The fifth workshop of the ERA-MIN_RO-SRB project – “Environmental Risk Assessment from Mining Activities in the Serbia–Romania Cross-Border Region” – was held in Belgrade on 31 August 2026, organised by the Mining and Metallurgy Institute Bor.
The workshop brought together members of the project teams from the Mining and Metallurgy Institute Bor and Politehnica University Timișoara, as well as professors from the Faculty of Mining and Geology, University of Belgrade. Following one year of systematic monitoring and laboratory analyses, the meeting in Belgrade provided an opportunity to jointly review the results obtained on both sides of the border, exchange experiences, and define activities important for the final phase of the project.
One Year of Monitoring – From Individual Results to a Joint Assessment
The central technical part of the workshop was dedicated to the results of one year of environmental monitoring in the Serbia–Romania cross-border area. Research results from the Romanian side were presented through the Moldova Nouă case study, together with the results of monitoring and laboratory analyses carried out in Serbia.
Four seasonal monitoring cycles provided insight into changes in environmental parameters under different hydrological and meteorological conditions. Of particular importance is the possibility of comparing and integrating data collected on both sides of the border, thereby creating a common basis for environmental risk assessment.
The results obtained so far indicate significant changes in river water quality in the Bor area compared with historical conditions, including reductions in iron, arsenic, and copper concentrations following the introduction of mine wastewater treatment. At the same time, the research confirms that the impacts of long-term mining activities have not been completely eliminated and that continuous monitoring remains essential.
Particular attention during the workshop was also given to the future development of mining activities in the Bor–Majdanpek region. Increasing copper and gold production further highlights the importance of responsible management of mining waste and water resources, environmental rehabilitation, and continuous monitoring of impacts on the environment and local communities.
Cooperation Beyond the Technical Programme
The fifth workshop was not only an opportunity to present results. Discussions enabled the Serbian and Romanian partners to compare experiences gained through fieldwork and laboratory analyses and to coordinate their approach to the activities planned for the final phase of the project.
The exchange of data, experience, and technical expertise represents one of the key values of the ERA-MIN_RO-SRB project. Environmental processes and the impacts of mining activities do not stop at national borders, and understanding them therefore requires a joint approach by experts and institutions from both sides of the border.
Following the technical programme, members of the project teams continued their time together with a tour of Belgrade. The Romanian guests, accompanied by their Serbian colleagues, visited Belgrade Fortress and Kalemegdan, as well as the Church of Saint Sava, discovering part of Belgrade’s historical and cultural heritage.
This part of the programme also had a broader significance. Cross-border cooperation is built not only on project tasks, analyses, and results, but also on direct communication, mutual understanding, and the trust that develops between people and institutions through working together.
Together Towards the Final Phase of the Project
Following one year of monitoring, the ERA-MIN_RO-SRB project is entering its final implementation phase. The partners will now focus on integrating the results, completing the final interpretation of the collected data, and defining conclusions that should contribute to improved monitoring, timely identification of environmental changes, and more responsible management of environmental risks in mining areas.
The fifth workshop in Belgrade once again demonstrated that one of the lasting values of the project lies in connecting professional expertise, institutions, and people on both sides of the border.
