Seven SG members (including PACs) were present, representing Bavaria (BY), Croatia (HR), Hungary (HU), Austria (AT) and Slovenia (SI), Czech Republic (CZ), Romania (RO). Observers of the SG present at the meeting were Danubeparks, Danube Sturgeon Task Force, Danube Region Invasive Alien Species Task Force, Soil Strategy Network in the Danube Region (SONDAR), WWF (AT), and representative of the Secretariat of the Carpathian Convention.

During the first day of the meeting, Task Forces presented their work and experience, lessons learned, achievements in 2017 and perspectives for 2018. The second day of the meeting was reserved for the discussion on the Carpathian convention goals, activities and need for collaboration in the region. Also Memorandum of Cooperation between the Carpathian Convention and the European Union Strategy for Danube Region – Priority Area 06 “To preserve biodiversity, landscapes and the quality of air and soils” was endorsed. The final topic of the day was PA 06 work plan for 2018. Accordingly, most relevant topics for next year’s period with the future outlook were identified.