On 13-16 June 2023, Bratislava hosted a mission of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) for the third environmental performance evaluation of the Slovak Republic with the participation of a team of experts consisting of members of the OECD Environment Directorate and representatives of the two evaluating countries – the Republic of Estonia and the Czech Republic.
The main aim of the mission was to consider the country’s performance against its national and international environmental targets since the previous assessment from 2011, with a focus on biodiversity and forests in the context of climate change. This assessment measures the country’s progress towards sustainable development and green growth. It provides an evidence-based analysis of the country’s environmental performance compared to other countries and identifies success stories, good practices and challenges.
We are very pleased that our project „Improving the condition of selected wetlands in the left-hand branch system of the Danube River“ has been selected to participate in this important international mission.
On June 14, 2023, as part of the planned programme of the mission, we welcomed OECD representatives, representatives of the Ministry of Environment of the Slovak Republic, mayors of the affected municipalities and also other organizations to the Gabčíkovo Waterworks.
On their way to the venue they were given a short information by Ms. Ing. Monika Takáčová (VODOHOSPODÁRSKA VÝSTAVBA, STATE ENTERPRISE (VV, š. p.)) about the Gabčíkovo Waterworks, its impact on the surrounding environment and the ongoing modernization of the locks chambers within the project “Upgrade of Gabčíkovo locks” co-financed by the Connecting Europe Facility of the European Union. The meeting continued in the administrative premises of VV, š. p., in the newly opened Information Centre of VV, š. p. Ms. Ing. Monika SUPEKOVÁ, representative of the project partner (SLOVENSKÝ VODOHOSPODÁRSKY PODNIK, state enterprise (SVP, š. p.)), presented all important information about our project from its creation to its planned implementation. The Director of the Investment and technical department of the VV, š. p., Mr. Mgr. Karol KAŽIMÍR presented to the attendees the implemented, currently ongoing and also planned projects of the company in the environmental field.
After the all presentations, there was a space for questions from the Evaluation Team and a discussion between the attendees and the representatives of the municipalities in order to understand the role and challenges of the municipalities in relation to biodiversity.
At the end of the meeting, all the participants, accompanied by representatives of the state enterprise Forests of the Slovak Republic, moved to the area of interest of the wetland restoration project, which is located in the left-hand branch system of the Danube River. Forests of the Slovak Republic organized a boat trip for the participants to the project site – the dam G1, as well as a boat trip on the other available Danube branches.
We are pleased that we could be part of this important event.
The Project „Improving the condition of selected wetlands in the left-hand branch system of the Danube River“ benefits from a € 429 244 grant from Norway through the Norway Grants. The project has been co-financed from the State Budget of the Slovak Republic in the amount of € 75 749.
If you want to know more about programmes and projects financed by the Norway Grants in Slovakia, visit www.norwaygrants.sk
