PA04 - Water Quality

Programme 2021 - 2027 Interreg VI-B Danube

Date of latest update: 2024-12-18

Description

Description (EN):

EUSDR Priority Area 4 (PA4) “Maintain and restore the quality of waters” supports the activities - the Safeguard Europe’s Water Resources, assistance in implementation of the EU Water Framework Directive (WFD) and the Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (UWWTD), improvement of fish migration, promotion of measures addressing agricultural pollution, plastics and hazardous waste, facilitation of sub-basin activities. EUSDR PA4 provides assistance in project generation, partnership search, networking and dissemination. Furthermore, it deepens synergies with water protection organizations, such as the International Commission for the Protection of the Danube River (ICPDR) and the Sava Commission. The project partners will work with close cooperation with relevant international organisations, such as ICPDR that will be an ASP within the project and the Sava Commission, Carpathian Conventions, GWP-CEE, Danube Sturgeon Task Force and the relevant DGs of the EC. The project will continue to focus on the following target groups: PA4 Steering Group members, national authorities focusing on water management issues, international organisations and other interested stakeholders, NGOs related to water quality. As the result of the transnational cooperation the actions of the revised EUSDR PA4 Action Plan will be implemented and the cooperation between relevant target groups will be further strengthened. The crucial strategy background document is the revised EUSDR Action Plan, and the project will contribute to its implementation. Specific issues identified in the revised EUSDR PA4 Action Plan will be also addressed: challenges related to hazardous and emerging substances (A1), pharmaceuticals; waste water (A2) and water reuse; strengthening cooperation with the agricultural sector (A3); drinking water (A4); migratory fish (A5) and climate change (A6). Within climate change specific focus will be paid to the issues of droughts, water scarcity and water retention.

Actual Achievements (EN):

EUSDR Priority Area 4 in current reporting period carried out the activities in accordance with DRP-PAC-PA4 project timetable. The PA4 SK team, PP organized the trilateral meeting (2 March 2023) and the 25th PA4 Steering Group meeting (23-24 May 2023) in Bratislava/online and organized the Drinking water conference in Bratislava (2 November 2023). The PA4 HU team, LP organised the trilateral meeting (8 Sept 2023) and the Joint PA4-PA5 Steering Group meeting (27-29 November 2023) in Budapest/online; furthermore, the LP organized the Conference on Adapting to Climate change in relation to WATER (28 November 2023) in Budapest. PA4 experts participated at the 57th ICPDR RBM meeting (26-27 April 2023 in Belgrade) at the 2nd EUSDR Embedding Week organised by DSP (12-16 June 2023, online) presentation at the workshops “A smarter Danube Region” and “A greener Danube Region”, at the ICPDR Ordinary Meeting (12-13 December 2023, Vienna). The EUSDR PA4 experts participated at relevant MRS/EUSDR events such as the 4th EU Macro-Regional Strategies Week (EU MRS Week - 24 to 28 April 2023), adding value through MRS Supporting Units in developing skills" (25 April 2023); the PAC meeting (16-17 March 2023 in Maribor), the EUSDR Joint meeting of National Coordinators and PACs in Portoroz (18-19 September 2023) and at the 12th Annual Forum of the EU Strategy for the Danube Region EUSDR Entering the Decade of the Future, where a special side event of the EUSDR PA4 was also organised “Entering the decade of future - current and forthcoming water challenges (24-25 October 2023 in Brdo). PA4 participated at water related events as discussions with DG Mare (online 27 March 2023), Chat with EUSDR SI Presidency (31 May 2023). LP contributed via questionnaire to EUSDR evaluation plan 2023-2028 and written Procedure for the update of the Rules of Procedure (RoP) of EUSDR Priority Area Coordinators which were endorsed in August 2023. PA4 submitted actions under the “Mission Restore our Ocean and Waters by 2030” Charter managed by European commission DG MARE, which were accepted on July 2023. Youth involvement was in focus in 2023: PA4 submitted its filled questionnaire to DSP’s Danube youth questionnaire in December 2023. In Activity 3.1. the LP arranged the compilation of a study by NCR on the possibilities of the involvement of the youngster. An online meeting with DYC members interested in PA4 was arranged (07 March 2023) to discuss mode of cooperation and youth expectations; meeting with DYC members to discuss further integration of the DYC into the PA and possible activities (19 July 2023) and together with the youth delegate of the World Water Council co-organised online seminar “Meaningful youth engagement in the Danube region and beyond” (7 December 2023). PP together with PA7 (Knowledge Society) co-organised online discussion with hydrogeologist on topic: "Karst springs in relation to climate change impacts" (10 November 2023). PP with GWP CEE it co-organized the „Summer School“(2-8 July 2023) in Prague, Czech Republic. In Activity 3.2. an important deliverable, the conference on „Adapting to Climate change in relation to WATER - Changes in the qualitative and quantitative parameters of waters in the light of climate change” was organized with the participation of 50 experts on-site and the participation of additional online interested stakeholders. In Activity 3.3. Financed by the Hungarian national coordination the English version of the “Action plan for the conservation of sterlet (Acipenser ruthenus) in Hungary” has been prepared. This plan can serve a good basis for the planned workshop in 2024 on fish cooperation. PA4 continually supports the on-going projects and helps to develop new project ideas on topics which are relevant for implementation of the PA4 Action Plan. The LP is an ASP to a recently started Horizon project DALIA (Danube Lighthouse Innovation Action) and projects approved by DRP: Danube Water Balance, DanubeSediment_Q2, AQUATIC PLASTIC. In connection to project development LP participated online at the Internal meeting of EUSDR PACs on the SMF (5 May 2023); the Joint Meeting of EUSDR PACs and DRP on the SMF (30 May 2023). In 2023 PA4 issued Letters of Recommendation for Plastic Cup initiative (nomination of the Plastic Cup initiative for the King Hassan II Great World Water Prize). National info day about SMF DRP call was organized (11 December 2023); SK National info day about 2 DRP Call (8 November 2023) and meetings related to cooperation with Living Rivers project - Kick Off meeting (23 May 2023) and sturgeon conservation meeting organised together with LifeBoat4Sturgeons (31 October 2023). PA4 regularly updates PA4 website https://waterquality.danube-region.eu/ where the PA4 achievements are accessible.

