News from Bulgaria :

Huge Oil Spill Near Bulgaria Threatenes Turkey : Click here

News from Serbia :

The City Municipality of Belgrade and other stakeholders have promoted the Project for purifying the waste water , in order to protect the Avala environment : Click here (serb.version)

The Government of Serbia, together with five southeastern European countries, agreed to boost cross-border conservation efforts in an area of the Balkans wildlife and will establish a new protected area and enlarge one into a cross-border reserve : Click here

News from Macedonia :

Polluted Macedonian city (Veles) to be rid of smelter : Click here

News from Greece :

Greece suspended from U.N. Kyoto carbon trading : Click here

News from EU:

Danube River's Pollution Threatens the Potable Water of Millions : Click here

News from Greece :

Alarm bells sound over arid land  : Click here

Water a scarce commodity : Click here

New Early Flood Warning System Launched : The first international system for forecasting Danube floods and providing an early flood warning was launched on 10 March. The new system, launched by the the International Commission for the Protection of the Danube River (ICPDR) and the Joint Research Centre (JRC), will provide the national authorities of countries in the Danube River Basin – the most international river basin in the world -- with up to 10 days to prepare for large floods : Click here

World Water Day, 20 March 2008 :

Internacional Year of Sanitation, 2008 : Unesco; GWP;

News from Macedonia :

Signing of Memorandum of Understanding for commencing of the Hot Spots Project in Radovis : On 12 March 2008, in the premises of the Buchim mine – Radovis, the UN Resident Coordinator and the General Manager of Buchim mine, signed a MoU regarding the project “Sustainable mining clean up and pollution management in Bucim and Lojane Mines”. The project is part of the regional Programme “Strengthening capacities in the Western Balkans countries to address environmental hot spots through an integrated approach”: Click here

News from Albania :

Government of Albania and UNDP to tackle environmental hotspots in Albania : Click here

News from Macedonia :

News from Macedonia :

"Red algaes" have covered the surface of the Berovo Lake : Click here (mac.version)

Water - the Blue Gold for our future: Europe's leaders unite to fight water scarcity and depletion : The Ministry of Environment and Spatial Planning of the Republic of Slovenia welcomes the water stewardship and accompanying water awareness programme (Aquawareness) initiated by the European Water Partnership (EWP). These programmes promote principles of advanced sustainable water management, following the Commission’s Communication on water scarcity and droughts. Engaging global actors in strategic partnerships, water stewardship aims to become the most widely adopted sustainable water instrument crossing public, private and sectoral barriers. It will establish a set of common values shared by stakeholders including consumers, industry, agriculture, financiers, cities and government, to modernize and achieve profound changes in behaviour and practices. Fully supporting this action, the Ministry of Environment and Spatial Planning of the Republic of Slovenia is participating in the high level debate organised by the European Water Partnership in cooperation with the European Parliament in February 2008 and beyond. The Ministry of Environment and Spatial Planning of the Republic of Slovenia encourages all stakeholders particularly the private sector to actively engage in the programme.  Further information on EMWIS website

EU Water Policies must be linked to climate : At the Climate Change Committee's Fourth Thematic session, Members of European Parliament (MEPs) and experts discussed the complex links between global warming and the world's water. Water scarcity, climate change and sustainable development, it was agreed, are issues which are closely linked and cannot be successfully tackled in isolation. Further information on EMWIS website

International Conference on Challenges to Science and Society in South Eastern Europe, Sofia, May 19-21, 2008
The conference is organised by the Scientific Coordination Centre for Global Change at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences and the Austrian Science and Research Liaison Office - Sofia : Click here

News from Macedonia :

River Kamenicka is badly soiled by the SASA mine : Click here (mac.version)

Invasion of birds will cause for fish distinguishing in Dojran Lake : Click here (mac.version)

Conclusions of the 4th Euromed & South-East European Water Directors conference, Bled (Slovenia) 10-11 December 2007

The water directors of the Euro-Mediterranean and South-eastern European countries who met in Bled, Slovenia, on 10-11 December 2007 approved the progress review of key regional water initiatives and set-up a steering group for the preparation of the Ministerial conference to be held next November 2008 under the French Presidency of the European Union. During the session dedicated to water information, it was proposed that EMWIS should include the networking of the MEDA-Water community and the dissemination of the technical and managerial knowledge developed by this community. The participants welcomed the results of the feasibility study on a Mediterranean water observatory mechanism, specially its role of facilitating and streamlining data collection processes and its emphasis to support National Water Information Systems. They also recommended further developments and reinforcement of Water Information Systems in the Mediterranean and Southeastern European countries to be included as an appropriate component for a potential future water strategy for the Mediterranean to be decided by the forthcoming Ministerial Conference in 2008. Further information on EMWIS website

