Hungary, as a member of the EU is engaged to fulfil the requirements of the EU Water Framework Directive. Serbia, being a state heading towards the EU has also a great interest to meet the requirements of the document. To achieve the goals of the directive, catchment management plans need to be implemented, which provide a framework for major water related issues. However, the management of future extremities and hydro-climatic hazards, along with their more and more severe consequences, require an even more integrated approach. Conflicts related to water shortage must be treated in a complex way by resolving the opposing interests of different stakeholders (environmental protection, irrigation, industrial use). The project therefore aims to find integrated water management solutions for the increasing problem of water shortage. Catchments and water related problems are not related to administrative boundaries, thus any measures in this field require a strong cross-border co-operation. The project is generated and planned to be implemented by the most important research centres of the region (SZTE, UNSPMF, UNFTN) in co-operation of the professionals of the Hungarian Water Management Directorate (ATI-VIZIG). The joint efforts of the partners herald the implementation of successfulresearch activities and the initiation of valuable strategies to increase the adaptivity, sustainability and competitiveness of the CB region. The ultimate objectives of theproject are to conduct a complex research to determine the most important water shortage related conflicts, to measure and monitor drought events, to model the short-term and long term changes of water resources at most affected areas, to develop plans and strategies to mitigate problems and finally to activate society and stakeholders for a common action in order to preserve one of the most important resources of our future: water. Achievements: As a member of the European Union, Hungary is devoted to fulfilling the requirements of the EU Water Framework Directive. Serbia, being an EU candidate country, also has an interest in meeting the requirements of this document. To achieve the goals of the directive, catchment management plans, which provide a framework for major water related issues, need to be implemented. However, the management of future weather extremes and hydro-climatic hazards, along with their progressively severe consequences, requires an even more integrated approach. Conflicts related to water shortage must be treated in a complex manner by resolving the interests of different stakeholders (environmental protection, irrigation and industrial use) which, at times, may be convicting interests. The project, therefore, aimed to and succeeded in finding and offering integrated water management solutions for the increasing water shortage problem. Catchments and water related problems know no administrative boundaries, thus any measure in this area requires strong cross-border cooperation. The project was generated, planned and implemented by the most important research centres in the region (universities in Szeged and Novi Sad) in cooperation with professionals from the Hungarian Water Management Directorate. The joint efforts of the partners heralded the implementation of successful research activities and the initiation of valuable strategies designed to increase the adaptability, sustainability and competitiveness of the border region. The project managed to conduct complex research to determine the most important water shortage related conflicts, to measure and monitor drought events, to model the short-term and long-term changes of water resources in the most affected areas, to develop plans and strategies to mitigate problems. Finally, the project partners succeeded in urging and convincing society and stakeholders to act in unison so as to preserve one of the most important resources of our future: water.