REPUBLIKA HRVATSKA The water protection in the Region of Istria Dino Babić – Official Representative of the Region of Istria in Bruxelles 5th Breakfast at Sustainability’s Bruxelles, 7th June 2010

Distances from some of the major european cities: Munich 620 km Milan 490 km Vienna 560 km Paris km Budapest 510 km Zürich 840 km London km km Where we are?

Istria The Region of Istria - overall information ________________________________________  The westernmost region of Croatia  On the halfway between the Equator and the North Pole  Connecting the Middle European continental area with the Mediterranean  inhabitants  Surface km2

The water protection in the Region of Istria Water sources in Istria ________________________________________  Drinking water sources are spread all over the peninsula.  There are springs in use and springs reserved for future use.  Surface and underground waters on karsts are in permanent contact, that is why the whole area is treated as unique water carrying system.  The rest is gravitating to the coastal see, so the water protection is the ultimate task.

The water protection in the Region of Istria IWS - Istrian Water-protection System ________________________________________ Organization, construction and maintenance of the system of public sewerage and waste water treatment for small settlements in water protection areas of the Region of Istria  With the aim of protecting waters, the target is to catch all the used water into the system of public sewerage, to treat it and to reuse it or to discharge it, without causing any harmful consequences  The Istria underground due to the dominant karsts area should be treated as unique water carrying area that covers all the sources of potable water

The water protection in the Region of Istria Underground Istria project ________________________________________  Improving the state of environment and environmental conditions through an active approach to the protection of natural values in the border area;  Strengthening capacities, cooperation and coordinated action of all institutions in the field of environmental protection in the region;  Protection of underground waters and drinking water sources from pollution;  Raising the level of awareness of local population.

The water protection in the Region of Istria Underground Istria project ________________________________________

The water protection in the Region of Istria KUP – Karst Underground Protection ________________________________________  Protection and prevention of the pollution of the karstic water system  Investment, sustenibility planing and management of the underground  Developement of the Research Center for the Bio-speleology and management of the international network of organisations operating in the field of environment protection in the karstic areas  Rising awareness of the local population about the importance of the protection and prevention of the polution of underground water to emprove the quality of daily life

The water protection in the Region of Istria KUP – Karst Underground Protection ________________________________________

The water protection in the Region of Istria Water Information Day in Istria ________________________________________ Pula, Istria, Croatia  One day after the observance of World Water Day 2009 dedicated to Transboundary Water  Information Day about water issues and European funding opportunities for projects related to water issues.

The European network for water Waterregio ________________________________________ A platform for water projects Wateregio is a network of exchange of ideas, experiences and best practices in the field of water management and optimization of water resources. REGIONE CALABRIA With the support of:

The European network for water Waterregio ________________________________________ Goals:  To foster the participation of the partners in different programs dealing with water, making ideas become a reality.  To improve the performance of the partners in good water management. Because.. a good methodology can improve the water performance of our regions through co-operation in developing ideas and implementing projects in common

AER Summer School 2009 & Youth Summer School 2009 ________________________________________ Water, engagement for our future Valencia, Spain, August 2009  By bringing together decision makers, officials and young people, the Summer School intends to provide the tools to be able to cope with the challenges of water management.  200 participants from the AER member regions.  Workshops, study visits and social events.

AER Summer School 2009 & Youth Summer School 2009 ________________________________________ Contents grouped in four pools:  Pool 1. Water management  Pool 2. Water and climate change  Pool 3. Governance and communication  Horizontal workshops: invite the participants to propose their ideas in joint projects dealing with water, global issues and co-operation, and instruments to be developed

Youth Summer School 2009 ________________________________________  Bring young people from all Europe to work together in this issue.  Promote sharing of experiences, expressing their opinion and better awareness to act as “water ambassadors” when back in their home regions. The school aimed to encourage the emergence of a "water saving culture" by involving in particular young people and committing them to be "water ambassadors“.

European Youth Water Summit 2010 ________________________________________________________ European Parliament - Brussels, March 2010 Giving the floor to young citizens from 16 European countries to discuss European water challenges, their visions and ideas for sustainable water management in Europe and their experiences gained in this field.

Thanks for your kind attention! ________________________________________ Region of Istria - Department for international cooperation and EU Integration Flanatička ulica 29, Pula, Tel Fax Regional Office in Brussels Rue du Commerce 49, 1000 Bruxelles Tel Fax Region of Istria - Department for nature and environmental protection Flanatička ulica 29, Pula, Tel Fax Waterregio Elena Salas wateregio.blogspot.com