Exploring practical problems arising from the different regulations of Hungarian and Slovak species conservation and recreational fishing activities affecting the Danube and Ipoly border rivers
Quantitative indicators of migratory river fish populations indicate a 76% decrease since 1970, the border region’s famous fish abundance for centuries has significantly decreased. For the normal life and successful reproduction of most river fish species, migration between river sections with different habitat conditions is essential. However, the fragmentation of the migration route and the different regulation of fishing activities lead to the local disappearance of many fish species and generally to a change in the composition of the fish fauna.
Strategic goals need to be set for species conservation on the Hungarian and Slovak sides. For certain fish species (e.g. bream, pike perch), the regulations are different: on the Hungarian side, for example, bream cannot be caught, on the Slovak side it is. It would be important to join international efforts, because the two countries share a section of the Danube that is more than 100 km long. The Green Deal aims to ensure the navigability of 25,000 kilometres of river sections by 2030, which is of paramount importance for nature conservation.
Due to the different regulations on protected and non-fishable fish species, the fishing associations on both sides also operate with different approaches, which are based on the same fishing principles on both sides.
The impact of the different regulations:
In Hungary, a significant change in approach was made with the amendment of Act CII of 2013 on Fish Management and Fish Protection (Hhvtv.) and the Decree of the Ministry of the Interior (Vhr.) issued for its implementation. The fish management of natural waters (as well as all border rivers affected here) was reclassified as a tourist and recreational use, thus banning fishing that is meaningless from an economic perspective but significant from an environmental perspective, and giving way to sport fishing.
In Slovakia, the exercise of fishing rights is regulated by the Act on Fishing No. 2016/2018 Z.Z., which entered into force on 1 January 2019, replacing the previous, outdated legislation. In addition, the Commercial Act (455/1991 Zb.) and the Implementing Decree 381/2018 also play a decisive role in the regulation of fishing. The fishing regulations of local associations are also based on these.
The new law has brought about several changes in the conditions of fishing. It has changed the minimum catchable size of certain fish species and the ban periods, for example, the ban on mullet and pike will end on May 31 instead of June 15. Rainbow trout and eel can now be caught all year round, while catfish and pike perch cannot be fished for more than five months. The permitted time intervals for fishing have changed according to the given month and water area, and the catchable quantity has been reduced, which can now only be 5 kilos instead of the previous daily maximum of 7 kilos. The end of the day’s fishing has also been re-regulated: while previously catching the permitted number and quantity of fish meant the end, now fulfilling one of the conditions is sufficient.
Different regulations and practices have therefore arisen in the relationship between the two countries:
According to a study published by the Hungarian Ministry of Agriculture in 2023, the general goal is to increase the number of sturgeons – e.g. sturgeon in the case of Hungary –, so strategic goals need to be defined to increase the stock (reducing pressures, supporting damaged habitats, increasing the population, social communication). Sturgeon has not been a fish species that can be caught in Hungary since 2014 (since the stock decreased, the Ministry of Agriculture limited the catch), and anglers have started a stocking program with the motto “let sturgeon fishing become a Hungarikum again”. While it remains a fish species that can be caught in Slovakia, the previous measures are unilateral. Communication between the Győr-Moson-Sopron County and Slovak anglers has begun. An action plan for conservation has been prepared on the Hungarian side (available online on the website of the Ministry of Agriculture). The next step would be a joint Hungarian-Slovak action plan for the protection of the scaup, which could later be expanded to other sections of the Upper Danube, including the German and Austrian lines.
The Hungarian authority system is divided in terms of powers and responsibilities:
In Slovakia, the Slovak Ministry of the Environment is responsible for regulatory issues, and the Slovensky Rybársky Zvaz (Slovak Fishermen’s Association) is a non-governmental organization that performs public tasks related to fish management.
Within the framework of the Insula Magna project of Széchenyi University and the National Directorate General of Water Management, a monitoring plan was prepared for the Szigetköz area (e.g. the construction of a structure as a physical barrier for fish). A bilateral agreement was prepared for the transformation of the longitudinal operation of the locks operating on the Ipoly River.