Project outputs: Organisations cooperating to improve water policy in the DR(EN)
Website: https://danube-region.eu/

Thematic information

Water management Institutional cooperation and cooperation networks

Priority: (VI-B_D_4) Priority 4 - A better cooperation governance in the Danube Region

Priority specific objective: ISO6.4. Enhance institutional capacity of public authorities and stakeholders to implement macro-regional strategies and sea-basin strategies, as well as other territorial strategies (all strands)

Priority policy objective (Interreg specific objective): PO6 (ISO1) A better cooperation governance

Type of intervention: 171 Enhancing cooperation with partners both within and outside the Member State

Partners (2)

Lead Partner: Külgazdasági és Külügyminisztérium

Partner’s ID if not PIC: 15311344-1-41

Department: Vízdiplomáciáért és Kötött Segélyhitelekért Felelős Főosztály

Address: Bem rakpart , 1027 Budapest, Hungary

Department address: Bem rakpart, 1027 BUDAPEST, Hungary

Legal status: public

Organisation type: National public authority

Website: https://kormany.hu/kulgazdasagi-es-kulugyminiszterium

Total budget: EUR 375 750.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 300 600.00

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 80.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 75 150.00

Contractors:

Name: Robarton Kft
VAT registration or tax identification number: 23325407-1-13
Name: Guru Invest Kft
VAT registration or tax identification number: 23928361-2-43
Name: BK Stúdió
VAT registration or tax identification number: 29073438-2-41
Name: dr Zsuzsanna Kocsis-Kupper
VAT registration or tax identification number: 77530983-1.33
Name: NRC Kft
VAT registration or tax identification number: 11904458-2-41

Výskumný Ústav Vodného Hospodárstva

Name: Výskumný Ústav Vodného Hospodárstva

Partner’s ID if not PIC: SK 2020798593

Address: Nabr. Arm. Gen. L. Svobodu , 81249 Bratislava, Slovakia

Legal status: public

Organisation type: National public authority

Website: http://www.vuvh.sk

Total budget: EUR 374 250.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 299 400.00

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 80.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 74 850.00

Contractors:

Name: SSTP
VAT registration or tax identification number: 00896918
Name: LR.Csiba v.o.s.
VAT registration or tax identification number: 35717921
Name: VB Management s.r.o. (BEIGLI)
VAT registration or tax identification number: 53513657
Name: Datacomp s.r.o.
VAT registration or tax identification number: 36212466
Name: COFEE and VIA s.r.o.
VAT registration or tax identification number: 45237964
Name: SENGER and Partners s.r.o.
VAT registration or tax identification number: 45339856
Name: Daniel Arwonga
VAT registration or tax identification number: N/A
Name: Peter Gammeltoft
VAT registration or tax identification number: N/A
Name: ALMANACH s.r.o.
VAT registration or tax identification number: 35825537
Name: Martin Smieško-Machnáč
VAT registration or tax identification number: 40253112
Name: Water Research Institute
VAT registration or tax identification number: 00156850
Name: SENGER Partners s.r.o.
VAT registration or tax identification number: 45339856
Name: Univerzita Komenského
VAT registration or tax identification number: 00397865
Name: Hauerland spol. s r.o.
VAT registration or tax identification number: 35777885
Name: Global Water Partnership
VAT registration or tax identification number: 42270081
Name: Medusa Restaurants, s.r.o.
VAT registration or tax identification number: 35849592
Name: SATUR TRAVEL, a.s.
VAT registration or tax identification number: 35787201
Name: LR.CSIBA/Martin Smieško
VAT registration or tax identification number: 35717921/40253112

