Danube River as a Source for Cooperation: Exploring the Results and Potential Dr Mihaela Popovici, Technical Expert in Water Management, ICPDR Tufts University Medford, Massachusetts

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Danube River as a Source for Cooperation
Exploring the Results and PotentialDr Mihaela
Popovici, Technical Expert in Water Management,
ICPDRTufts University Medford, Massachusetts
February 27, 2005
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Structure of Presentation

• The Danube River Basin
• ICPDR a Mechanism for Cooperation
• ICPDR and EU Water Framework Directive
• ICPDR and International Cooperation

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• 10 of Europe
• 81 Mio Inhabitants
• 18 Countries
• Most international River Basin in the World

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The Danube River Basin, a cultural and historical
centre of Europe
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The social and economic context in the DRB

• Regional social and economic disparities
• The particular situation of transition countries
  and the requirements for EU accession
• Despite the diversity of problems, interests and
  priorities across the basin, the Danube countries
  share certain values and principles relating to
  the environment.

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Economic Indicators
GDP on PPP, 2002, /capita
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DRPC 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
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Danube River Protection Convention OBJECTIVES

• Ensure sustainable and equitable water
  management
• Ensure conservation, improvement and the rational
  use of surface waters and ground water
• Control discharge of waste waters, inputs of
  nutrients and hazardous substances from point and
  non-point sources of emissions
• Control floods and ice hazards
• Control hazards originating from accidents
  (warning and preventive measures)
• Reduce pollution loads of the Black Sea from
  sources in the Danube catchment area.

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ICPDR International Commission for the
Protection of the Danube River
International commission responsible for the
implementation of the DRPC.
since 1 October 1999
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Contracting Parties

• Austria
• Bulgaria
• Croatia
• Czech Republic
• European Union
• Germany
• Hungary

• Moldova
• Romania
• Serbia i Montenegro
• Slovakia
• Slovenia
• Ukraine
• Bosnia i Herzegovina

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Observers
Black Sea Com.
UNESCO
Navigation Com.
GWP CEE
REC
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Mechanisms of Cooperation
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Water issues and conflicts

• Common responsibility of all countries in the DRB
  have been firstly demonstrated on the example of
  nutrient transport to the Black Sea
• What is the interest of countries like Germany
  and Austria to invest in wastewater treatment
  facilities for removal of N and P which are
  affecting the Black Sea? It is certainly in
  response to EU water directives, but it is also
  in response to the DRPC, the obligation of
  transboundary cooperation and the growing concern
  about global environmental protection and the
  responsibility that goes beyond national borders.
  

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Longitudinal profile of the annual water volume
in the Danubein 10003 m3/a, subdivided over the
countries of origin
t
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Annual Nitrogen Load in the Danube (in kt/y),
subdivided over the countries of origin, with a
high estimate for the in stream denitrification
( removal rate)
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Joint Action Programme
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Policies and Strategies of the JAP

• River Basin Management and WFD implementation

• Emission inventory and pollution reduction
• Restoration of wetlands and flood plains
• Transnational Monitoring Network (TNMN)
• List of Priority Substances
• Recommendations on BAT BEP
• Accident warning system and prevention
• Flood control and sustainable flood prevention
• Domestic and basin wide water balance.

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Investments and expected resultsJoint Action
Programme

• Investments
• Municipal waste water collection
  treatment 3.709 billion USD
• Industrial waste water treatment 0.276 billion
  USD
• Agricultural projects and land use 0.113
  billion USD
• Rehabilitation of wetlands 0.323 billion USD

• Nitrogen reduction
• from point sources 58,600 t/y
• from diffuse sources 60,000 t/y
• total emission reduction 22

• Phosphorus reduction
• from point sources 12,000 t/y
• from diffuse sources 4,000 t/y
• total emission reduction 33

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EU Water Framework Directive
European Community legislation is becoming the
major policy influence on water quality in the
Danube countries.
  ICPDR has been nominated the platform to
develop the Danube River Basin Management Plan
(ROOF REPORT).
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EU Water Framework Directive

• sets uniform standards in water policy
  throughout the European Union and integrates
  different policy areas involving water issues

• introduces the river basin approach for the
  development of integrated and coordinated river
  basin management plans for all European river
  systems

• stipulates a defined time-frame for the
  achievement of the good status of surface water
  and groundwater

• introduces the economic analysis of water use in
  order to estimate the most cost-effective
  combination of measures in respect to water uses

• includes public participation in the development
  of river basin management plans encouraging
  active involvement of interested parties
  including stakeholders, non-governmental
  organisations and citizens

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WFD Implementation
CH
Cooperation (example)
IT
DE
UA
AT
Bilateral agreements (examples)
PL
MD
CZ
ICPDR
SK

• coordination
• information exchange
• develop strategy for RBM Plan
• develop DRB roof report
• harmonisation of methods and mechanisms

RO
HU
BG
SI
CS
MK
HR
BA
Cooperation (example)
AL
Sub-river basin cooperation (example Sava River)
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Development of the Danube RBM Plan -
implementation phase