There is a draft cooperation agreement for the Ipoly River between the Nógrád County Association of Anglers and the Slovak Association of Anglers (Slovensky Ribarsky Zvaz), which attempts to harmonize certain fishing rules (closed periods, size or quantity restrictions).
The main objective of the agreement is to utilize the Ipoly, as a Hungarian-Slovak border river, along common fish management principles and regulate fishing, with the understanding that if Hungarian or Slovak legislation provides otherwise, the provisions of the agreement will be aligned with the legislation.
Efforts have been made at EU level regarding the traceability of marine products (electronic remote monitoring) and the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF) also supports better monitoring and control to keep fishing practices within sustainable limits. There is no EU practice in this regard for rivers, although the European Green Deal and the Biodiversity Strategy both aim to eliminate illegal and unsustainable practices.
Approximation of national fishing and species conservation regulations, preparation of legislative amendment proposals. Coordination of developments aimed at improving the interoperability of locks with the authorities, project development.
Integrated management of invasive species
For invasive species, the problem is the lack of common protocols to deal with cross-border cases. One of the greatest threats to natural communities is the spread of alien invasive species. Invasive species are alien species that occur outside their natural range, have the potential to colonise and spread outside it and threaten native communities, and in all cases are introduced outside their natural habitat through human mediation. Once successfully established, species become invasive only if they have a characteristic that makes them so, typically their ability to reproduce rapidly, their broad tolerance of environmental conditions, their high competitiveness and their aggressiveness. As a result of globalisation, the spread of invasive species has reached significant proportions in recent decades, with increasingly severe impacts. Once established, invasive species conquer larger areas, displacing native plants and animals and transforming their environment. The quality and diversity of ecosystem services provided to humanity by biotic communities, such as soil fertility (even with the amount of land occupied) and pollinator productivity, are declining, and in addition to their negative impacts on biodiversity, they can cause significant health and economic damage. Preventing the spread of invasive species and managing them can only be achieved through cross-border cooperation.
EU legislation is transposed in different ways (Regulation (EU) No 1143/2014, Implementing Regulation (EU) No 2016/114), in Hungary the implementing regulations contain provisions, but there is a lack of management protocols.
In Hungary, Act CXXXVII of 2016 amending certain Acts in connection with the prevention and management of the introduction or introduction and spread of invasive alien species requires the effective implementation of the provisions of the EU Regulation by the relevant disciplines. In the framework of the harmonisation of national legislation, delegated powers for the application of the EU Invasion Regulation (nature conservation, forestry, forestry, fisheries, food chain control) have been incorporated into the legislation of the various sectors (nature protection, agriculture, forestry, wildlife management, fisheries, food chain control). Government Decree 408/2016 (13.12.2016) on the prevention and management of the introduction or introduction and spread of alien invasive species defines the bodies responsible for the implementation of the tasks defined in certain articles of Regulation (EU) No 1143/2014 and certain procedural rules of the authorities. The Government Decree sets out the regulatory framework for a system based on the continuous exchange of information and cooperation, which allows for prompt and effective action. The Act LII of 2003 on the State Acceptance of Plant Varieties and on the Production and Marketing of Propagating Material states that plant varieties of species included in the list of alien invasive species under the Regulation, which are a threat to the European Union, a particular region or Hungary, may not be granted State acceptance. Furthermore, if a plant species is included in the list of alien invasive species posing a threat to the European Union, a particular region or Hungary, the plant breeding authority shall ex officio withdraw the State recognition of the plant species. Annex 3 of Decree No 86/2012 (VIII.15.) of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, Environment and Water Management on the commercial collection and marketing of fodder plant seed mixtures intended for the conservation of the natural environment contains the list of invasive and other weed species of conservation concern.
The National Biodiversity Strategy (National Biodiversity Conservation Strategy 2015-2020), adopted by the Parliament in 2015, and the National Nature Conservation Fundamental Plan IV (Fundamental Plan IV), which is a separate annex to the National Environmental Programme IV, address the need to tackle invasive alien species in separate chapters, following the above international recommendations and the EU strategy. The main findings of the Fundamental Plan are that the increasing spread of invasive alien species, known as ‘flood species’, which have been introduced outside their natural range by deliberate introductions or accidental introductions, is considered to be one of the main threats to biodiversity. Recognising the threats posed by the emergence of invasive species, several national and international laws and strategies aim to reduce, remove or prevent the spread of invasive alien species in order to conserve biodiversity, mitigate economic damage or prevent health risks.