Croatia: EBRD helps improve water and waste water systems in by 60 million euro

The EBRD is lending 60 million euro to the Zagreb water company to help finance capital investments in the city's water and sewer network in order to reduce water leakages and improve the service for a growing number of local residents. In addition, the Dutch government has provided ?495,000 in technical cooperation. A total of ?195,000 was used to assist the company prepare an investment programme in the water and sewer sector. The remaining grant funds will be used to assist the company with the development of a programme focusing on commercialisation and organisational improvements of Zagreb Holding. Further information on EMWIS website

News from Bulgaria :

EC to start a penal procedure against Bulgaria over Kremikovtzi pollution : Click here

Bulgaria Welcomes EU Costly Climate Change Plan : Click here

News from Albania :

Albania Scores High on Environment : Click here

Albania to Build Major Wind Farm : Click here

Durres, Abania: In nearly enclosed sea, untreated sewage : Click here

News from Serbia :

Pancevo named Europe's most polluted town : Click here

News from Bulgaria :

Green Bulgaria prepares research on soil and water condition : Click here

Household refuse : The unpredictable route of Bulgaria’s refuse Digging into it : Click here

Financing agreement for Suhodol signed : Click here

France has detailed its Mediterranean Union project to all the member countries of the Euro-Mediterranean partnership, at a conference in Lisbon.The Mediterranean Union would be a forum for annual or bi-annual exchange between countries bordering the Mediterranean, but not a new institution, said Alain Leroy. It would be a "union project" based on specific programs, such as a water agency responsible for combating pollution of the Mediterranean, or a development agency for small and medium enterprises. Each initiative is only supported by those countries that wish it. EMWIS website

Montenegro : The EBRD is lending 15 million euro to the Montenegrin regional water supply company to support the rehabilitation and construction of a regional water supply system that will provide potable water from Lake Skadar to the municipalities along the Montenegrin coast. The project, which has been developed in close co-operation with the World Bank, will provide a long-term sustainable solution to water supply requirements of the coastal cities and underpin Montenegro's expanding tourism potential. The Bank will finance the rehabilitation and construction of the northern branch of the system which will supply Budva, Tivat, Kotor and Herceg Novi, and the World Bank will finance water extraction from Skadar Lake, water treatment, the main continental part of the network and the southern branch supplying Bar and Ulcinj.EMWIS website

Convention on the Protection and the Use of  Transboundary Watersources and Internacional Lakes :

The First Assessment of Transboundary Rivers, Lakes and Groundwaters in the UNECE region : Full version

Section II: Transboundary groundwaters in South-Eastern Europe : Click here

News from Bulgaria :

Unions in Bulgaria threaten : Permit for kremitkovski or protest : Click here

Russian Oil Spill Devastates Black Sea Ecology : Click here

News from Macedonia:

Climate changes in Balkan Region, Macedonia : Click here (mac.version)

News from Bulgaria :

There is no danger of pollution of Bulgaria’s coastline : Click here

News from Macedonia :

The Cooperation Project "Wastewater Treatment Development in Skopje", suported by JICA : Click here

The public meeting for the Cooperation Project will be held in City of Skopje, on 9 of November 2007 : Click here (mac.version)

News from Greece:

Greeks told: Go green : President urges country to develop environmental conscience : Click here

Acheloos protest gathering support : Click here

Polluted "concrete coastline" no lure for Greeks : Click here

Healing Environmental Wounds: Asopos River : Click here (blog by Erin Brochovich )

News from Bulgaria :

Bulgaria and Serbia to Sign Ecology Memorandum : Click here

News from Greece :

Greek beaches become polluted 'concrete coastline' : Click here

Warning about fire emissions issued : Click here

Reunification of lakes 'risky' : Click here

Environment goes online : Click here

News from Croatia:

Europe's Biggest Ecology Project "Water purification system" in Zagreb : Click here

POISONED WATER WELLS: Zagreb Warns Disappearing Of Drinkable Water : Click here

News from Greece:

Cleanup of Asopos begins: Firms dumping waste into the river will be punished, minister says : Click here

Asopos pollution : Prosecutor orders probe into firms causing toxicity of river's waters : Click here

Cleaner Asopos on way : Click here

Turkey: No chickening out to drought : A new strain of chickpea developed in Turkey has proven itself to be remarkably drought-resistant, said genetic expert Rajinder Malhotra of the International Centre for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA), based in Aleppo, Syria. This will be a boon to farmers in arid regions as global warming threatens their livelihoods. The new chickpea, called Gokce, has been successfully grown in field trials in Pakistan, Mexico, and Syria and survived this year's acute drought in the Central Anatolia region of Turkey when wheat, barley, and other crops failed. EMWIS website

