In\u00a0simple terms, a family tradition. After graduation, my father joined the\u00a0then Slovak Water Management State Enterprise; it was at the\u00a0time of\u00a0the\u00a0devastating flood on the\u00a0Danube in\u00a01965 (June 12th 1965), when the\u00a0Danube dam in\u00a0Patince broke on 15th June, the\u00a0dam between \u010c\u00ed\u010dov and K\u013e\u00fa\u010dovec on 17th June, and near Koll\u00e1rov on 25th June. During the\u00a0flood, 60,000 inhabitants and 100,000 cattle were evacuated, 3,910 houses were destroyed, another 6,180 houses were damaged, and all water resources on \u017ditn\u00fd ostrov were contaminated.<\/p>\n
This event boosted the\u00a0society awareness of\u00a0the\u00a0necessary comprehensive management of\u00a0the\u00a0area along the\u00a0Danube, not only from the\u00a0flood protection point of\u00a0view, but also ensuring the\u00a0required parameters of\u00a0the\u00a0Danube waterway as an inland waterway of\u00a0international importance on one of\u00a0its most critical sections, Rajka\u2013G\u00f6ny\u0171, and ensuring the\u00a0use of\u00a0the\u00a0Danube\u2019s hydropower potential; and all this with regard to the\u00a0protection of\u00a0water resources and ecosystems of\u00a0the\u00a0Danube delta.<\/p>\n
My father gradually worked his way into positions from which he determined the\u00a0manner and style in\u00a0which the\u00a0laying out of\u00a0the\u00a0waterway, including the\u00a0supply and outlet canal, was carried out for many years, as well as the\u00a0lock chambers of\u00a0the\u00a0Gab\u010d\u00edkovo stage of\u00a0the\u00a0Gab\u010d\u00edkovo-Nagymaros waterworks; and, at the\u00a0end of\u00a0his working career, he put his experience to good use as head of\u00a0the\u00a0Department of\u00a0Waterways and Navigation Safety at the\u00a0State Navigation Administration (today\u2019s Transport Authority).<\/p>\n
Basically, during my entire childhood, as well as a university student, I had the\u00a0opportunity to sail with my father on the\u00a0\u010cajka and Gab\u010d\u00edkovo stake vessels as well as on the\u00a0Tekov and Hont push boats, and also participate in\u00a0activities related to the\u00a0creation of\u00a0maps for staking the\u00a0shipping channel, cooperation in\u00a0the\u00a0creation of\u00a0studies of\u00a0the\u00a0V\u00e1\u017esk\u00e1 waterway and, last but not least, in\u00a0passporting and processing navigation studies of\u00a0the\u00a0Zempl\u00edn waterway. By that time, I had already studied at the\u00a0Faculty of\u00a0Civil Engineering of\u00a0the\u00a0Slovak Technical University in\u00a0Bratislava.<\/p>\n
Moreover, my grandfather spent most of\u00a0his working life on the\u00a0Danube as a\u00a0technician on various vessels, especially the\u00a0group of\u00a0ships consisting of\u00a0excavator Kriv\u00e1\u0148 and elevator Radho\u0161\u0165. An interesting fact: during an air raid by the\u00a0American Air Force, when 158 B-24 Liberator bombers of\u00a0the\u00a015th Air Force attacked the\u00a0Apollo refinery in\u00a0Bratislava on 16th June 1944, the\u00a0Kriv\u00e1\u0148 \u2013 Radho\u0161\u0165 complex was damaged. After the\u00a0repair, it continued to serve until the\u00a0excavator Kriv\u00e1\u0148 sank in\u00a0the\u00a01970s, while two members of\u00a0the\u00a0crew unfortunately did not manage to save themselves.<\/p>\n
All the\u00a0things I mentioned determined and established the\u00a0direction of\u00a0my studies to a large extent, but also shaped and laid the\u00a0foundation of\u00a0my professional focus.<\/p>\n