In Hungary, the issue of invasive species in forestry is also a liability problem. Invasive species are absolutely prohibited (cannot be planted, cannot be cultivated). If they occur, the question is how and when they can be destroyed. In Hungary, when the list of invasive species was adopted, the principle was that the state was responsible. Later, the responsibility was transferred to property owners, who are now responsible for the eradication of these species from their land and for preventing further spread. The goldenrod (Solidago gigantea) has spread over a huge area. Since the owner is obliged to eradicate it, the forest owner has to mow the whole forest, even though it spread at a time when the state was responsible. For the existing species, this is only possible if the state defines some kind of action plan and is able to finance it. It cannot be economically charged to the owner. The policy toolbox offers the possibility to address this issue in the form of EU funding. Under the Rural Development Programme, there is a Call for Proposals for the control of alien species, which forest managers can apply for and receive financial support for the control of alien species. Would be interesting to see if there is a similar initiative in Slovakia? The national CAP strategy includes one for the next cycle.
In Hungary, the NÉBIH (National Food Chain Safety Office) is responsible for the invasive species:
oblige the owner or distributor to
If the operator/distributor fails to comply with the above obligation despite being requested to do so, the authority will carry out or have carried out the measures and will order the defaulting party to reimburse the costs within fifteen days.
Public protection: if the conditions for ordering public protection against an alien invasive species are not met, the authority may order public protection.
The competent authority shall take or have taken the necessary measures in the framework of public control of an invasive alien species. The owner, the trustee and the user must tolerate any action taken by the authority to comply with the requirements of the EU regulation or legislation on invasive alien species and any temporary restriction of their property rights.
Invasive species fines: anyone who, by their actions or omissions, violates the notification, emergency response, recovery or other requirements and official decisions relating to alien invasive species laid down in EU regulations or legislation, will be liable to an invasive species fine.
On the issue of invasive species in Slovakia, Act 150/2019 is linked to EU legislation. There is a national list of invasive species and non-native species. The EU regulation allows countries to identify additional species that they consider to be of concern. In Slovakia, the golden jackal is an expansive species, not an invasive species. In Slovakia, the objective for non-native species is to assess the safety of a species on the basis of risk analyses. They would only be allowed to be introduced if authorised and under certain conditions. The procedure, the decision criteria and the regions concerned should be regulated. The conditions under which prohibited species and species that would benefit from certain exceptions can be planted must be clearly defined.
The forestry authorities are cooperating. The relevant department of the Ministry of Agriculture is also involved.
The first expert discussions agreed on a coordinated approach to the issue in the border region.
Land management actions, joint action plans, development of regional list. Joint identification of species to be regulated and joint development of species-specific action plans, identifying resources, priorities and areas.
Invasive species are listed in three types of lists, of which only one has been completed so far, the European Union list. This can be found on the website of the Ministry of Agriculture: http://www.invaziosfajok.hu/hu
list of alien invasive species that pose a threat, they are subject to special provisions. Our aim is to develop a common regional list and action plans per species.
Joint management of cross-border bee diseases
Currently, there is no established practice of authorities taking on the cross-border management of highly contagious bee diseases. The perception of bacterial infections varies from country to country. In Hungary, where bacterial diseases such as brood rots appear as bacterial diseases, a 5 km radius is closed. Differences may be made in determining the proportion of colonies to be eradicated and in monitoring for re-infestation (in Hungary, an additional 60-day monitoring period is in force after detection and destruction). At present, the competent authority of the neighbouring country is not notified of an infestation, even if it is within a 5km radius. This issue may also concern the case of migration where the migration takes place through the territory of the neighbouring country, e.g. from Esztergom to Nógrád via Štúrovo, but the hive appears abroad without papers and with a Hungarian certificate for the duration of the journey.
