Sustainable management of cross-border water resources

Programme 2014 - 2020 Interreg IPA CBC Greece - Republic of North Macedonia

Date of latest update: 2022-10-29

Description

Description (EN):

The AQUA-M II Project idea was formulated by the common understanding of all Partners, of the environmental problems that Axios – Vardar River is facing. Axios/Vardar River represents one of the main aquatic resources of the cross-border area of Greece – Republic of North Macedonia. Therefore, the protection and preservation of the quality of the water stands as an issue of central importance in the framework of cross-border cooperation. The river’s water plays a vital role for all human activities taking place in the area, including the ones with major economic importance, such as agriculture, extractive activities and industry. As a result, the river’s aquatic environment is being increasingly pressured while the water quality is under threat by the irresponsible use and the disposal of agricultural, municipal and industrial waste. At the same time, the effective management of aquatic resources involves increased operational and functional costs for the local authorities, while it is practically impossible to be achieved without joint action among the responsible stakeholders from both sides of the border. Its main objective are the effective and continuous monitoring of the water quality management of Axios River through the application of joint monitoring and management systems and the strengthening of cooperation among responsible stakeholders and authorities. Specifically, the project aims to: - Improve the river’s water quality. - Establish a permanent technological network for the 24/7 monitoring of specific water quality parameters. - Establish an operational cooperation network for the prevention, protection and immediate action in case of emergency and potential threats among local authorities of the cross-border area and scientific experts. - To improve cooperation among public and private stakeholders as well as the society and the local population of the cross-border area for the protection of the river. Furthermore, the specific project has also some also important sub-objectives such as: - To sensitize all stakeholders towards the environmental hazards of the River. - To enforce a fine system regulating environmental pollution at institutional and individual level. - To leverage on the official commitment of both countries to implement environmental actions for the common cross-border area benefit. - To equip both sides with the necessary equipment in order to operate and maintain the network in the future. - To develop joint luquid waste management plans and systems as well as the co-ordination and joint training of natural hazards response mechanisms.

Achievements (EN):

The project had a number of results that positively affected the environment of the Axios-Vardar River and subsequently the environment of an important geographical part of the Cross-Border Area. The project Aqua-M II: strengthened the cooperation and networking on local and cross-border level between stakeholders in the Cross – Border area for the protection of the environment and aquatic resources, facilitated the exchange of know-how and practical experience for the protection of Axios-Vardar River, set an example for future similar environmental Projects and cooperation, improved the infrastructures and enhanced capacity of local stakeholders for the effective and continuous monitoring and management of water resources and crisis management, raised awareness, provided effective information and enhanced participation of citizens in environmental actions, protected the biodiversity of the ecosystem as it improved water quality which lead to better habitat for all aquatic species trained 100 staff members and citizens of the partners, Added value is also significant, taking into consideration that AQUA-M II is a long term effect project which improved and will improve quality of life through the systemic improvement of the water resources in the cross border area. The main outputs of AQUA-M II were the following: Provision of 3 on-line (2 in Greece & 1 in the Republic of North Macedonia) analysers of chemical parameters: TOC, NO3, DO, pH, Turbidity that monitor the above quality parameters 24h/7d. 1 Liquid Chromatography High-Resolution Mass Spectrometry that can trace organic chemical contamination (pesticides, pharmaceuticals, organic pollutants) in very low concentrations. 1 Elemental analyser for solid and liquid samples for determination of C, H, N, S, O elements. 1 UV-Vis spectrophotometer for the use in the determination of algal cells. 1 Screening system with sieves for the screening of sediments and determination of size and shape of the water suspended particles. IT equipment in Greece and in the Republic of North Macedonia for the support of the Early Warning System platform the display monitoring data concerning Water Quality. Regulation of the riverbed Suva Reka (in the IPA country) for the protection of water resources for sustainable management and control of flood phenomena.

Website: http://www.ipa-cbc-programme.eu

Thematic information

Water management

Specific Objective: Sustainable management of protected areas, ecosystems and biodiversity

Thematic Priority:

(b) Protecting the environment and promoting climate change adaptation and mitigation, risk prevention and management through, inter alia: joint actions for environmental protection; promoting sustainable use of natural resources, resource efficiency, renewable energy sources and the shift towards a safe and sustainable low-carbon economy; promoting investment to address specific risks, ensuring disaster resilience and developing disaster management systems and emergency preparedness

Partners (1)

Lead Partner: Општина Гевгелија

Address: 1480 Gevgelija, North Macedonia

Legal status: n/a

Partners map

Partners and Projects info

Municipality of Gevgelija

Sustainable management of cross-border water resources

Lead partner

Project partner

Summary

Project name (EN): Sustainable management of cross-border water resources

Project acronym: AQUA-M II

Project start date: 2018-04-02

Project end date: 2020-04-01

Project status: closed

Total budget/expenditure: EUR 1 448 329.82

Total EU funding (amount): EUR 1 231 080.35

Co-financing sources:

IPA/IPA II/IPA III: Amount, EUR 1 231 080.35.

Documents

Documents on this project are listed below, and organised by category. Please note field "Data source", attached to each document. Keep.eu users are free to use these documents as long as they mention the data source and keep.eu.

Reports

Addressing the challenges for cross-border water resources management

Attachment type: file

Type of document: Report

Data source: https://aqua-m.eu/?cat=5

Publication date: 2021-10-04

Document date: 2018-09-29

Languages: en

Attachment file: Download

Media releases / articles

Conference-Event «Pollution and Water Quality Management at River Basin Level»

Attachment type: file

Type of document: Media release / article

Data source: https://aqua-m.eu/?cat=5

Publication date: 2021-10-04

Document date: 2019-11-28

Languages: en

Attachment file: Download

Flyers

Sustainable management of cross-border warter resources

Attachment type: file

Type of document: Flyer

Data source: https://aqua-m.eu/?cat=5

Publication date: 2021-10-04

Document date: 2018-09-29

Languages: el, en

Attachment file: Download

Sustainable management of cross-border warter resources - Post Card

Attachment type: file

Type of document: Flyer

Data source: https://aqua-m.eu/?cat=5

Publication date: 2021-10-04

Document date: 2018-09-29

Languages: el, en

Attachment file: Download

Information regarding the data in keep.eu on the programme financing this project

Financing programme

2014 - 2020 Interreg IPA CBC Greece - Republic of North Macedonia

Last month that data in keep.eu was retrieved from the Programme's website or received from the Programme

2023-03-10

No. of projects in keep.eu / Total no. of projects (% of projects in keep.eu)

63 / 63 (100%)

No. of project partnerships in keep.eu / Total no. of project partnerships (% of project partnerships in keep.eu)

63 / 190 (33.16%)

Notes on the data

Data was retrieved by Interact from the programme´s website on the 2019-05-15, 2022-07-19 and 2023-03-01. Regarding partners only data only main partners is available. Achievements were retrieved by Interact from the Programme website (http://www.ipa-cbc-programme.eu), or a website directly linked from it, on 2021-11-30 and 2023-01-05.

Languages

Contact Form

Sustainable management of cross-border water resources

Description

Thematic information

Partners (1)

Partners map

Summary

Documents

Information regarding the data in keep.eu on the programme financing this project

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