The final event of BIGDATA 4RIVERS Interreg Europe project has taken place in Kaunas, Lithuania, hosted by Kaunas University of Technology (KTU).
A total of about 70 people have participated in the event, both in person and online.
Jolanta Dvarionienė, representing KTU, has been in charge of the opening and presentation of the programme, followed by a welcome to the participants by Alexandrina Monteiro, on behalf of CIM Alto Minho, Lead Partner of the project.
The Interreg Europe Joint Secretariat was represented by Mariame Ammour, who gave a presentation of the Programme and the open call for projects. This presentation was followed by an overview of the project and a session on the partners’ experience, lessons learned as well as the main project results achieved in relation to the improvement of the seven policy instruments addressed in the framework of BIGDATA 4RIVERS.
In the afternoon, a round table discussion took place with representatives of the managing authorities of the seven countries participating in the project to discuss the regions' prospects, challenges and opportunities in water management. Climate change, the COVID pandemic, project financing, and pollutants were among the topics discussed.
Participants in the round table identified, among others, citizen involvement, participatory methods, commitment of policy makers, as well as awareness raising, capacity building and information available to all, as key issues for improving water management policies.