A common defence against the Asian hornet wasp is needed. Asian hornets are predatory. Apart from their stings, which can provoke a lethal reaction in humans, they pose the greatest threat to the already scarce population of domestic or western honey bees (Apis melifera), which are their main prey.
In Hungary, FVM Decree 70/2003 (27.VI.) lays down special rules for the outbreak of honey bee brood rot, strictly defining the rules for local closure and eradication of the disease. It sets out the measures to be taken on a percentage basis, depending on the number of colonies affected. If the number of diseased colonies does not exceed fifty percent of the total number of colonies, only the diseased colonies are to be killed; if it reaches or exceeds fifty percent but does not reach seventy-five percent of the total number of colonies, the district office decides whether to kill all colonies or only the diseased colonies, depending on local circumstances. If it reaches or exceeds seventy-five percent of all hives, all hives must be killed. The above shall also be applied to the remaining colonies after a 60-day surveillance period. This is followed by the burning of accessories and the affected colonies, or burial 50 cm underground. State compensation will be paid for the destroyed objects. The decision to kill the bees is taken by the district veterinarian. Once the presence of bee disease has been confirmed, the district office will order a municipal closure based on GPS coordinates. The National Food Chain Safety Office (NÉBIH) keeps records of the closures.
Pursuant to FVM Decree 70/2003 (VI. 27.) on the protection of bee populations and the prevention and control of certain diseases of honey bees, the district office shall order a municipal closure of the area around the infected apiary subject to local closure, within a radius of at least five kilometres, following the detection of bee diseases. The GPS coordinates in WGS’84 format of the infected apiary under local quarantine and the decision to impose local quarantine shall be sent by the district office to the NÉBIH, which shall keep a register of the area under quarantine, which shall be available on its website and published in map form on its website. The District Office will manage the eradication of the disease through the official veterinarian and the bee health officer. Local restrictions are lifted in accordance with the specific rules for each disease. The communal quarantine shall be lifted when no premises in the area under quarantine are still under local quarantine because of the disease. The decision to lift the municipal closure shall be sent by the district office to the NÉBIH. The disease shall be declared eradicated when there is no longer either a local or a municipal restriction.
According to paragraph (2) of Article 7 of the FVM Decree, “Beekeepers along the national border within a 10-kilometre radius of the border shall be subject to a special monitoring inspection every two months, or, if necessary, every month, from the time of the first clear hatching until the time of the first harvest (1 March to 31 October), as decided by the competent county government office in accordance with the rules of paragraph (1). The area to be surveyed may, in the case of a more serious infestation in a neighbouring country, be established by the competent county government office within a 20 km radius.”
In Slovakia, if a beekeeper notices the presence of Asian hornets near the apiary, they must protect the hive entrance with electric nets. They should also set selective traps. The State Agency for Nature Protection (ŠOP) has stated this in an information note on the invasive Asian hornet wasp. Beekeepers are also reminded to report the presence of the wasp to the local beekeepers’ association and the State Agency for Nature Conservation.
A new-generation radio telemetry tool developed in joint research between MATE and BME could help to find wasp nests more efficiently. The method involves attaching a miniature transmitter to wasps to guide them to the nest. This technology, which is more advanced than currently available beacons, could significantly improve the efficiency of nest searches and help slow the spread of the invasive species. Using the telemetry equipment made available by MATE’s teams of researchers and volunteer beekeepers in Keszthely, experts are also working closely with international partners.
The forestry authorities are cooperating. The relevant department of the Ministry of Agriculture is also involved.
The following proposals were made during the expert consultation in January 2025:
We would like to take the issue to bilateral expert level for the first time on the agenda of the forestry consultation at the end of January.
Monitoring the spread of the yellow-legged wasp was investigated by the CABI project in Switzerland. The species was first sighted in the Jura canton, along the French-Swiss border. Since then, it has spread further into Switzerland. In 2017, the project team set up a long-term monitoring system in the Jura. Using radio telemetry, the project has successfully located Asian hornet nests. Tiny radio tags were attached to wasps caught in front of beehives. Nest sites that became traced could be destroyed.
In the case of bacterial diseases, a common protocol whereby the Veterinary Authority notifies the neighbouring country of the closure could be a solution. This information obligation could bring practice and then regulation closer together.
