International World Water Day is held annually on 22 March as a means of focusing attention on the importance of freshwater and advocating for the sustainable management of freshwater resources.
Topic of World Water Day 2013 is Water Cooperation.
On the occasion of the World Water Day, GWP Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) also launches an international Photo Contest.
Bulgaria
Central celebration takes place at the Technical House in Sofia on 22 March. Ministry of Environment and Water, National Scientific Technical Union of Water Affairs in Bulgaria, GWP Bulgaria and other partners are organizing Annual Water Conference. Examples of water cooperation in the area of climate change, water and energy and water supply and sanitation are presented during different sessions. A special issue of Water Affairs magazine covers the World Water Day in Bulgaria.
Czech Republic
The World Water Day is celebrated by a conference about protection of water resources on 21 March in Holiday Inn Prague Congress Centre. Main organizer is UN Information Centre, expert partners are Water Research Institute, host institute of GWP Czech Republic. General partner is Heineken Czech Republic, a member of Business for the Company platform. The conference also features a workshop "What can companies do to the sustainability of water resources".
Estonia
Ministry of Environment and GWP Estonia are main organizers of the World Water Day. Central event is a conference entitled "Cooperation in Estonian Water Management". Member of GWP CEE Council Harry Liiv delivers a key note presentation "Financing and Outcomes of Water Management in Estonia during the Years in European Union". Other speakers include National Environmental Board, Center for Environmental Investments, local governments, Union of Water Entrepreneurs, Union of Water Engineers, Agriculture Board and Society for River Restoration. The conference takes place in Raddisson Blue Hotel Olympia in Tallinn on 22 March.
Hungary
Hungarian National UNESCO Committee and the Delegation of the European Commission organize a roundtable discussion on 22 March, 14:00 o'clock at Európa Pont (Point of Europe) in Budapest. Main topics include water as essential element for life, sustainability, dependence on water, water resources management international and national aspects. Prof. Ferenc Ligetvári, Head of GWP Hungary's Advisory Board has been invited as a panelist.
Romania
GWP Romania and National Water Administration "Apele Romane" Prahova-Ialomita Directorate took part in a celebration and exhibition of drawings at School No 28 Nicolae Balcescu in Ploiesti on 15 March. Liviu Nicolae Popescu of GWP Romania presented a new GWP movie Water for Future plus Joint Danube Survey 1. He made a presentation about a national contribution to international water monitoring programmes. In addition, GWP Romania participates in celebrations at the National Academy for Soil and Agro Chemistry Science in Bucharest on 22 March.
Slovenia
Martina Zupan, GWP Slovenija participates in a national celebration on 25 March in Ljubljana. Main organizers are Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Agriculture and Environment and Slovenian Chamber of Commerce. Topic of the event is "Water as an opportunity for sustainable development and international cooperation of Slovenia". Keynote speakers are President of Slovenia Borut Pahor, European Commissioner for the Environment Janez Potočnik and Minister for Foreign Affairs Karl Erjavec. Member of GWP Steering Committee Lučka Kajfež Bogataj and Head of Delegation of the Sava Commission Mitja Bricelj delivered presentations in the expert part.