Where did your path lead you after graduating from the\u00a0Faculty of\u00a0Civil Engineering?<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n After completing my studies in\u00a01997, I continued as a doctoral student at the\u00a0Department of\u00a0Hydraulic Engineering of\u00a0the\u00a0Faculty of\u00a0Civil Engineering of\u00a0the\u00a0Slovak Technical University in\u00a0Bratislava until September 2000. Subsequently, I was employed by the\u00a0Ministry of\u00a0Agriculture and Rural Development of\u00a0the\u00a0Slovak Republic at the\u00a0Water Section, Department of\u00a0Watercourse Management. My job was mainly the\u00a0agenda of\u00a0bilateral cooperation on border waters with neighbouring states, the\u00a0agenda connected with the\u00a0character and course of\u00a0the\u00a0state border on border waters, as well as the\u00a0agenda of\u00a0the\u00a0development of\u00a0inland waterways and navigation. I gradually acquired experience related to the\u00a0creation of\u00a0strategic, planning and conceptual materials, as well as legislative proposals not only from the\u00a0above-mentioned area of competence, but also from other areas, which included, for example, the\u00a0development of\u00a0public water supply systems and public sewers, the\u00a0protection of\u00a0valuable water resources and last but not least technical and safety supervision of\u00a0water structures and flood protection.<\/p>\n With a break, you have worked in\u00a0various managerial positions within\u00a0the\u00a0Ministry of\u00a0Agriculture, or Ministry of\u00a0Environment, for almost twenty years. What was the\u00a0reason for leaving the\u00a0positions in\u00a0which you established yourself so significantly, and what did this change bring you?<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n The\u00a0reason was a change in\u00a0the\u00a0leadership of\u00a0the\u00a0Ministry in\u00a02020, which I think had different ideas about priorities in\u00a0the\u00a0area of sustainable water use and water resource protection, although I never learned the\u00a0specific reasons and did not search for them. I took it as a fact that every management chooses an expert they trust for positions, which, as it turns out, also includes the\u00a0position of\u00a0Director General of\u00a0the\u00a0Directorate of\u00a0Water Policy.<\/p>\n Since I devoted years of\u00a0study and practice to water management, I did not leave the\u00a0department bitter; on the\u00a0contrary, I took advantage of\u00a0the\u00a0opportunity to continue working in\u00a0the\u00a0Directorate of\u00a0Water Policy in\u00a0the\u00a0position of\u00a0clerk, or the\u00a0chief state adviser, often within\u00a0the\u00a0agenda of\u00a0bilateral cooperation on border waters with neighbouring states, as well as the\u00a0agenda associated with the\u00a0development of\u00a0inland waterways and navigation and, last but not least, the\u00a0agenda related to the\u00a0methodical guidance, management, and check of\u00a0state-owned enterprises founded by the\u00a0Ministry of\u00a0Environment of\u00a0the\u00a0Slovak Republic.<\/p>\n In\u00a0addition, from the\u00a0position as chairman of\u00a0the\u00a0Slovak Navigation Congress (Slovensk\u00fd plavebn\u00fd kongres), I ensured cooperation with the\u00a0Czech Navigation and Waterways Association, (\u010cesk\u00e9 plavebn\u00ed a vodocestn\u00ed sdru\u017een\u00ed, z. s.), which culminated in\u00a0the\u00a0preparation and holding of\u00a0a regular conference with international participation \u2013 31st Navigation Days (Plavebn\u00e9 dni) 2023.<\/p>\n In\u00a0addition to the\u00a0negatives, the\u00a0change also brought me some positives, such as more time for myself and my family. For example, in\u00a0a year and a half, I managed to reduce my weight from 113 kg to 89 kg, which at that time ultimately brought me an improvement in\u00a0my health and especially my fitness.<\/p>\n You worked in\u00a0the\u00a0position of\u00a0Director General of\u00a0the\u00a0Directorate of\u00a0Water Policy of\u00a0the\u00a0Ministry of\u00a0Environment of\u00a0the\u00a0Slovak Republic before. Were you able to follow up on your previous work?<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n In\u00a0essence, I followed up on my previous activities, as the\u00a0priorities and goals of\u00a0water management remain\u00a0unchanged in\u00a0principle and are set for six-year planning cycles; however, it is possible to discuss the\u00a0prioritization of\u00a0individual measures, considering available financial resources and human resources for their implementation.