On the 14th and 15th of October 2025 Life Belini will host a LIFE Platform Meeting “LIFE Strategic Integrated Projects implementing River Basin Management Plans practices (focus on water resilience) in Brussels. The event will becoordinated by CINEA and supported by a dedicated ELMEN team. The Platform Meeting will provide the possibility to discuss challenges you encounter in your project implementation and will enable discussions on the related policy and technical solutions.

The platform event will take place in the Heirman Teirlinck building of the Flanders government on the Tour & Taxis site in Brussels. This venue is approximately a 15 minutes walk from Brussels North railway station and also has a shuttle service from the station. More practical information about the venue and hotel accomodation is available in this booklet.

Day 1 - 14 october 2025 Plenary session

 

08:30 Registration, arrival
09:00 Welcome notes by – CINEA

Welcome notes by EC – Aneta WILLEMS – Head of Department D Natural resources, climate, sustainable blue economy and clean energy
09:20 Keynote Speaker 1
Integration of WFD with other policies: focus on Water Resilience Strategy
Veronica MANFREDI – Director of Zero Pollution, Water Resilience & Green Urban Transition, DG ENV DDG.C 
09:35 Keynote Speaker 2
The importance of River Basin Management Plans in Europe (tbc)
09:50 Keynote Speaker 3

LIFE SIPs as means of implementing WFD & FD

Head of Sector/Project Adviser – CINEA
10:10 Keynote Speaker 4

Introduction of the host LIFE IP project – LIFE15 IPE/BE/000014 LIFE BELINI – Sophie D’hont – head of international cooperation – Lindsay Geerts, project manager
10:30 Morning tea and networking
11:10 Setting the Scene
Thematic presentations by the invited LIFE projects reflecting on challenges: 3 projects

  • Topic A: POLLUTION CONTROL
    LIFE IP CleanEST
  • Topic B: QUANTITATIVE WATER MANAGEMENT
    LIFE IRIS AUSTRIA
  • Topic C: NATURE BASED SOLUTIONS/NATURE RESTORATION
    LIFE IP RICH WATERS
12:00 Questions and answers
12:25 Introducing workshop leaders and group divisions
12:30 Group Photo session
12:45 LUNCH and networking
14:00 Workshop session CHALLENGES (breaking into three groups)

  • Workshop A: POLLUTION CONTROL- CIRCULARITY
  • Workshop B: QUANTITATIVE WATER MANAGEMENT
  • Workshop C: NATURE BASED SOLUTIONS/NATURE RESTORATION
16:00 Reporting from workshop sessions and Open Discussion (Plenary)
17.00 Host presentation of field trip – Technical & organisational aspects
17.15 Networking walking reception
19.00- Free evening with recommended diner possibilities

 

Day 2 - 15 October: Field trip and technical discussions

MORNING FIELD TRIPS
8.15 – 12.00 Site trip RIVERTOURS
9:30 – 12.00 Site trip WALKING TOUR WATER
12:30 Lunch and networking at workshop venue
 

14.00

 Workshop session SOLUTIONS (breaking into three groups)

  • Working group 1: GOVERNANCE
    (enforcement/compliance competencies of different administrations)
  • Working group 2: FINANCES
    (complementary funding strategies, water pricing, finances and investments)
  • Working group 3: DIGITALISATION/ INNOVATION
    (smart water, use of AI, data collection and management)

Lessons to be learnt, way forward: Future perspectives: how to integrate the Water Resilience Strategy further in current RBMP strategies?
=>Enhancing the contribution of LIFE projects: experiences of river restoration works and different Nature-Based Solutions
16.00 Takeway messages and CLOSING ceremony