Turkey: Green light for the construction of the second biggest dam : An international consortium has just granted to Turkey a loan of 1,2 billion euros for the construction of a controversial dam, "Ilisu" dam, in the south-east of the country. The consortium gathers companies from Turkey, Germany, Austria and Switzerland - among it the companies Stucky Ltd, Alstom, Maggia Engineering and Codenco Power Engineering. The construction of the dam, in Dargecit (on the Tiger, 45 km far from the Syrian border), begun in August 2006 and should be completed in 2014. It will generate 3,8 billion kWh annually and could create 10.000 jobs. Further information on EMWIS website

Greece: Farmers work to conserve water : Farmers on northern Greece's Thessaloniki Plain added water-conservation drives of their own to regional water restrictions over the past five months and saved 100 million cubic meters of water, a feat praised by Nikos Tsotsolis, head of the Water Department of Central Makedonia. The amount saved by irrigators in Thessaloniki, Pella, and Imathia prefectures was enough to supply a city the size of Athens for three months. EMWIS website

News from Slovenia :

Slovenia in extreme measures : Click here (si.version)

All the rivers in Slovenia have overflooded in extreme amounts : Click here (si.version)

News from Greece :

Anti-flood works pick up pace : Click here

Dead birds found in Koroneia Lake : Click here

News from Bulgaria :

European rules, local problems in Bulgaria : Click here

News from Macedonia :

Macedonia joins the Global Climate Changes Campaign : Click here (mac.version)

News from Greece :

Greek ecologist : River life may help Europe : Click here

News from Serbia :

Getting Some More Blue Into the Danube : Click here

Sugar mill closed over water pollution : Click here

Greece: Drought emergency on Greek islands: Greece on 31st July declared a state of emergency on the Cyclades islands, including the popular holiday destinations of Mykonos and Santorini, because of water shortages caused by a drought and heat wave. The interior ministry said it took the decision, which amounts to little more than an administrative procedure, to force officials to speed up work on improving water supplies. EMWIS website

Turkey rations water as cities hit by drought : Turkey's two major cities are grappling with water shortages after record low levels of snow and rain in the winter and searing summer temperatures. Reservoirs are less than 5% full in the capital, Ankara, home to 4 million people, according to the country's water authority. On August 1st, the municipality began a water restriction policy of two days on, two days off. A project to divert water from a nearby river was launched in March, but the water is not expected to reach the city until November. Authorities were considering delaying the start of the school year until mid-October to avert the spread of disease, according to the mayor, Melih Gokcek. Hospitals were being supplied with ground water carried by tankers. EMWIS website

Bosnia Herzegovina : EBDR loan for waste water system : The EBRD is lending €7 million to the water authorities in the town of Bijeljina, in Bosnia-Herzegovina, to help finance construction of a waste water network that will reduce water pollution and cut health hazards in the city in Bosnia-Herzegovina. A further €4.5 million will be provided by the Bijeljina city authorities for the project that also aims to replace dilapidated asbestos cement water pipes.  The new network will address problems of pollution in the underground water system that is the only source of local drinking water for around 65,000 people. The project also aims to increase the provision of water services to achieve supply 24 hours a day and 90 percent coverage in the city, up from 70 percent now, and 65 per cent coverage in rural areas. The loan will also be used to modernise the water network, by replacing rundown water mains to reduce operating costs and increase efficiency. Also envisaged is the gradual upgrading of a water meter scheme, all of which will add to the positive environmental impact of the project. EMWIS website

News from Serbia :

Danube pollution worst in Budapest, Belgrade : Click here

Second international inspection of Danube river started : Click here

News from Bulgaria :

Polluted water closes Bulgaria's Varna South Beach : Click here

News from Serbia :

Polluted drinking water in Kuršumlija : Click here

News from Greece :

Talks to focus on dirty water : Click here

News from Serbia :

Anti-pollution measures implemented : Toxic spills that killed large amounts of fish have occurred in eight different Serbian rivers this summer alone: Click here

News from Bosnia and Herzegovina :

EBRD lends 7 million euro for the Bosnian waste water system : Bijeljina project cuts water pollution, reduces health hazards : Click here

News from Greece :

Lake warning : Not to draw water from Lake Koroneia, near Thessaloniki : Click here

News from Macedonia :

New webportal of UHMR Macedonia : weather forecasting, hydrology, ecology, recent datas ... Click here  (mac.version)

News from Albania :

Albania tries to save beaches : Click here