<\/p>\n However, at the\u00a0time of\u00a0the\u00a0inevitable consolidation of\u00a0funds, it seems necessary to correctly set the\u00a0just-mentioned prioritization of\u00a0implementing the\u00a0individual measures and also to motivate the\u00a0team, which, compared to the\u00a0times of\u00a0the\u00a0previous government, was reduced by six employees. When we realize the\u00a0content and scope of\u00a0the\u00a0tasks of\u00a0water management and protection of\u00a0water resources in\u00a0the\u00a0Slovak Republic, 26 employees in\u00a0reality and 28 officially may appear to be sufficient; however, we must remember that we are not only talking about ensuring activities under the\u00a0responsibility of\u00a0the\u00a0central body of\u00a0the\u00a0state administration in\u00a0the\u00a0field of\u00a0water, but also management, methodical guidance, and check of\u00a0ministry institutes of\u00a0the\u00a0Slovak Hydrometeorological Institute, Slovak Water Research Institute, but also departmental state enterprises, such as Slovensk\u00fd vodohospod\u00e1rsky podnik, \u0161. p., and Vodohospod\u00e1rska v\u00fdstavba, \u0161. p.<\/p>\n Last but not least, we are \u201cdependent\u201d on cooperation with other ministries; in\u00a0particular, the\u00a0Ministry of\u00a0Transport and Construction of\u00a0the\u00a0Slovak Republic in\u00a0matters of\u00a0development and modernization of\u00a0waterways and inland navigation, the\u00a0Ministry of\u00a0Economy of\u00a0the\u00a0Slovak Republic in\u00a0matters of\u00a0water energy use as a renewable source from hydro power stations, including small ones up to 10 MW, the\u00a0Ministry of\u00a0Agriculture and Rural Development of\u00a0the\u00a0Slovak Republic in\u00a0matters of\u00a0hydromelioration, the\u00a0Ministry of\u00a0Health in\u00a0matters of\u00a0public health, water suitable for bathing, and also the\u00a0Ministry of\u00a0the\u00a0Interior in\u00a0matters of\u00a0flood protection and crisis management, as well as in\u00a0matters of\u00a0character and the\u00a0course of\u00a0the\u00a0state border on watercourses etc.<\/p>\n What are the\u00a0current priorities of\u00a0the\u00a0Slovak Republic regarding water protection?<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n The\u00a0Slovak Republic fulfils its obligations in\u00a0the\u00a0sustainable use of\u00a0water and in\u00a0the\u00a0protection of\u00a0valuable water resources at the\u00a0national level, as they result from its membership in\u00a0the\u00a0European Union, as well as to other Member States.<\/p>\n In\u00a0addition, it ensures cooperation and coordination of\u00a0individual activities at the\u00a0bilateral and multilateral level. The\u00a0priorities of\u00a0the\u00a0Slovak Republic are directly connected to the\u00a0mentioned national, bilateral, and multilateral obligations and I am directly or indirectly responsible for their fulfilment.<\/p>\n Among the\u00a0main\u00a0priorities of\u00a0the\u00a0Slovak Republic are obligations related to the\u00a0achievement of\u00a0good water status, both groundwater and surface water bodies. For this, it is necessary to have responsibly managed transposition of\u00a0the\u00a0relevant directives, in\u00a0particular the\u00a0Water Framework Directive, the\u00a0Flood Directive, the\u00a0Directive on the\u00a0Treatment of\u00a0Municipal Waste Water, the\u00a0Directive on the\u00a0Protection of\u00a0Water from Nitrate Pollution from Agricultural Sources, the\u00a0Directive on the\u00a0Protection of\u00a0Groundwater from Pollution and Quality Deterioration, the\u00a0Directive on the\u00a0Management of\u00a0the\u00a0Quality of\u00a0Water Intended for Bathing, the\u00a0Directive on Environmental Quality Standards in\u00a0the\u00a0Field of\u00a0Water Policy and, last but not least, the\u00a0Directive on the\u00a0Quality of\u00a0Water Intended for Human Consumption.