According to the Bank’s website, the project consists of upgrading of the water supply, sewerage and stormwater management infrastructure in the Municipality of Nyíregyháza.

The project aims at upgrading and expanding the water supply, sanitation, reuse and storm water management infrastructure in order to allow the municipality to cater for the growing demand by new industrial clients as wells its increasing population.

The investments are planned to cater for several needs. The additional water demand generated by new industrial companies settling in the city as well as the resulting population increase within the city and the surrounding settlements require the expansion of the existing water supply and wastewater infrastructure. This includes the expansion of water supply and wastewater networks, as well as construction of a surface water treatment plant, a wastewater treatment plant and a wastewater reuse plant. The latter is to exclusively serve industrial clients. Investments in the stormwater management system will also be undertaken to significantly increase its retention storage capacity.

According to the Environmental and Social Data Sheet, the project is an investment programme made up of multiple components. To date, only the wastewater management component, including the construction of a new wastewater treatment plant, a reuse water treatment plant and a reuse water transmission pipeline, required a full EIA report whose approval decision was granted in August 2024. The EIA procedure was required due to the size of the planned facilities. No Natura 2000 sites were impacted.

The EIA concluded that during both the construction and operational phase, the expected short and long-term negative impacts concerning elements such as air, surface and subsurface waters, soil and waste management, noise and vibrations are not significant and thus were accepted as minor. The EIA decision recommended a range of mitigation measures to be applied. These include but are not limited to preparing relocation plans for areas where protected species may be identified (only 3 minor land parcels may be affected), avoidance of using non-indigenous plants during restoration of areas impacted by the construction, minimising disturbance to water streams during pipe-jacking operations and professional supervision of all plantations work.

According to the screening decision of the competent authority, the construction of the new surface water treatment plant at Paszab (adjacent to river Tisza) and the associated water transmission line to Nyíregyháza, requires an EIA, mainly due to the impact of the planned surface water intake structures on the following nature protected areas, including Natura 2000.

- HUHN20001 Felso-Tisza kiemelt jelentoségu természetmegorzési terulet
- HUHN10008 Felso-Tisza kulonleges madárvédelmi terulet.

Given that the project is located within a water stressed area with a Low-Medium Physical Quantity rating and sensitive sub-surface water resources, it is important that compliance with the Water Framework Directive 2000/60/EC is ensured.

Negative impacts to the environment are assessed only as minor ones. During construction, temporary impacts on the environment such as noise and dust may occur.

Nyírségvíz (Nyíregyháza Waterworks) is the municipal water utility responsible for providing water and wastewater services within Nyíregyháza and surrounding settlements.

No contacts available at the time of disclosure.

ACCESS TO INFORMATION

You can submit an information request for project information at: https://www.eib.org/en/infocentre/registers/request-form/request-form-default.htm

ACCOUNTABILITY MECHANISM OF EIB

The EIB Complaints Mechanism is designed to facilitate and handle complaints against the EIB by individuals, organizations or corporations affected by EIB activities. When exercising the right to lodge a complaint against the EIB, any member of the public has access to a two-tier procedure, one internal - the Complaints Mechanism Office - and one external - the European Ombudsman. A complaint can be lodged via a written communication addressed to the Secretary General of the EIB, via email to the dedicated email address: complaints@eib.org, by completing the online complaint form available at the following address: http://www.eib.org/complaints/form via fax or delivered directly to the EIB Complaints Mechanism Division, any EIB local representation office or any EIB staff. For further details, check: http://www.eib.org/attachments/strategies/complaints_mechanism_policy_en.pdf

When dissatisfied with a complaint to the EIB Complaints Mechanism, citizens can then turn towards the European Ombudsman. A memorandum of Understanding has been signed between the EIB and the European Ombudsman establishes that citizens (even outside of the EU if the Ombudsman finds their complaint justified) can turn towards the Ombudsman on issues related to 'maladministration' by the EIB. Note that before going to the Ombudsman, an attempt must be made to resolve the case by contacting the EIB. In addition, the complaint must be made within two years of the date when the facts on which your complaint is based became known to you. You can write to the Ombudsman in any of the languages of the European Union. Additional details, including filing requirements and complaint forms, are available at: http://www.ombudsman.europa.eu/atyourservice/interactiveguide.faces