On 4-5 March 2026, an international conference “Invasive alien species in the Danube region – invasions of regional importance”, organized within the EU Strategy for the Danube Region (EUSDR), took place in the Hungarian city of Tata.

The conference was part of the activities of the priority area PA6 – Biodiversity, landscape, soil and air protection and focused on strengthening regional cooperation in the field of prevention and management of invasive alien species in accordance with Regulation (EU) No. 1143/2014.

CESCI-Carpathia, represented by Mgr. Patrícia Zolleiová, together with partners from CESCI LP, including Dr. Katalin Fekete, actively participated in the event, which strengthened the cross-border dimension of cooperation. The participation of organizations within the #ACCESS project contributed to the strengthening of the cross-border dialogue between Slovakia and Hungary and to connecting regional actors in the field of biodiversity protection.

The conference created a space for professional dialogue between representatives of ministries, the European Commission, research institutions, conservation organizations and the civil sector. Discussions focused on:

• the current status of the spread of invasive species in the Danube region,
• challenges in protecting biodiverzity;
• identifying effective tools for preventing and controlling invasions;
• the possibility of coordinating policies and actions at regional level.

Special attention was paid to the functioning of the DIAS (Danube Invasive Alien Species) working group and its role in the implementation of the strategic objectives of the EUSDR. The need to strengthen research, data sharing and common practices in the management of invasive species, especially in transboundary territories, was also discussed.

From the point of view of CESCI-Carpathia, participation in the conference represented an important opportunity to establish new partnerships, exchange experiences and identify potential project initiatives in the field of environmental protection and regional development.

At the same time, the conference emphasized that effective solutions require close cooperation between science, public administration and local actors. Within the framework of the Danube Strategy, the continuation of professional dialogue and the development of joint cross-border activities is expected.