• UNDP/GEF Danube Regional Project
• EC/ISPA Pilot river basin projects
• Twinning projects

• Danube Countries
• national tasks
• harmonise results with neighbours
• report on progress

• Danube Countries
• programme of measures
• harmonise measures with neighbours
• National RBM Plan

ICPDR Secretariat prepares Roof RBM Plan
ICPDR ensures basin-wide coordination and
harmonisation of RBM Plan
Danube River Basin Management Plan
National Plans (part B) and Contributions for
part A
Roof RBM Plan - Part A
Public information and consultation process
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Danube Basin Analysis Report
responds to reporting requirements under WFD
Art. 5, Annex II and III WFD

• river basin characteristics
• impacts of human activities
• economic analysis of water uses

Art. 6 and Annex IV WFD

• inventory for protected areas

Reporting deadline 22 March 2005
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Structure of the report
Part A Basin-wide overview (WFD Roof
report) Part B Detailed national reports
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Conclusions of the Roof Report

• is the first comprehensive characterisation and
  analysis of the entire Danube River Basin
  District
• identify bodies with which we are sure there is
  a significant problem
• as soon as practicable after 2004, we can start
  considering what measures will be necessary for
  these water bodies
• is the result of a joint effort of the Danube
  countries and the ICPDR considering WFD
  international coordination requirements

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International Cooperation

• UNDP/GEF Danube Regional Project (started in
  Dec. 2001)

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UNDP / GEF Danube Regional Project
Strengthening the Implementation Capacities for
Nutrient Reduction and Transboundary Cooperation
in the Danube Basin
Objective 1 Support for Policy Development
Objective 2 Capacity Building Transboundary
Cooperation
Objective 3 Public Participation Awareness
Objective 4 Monitoring and Evaluation of Projects
RBM Tools (1.1)
Inter-ministerial Mechanisms (2.1)
NGO Institutional Development- (3.1)
Indicators (4.1)
Agriculture - Policies (1.2)
Monitoring Nutrient Removal Capacities of
Wetlands (4.3)
NGO Small Grants Programme (3.2)
Monitoring, Laboratory Info Management (2.2)
Agriculture - Pilot Projects (1.3)
Education, Information Communication Strategy
Public Awareness Campaigns (3.3)
Accident Emergency Response (2.3)
Study on Pollution Trading Economic
Instruments for Nutrient Reduction (4.4)
Wetlands (1.4)
DANUBIS (2.4)
Industry (1.5)
(MoU) Danube-Black Sea Cooperation (2.5)
Water Tariffs (1.6)
Under Preparation
Trainings and Workshops (2.6)
Pollution Charges, Fines, Incentives (1.7)
Ready to Start
Phosphorus Reduction -Detergents (1.8)
Started
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International Cooperation

• Cooperation with the Black Sea Commission

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Map Credit Design Unit of the World Bank
Downstream linkages to estuaries, coastal zones
and the Black Sea.
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Joint Danube-Black Sea members
Bulgaria
Romania
Ukraine
BS members
Danube members
Russia
ICPDR PS
Georgia
Joint Danube / Black Sea TWG
MLIM chair
Turkey
EMIS chair
Black Sea PS
UNDP/GEF DRP
UNDP/GEF BSP
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New Challenge Integrated River Basin Coastal
Area Managment

• The EU WFD stipulates the development of an
  integrated river basin management plan for the
  Danube river basin district.
• The river basin district means the area of
  land and sea together with their associated
  groundwaters and coastal waters.
• ICPDR and BSC are developing coordinating
  mechanisms for the implementation of the EU WFD
  in the coastal areas of the Danube river basin
  district (Black Sea Coastal Waters).

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International Cooperation

• Cooperation with the EU DABLAS TF

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Evaluation of Policies, Regulation, and
Investment Projects Implemented in the Danube
River Basin Countries in Line with EU Directives
and Regulations
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Projects in all sectors finalised before the end
of 2003, 2005 and after 2005
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Danube Day, June 29

• 10th anniversary of signing the DRPC
• Events in all Danube Basin Countries
• Involvement of GOs, NGOs, private sector and
  others

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More than 100 events throughout the Danube with
wide participation
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Lessons Learned The Danube River Basin -an
example of sound environmental management

• The Danube countries share a common history and
  certain values and principles relating to the
  environment and the conservation of natural
  resources
• A positive spirit for cooperation in the basin
• The EU accession process is a driving force for
  cooperation in the Danube river basin.
• Sustainable development in the DRB requires
  continue and enhanced international cooperation
• Success will depend on thorough implementation of
  actions and commitments of the countries and on
  effective and coordinated contribution of the
  international community
• The ICPDR is assisting in providing a forum for
  the necessary dialogue, understanding and action
  needed to meet the challenges that exist.

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Thank you for your attention! For more
information, please visit www.icpdr.org
WWF
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for further information see www.icpdr.org