A new-generation radio telemetry tool developed in joint research between MATE and BME can help to find wasp nests more efficiently. The method involves attaching a miniature transmitter to wasps to guide them to the nest. This technology, which is more advanced than currently available beacons, could significantly improve the efficiency of nest searches and help slow the spread of the invasive species. Experts are also working closely with international partners to use the telemetry toolset made available by MATE’s Keszthely-based research team and groups of volunteer beekeepers. https://novenytermesztes. It is worth exploring Western European control methods for the Asian hornet. Great attention needs to be paid to prevention, as research suggests that the estimated economic impact of the loss of bee colonies in France could reach €30.8 million per year. The annual cost of an attempt to control the spread of Asian wasps could reach €11.9 million in France, €9.0 million in Italy and €8.6 million in the UK.
Access to forests in case of restrictions, common information
In order to preserve forests and to ensure the peace of mind of those seeking recreation in the forest, certain rules must be known and respected when walking in the forest. These rules sometimes differ even within one: for example, the Hungarian Forest Act does not consider human-powered bicycles to be vehicles, but the Nature Protection Act does. When walking in the forest, it is easy for people to cross the border into the neighbouring country. However, the monolingual signs on forestry restrictions in the neighbouring country do not provide information on possible dangers. Anyone can visit the forest area on foot and at their own risk. The forest manager may restrict free access in certain cases (extreme weather conditions, risk of accidents, etc.). Although in many cases the forest performs public functions, it is not public land.
The barriers to entering the forest can be prioritised from both a forestry and a conservation perspective. While the former are mainly prohibitions on logging, spraying and game management, the latter are characterised by several degrees of protection and specific visiting regimes.
In Hungary, the Forest Act allows forest managers to temporarily restrict and condition access to certain parts of the forest, if the stay endangers life or limb, or endangers or hinders the performance of certain forest management activities. Although the restriction is usually the right of the forest manager, the forest authority may review the justification for the restriction and order the forest manager or the holder of the hunting rights to comply with the law or to lift the restriction it has imposed.
It is forbidden to use the forest as a hiking trail with a horse-drawn vehicle for sport or tourism. No horse-drawn vehicles are allowed on the marked park road. Access on foot to a protected natural area (which may be a national park, a landscape conservation area, a nature reserve or a natural monument) is allowed without a permit. However, to enter a specially protected natural area, except for the marked hiking trails and nature trails, a permit issued by the nature conservation authority, taking into account the expert opinion of the National Park Directorate, is required. Access by vehicle (including cycling) to protected natural areas is subject to authorisation by the nature conservation authority. Exceptions to this rule are designated roads for agricultural and forestry use only, on which it is possible to travel without a permit. The boundaries of protected natural areas are marked by official signs. The absence of a sign does not affect the fact of protection and does not exempt the individual from liability. An interactive map of protected natural areas is available to anyone on the public services module of the Nature Information System.
For the duration of the hunt, the holder may temporarily restrict access to certain parts of the forest with the consent of the forest manager. In the case of a group hunt, the restriction may last from the day before the date notified to the hunting authority for the forest area concerned by the group hunt until the end of the scheduled day of the group hunt. Organizations of the Hungarian Defence Forces may restrict access to forests used for defence purposes after informing the forest manager and the forestry authority. In the interests of the safe operation of military firing ranges and training ranges, the commander responsible for the operation of the firing range and training range may restrict access to the forest and activities in the forest to the extent necessary in the case of forests not used for defence purposes.
At Aggtelek, at the Tornai Karst, hikers sometimes cross the border on a marked hiking trail. The same can happen with a water hike, e.g. on the Ipoly River, which also crosses forests, alternating between Hungarian and Slovakian territory. On the Hungarian side, it is also true that although the designated hiking trail is the recommended one, unfortunately it is often deviated from. Forest managers typically provide information in text form, using pictograms to reduce the risk of misunderstanding (e.g. a road sign indicating a danger, with a man cutting wood inside: clearly a warning of logging). The solution is simpler, harder to wash away, and can be improved on several topics.
