Drava River Basin Project (DRBP) – Environmental infrastructure measures in the River Drava Basin

2A063

ARGE DRBP (Arbeitsgemeinschaft Drava River Basin Project)
Walther-von-der-Vogelweide-Platz 4
9020 Klagenfurt
Austria

Dr. Adolf Rausch
Tel.:	+434633261242
Fax:	+434633261245
Email:	office@quantum-gmbh.at
Homepage:	http://www.drava-river-basin.net

4 - Environmental protection
4.1 - Environmental protection

(See here for a priorities and measures overview)

1st Call

In the environmental sector, problems are often transnational, with the cause lying in one country or region, and the effects in the bordering one. In many cases, the border regions are economically and infrastructurally disadvantaged. The lack of financial means makes it very difficult to improve the infrastructure in these regions and to achieve EU standards. These improvements are necessary and requested, especially in the field of waste and wastewater management. Projects dealing with these issues require considerable amounts of money, technical know-how and complex organisational and legal structures to be effective. The Drava River Basin Project has elaborated the comprehensive strategy concept and concrete waste and wastewater management pilot projects, which serve as examples and basis for the developed Systematic Guideline - a methodology which enables the authorities in less developed regions to plan and implement environmental infrastructure projects. It provides assistance to achieve a long-term sustainable, economically and socially viable solution, thereby taking into account the EU environmental and technological standards and using innovative organisational and financial models.

The Drava River Basin Project has achieved the following results: - Systematic Guideline for the Implementation of Environmental Infrastructure Measures in Water and Waste Management Sector for the European Union as well as other Eastern and South-Eastern European Countries, - Integrated Regional Environmental Strategy Concept (master plan for the Drava River Basin project area, consisting of the waste management and water management components), - Successful development of pilot projects and preparation of concrete large-scale investments: one waste management pilot project (regional waste management solution for north-western Croatia) and two wastewater management pilot projects (wastewater management solution for the selected pilot project municipalities of Lepoglava and Varaždinske Toplice, both in north-western Croatia), - Integration of the DRBP waste management pilot project in north-western Croatia into the Croatian National ISPA Strategy, - Wastewater management concepts (technical, economic, ecological, legal, organisational and financial) for the pilot project municipalities of Lepoglava and Varaždinske Toplice, - Establishment of a co-operation network of public and private sector experts from Austria, Croatia, Hungary and other countries and institutions, - Enhancement of the environmental situation in the Drava River Basin and in the Danube regions downriver, - Increase in the living standard of the local populations (positive effect on the local economies, employment and tourism), - Improvements to the environmental infrastructure in the regions, - Optimisation of administrative structures, - Raising public awareness of environmental issues.

Total budget (EUR):	2.283.834,00 EUR
ERDF:	750.000,00 EUR

Start:	01/2003
End:	06/2006

• ARGE DRBP (Arbeitsgemeinschaft Drava River Basin Project), Klagenfurt, Austria
• Quantum GmbH, Klagenfurt, Austria
• Joanneum Research, Graz, Austria
• iC Consulenten, Vienna, Austria
• Ministry of Public Works, Reconstruction and Construction, Zagreb, Croatia
• South Transdanubian Regional Development Agency, Pécs, Hungary
• Ministry of Environment and Water Management – South-Transdanubian Environment Protection Authority, Pécs, Hungary
• General Assembly of Baranya County, Pécs, Hungary