Presentation from 2015 World Water Week in Stockholm www.worldwaterweek.org The authors, all rights reserved SIWI siwi.org
WORLD WATER WEEK Stockholm, 23 th August 2015 Co-operative water governance: catalyst for sustainable development and comprehensive security Water cooperation in South-Eastern Europe and the response to the floods in May 2014 Nataša Milić Acting Director, Water Directorate, Ministry of Agriculture and Environmental Protection Republic of Serbia
River Network Serbia on the Danube: most of the territory (more than 90%) falls within the Danube River Basin. All major rivers (except the Morava) define or cross the state border. The Danube River Basin is shared by 19 states (14 with significant catchment areas). The middle course of the Danube runs through Serbia or along its state border: 588 km or 20.6% of total length. Two major tributaries join the Danube in Serbia: the Tisa (largest in terms of catchment area) and the Sava (most significant in terms of volume). The catchment area of the largest left tributary of the Danube the Tisa is shared by 5 states (Ukraine, Slovakia, Romania, Hungary and Serbia). The lower course of the Tisa, 160 km of 966 km (16.6% of total length), runs through Serbia. The catchment area of the Sava is shared by 6 countries (Slovenia, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Croatia, Montenegro, Serbia and Albania (small catchment area)). The lower course of the Sava, 210 km (or 25.6% of total length), runs through Serbia. The catchment area of the largest right tributary of the Sava the Drina is shared by 4 states (Albania, Montenegro, Bosnia & Herzegovina and Serbia). The Tamiš, the Timok, the Nera, the Karaš, the Nišava and a number of smaller rivers cross or define the state border. 3
BILATERAL Synopsis of International Cooperation Active bilateral cooperation with Hungary and Romania (agreements date back to 1955) new agreements needed. Inactive bilateral cooperation with Bulgaria (agreement dates back to 1958 but no cooperation since 1982) new agreement - negotiation started in 2015. No agreements at present with neighboring internationally-recognized states (Croatia, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Montenegro and Macedonia) following the breakup of the former Yugoslavia, internally shared rivers and groundwater resources acquired transboundary status, which requires the establishment of inter-governmental and international cooperation in the field of water bilateral agreements. Negotiation with Croatia started in 2014. MULTILATERAL Convention on Protection and Sustainable Use of the Danube River (Sofia Convention, 1994) since 2003. Framework Agreement on the Sava River Basin (2002). UN Convention on the Protection and Use of Transboundary Watercourses and International Lakes (Helsinki Water Convention, 1992) since 2010. 4
International Cooperation on the Danube and Sava river basins ICPDR - International Commission for the River Protection of the Danube The Convention established the ICPDR, which acts as a forum for cooperation and dialogue on water related issues and environmental issues dealing with water. The ICPDR has the mandate to ensure conservation, improvement and efficient use of surface water and groundwater; reduce inputs of nutrients and hazardous substances; control floods and ice hazards; and reduce pollution loads to the Black Sea. Since 2000, the ICPDR is the coordinating body for implementing the EU WFD. International Sava River Basin Commission FASRB Framework Agreement on the Sava River Basin as the result of the process of cooperation known as the Sava River Basin Initiative between four riparian countries of the Sava River Basin (parties: Bosnia & Herzegovina, Croatia, Serbia (formerly FR Yugoslavia, Serbia & Montenegro) and Slovenia) - the first development-oriented multilateral agreement in the region signed after geopolitical changes in the 1990s. 5
May 2014 Floods in the Sava River Basin Meteorological situation Preceding conditions - heavy precipitation in the large area of the basin(the precipitation recorded between 14th and 18th May was higher than average sum for that month: in Croatia 1.5-1.8 times, in Republika Srpska (B&H) more than 2 times, and in Serbia more than 3 times). Meteorological forecasts and warnings EUMETNET METEOALARM National flood warning and monitoring Danube EFAS response Key flood events high soil saturation high flow velocities floods, enormous amounts of sediment and numerous landslides activated in the river valleys huge flood waves on the large right tributaries in Bosnia and Herzegovina (Una, Vrbas, Ukrina and Bosna) and Serbia (Kolubara) New historical maxima on mid and lower Sava, as well as on its tributaries (Bosna, Vrbas and Kolubara)
