Thus the IAWD member companies from Belgrade, Novi Sad, Subotica and Zrenjanin could be brought together with representatives of the Yugoslav Waterworks Association (YWWA). The meeting was designed to make the representatives of the waterworks familiar with the ideas and strategies of the IAWD and to re-incorporate the representatives of Serbia being so important for the Danube basin. Under the new government Serbia has strongly been moving “back to Europe”.

Apart from the preparation of the EU expansion to the East and the discussion over the EU Water Framework Directive, it was particularly important to get to know the situation of drinking water management in Serbia. Special emphasis, however, was also put on the item “financing of projects”. aqua press International will report on concrete projects and co-operation in the next issues.

In the framework of the visit to the Citadel of Novi Sad the visitors could see the consequences of NATO bombings during the war. Navigation is still severely handicapped due to the destroyed Danube bridges of the city and after the heavy bombardments Novi Sad’s refinery, too, has become a problem for the groundwater and the groundwater collateral waters of the Danube – impacts, which will keep the waterworks of Novi Sad busy for some time. Particularly impressing for the international participants was the fact how close the military conflict in former Yugoslavia had been carried to the boundaries of the European Union. No wonder that everyone finally left willing to help to prevent such conflicts in the Danube basin by intensified co-operation. (Source: aqua press Int. 6/2001)
Walter Kling

Information & Contact:

IAWD Management
International Association of Water Supply Companies in the Danube River Catchment Area
c/o Vienna Waterworks
Grabnergasse 4-6
A-1060 Vienna
Tel. +43 1 599 59-31006
Fax: +43 1 599 59 -7231