May 13, 2019.
International conference

COMMON PROBLEMS AND DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES OF EUROPEAN LAKES

The Lake Balaton Development Coordination Agency organised a conference on revealing problems and development opportunities of European lakes in May 13, 2019 in Balatonfüred in the framework of “Science meets Regions” programme financed by the Joint Research Centre of the European Commission.

The conference was be attended by international experts and politicians dealing with lakes, and national politicians and experts involved in regional decision-making. The invited key speakers included Dr. Tibor Navracsics, Commissioner for Education, Culture, Youth and Sport, Dr. Barbara Botos, Deputy Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Policy at the Ministry of Innovation and Technology, and György Hölvényi, Member of the European Parliament and Member of the Committee on Development and the Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety.

Topic: Common problems and development opportunities of European lakes
Date: May 13, 2019
Venue: Hotel Füred Spa & Conference (Balatonfüred, Széchenyi u. 20.)

Programme

9.00 – 9.30
Registration

I. Policy Development – Channelling Scientific Results into Decision-making

9.30 – 9.45
Welcome remarks and conference opening
Dr. István Bóka, Chairman of Lake Balaton Development Council, Mayor of Balatonfüred, Member of the Committee of the Regions
9.45 – 10.00
Science meets regions, the role of science in political decision-making
Dr. Tibor Navracsics, Commissioner for Education, Culture, Youth and Sport, European Commission
10.00 – 10.15The work in the Environment Committee of the European Parliament according to the Hungarian interests
György Hölvényi, Member of the European Parliament, Member of the Committee on Development and the Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety
10.15 – 10.30
Current issues and expected results of climate protection conventions, strategies and programs in lake areas
Dr. Barbara Botos, Deputy Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Policy, Ministry for Innovation and Technology
10.30 – 11.00Coffee break

II. Call of Science – The Most Important Environmental Challenges of European Large Lakes from the Point of View of Lake Balaton

11.00 – 12.30
Roundtable discussion


  • Extreme weather events and atmospheric processes in the catchment area of Lake Balaton – observations and forecasts (15 minutes)
    Dr. Ákos Horváth, Meteorologist, Hungarian Meteorological Service, Storm Warning Observatory in Siófok
  • Vulnerability of Lake Balaton, the possibility and necessity of increasing the resilience at Lake Balaton – a scientific approach (15 minutes)
    Ferenc Jordán, Director of the Balaton Limnological Institute, Centre for Ecological Research, Hungarian Academy of Sciences
  • Climate change, adaptation of non-native species and the problem of invasive plant species in the Lake Balaton region – management activities and practical experiences (15 minutes)
    Zoltán Puskás, Director of the Balaton Uplands National Park Directorate
  • Questions and answers, roundtable discussion (45 minutes)
12.30 – 13.30

Lunch

III. Social Involvement – Cooperation of Organisations and Lakes

13.30 – 15.00Roundtable discussion
  • Mainstreaming Lakes in the Global Water Agenda (15 minutes)
    Dr. Walter Rast, Chair of the Scientific Committee, International Lake Environment Committee Foundation
  • 20 Years of Living Lakes: strategies, goals, achievements and challenges (15 minutes)
    Udo Gattenlöhner, Executive Director of Global Nature Fund
  • Lakebasin management across borders: insights from political and social science research (15 minutes)
    Dr. Erik Mostert, Delft University of Technology, Department of Water Management
  • Questions and answers, roundtable discussion (45 minutes)
15.00 – 15.20

Coffee break

IV. Tools of Decision-makers – Opportunities and Experiences

15.20 – 15.40
Possibilities and experiences of implementation of integrated projects within the framework of the LIFE programme
Dr. Barbara Botos, Deputy Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Policy, Ministry for Innovation and Technology
15.40 – 16.00
The need for and experiences of integrated lake management in the context of the Water Framework Directive
Wouter van de Bund, Joint Research Centre, European Commission
16.00 – 16.20
Role of lakes in European policies – experiences and opportunities of a local politician
Satu Tietari, Finland, Member of the Committee of the Regions
16.20 – 16.40Environmental Cooperation Model
Lajos Gál, Mayor of Gyenesdiás
16.40 – 17.00
Questions and answers
17.00Closing of the conference

The language of the conference was Hungarian and English, with simultaneous interpretation.