economically attractive and feasible. The so-called DOL project has strong support from Czech president Miloš Zeman but is opposed by environment groups which say it will be an ecological disaster. Slovakia was previously an observer on a working group dealing with preparations but will now take part fully after signing a memorandum at a meeting of transport ministers in Warsaw on Tuesday. No final decision on whether to proceed with the project has yet been taken.