In Slovakia, the Forestry Act regulates access to forest land in particular. As about 70% of the forests are protected, the Nature and Landscape Protection Act sets out additional, stricter rules for access to forests. Two ministries are involved, the Ministry of Environment and the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.
For forestry reasons, the authority may impose restrictions, for example in the case of logging or chemical spraying. Although heavy vehicles may be visible during logging operations, signs are posted on connecting roads to inform visitors. For forests with environmental restrictions, there are different levels of protection (level I, II with minimal restrictions, level III and above with restrictions to use designated hiking trails). For example, in the area around Bratislava, nature reserves are protected at level V, but forest visits are allowed or prohibited for certain periods. In the case of national parks, walks may be organised according to visiting regulations. For example, there are some areas where high-mountain tourism in the High Tatras is restricted from 1 November, regulated by the nature conservation authorities.
In the context of cross-border cooperation, it may be useful to display pictograms or generally understandable signs at entry points about general restrictions. In this way it can be clear what visitors can and cannot do. Pictograms are more like tourist signs provided by the environmental authority (no entry, no fires, no cutting of protected plants, etc.). For the time being, no pictograms are used for forestry purposes, general traffic signs are placed on public roads. The forest manager is responsible for placing signs on roads, in cooperation with the police and other authorities. Additional markings apply to nature reserves. Determining what activities can be carried out is also a nature conservation issue, importantly, Natura 2000 designation applies to 45% of forests.
On both the Hungarian and Slovak sides, the authorities are open to cooperation. The first expert consultation confirmed the need to put more emphasis on informing visitors. Bilingual signage can be avoided by placing pictograms that do not require language skills to be interpreted.
The next expert meetings will focus on the involvement of additional authorities (local or nature protection), the assessment of the procedural steps required to develop and approve the necessary pictograms on both sides, and the appropriate development resources for the production of the signs.
Information is also usually provided to visitors in Europe through leaflets and information boards. The Greek-Bulgarian Interreg programme supported the joint forest policy cooperation project FORPRO, which supports the application of joint cross-border policies on natural pest control and biological threats through integrated, innovative forest conservation methods. It aims to better train and equip the competent authorities to implement interventions to conserve, protect and monitor biodiversity and to raise public awareness of issues and policies for the balanced protection of biodiversity.
Establish a system of mutual information between the authorities concerned to compare and learn about restrictions. In the context of informing the authorities, information on animal diseases will be a priority, and it may also be required that the authority sends the planned date of the co-hunt to the authority on the other side.
Preparation of a proposal for a forestry sectoral pictogram scheme, including other sectors (nature conservation, environment).
Pictograms are posted on both sides to help visitors navigate and avoid dangerous situations. In many countries in Europe, hikers are given extensive information online before entering the forest. This includes information on emergencies, how to prevent the spread of diseases affecting forests and animals and plants, etc.
Harmonisation of the EU Regulation on Timber and Timber Products (EUTR – European Union Timber Regulation) and the new EUDR – Regulation on Deforestation-free Products, which amends it
Regulation (EU) No 995/2010 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 October 2010 laying down the obligations of operators who place timber and timber products on the market has been implemented by the two Member States with different rules, for example the Hungarian rules provide for a stricter content of the data to be included in the movement certificate than the Slovakian rules. The different content may pose problems for certification. 70% of wood businesses also find problematic the market impact of illegally traded timber.
The EUTR system is based on the principle of ‘due diligence’, i.e. operators must have access to information on the sources and suppliers of timber and timber products that are to be placed on the internal market for the first time. (Country of harvest, region, concession, commercial name of the product, name of the timber, scientific name where applicable, name and address of the supplier, and name and address of the receiving trader.) The Regulation’s requirements are designed to prevent illegally harvested timber and timber products from being placed on the internal market. However, divergent transposition practices in the Member States impose different administrative burdens on operators, which has a market distorting effect. In addition, the Hungarian authorities treat timber originating in an EU Member State as an import and require an export declaration, which creates an additional administrative burden, as does the obligation to notify, which is not present in the legislation of other Member States.
