Knowledge Sharing Between Baltic and Danube

GWP Hungary and GWP Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) organized a knowledge-sharing workshop on “Water Resources Management Aspects of European Union Strategies for Baltic Sea and Danube Basin Regions” on April 5, 2011 in Budapest, Hungary. The focus was on sharing experiences and expertise from the implementation of the Baltic Sea Strategy. During the workshop, experts identified similarities and differences concerning water management issues and discussed implementation mechanisms and institutional roles such as selection of projects and partnerships in the Danube Region.

The Baltic Sea Strategy was formally adopted in October 2009 under the Swedish Presidency of the European Union (EU). In December 2010, the European Commission adopted the EU Strategy for the Danube Region following a request from member states.

“GWP CEE has been advocating principles of integrated water resources management in the Baltic and Danube regions since 1998 and is well suited to provide a platform for discussions shaping future of water for years to come,” said Martina Zupan, GWP CEE Chair. GWP CEE, with its unique geographical position covering parts of the Baltic and Danube provides a neutral platform for dialogues and exchange of experiences, holds an observer status to the international Commission for the Protection of the Danube River and Helsinki Commission, the other major international water commissions in the region.

Concrete examples of activities include financing of regional strategies in non-EU member countries and the exchange of best practices between the Baltic and Danube countries. GWP CEE projects in the area of floods and droughts as well as sustainable sanitation may be submitted for funding.