Context: Environmental organisations from across central and eastern Europe have criticised a major project intending to link three rivers and provide seamless navigation between three of Europe’s peripheral seas, according to a statement.

About Danube-Oder-Elbe Canal

• The Danube-Oder-Elbe canal intends to connect the three rivers Danube, Oder and Elbe. 
• This will provide an alternate route of navigation from Black Sea to Baltic Sea and North seas.
• Several hundred kilometres of artificial waterways would have to be built for the canal. In order to hoist freight ships over a low mountain range and overcome 250 metres in altitude, 70 locks would need to be constructed. 
• However, several environmental organizations have raised concerns against the construction of the canal as it will increase risks of flooding.
• This major project, costing at least 23 billion euros, fundamentally violates EU environmental and nature conservation directives and must not be allowed to become a reality.

About Black Sea

• The Black Sea is an inland sea located between far-southeastern Europe and the far-western edges of the continent of Asia and the country of Turkey. 
• It is  bordered by Turkey, Bulgaria, Romania, Ukraine, Russia and Georgia.

About Baltic Sea

• The Baltic Sea is positioned in Northern Europe.It is bordered by Sweden, Finland, Russia, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, northeastern Germany and Denmark.

About North Sea

• The North Sea is a part of the Atlantic Ocean.It is bordered by the UK, Denmark, Norway, Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium and France.