<\/p>\n Responsibly managed transposition of\u00a0the\u00a0aforementioned directives into the\u00a0national legislation of\u00a0the\u00a0Slovak Republic, in\u00a0particular the\u00a0Water Act, Act\u00a0on Public Drinking Water Systems and Public Sewerage Systems, the\u00a0Flood Protection Act and others, as well as their implementing regulations, provides space for the\u00a0implementation of\u00a0measures necessary to achieve individual goals to correspond to the\u00a0mentioned priorities. Individual measures are proposed separately for surface water and groundwater bodies, both in\u00a0terms of\u00a0their quantity and quality.<\/p>\n Basic measures include not only legislative ones, but also measures related to the\u00a0optimization of\u00a0financial and human resources and, last but not least, technical and ecological measures. I would emphasize water monitoring as one of\u00a0the\u00a0basic measures, the\u00a0results of\u00a0which are an essential basis for determining individual basic and additional technical measures. This is related to setting of\u00a0models and funding sources (from the\u00a0state budget or European Union funds, or any other sources) on which, among other things, the\u00a0quantity and quality of\u00a0human resources depend not only for science and research, but also for planning, projecting, implementation, or the\u00a0operation of\u00a0individual measures.<\/p>\n Basic and additional measures in\u00a0the\u00a0Slovak Republic are summarized in\u00a0the\u00a0Programme of\u00a0Measures, which forms an annex to the\u00a0Water Plan of\u00a0the\u00a0Slovak Republic. It is being developed for a period of\u00a0six years; its third update for 2022\u20132027 is currently available and consists of\u00a0the\u00a0Danube Basin\u00a0Management Plan and the\u00a0Vistula Basin\u00a0Management Plan. In\u00a0addition to the\u00a0Water Plan, the\u00a0measures are also found in\u00a0other strategic, planning, and conceptual documents and their updates; in\u00a0the\u00a0Slovak Republic, for example, in\u00a0Flood Risk Management Plans in\u00a0Sub-Basins of\u00a0the\u00a0Slovak Republic, in\u00a0Plan for the\u00a0Development of\u00a0Public Water Supply and Sewerage Systems for the\u00a0Slovak Republic, but also in\u00a0Concept of\u00a0Water Policy until 2030 with an Outlook to 2050, or in\u00a0the\u00a0Action Plan for Dealing with the\u00a0Consequences of\u00a0Drought and Lack of\u00a0Water \u2013 H2ODNOTA JE VODA (Water is the\u00a0Value).<\/p>\n So, in\u00a0conclusion, I will summarize that the\u00a0priorities of\u00a0the\u00a0Slovak Republic, in\u00a0addition to protecting the\u00a0quality of\u00a0water resources and ensuring biodiversity through the\u00a0protection of\u00a0habitats and ecosystems, are currently mainly focused on ensuring the\u00a0supply of\u00a0drinking water to the\u00a0population, the\u00a0drainage of\u00a0agglomerations, but also on ensuring the\u00a0protection of\u00a0the\u00a0population against floods, as well as on providing sufficient water according to priorities for its individual users continuously and especially during the\u00a0dry season (water for drinking purposes, water for agriculture, water for industry, cooling water for nuclear power plants, water for the\u00a0use of\u00a0hydropower potential, water for navigation, water for recreational purposes, water for fish breeding, etc.).<\/p>\n This year, the\u00a0Slovak Republic chairs the\u00a0largest commission focused on the\u00a0protection of\u00a0watercourses, the\u00a0International Commission for the\u00a0Protection of\u00a0the\u00a0Danube. You yourself hold the\u00a0position of\u00a0its President. With what goals did you enter this position?<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n Yes, it is true that the\u00a0Slovak Republic has the\u00a0honour of\u00a0chairing the\u00a0International Commission for the\u00a0Protection of\u00a0Danube Waters (ICPDR) in\u00a02024. This year is special because we celebrated the\u00a030th anniversary of\u00a0the\u00a0Convention on Cooperation in\u00a0the\u00a0Protection and Sustainable Use of\u00a0the\u00a0Danube River, which was signed on 29th June 1994 in\u00a0Sofia and, at the\u00a0same time, the\u00a020th anniversary of\u00a0the\u00a0establishment of\u00a029th June as Danube Day.