On Wednesday, 10 July 2024, a meeting organised by the Embassy of the State of Israel in Croatia was attended by a representative of the Embassy of the State of Israel, Prof. Ram Shpiner, Professor of Water Engineering at Kinneret University, Associate Professor Dr Mario Šiljeg, director of the Josip Juraj Strossmayer Water Institute, Dr Tanja Šikić, Head of Monitoring Sector and Dr Igor Stanković, Head of Sector for Strategic Planning of the Water Institute.

Director Šiljeg presented the Water Institute and its main activities as well as the status of the Croatian water and municipal sector. Professor Shpiner reported on his experience in the water sector and the situation in Israel and expressed his interest in cooperation in various areas, especially in education. The heads of the sectors of the Water Institute presented a proposal for a education system for employees of public water service providers to be implemented by the Water Institute on the basis of the Regulation on Special Conditions for the Provision of Water Services (NN 70/2023). In addition, topics of interest were emphasised, in particular the reduction of losses in the water supply, the management of excess sludge from wastewater treatment plants and individual water supply systems on islands (desalination).

Further meetings were proposed in Israel at the international summit on water technologies WATEC Israel 2024 and in Croatia to further define the scope and content of the cooperation. Professor Shpiner confirmed his participation in the expert conference of the Croatian Water Supply and Drainage Group “CROVIK – Current Issues in Water Supply and Drainage”,” which will take place in Pula from 23 to 27 October 2024.