DRAVA LIFE Wins 3rd Place in the Competition for the Best EU Project in Croatia

The DRAVA LIFE project – Integrated River Management – won 3rd place in this year’s competition for the Best County EU Project in Croatia, in the category Contribution to Cross-Border Cooperation.

The award was presented at the official ceremony for Best City and Best EU Project, organised in cooperation with Jutarnji list and the Croatian County Association. Koprivnica-Križevci County was recognised for its outstanding contribution to cross-border cooperation through the implementation of the DRAVA LIFE project.

The ceremony took place on 3 December 2025 in Šibenik, attended by the Prime Minister, representatives of ministries, members of Parliament, counties, cities, municipalities, institutions, and other distinguished guests.

This recognition confirms years of dedicated work on the restoration of the Drava River, the strengthening of cross-border cooperation, and the connection of institutions across the three counties covered by the project: Varaždin County, Koprivnica-Križevci County, and Virovitica-Podravina County.

Foto Hrvatske vode

On behalf of the DRAVA LIFE team, the award was received by representatives of Croatian Waters – Water Management Department for the Mura and Upper Drava in Varaždin, the project’s lead partner and coordinating institution.

Other project partners include the Association for Nature and Environmental Protection Zeleni Osijek, public institutions managing protected natural areas in Koprivnica-Križevci, Virovitica-Podravina and Varaždin counties, and WWF Austria.