<\/p>\n I am personally honoured that in\u00a0the\u00a0year of\u00a0my 50th birthday I can represent the\u00a0Slovak Republic during the\u00a0presidency of\u00a0the\u00a0ICPDR as its president.<\/p>\n (Editor\u2019s note: you can read more about the\u00a0goals of\u00a0the\u00a0Slovak Republic in\u00a0the\u00a0ICPDR in\u00a0a separate article about the\u00a0presidency of\u00a0the\u00a0Slovak Republic in\u00a0the\u00a0ICPDR after this interview.<\/em>)<\/p>\n You also hold other important positions. You are, for example, the government representative for water management issues on border waters\u00a0with neighbouring states. What current issues are on the\u00a0agenda with the\u00a0Czech Republic?<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n It has been the\u00a0floods during September 2024, which mainly affected Central Europe and, in\u00a0addition to the\u00a0Slovak Republic, affected the\u00a0Czech Republic in\u00a0an incomparably more destructive form, as well as Poland and Lower Austria.<\/p>\n As part of\u00a0the\u00a0flood in\u00a0question, there was a regular exchange of\u00a0information and coordination of\u00a0the\u00a0implementation of\u00a0necessary measures, or securing and rescue work, especially on the\u00a0joint section of\u00a0the\u00a0Morava river along the\u00a0Slovak-Czech border. The\u00a0cooperation was carried out through the\u00a0Slovak-Czech Border Water Commission and the\u00a0technical issues working group established by it, as well as through communication between the\u00a0Morava managers and the\u00a0hydrometeorological institutes on both sides in\u00a0accordance with the\u00a0intergovernmental agreement on cooperation on border waters, i.e. Directive on the\u00a0warning and notification service on border waters. The\u00a0situation will be evaluated and recorded in\u00a0the\u00a0Protocol from the\u00a0next, 25th meeting of\u00a0the\u00a0Slovak-Czech Border Water Commission, which will take place in\u00a02025 in\u00a0the\u00a0Czech Republic. The\u00a0knowledge gained will be used in\u00a0the\u00a0possible optimization of\u00a0cooperation in\u00a0the\u00a0mentioned area.<\/p>\n In\u00a0the\u00a0long term, we are trying to cooperate, or to provide relevant documents to the\u00a0ministries of\u00a0finance on both sides, in\u00a0order to settle the\u00a0property of\u00a0the\u00a0managers of\u00a0border watercourses important from the\u00a0water management point of\u00a0view. The\u00a0question of\u00a0the\u00a0fixed or movable state border on border waters also remains open.<\/p>\n In\u00a0conclusion, I must mention the\u00a0continuous exchange of\u00a0information and data in\u00a0the\u00a0field of\u00a0hydrology and water quality protection, but also the\u00a0implementation of\u00a0individual technical measures related to the\u00a0development of\u00a0waterways and navigation.<\/p>\n Cooperation with other countries is also interesting. Thanks to your long-term involvement in\u00a0border waters, can you compare the\u00a0specifics of\u00a0these negotiations?<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n The\u00a0fundamental difference in\u00a0the\u00a0negotiations of\u00a0individual Commissions for Border Waters with neighbouring states compared to the\u00a0Slovak-Czech Border Water Commission, but also in\u00a0the\u00a0negotiations of\u00a0individual working groups established within\u00a0the\u00a0said commission, is the\u00a0fact that we still do not need an interpreter, which accelerates the\u00a0negotiations and brings a different atmosphere to them.\u00a0 With this statement, I would close the\u00a0question for the\u00a0time being, as the\u00a0details and specifics of\u00a0the\u00a0negotiations of\u00a0the\u00a0Border Water Commission with individual neighbouring states would require a separate interview. -:)<\/p>\n Tell the\u00a0readers about your visions, your plans or a specific project that you would like to implement.