Danube River Basin a source for transboundary cooperation Exploring the Results and Potential for Transboundary Water Management Cooperation Philip Weller ICPDR, Executive Secretary Joint Meeting EUWI s EECCA WG 12-13 May 2008 Bucharest
Structure Danube River as a Source for Cooperation Results of the WFD Danube Analysis Cooperation and partnerships Other initiatives A way forward: Danube and other international river basins
~9% Europe 81 M inhabitants 19 Countries Most international River Basin in the World
Danube River Protection Convention The legal frame for co-operation to assure protection of water and ecological resources and their sustainable use in the Danube River Basin. signed: 29 June 1994, Sofia entered into force: 22 October 1998
Danube River Protection Convention: Objectives Ensure conservation and the rational use of surface waters and ground water Control discharge of waste waters, inputs of nutrients and hazardous substances from point and diffuse sources Control floods and ice hazards Reduce pollution loads of the Black Sea from sources in the Danube catchment area
International Commission for the Protection of the Danube River International Commission responsible for the implementation of the DRPC. since: 1 October 1999
Structure of the Cooperation: ICPDR Delegations of the Contracting Parties ICPDR Secretariat River Basin Management Expert Group Pressures and Measures Expert Group Monitoring and Assessment Expert Group Flood Protection Expert Group Supported by: Ad hoc Info and GIS Expert Group Ad hoc Public Participation Expert Group Ad hoc Strategic Expert Group
Contracting Parties Germany Austria Czech Republic Slovakia Hungary Slovenia Croatia Bosnia & Herzegovina Rep. of Serbia Romania Bulgaria Rep. of Moldova Ukraine European Union Montenegro (under ratification)
Economic Disparities GDP per capita (PPP) in $, 2006 40000 35000 30000 25000 20000 15000 10000 5000 0 GE AT CZ SK HU SI HR BA RS ME BG RO MD UA
Observers to the ICPDR Black Sea Commission Die Donau Tourism Commission Navigation Commission Friends of Nature Europ. Angling Ass. GWP CEE UNESCO - IHP REC VGB Power Tech
Structure Danube River as a Source for Cooperation Results of the WFD Danube Analysis Cooperation and partnerships Other initiatives A way forward: Danube and other international river basins
Danube River Basin Analysis Report WFD Article V Roof Report Approved at the Ministerial Meeting Vienna, 13 December 2004
WFD Implementation Key challenges accounting for 60% of the EU territory 110 river basin districts in Europe, of which the Danube has the largest surface area and is the most international Implementation of WFD has highest priority for the ICPDR ICPDR is platform for coordination Contracting Parties will make all efforts to achieve a coordinated river basin management plan Dealing with the context the diversity of circumstances
Coordination Mechanism Bilateral agreements R O MK Cooperation B G M D A L RS U A D E AT ICPDR B A C H SI IT C Z SK H U H R Cooperation at sub-basin level: e.g. Sava, Tisza Cooperation PL
WFD Implementation timetable 2003 - Transposition into national legislation 2003 - Identification of River Basin District 2004 - Analysis of pressures, impacts, use 2006 - Monitoring programmes operational 2006 - Start consultation with public 2008 - Stakeholder Consultation Process (navigation, hydropower, agriculture) 2009 - JPM and River Basin Management Plan 2010 - Pricing policies 2012 - Joint Program of Measures operational 2015 - Environmental objectives
Significant Water Management Issues Organic Pollution Nutrient Pollution Hazardous Substances Pollution Hydromorphological Alterations
Joint Programme of Measures (JPM) Addresses all pressures (pollution & hydromorphology) Achievement of environmental objective: good ecological/chemical status Development of Joint Programme of Measures (JPM) Largely based on national measures Basin-wide measures Long-term visions
JDS 2
JDS 2 Fleet Piscius Szechenyi Argus
Sturgeon Issues in DRB Vision and management objectives for sturgeons as part of DRB Plan: Sturgeon species and specified other migratory species are able to access the Danube River and relevant tributaries.
Inland Navigation
Consensus building process: navigation Inland navigation can contribute to making transport more environmentally sustainable... but it can also have significant impact on river ecosystems! Intensive, cross-sectoral consensus-building among stakeholders! Joint statement on principles and criteria for sustainable navigation (incl. infrastructure development and maintenance).
Flood Issues in the DRB Action Plan for flood control Danube EFAS Basin-wide flood monitoring Flood risk mapping
Structure Danube River as a Source for Cooperation Results of the WFD Danube Analysis Cooperation and partnerships Other initiatives A way forward: Danube and other international river basins
Cooperation & Partnership CCHBC
Cooperation with the Black Sea Towards stronger partnership in water management Danube Black Sea countries, Feb 23, 2007, Bucharest
Memorandum of Understanding between the International Commission for the Protection of the Black Sea (ICPBS) and the International Commission for the Protection of the Danube River (ICPDR) on Common Strategic Goals
Partnership Coca-Cola The Coca-Cola Company ICPDR President 2005 Coca-Cola HBC
Structure Danube River as a Source for Cooperation Results of the WFD Danube Analysis Cooperation and partnerships Other initiatives A way forward: Danube and other international river basins
Sub-basin Initiatives
Sub-basin Initiative Sava
Sub-basin initiative Tisza Group
Publications of the ICPDR Annual Report Danube Watch ICPDR website
Danube Day 2008 Let us celebrate Danube Day 2008 together!
Danube Box
Structure Danube River as a Source for Cooperation Results of the WFD Danube Analysis Cooperation and partnerships Other initiatives A way forward: Danube and other international river basins
Conclusions The ICPDR provides a forum for the necessary dialogue, understanding and action needed to meet the existing challenges Danube countries show strong commitments to cooperate Important progress in establishing the necessary mechanisms for coordination and cooperation under DRPC has been made
Danube and other International River Basins Future cooperation is envisaged between the ICPDR and other river basins (Mississippi, Mekong, Orange) through: Technical exchange Participation in activities and collaborative actions on issues of common interest: water management, navigation, flood management, water pollution control, water quality assurance
Thank you for your attention! www.icpdr.org icpdr@unvienna.org