The workshop, the second of a series of sub-regional workshops organized under the framework of the Protocol, aimed to share experience on the implementation of the UNECE/WHO-EURO Protocol on Water and Health between countries in Central Europe. The workshop was held on 8-9 May 2012, back-to-back with the Protocol’s Task Force on Target Setting and Reporting, 10-11 May 2012.

The workshop was organized by the Ministry of Environment and the Ministry of Health of the Slovak Republic, together with the International Water Assessment Centre (IWAC) hosted by the Slovak Hydrometeorological Institute, and the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE). The workshop was held in the framework of the programme of work of the UNECE / WHO-Europe Protocol on Water and Health.

The overall goal of the workshop was to:

• Facilitate exchange of countries’ experiences on water and health related issues, notably on the regulatory, institutional and technical aspects connected with the implementation of the Protocol on Water and Health
• Discuss emerging problems, implemented solutions and remaining challenges, and on how the Protocol helps to address these problems.

The workshop was targeted to decision-makers and experts from the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia, representing the environment, water management and health sectors, in order to exchange experience and discuss challenges related to a coordinated approach to water, environment and health related issues and the implementation of the Protocol on Water and Health. International and national non-governmental organizations working on water and health related issues were also invited to attend the workshop.