According to the Hungarian regulation of the EUTR Regulation, any organisation that carries out any of the activities in the timber trade chain in Hungary is obliged to notify the monitoring organisation. Thus, the persons or organisations within the chain can be clearly identified and the “route” of the timber can be fully determined. Forest managers who carry out their activities exclusively on the territory of Hungary are not required to make a separate declaration. In addition, the placing on the internal market of timber and timber products derived from timber and timber products already placed on the internal market will not be considered as placing on the market.
In Hungary, the National Food Chain Safety Office (NÉBIH) is responsible for controlling the timber trade chain. The control of the trade chain authority covers activities related to the prevention of illegal logging, the placing on the market, processing, trade, domestic transport, import and export of timber products. It has the right to access data and records necessary for monitoring the chain of custody and to inspect the operation of monitoring organisations.
Upon registration, registrants are given a technical identification number to ensure that all personal identification data can be accessed by the control body. The registration must be completed before the start of the activity.
In practice, Hungarian traders do not really comply with the EUTR rules. At EU level, EUTR/EUDR legislation is categorised as environmental, and the EU leaves this to the Member States. There was an example of a lawsuit on the Hungarian side, where the Hungarian authority (NÉBIH) imposed a penalty, and then the case was taken to the EU level, but sent back to the national level for decision making. Further disputes and lawsuits are expected if Member States do not solve transposition in a uniform way. The aim would be to harmonise legislation at national level.
Within wood products, there is a special group of forest wood products: wood in cylindrical bark (logs, firewood and chips). These are subject to special rules in Hungary.
On 2 October 2024, the European Commission proposed to the European Parliament and the Council of the European Union to postpone the implementation of the EU Deforestation Free Products Regulation (EUDR). This gives authorities and experts one year to prepare for the implementation of the EUDR. For timber products, it is expected that the current EUTR logic will most likely continue to be implemented. Hungarian-Slovak partners are aware of these problems.
On the Slovak side, a separate agency, the Forest Inspectorate, deals with EUTR/EUDR. A separate law transposes the regulation. In some areas, Slovak legislation is also stricter than EU legislation. With the EUDR, these restrictions may disappear, but there is also the issue of domestic controls, for example, to which the business community reacts very negatively. The law on the implementation of the EUDR was adopted in first reading in the Slovak Parliament. The aim was to minimise any excessive conditions and obligations. Other materials will also be covered, e.g. rubber, soya, wool, cotton. IT developments will help operators to make the transition, with syllabuses available on Youtube.
NÉBIH is the EUTR supervisory authority in Hungary and is responsible for preparing the EUDR legislation. If there is a regulatory proposal for opinion, they will review it, but for the time being they cannot do more than that. In their opinion, EUTR/EUDR is a valid topic, the timber trade is active, the Hungarian-Slovak long border is long. Problem mapping, impact assessment and clarification of trade relations are in their opinion necessary as a first step.
At the first Hungarian-Slovak forestry meeting, experts considered the approximation of regulations an important issue, and both sides will involve the central body responsible for EUTR/EUDR regulation in the next meeting.
Experts say it would be worth studying the practice in Germany and Austria, where less stringent conditions are imposed on operators.
The development of supervision in national legislation in line with simpler regulations.
Obstacle to water recharge of the Bodrogköz through the Felsőbereck canal
The issue of water recharge of the Bodrogköz through the Felsőbereck main canal has been on the agenda of water debates between the two countries for several years, but the problem requires a licensing and regulatory process in both countries and coordination between several sectors. Within a Member State, two sectors are concerned: water and nature protection. Agreement between the sectors is time-consuming, permits are difficult to obtain, and delays in cleaning and dredging the canal raise water management issues.
The dredging of the Felsőbereck main canal will allow the water level in the canal to be kept high by reserving the canal bed for inland water retention. The main canal will allow the storage of water from the Bodrog tidal surge up to 96.00 mBf in the main canal, as well as in the dead pools along the main canal dominated by this level (Kánási lake, the meander around Mókadomb, Folyó brook), and in the Karcsa backwater and the Nagy-Karcsa. Flood storage falls under the category of regional water retention, i.e. not only local water generated locally, but also regional water from other catchments can be used for landscape management, wetland recharge, groundwater recharge, etc.
