Roundtable on the EU WFD within the “Eco-friendly water management against extreme weather conditions in the cross-border area” project

As one of the planned activities, a roundtable on the EU Water Framework Directive was held within the framework of the “Eco-friendly water management against extreme weather conditions in the cross-border area (ECOWAM)” project, co-financed by the European Union under the Interreg IPA Cross-border Cooperation program Hungary-Serbia, in Novi Sad on 22 November 2018.

The partnership in the project, which total budget amounts to EUR 1,758,447.43, of which the European Union’s co-financing (IPA) amounts to EUR 1,494,680.31, consists the Lower Tisza District Water Directorate – ATIVIZIG (Hungary), PWMC “Vode Vojvodine” Novi Sad (Serbia) and the European Affairs Fund of AP Vojvodina (Serbia). The project aims at preventing the negative effects on the quality of water bodies by establishing a joint system of improvement of water management in AP Vojvodina and Csongrád County.

The goal of the roundtable was to present main project activities which would ensure better water quality and better ecological status of the Jegrička waterway and Kurca main channel. The roundtable focused on the EU Water Framework Directive, pursuant to which, the ecological status of waterways is to be protected. The project activities – analysis and monitoring of the quality of water and sludge, as well as the study on constructed wetlands will lead to results that will have an impact in the revitalisation of the Jegrička waterway. The event allowed transfer of know-how and examples of best practice, so as to have an impact on the development of a joint system of analysis and monitoring of biological parameters of both waterways, improvement of water quality and promotion of natural resources.

The participants were greeted by Ivana Đurica, Assistant Director, on behalf of the European Affairs Fund APV, being a project partner and organizer of the event, and Csongor Kiss, on behalf of the Lower Tisza District Water Directorate, being the Lead Beneficiary. The EU Water Framework Directive and its application in the Republic of Serbia was presented by Tamara Jurca, Faculty of Sciences of the University of Novi Sad, whereas, Enikő Barla, Lower Tisza District Water Directorate, spoke about its implementation in Hungary, as well as about the project activities in Hungary. Prof. Dejana Džigurski PhD, Faculty of Agriculture of the University of Novi Sad gave a presentation on water plants, while Docent Jasna Grabić PhD, Faculty of Agriculture, on the importance of constructed wetlands in wastewater the treatment.

The project started being implemented on 1 October 2017 and is planned to last until 30 September 2019.