Carpathian countries advance regional cooperation at 17th CCIC meeting in Vienna

The 17th Meeting of the Carpathian Convention Implementation Committee (CCIC) was held on 7–8 September 2026 at the Vienna International Centre, bringing together National Focal Points, representatives of the Convention’s Working Groups, Observers, scientific and regional partners, and other stakeholders from across the Carpathian region.

Over two days of discussions, participants reviewed progress in the implementation of the Carpathian Convention and decisions adopted at the seventh meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP7), exchanged updates on ongoing regional initiatives, and advanced preparations for the 8th Meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Carpathian Convention (CC COP8), to be held on 1–4 December 2026 in Vienna, Austria.

The meeting addressed the full range of thematic areas covered by the Carpathian Convention, including biodiversity conservation and ecological connectivity, sustainable forest management, agriculture, tourism, transport, water management, climate change, cultural heritage and spatial planning.

Advancing biodiversity conservation and ecological connectivity:

• A key focus was strengthening cooperation on the conservation of large carnivores and ecological connectivity across the Carpathians. Participants discussed the revised International Action Plan on Conservation of Large Carnivores and Ensuring Ecological Connectivity in the Carpathians 2027–2035, as well as the development of a joint strategy for the conservation of the Carpathian lynx population.

The CCIC also reviewed progress on the Carpathian Biodiversity Framework, sustainable forest management, the Carpathian LIFE Strategic Nature Project, and the Carpathian Network of Protected Areas, supporting continued efforts to strengthen biodiversity conservation and ecosystem connectivity across the region.

Supporting implementation in Ukraine:

• The meeting also addressed continued support for the implementation of the Carpathian Convention in Ukraine, in line with the Rzeszow Ministerial Declaration. Discussions highlighted the importance of maintaining regional cooperation and supporting the sustainable development and environmental resilience of the Ukrainian Carpathians.

Strengthening regional and international partnerships:

• The CCIC reviewed cooperation with a broad range of international, regional and scientific partners, including the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), Eurac Research, the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions, the Carpathian Foundation, the Infrastructure and Environment Network (IENE), and other organisations supporting implementation of the Convention.

Particular attention was given to strengthening the science–policy–practice interface, including through cooperation with scientific networks and partners such as the Science for Carpathians Network, Comenius University Bratislava, Špirála and RESDI.

Exploring mechanisms to strengthen implementation:

• A dedicated session considered potential compliance mechanisms under the Carpathian Convention. Participants exchanged views on possible options and approaches for strengthening implementation, accountability and cooperation among the Parties.

The meeting also provided an important opportunity to review the draft decisions for CC COP8 across the Convention’s thematic and institutional areas, including biodiversity, spatial planning, sustainable forests, water, tourism, cultural heritage, climate change and institutional arrangements.

Looking ahead to CC COP8:

The 17th CCIC meeting concluded with agreement on key follow-up actions and priorities in preparation for CC COP8 and the continued implementation of the Carpathian Convention.

The Secretariat of the Carpathian Convention thanks all National Focal Points, Working Group representatives, Observers, partners and participants for their active engagement, expertise and constructive contributions to the discussions.

The continued commitment of the Carpathian countries and their partners remains essential for advancing coordinated action for the protection and sustainable development of the Carpathian region.