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n Of\u00a0course, each of\u00a0us has some \u201csecret dreams\u201d. I must say that I envy the\u00a0generations that established\u00a0 and built things and whose results still serve us today. Therefore, I would be happy if I could be part of\u00a0a team that can manage and ensure the\u00a0construction of\u00a0either single-purpose or multi-purpose water structures for the\u00a0society, which will provide prosperity for the\u00a0entire society and ensure sufficient water that can be used in\u00a0the\u00a0dry season, and at the\u00a0same time ensure the\u00a0protection of\u00a0life and property of\u00a0citizens during floods. However, considering the\u00a0current situation in\u00a0the\u00a0society, this is more of\u00a0a long-term plan.<\/p>\n From a medium-term point of\u00a0view, I consider it necessary to contribute with correct proposals and information for the\u00a0Ministry to the\u00a0financial and personnel stabilization of\u00a0state enterprises, which ensure the\u00a0management of\u00a0watercourses and water structures owned by the\u00a0state.<\/p>\n Finally, I will mention short-term \u201cprojects\u201d, or visions, and these are, on the one hand, the necessity of stabilizing and rejuvenating the Directorate of Water Policy\u00a0team, as in\u00a0the\u00a0previous period, several job positions were scrapped, while several employees are in\u00a0pre-retirement and retirement age. I believe that, in\u00a0cooperation with my colleagues, I will also succeed in\u00a0the\u00a0update of\u00a0the\u00a0Water Policy Concept of\u00a0the\u00a0Slovak Republic until 2030, with an outlook to 2050, so that the\u00a0measures that were included by political decision and without relevant assessment are removed from it. Among other things, this would also open up space for the\u00a0implementation of\u00a0the\u00a0aforementioned long-term \u201cproject\u201d, or vision.<\/p>\n In\u00a0conclusion, I would like to make a wish for society to return to pragmatism in\u00a0decision-making and suppress ecological extremism insulting water managers, respectively civil engineers as representatives of\u00a0the\u00a0\u201cconcrete lobby\u201d and so on.<\/p>\n It is no secret that you have a son. Will he follow in\u00a0his father\u2019s footsteps?<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n As they say, \u201cnever say never\u201d, but considering the\u00a0above and the\u00a0current situation, I dare say that \u201cthe\u00a0apple does not fall far from the\u00a0tree\u201d will not apply in\u00a0this case. My son will finish his studies at the\u00a0eight-year secondary school this school year, and there is no indication yet that he will pursue after graduation the\u00a0field of\u00a0water management, which of\u00a0course I will not begrudge him in\u00a0any way.<\/p>\n Anyway, I will cheer him on and support him in\u00a0his further progress, regardless of\u00a0the\u00a0field he chooses; after all, no one forced me to study the\u00a0chosen field either.<\/p>\n Director General, thank you very much for your time for our interview.<\/em><\/p>\n \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Ing. Josef Nistler<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ing. Vladim\u00edr Nov\u00e1k was born on 31 May 1974 in\u00a0Bratislava. He studied hydraulic engineering at the\u00a0Faculty of\u00a0Civil Engineering of\u00a0the\u00a0Slovak Technical University in\u00a0Bratislava. He is an expert in\u00a0water management. On the\u00a0basis of\u00a0a government resolution, he was appointed to the\u00a0position of\u00a0representative of\u00a0the\u00a0Slovak government for cooperation on border waters with neighbouring states (the\u00a0Czech Republic, Ukraine, Hungary, and Austria) and to the\u00a0position of\u00a0chairman of\u00a0the\u00a0Slovak part of\u00a0the\u00a0Slovak-Polish Border Water Commission. He was first director of\u00a0the\u00a0Waterborne Transport Development Agency (from 2011). As a member of\u00a0the\u00a0Slovak government delegation, he also participated and participates in\u00a0the\u00a0negotiations with the\u00a0Hungary government delegation, the\u00a0goal of\u00a0which is to end the\u00a0long- This year, the Slovak Republic is chairing the largest commission focused on the protection of watercourses, the International Commis-sion for the Protection of the Danube River (ICPDR). Therefore, we interviewed its president for the Year 2024, Ing. Vladim\u00edr Nov\u00e1k, who is also the General Director of the Directorate of Water Policy at the Slovak Ministry of Environment.