Central and Eastern European Collaboration Agreement

The MaVíz - Hungarian Water Utility Association, the ARA - Asociata Romana a Apei, the BHWWA - Bosnia & Herzegovina Water Work Association, the BWA – Bulgarian Water Association, the SOVAK - Sdružení oboru vodovodů a kanalizací České republiky, the West-slovakian water association a.s., Západoslovenská vodárenská spoločnost’ a.s., the SMWA – Serbia and Montenegro Waterworks Association and the AVS - Slovak Water Association signed a Collaboration agreement in 2006 for developing their relationship.

The purpose of the agreement was to develop the agreeing countries’ water and sewerage services, contribute and strengthen the achievement of European Union directives. A successful cooperation is necessary between the agreeing countries’ professional-social associations and professional experts in order to fulfil the requirements and the regulations relating the water and sewerage network.
The agreeing parties in the interest of the above mentioned purposes – with respect of their country’s traditions- agreed to practice their agreement according to the regulations, legislation and tradition of the agreeing countries’ social organizations.
The agreeing parties in their activity pursue to accomplish the other parties’ objectives in consideration with the interest, traditions, and operation of the other country. The present agreement is to set up the practical parts of the cooperation.

According to the terms of the agreement
•    The agreeing parties mutually and regularly send copies from their professional journals, periodical publications and their more important, occasional publications to each other.
•    Agreeing Organizations mutually inform each other about the situation of their countries’ water and sewerage supply and their professional public events and the results within the frames of the biannual “ÖKO-AQUA” conferences and annual specialised conferences organised by agreeing parties.
•    The leaders and the delegates by the agreeing Associations in their meetings mutually inform each other about the ongoing public conceptions, studies and perspectives in the field of water and sewerage supply.
•    Agreeing Organizations – depending on the circumstances with respect of their country, profession and autonomy - mutually share experience about the effectiveness of the countries governmental, municipal bodies and other social - professional organizations’ communication systems and the development of the international professional connections.
•    Agreeing Organizations mutually and regularly ensure opportunities for presentations about their experts and its activities, and also invite experts to each others’ open events, thus for certain meetings with previously set up invitation.
•    The parties collaborate their intellectual and material production of water and sewage supply, improve each others’ intellectual, cultural and historical values, the results of the profession, the domestic and international fame of the countries, improve ethical values and represent all the above mentioned to the general public of both countries.
•    The agreeing organizations mutually invite each other to the open events, conferences and meetings. For the benefit of the Collaboration Agreement and its accomplishment, discussions will be held on a yearly basis to analyze practical experiences of the collaboration in one of the collaborating countries.
•    The leaders of the collaborating parties or their representatives entrust Dr. Mária Papp, general secretary of the Hungarian Water Utility Association with coordination of regular and mutual contact and organization duties of yearly management meetings.

By signing the collaboration agreement the parties declared, that they consider this agreement as a start for further common activities, and endeavour to fill the collaboration with content as well as improve and extend it.