Partners map

Lead partner

Project partner

Summary

Project name (EN): PA04 - Water Quality

Project acronym: DRP-PAC-PA4

Project ID: DRP0100006

Project start date: 2023-01-01

Project end date: 2028-12-31

Project status: ongoing

Relevant linked projects:

N/A (EN) | N/A (EN)

Total budget/expenditure: EUR 750 000.00

Total EU funding (amount): EUR 600 000.00

Total EU funding (co-financing rate): 80.00%

Co-financing sources:

Investments, deliverables, policy contributions

(bullets are inserted automatically and may be incorrectly placed)

Deliverables:

Bi-annual reports for years 2023-2024
Bi-annual reports for years 2025-2026
Bi-annual reports for years 2027-2028
Minutes of trilateral meetings for years 2023-2024
Minutes of trilateral meetings for years 2025-2026
Minutes of trilateral meetings for years 2027-2028
Steering group meeting reports for years 2023-2024
Steering group meeting reports for years 2025-2026
Steering group meeting reports for years 2027-2028
Input to the EUSDR monitoring and evaluation report via EUSDR reporting template in 2024
Input to the EUSDR monitoring and evaluation report via EUSDR reporting template in 2026
Input to the EUSDR monitoring and evaluation report via EUSDR reporting template in 2028
Restructured website
PA4 brochure update
Continuously updated website
New Drinking Water Directive - workshop (2023) SK
Implemented further policy initiatives and tools: Plastic conference (2024) HU
Climate change reflected in agriculture - conference (2025) SK
Pharmaceuticals in waters - conference (2026) SK
Link to EUSDR Roadmap A1 - Policy documents: Sediment management WS (2027) HU
UWWT new directive dissemination (2026)
Stakeholder cooperation schemes and networks: Youth involvement baseline study (2023) HU
Educational online activities (2023-2028) SK
Summer School with GWP (2023-2024) SK
Summer School with GWP (2025-2026) SK
Summer School with GWP (2027-2028) SK
Impacts of climate change on water quantity and quality conference 2024 HU
Sludge utilization options: questionnaire survey (2024) HU
Fill the knowledge gap: Global practice on nature based solutions/GWP cooperation
(2026) HU
Water digitalisation baseline overview (cooperation with MRS) and further development
(2025-27)
Sludge utilization options: workshop (HU)
Fish cooperation workshop (cooperation with PA6) (2024) HU
Migratory Fish - workshop SK
Wastewater treatment (WWT) - study SK
Wastewater treatment (WWT)- conference SK
Water reuse leaflet (2024) HU
Water app development preparations (game for involvement of young people) 2026 HU
Project support
Funding information

Contribution to wider strategies and policies:

EUStrategyDanubeRegion The main focus of the EUSDR Priority Area 4 (PA4) “To restore and maintain the quality of waters” is put on coordination and management of the implementation of the PA4 targets and their 7 actions as per the revised EUSDR PA4 Action Plan with the aim to contribute to the improvement of water quality in the Danube Region. In line with this, the project will contribute to the general objective of Priority Area 4 of the Danube Strategy, improving the quality of the waters, also of special importance in the Danube Region.
EuropeanGreenDeal The action plan of EUSDR PA4 has already been aligned more closely with the objectives of the EU's strategic agenda helping to establish a link between the EUSDR's actions and the Commission's new priorities such as the Green Deal, digitalisation and sustainable development.

Programme Common Output Indicator:

RCO 118 - Organisations cooperating for the multi-level governance of macroregional strategies, Measurement unit:

Programme Common Result Indicator:

RCR 084 - Organisations cooperating across borders after project completion, Measurement unit:

Project part of European Union Macro-Regional or Sea Basin Strategy: EUSDR

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

Financing programme

2021 - 2027 Interreg VI-B Danube

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

2024-12-18

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

82 / 139 (58.99%)

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

910 / 1 381 (65.89%)

Notes on the data

Source of estimation of the number of projects as of 2025-03-17: Website of the programme

Method for estimating the number of partners as of 2025-03-17: Average partners per project based on the average of the previous period.

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