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":34280,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[2,93],"tags":[3672,120,3169,122,3004],"coauthors":[1742],"class_list":["post-34193","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-from-the-world-of-water-management","category-two-articles","tag-directorate-of-water-policy-at-the-slovak-ministry-of-environment","tag-interview","tag-ministry-of-the-environment","tag-protection-of-water-resources","tag-slovak-republik"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vtei.cz\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/34193","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vtei.cz\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vtei.cz\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vtei.cz\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/8"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vtei.cz\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=34193"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/www.vtei.cz\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/34193\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":34198,"href":"https:\/\/www.vtei.cz\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/34193\/revisions\/34198"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vtei.cz\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/34280"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vtei.cz\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=34193"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vtei.cz\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=34193"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vtei.cz\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=34193"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vtei.cz\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=34193"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.vtei.cz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/rozhovor-obr-1.jpg\")
<\/a>\nBojan Vranjkovi\u010d (Serbian ICPDR President for 2023) and Vladim\u00edr Nov\u00e1k (Slovak ICPDR President for 2024)\u00a0 during the handing over and taking over of the ICPDR presidency at the Embassy of the Republic of\u00a0Serbia in Vienna in January 2024<\/h6>\n
<\/a>Ing. Vladim\u00edr Nov\u00e1k<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n
\n-term discussions to find a definitive joint solution to the\u00a0open questions related to the\u00a0System of\u00a0Water Works named Gab\u010d\u00edkovo-Nagymaros. His work is also connected with the\u00a0representation of\u00a0Slovakia in\u00a0multilateral platforms, such as informal meetings of\u00a0the\u00a0Water and Marine Directors of\u00a0the\u00a0European Union and activities in\u00a0the\u00a0Priority Area 4 (PA4) \u201cMaintain\u00a0and Restore the\u00a0Quality of\u00a0Waters\u201d\u00a0of\u00a0the\u00a0European Strategy for the\u00a0Danube Region (EUSDR). He is currently Director General of\u00a0the\u00a0Directorate of\u00a0Water Policy of\u00a0the\u00a0Ministry of\u00a0Environment of\u00a0the\u00a0Slovak Republic, International Commission for the\u00a0Protection of\u00a0the\u00a0Danube River (ICPDR) President for\u00a02024, a water management expert in\u00a0the\u00a0permanent border commissions for issues of\u00a0the\u00a0character and laying out of\u00a0the\u00a0state border and, last but not least, the\u00a0long-term chairman of\u00a0the\u00a0Slovak Navigation Congress.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"