From 3 to 5 February 2026, the InnWater consortium met in Szolnok, Hungary, for its Final General Assembly, marking the conclusion of three years of cooperation under the Horizon Europe programme.
Hosted by the Middle Tisza District Water Directorate (KÖTIVIZIG), the meeting brought together partners from across Europe to consolidate results, reflect on lessons learned and discuss the long-term impact of the project’s governance tools.
Consolidating three years of collaborative work
The first day of the General Assembly was dedicated to internal strategic discussions. Rather than simply reviewing deliverables, partners engaged in in-depth exchanges on how the different components of the project interconnect.
Discussions focused on:
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The practical usability of the Water Governance Assessment approach
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The integration of economic modelling tools into real decision-making processes
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The coherence between pilot site experiences and replication activities
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The sustainability of the InnWater Governance Platform beyond the project duration
Several roundtable-style discussions allowed partners to share feedback from pilot sites and replication territories. These exchanges highlighted both the strengths of the integrated approach and the challenges of adapting governance tools to diverse institutional and environmental contexts.
A particular emphasis was placed on ensuring that the project’s outputs remain operational and accessible for water authorities, regulators and policymakers after the formal end of the project.
Engaging with institutions and external experts
The second day expanded the scope of the Assembly through the InnWater Final Event, which brought together regional authorities, European Commission representatives, researchers and invited experts.
The discussions moved beyond technical presentations and focused on policy relevance, governance coordination and the role of economic instruments in addressing water allocation and climate pressures.
Panel exchanges and expert interventions created space for dialogue between researchers and practitioners, particularly on:
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Multi-level governance challenges
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Financial sustainability of water services
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Institutional coordination across sectors
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The role of modelling tools in supporting strategic decisions
👉 For a detailed overview of the programme, speakers and discussions, please consult the dedicated article on the InnWater Final Event : InnWater Final Event | INNWATER
From governance frameworks to field realities
The third day offered a complementary perspective through a study visit in the Middle Tisza basin, organised by KÖTIVIZIG.
Partners were introduced to the operational context of water management in the region, including infrastructure related to water retention and allocation mechanisms. Discussions on-site focused on the concrete implications of climate variability, particularly drought conditions and hydrological fluctuations affecting the basin.
The visit enabled direct exchanges with local water management professionals, allowing consortium members to connect governance assessment methodologies and economic modelling discussions with the day-to-day realities of basin management.
By grounding strategic debates in a real territorial setting, the field visit reinforced one of InnWater’s core principles: governance innovation must remain closely linked to operational constraints and institutional responsibilities at local and basin levels.
A collective closing milestone
The Final General Assembly represented both a conclusion and a moment of reflection. Over three years, InnWater has developed an integrated framework combining governance diagnostics, economic analysis and stakeholder engagement to support more coordinated and resilient water management.
The exchanges in Szolnok demonstrated the value of interdisciplinary collaboration and the importance of continued dialogue between researchers, water authorities and policymakers.
As the project moves into its final reporting phase, the outcomes consolidated during the General Assembly will support the dissemination, replication and long-term application of InnWater’s tools across Europe.