Flood Awareness and Prevention Policy in border areas Brussels, 7 May 2007 Annelieke Laninga-Busch Project manager

European network of flood managers 35 partners 12 river basins 15 border areas

Aim of the network Products Preferred outcome 1. More effective regional flood policies 2. Increased cooperation in European river basins 3. Strengthened contacts between regions 1.Good practice book with examples 2.Analysis of cross border cooperation 3.Recommendations

Thematic components Working groups: Flood awareness Flood prevention Ecologically sustainable flood management Flood forecasting and calamity management

Focus on border areas River basin approach: Water naturally crosses borders Cooperation between authorities is important Barriers: technical, legal, political, financial, organizational, social, cultural etc. Possible solutions based on practical examples

Collecting good practices Database with over 50 flood management examples

Exchange activities 15 study visits 5 expert meetings 5 conferences

How to raise flood awareness across borders? Good practice example in Ireland: –Successful flood awareness campaign –Why “re-invent the wheel” again? –Expert meetings to create generic flood information tools Result: –Generic brochure, flyer and website for citizens –Pilot in Scheldt (NL/BE) and Evros (GR) basins

How to create cross border flood maps? Recommendations on cross border flood maps: –Involve local and regional stakeholders –Give extra attention to terminology –Provide free access to data across the border –Harmonize relevant input data and parameters Pilot cross border map cities Goerlitz/Zgorcelec Expert workshop on flood mapping in Berlin

How can nature and flood management go hand in hand? Research report on role and values of wetlands for sustainable flood management in border areas Result: recommendations to make better use of benefits of wetlands for flood management based on existing good practice examples

How to stimulate data exchange between experts across borders? Inventory of existing flood information systems: –undisrupted data flow between countries in transboundary catchments is vital –systems currently in use in Europe show a wide diversity Conclusion: –full integration of systems seems not feasible –but compatibility of systems is a realistic option

Final products Recommendations for improved integrated river basin management Joint approach to cross border cooperation Good practice examples of FLAPP partners Sub-products FLAPP component working groups Recommendations for improved integrated river basin management

How to improve regional transboundary flood management? Empower local and regional water managers Increase public participation and awareness Explore mutual benefits and synchronize goals Create adequate legal arrangements Include the insurance industry in flood management Stimulate cross border exchange and informal communication Agree on standards for model and calculation outputs Start cooperation on practical level and improve cooperation in step wise processes Recover costs for flood management services Explore additional financial resources Pilot cross border map cities Görlitz / Zgorcelec Staff exchange Zeeland – East Flanders From ‘border’ Meuse to ‘common’ Meuse ‘Vital Signs’ project with school children

Letters to EU parliament with statements on flood directive 1.More attention for cross border cooperation in transboundary catchments: –Communication and coordination is a good start –But not enough to achieve the directive goals –Joint plans and measures are required too 2.Stronger focus on principle of sustainability with respect to flood management: –Shift from flood defence to resilience strategy is needed –Attention for values and benefits of wetlands and floodplains –Not yet common policy / practice everywhere in Europe –Authorities may benefit from a guidance document

FLAPP ‘message’ Integrated river basin management is generally accepted as leading policy principle in Europe However, implementation in practice can be improved, especially across borders FLAPP shows what potential benefits are of better cross border cooperation in river basins based on practical examples FLAPP also made recommendations for different levels of government on how to improve integrated river basin management CHALLENGES IN DAILY PRACTICE CHALLENGES IN DAILY PRACTICE POTENTIAL OPPORTUNITIES POTENTIAL OPPORTUNITIES POLITICAL AGREEMENT POLITICAL AGREEMENT PRACTICAL SOLUTIONS PRACTICAL SOLUTIONS

Final conference in June ‘07 Presentation FLAPP results Reactions by politicians and decision makers European project market Developing future projects to continue exchange

Inspiring each other…

Irish guidelines for citizens will be translated into Greek and used in Evros delta

Inspiring each other… Initiative for Tisza River Basin Flood Information Centre analogous to Saxony Flood Centre

Inspiring each other… Mobile dams in Szeged and Budapest, inspired by Roer and Overmaas / Köln