Sustainable Water Management in a Changing Climate: Record Success at the 13^th Balkans Joint Conference and Exhibition

The 13^th Balkans Joint Conference and Exhibition, “Sustainable Water Management in a Changing Climate”, organized by SHUKALB and SHUKOS from November 11–13, 2025, in Durres, Albania, marked another major milestone for the regional water sector. This year, the event drew over 500 water professionals from 22 countries, bringing together representatives from water supply and sewerage companies, private enterprises, academic institutions, donors, and public authorities. The conference atmosphere was marked by a positive spirit of collaboration and professional exchange, establishing the event as a key reference point for water sector development across the Balkans.

Prior to the official opening on November 11, several pre-conference activities were organized: the D-LeaP Benchmarking Program Workshop for Kosovo and Albania HUB, the Young Water Professionals Forum, and the Technology Transfer Workshop, all of which were highly attended and provided focused spaces for analysis, knowledge sharing, and capacity building.

The opening ceremony on the evening of November 11 was moderated by Elisabeta Poci, Executive director of SHUKALB, and featured welcome remarks from Petrit Tare, President of SHUKALB, and Arsim Fetahu, President of SHUKOS, who highlighted the importance of regional cooperation in addressing current water sector challenges. Remarks from H.E. Sofjan Jaupaj, Minister of Environment of Albania, and H.E. Karl Bergner, Ambassador of Germany to Albania, emphasized continued support from institutional and international partners. In his capacity as Platinum Sponsor, François Debergh from Veolia also brought a message of support to the professional water community in the region.

A highlight of the conference was the Recognition and Awards Ceremony, which honored professionals for their outstanding contributions to the water sector in Albania and Kosovo. This year, the SHUKALB Board of Directors Award was presented to Mr. Zef Maçi, Director of Lezha Regional Water Supply and Sewerage Company, in recognition of his exceptional contribution to the sector and his steadfast support of SHUKALB. The Lifetime Service Award was presented to Mr. Aleks Andoni, Director of the Wastewater Treatment Plant at Korça Regional Water Supply and Sewerage Company, and Ms. Fatmira Ballgjini, Head of the Audit Unit at Durres Regional Water Supply and Sewerage Company, honoring their long-standing commitment to the sector.

In parallel, SHUKOS recognized its distinguished professionals. The Board of Directors Award went to Ms. Ardiana Efendia – Zhuri from the Swiss Cooperation Office in Kosovo, while the Lifetime Service Award was presented to Mr. Faruk Polloshka, Regional Water Company “Gjakova”, and Mr. Naim Muja, Regional Water Company “Prishtina”.

Following the awards, the Official Opening of the Technical Exhibition welcomed 27 companies from 14 countries, showcasing cutting-edge technologies and solutions, creating rich opportunities for collaboration, partnerships, and sectoral development.

Arbana Kola, Project Manager of SHUKALB opened the Technical Program of the Conference  on November 12  by highlighting the pre-conference activities, presenting the program of the day, and recognizing the sponsor partners of this year’s conference. The conference then continued with a keynote address by a special guest,  Prof. Kala Vairavamoorthy, Executive Director of the International Water Association (IWA), on the subject of “Systems in Transition – Innovating for a Resilient Water Future”.

The day featured two dynamic plenary sessions. The first, “Water Management: Building Resilience in a Changing Climate”, provided crucial insights on the impact of climate change on water utilities and resources. The second, “Water Sector Alignment with EU Directives: From Policies to Implementation”, focused on challenges and opportunities for harmonization with European standards, presenting concrete experiences from Albania, Kosovo, North Macedonia, and international partners.

Multiple parallel sessions followed, covering technical management of water utilities, climate change adaptation, water resources management, institutional and financial approaches, and advanced operations and maintenance practices.

The second day, November 13 was opened by Abdullah Dërguti, Executive Director of SHUKOS, and greeted by remarks of H.E. Catherine Suard, Ambassador of France to Albania, who emphasized the importance

of international cooperation for sectoral resilience. This was followed by the second keynote from Philippe Reymond, Project Manager at the Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology (Eawag), Switzerland, presenting “From Coastal to Environmentally Sensitive and Peri-Urban Areas: Opportunities and Challenges of Decentralized Wastewater Management”.

The third plenary session, dedicated to sanitation and wastewater management, provided in-depth discussions on pathways to sustainability in a sector facing ongoing technical and environmental challenges. Flauers Shoshi, Director General of AKUK, delivered closing remarks before the final technical sessions.

The Technical Exhibition continued throughout the two conference days, offering participants the opportunity to explore innovative solutions, smart devices, sensors, pumps, software, and technologies contributing to the modernization of the water sector.

SHUKALB and SHUKOS would like to express its deep gratitude to the organizations and

companies supporting the event, with special thanks to Veolia, SUEZ International, and Novamat Shpk, whose contributions helped ensure a highly successful and impactful edition.

We are pleased to share the presentations and photos from the two-day conference. Please click the links below to view and download the materials:

• Presentations
• Conference and Exhibition Photos