May 2014 Floods in the Sava River Basin flooded area and locations of dike breaches along the Sava River Publication: May 2014 Floods in the Sava River Basin - Brief overview of key events and lessons learned Prepared and published by: ICPDR and ICSRB
Affected areas and Flood interventions Croatia Dike breach near Rajevo Selo, Croatia Flood in Gunja settlement, Croatia In Croatia, 38,000 people were affected by May 2014 flood. In the most critical southern Slavonia region around 15,000 inhabitants were evacuated and 3 casualties were registered. The economic impact of floods in Croatia was estimated at 300 million EUR
Affected areas and Flood interventions Bosnia nad Herzegovina Dike overflow in Prud, B&H Flooded town of Brčko, B&H In Bosnia and Herzegovina floods affected about 1.0 million people in central, north and east areas of the country were 90,000 people were evacuated. The floods caused 25 casualties. In sum, the total economic impact of the disaster is estimated at 2.04 billion EUR, which represents an equivalent of nearly 15% of the B&H GDP.
Affected areas and Flood interventions Bosnia nad Herzegovina Dike breach in Kopanice, B&H Flooded area at the Drina River mouth, on 19th May 2014
Affected areas and Flood interventions Serbia Emergency measures along a low part of the dike upstream of Šabac, Serbia Scenes from Krupanj, Serbia The floods affected 1.6 million people in 38 municipalities mostly located in central and western Serbia. The floods and landslides caused 51 casualties, 23 of which were by drowning. About 32,000 people were evacuated from their homes, out of which 25,000 were from Obrenovac. The total economic impact of the disaster is estimated to 1.53 billion EUR.
Affected areas and Flood interventions Serbia Flooded open pit coal mine Tamnava West Field, Serbia Flood in Obrenovac, Serbia
May 2014 Floods in the Sava River Basin Summary of actions During the May 2014 flood in the Sava River Basin all three affected countries: Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, and Serbia have undertaken various actions to prevent and reduce harmful consequences It is also important to emphasize that solidarity among the affected countries was in place during the whole event. Solidarity was also shown by other neighbouring countries, and international aid mechanisms including numerous institutions and organizations which were activated.
May 2014 Floods in the Sava River Basin Summary of actions ISRBC Two urgent high-level meetings were organized in June 2014: The strategic meeting of the Sava Commission and the Ministerial meeting on regional cooperation in flood protection in the Sava River Basin. The Ministers in charge of water issues and other high representatives of Sava River Basin countries have also supported the additional strengthening of the role of the Sava Commission as a mechanism of coordination of regional cooperation in terms of empowering the Sava Commission to reach binding decisions in the water management sector as well. The ISRBC also actively participated in preparation of donor conference held in November 2014 and took part in its work.
Lessons learned Flood risk management Land Use and Spatial Planning Structural measures Non-structural measures Preparedness and mitigation (rapid disaster response) Climate change Financing aspects
Regional projects: Western Balkans Investment Framework (WBIF) - Improvement of Joint Flood Management Actions in the Sava River Basin to ensure a consistent and coordinated approach to flood risk management in the Sava River Basin. Rеgiоnаl Prоgrаmmе fоr Bоsniа and Herzegovina and Serbiа - Flood recovery Regional IPA Multi-beneficiary programme on floods prevention, prepardness and response IPA FLOODS Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Macedonia, Kosovo*, Montenegro, Serbia and Turky. * under the United Nations Security Council Resolution 1244 (UNSCR 1244) 16
Thank you for your attention! www.rdvode.gov.rs www.minpolj.gov.rs