As part of the Balaton programme, on 17 and 18 October, the University of Reims Champagne-Ardenne, via the URVVC, will host Hungarian researchers (Eger University) for discussions on the virulence of grapevine trunk diseases.

The objective of this programme is to develop outstanding scientific and technological communication between French and Hungarian research laboratories, prioritising new collaborations.
The PHC Balaton project will take place in 2017 and 2018. Over these two years, researchers from both countries will meet twice per year in order to discuss the issue of grapevine trunk diseases. These diseases affect 13% of the French vineyard, and are also strongly evident in Hungary. The aim of these meetings is to transfer knowledge and develop, over the longer term, research collaborations building on the skills of each team. The two main subjects covered will be the impact of these diseases on the physiology of the vine, and the assessment of the aggression of the fungi associated with these diseases. Joint greenhouse and vineyard experiments will be started in the second year of the project.
Balaton is the Franco-Hungarian Hubert Curien Partnership (PHC). It is implemented in Hungary by the National Research, Development and Innovation Office (NKFIH) with regard to natural science projects, and the Ministry of Human Resources (EMMI) for human and social science projects. In France, this is taken on by the Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs (MAEDI), and the Ministry of National Education, Higher Education and Research (MENESR).

The representatives of Eger University, Hungary, involved are Dr Kálmán Váczy (director of the Food and Wine Research Center), Dr Zoltán Karácsony, and Dr Szabina Lengyel.
The persons involved on behalf of URVVC, URCA are: Prof. Fontaine Florence, Prof. Clément Christophe, Dr Mondello Vincenzo, post-grad student Aurélie Songy