As a typical low-water country, Hungary is highly vulnerable to water-related impacts. Addressing these quantitative and qualitative issues requires international and regional cooperation. Close cooperation and operational management with neighbouring countries is carried out in the framework of the existing conventions on transboundary waters with all our neighbours, based on long traditions, institutional and personal relations. Technical meetings have been held between the two countries since 1929 on the basis of bilateral water agreements. In addition to the common regulatory and navigational issues of the Danube, all border rivers and watercourses are discussed and prepared by sub-committees. Since 1976, cooperation on water issues has been carried out within the framework of the Boundary Water Committees under an intergovernmental agreement.
On the Hungarian side, water and nature protection fall under a different remit. On the Slovak side, the Ministry of Environment is responsible for both.
On the Hungarian side, the National Water Directorate and the North Hungarian Water Directorate are supporting the consultation process. As there is good cooperation between the two countries at expert level, there is a continuous effort to solve water issues in the framework of the Border Water Committee.
At the beginning of 2024, the Hungarian Water Management Organisation carried out the cleaning of the bed of the Felsőbereck main canal with a Truxor floating machine under the permit No. 9661/2023-6 issued by the Ministry of Environment of the Slovak Republic. The permit was time-limited and valid only during the vegetation-free period from 1 October 2023 to 1 March 2024. It covered only the removal of aquatic vegetation, not the removal of sediment from the canal.
In order to ensure efficient drainage and adequate water replenishment to the Pácini-Karcsa, the cleaning of the pond will be necessary in the future, and the Hungarian Subcommittee has therefore requested the Slovak Subcommittee to extend or reapply for the validity of the permit issued. The Slovak water management organisation has submitted a request to the Slovak Ministry of Environment. A separate permit is required for dredging and would be negotiated at government level, which would require legislative acts for both countries.
Babeca Interreg-IPA CBC Baja-Bezdan canal area complex water management development project “BABECA”: the project was implemented with the aim to improve the cross-border water management system, the flood protection efficiency of the Autonomous Province of Vojvodina and Bács-Kiskun County. The project “Vode Vojvodine” was implemented in cooperation with the Lower Danube Valley Water Management Directorate of Baja and the European Affairs Fund of the Autonomous Province of Vojvodina. The complex development of the regional water management system of the Baja-Bezdan Canal (Ferenc Canal) region covers the Southern Great Plain region in Hungary and Baška and Banat in Serbia. The canal is considered a water management and technical facility of international importance. The canal’s main function is to supply water and drain inland water (it also serves sports and recreational purposes). Sections of the canal, including the technical areas, are part of the flood protection system. Due to lack of maintenance, increased biomass and silt-related water quality problems, the water supply capacity has been significantly reduced.
The target area of the project was the Baja-Bezdan canal (including the Hungarian and Serbian sections of the canal), the Verbas-Bezdan canal on the Serbian side, the Bezdan lock and the Sebesfok lock. The Verbas-Bezdan Canal is located in the Bácska region of Vojvodina and runs from Bezdan to Verbas. The associated facilities are the Bezdan lock and the Sebesfok lock.
The Bezdan lock was not used due to its technical and hydro-mechanical condition. It was considered an important facility along the Danube-Tisza-Danube canal and its operability was essential. The Sebesfok lock is located at the junction of the Baja-Bezdan Canal and the Bezdan-Verbas Canal. The lock used to be an industrial facility for shipping and the only freight transport facility in the area.
The project included the dredging of the canal sections, the construction of platforms for the removal of driftwood and the installation of a boat ramp in Hungary; the reconstruction and rehabilitation of the Bezdan lock and the Sebesfok lock; and the purchase of special equipment for maintenance in Hungary and Serbia.
Ensure the continued cleaning/clogging of the main canal along the lines of the successful expert consultation to date, and the timely convergence of the different permitting regimes.
The project is financially supported by the European Union,
within the framework of the Interreg Hungary – Slovakia Programme.
For more information visit www.skhu.eu.
The project is financially supported by the European Union,
within the framework of the Interreg Hungary – Slovakia Programme.
For more information visit www.skhu.eu.