1 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 – February 27, 2005

Structure of Presentation The Danube River Basin ICPDR – a Mechanism for Cooperation ICPDR and EU Water Framework Directive ICPDR and International Cooperation

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

The Danube River Basin, a cultural and historical centre of Europe

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.

Economic Indicators GDP on PPP, 2002, €/capita 5,000 10,000 15,000 5,000 10,000 15,000 20,000 25,000 30,000 DE AT CZ SK HU SI HR CS BA BG RO MD UA

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

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.

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

Contracting Parties Austria Moldova Bulgaria Romania Croatia Czech Republic European Union Germany Hungary Moldova Romania Serbia i Montenegro Slovakia Slovenia Ukraine Bosnia i Herzegovina Albania Italy Macedonia Poland Switzerland Other Danube Countries:

Observers Black Sea Com. UNESCO Navigation Com. GWP CEE REC

Mechanisms of Cooperation Permanent Secretariat (PS) – Supporting the ICPDR sessions Supporting the Expert Groups ( and PMTF) Co - ordinating the work programme Supporting project development and implementation Maintenance of the Information System River Basin Mgmt ( RBM / EG ) Integrated river basin management Implementation of EU Wa ter Framework Directive Monitoring, Laboratory & Information Mgmt ( MLIM / EG ) Trans National Monitoring Network (TNMN) Laboratory Quality Assu rance Accident Prevention & Control ( APC / EG ) Acciden ta l pollution incidents AEWS operations Accident prevention Ecology ( ECO / EG ) Habitats and species protection areas Management of wetlands and floodplains Emissions ( EMIS / EG ) Emissions from point sources Emissions from d iffuse Guidelines on BAT Flood Protection ( FLOOD / EG ) Preparation and Implementation of the Action plan for sustainable Flood protection WG on Sava RBM Plan Econ ESG GIS ESG Danube/ Black Sea JTWG EMIS MLIM JTWG IHP Water Balance WG Preparation of the Water Balance WG Inventories

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 Danube in 10003 m3/a, subdivided over the countries of origin Inn 690 m3/s Drava 2310 m3/s Tisa 2860 m3/s Sava 3550 m3/s Iron Gate 5520 m3/s 5 1 2 s o u r c e D - A b d M a v / S K H C R Y U O B G m n y t i z h _ l k g water 10003 m3/a 29.5 (14.5%) (100%) (22.1%) (1.2%) (1.9%) (4.3%) (3.1%) (6.4%) (8.8%) (3.7%) (0.7%) (17.6%) (11.3%) total 202.8 44.8 13.0 23.0 17.8 35.6 2.5 3.9 8.8 6.3 7.5 1.5 8.6 M990604g Delta 6550 m3/s cumulative discharges for the Danube River t

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)

Joint Action Programme

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.

Investments and expected results Joint Action Programme 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 %

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).

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 This already shows the great need for co-ordination, especially in such a complex basin as the Danube. Therefore, I would like to present some of the ideas that are currently being developed by the River Basin Management Expert Group of the ICPDR includes public participation in the development of river basin management plans encouraging active involvement of interested parties including stakeholders, non-governmental organisations and citizens

WFD Implementation CH IT DE UA AT PL M D CZ ICPDR SK RO H U BG SI CS Cooperation (example) IT DE UA AT Bilateral agreements (examples) PL M D CZ ICPDR SK coordination information exchange develop strategy for RBM Plan develop DRB roof report harmonisation of methods and mechanisms RO H U BG SI CS M K BA HR Cooperation (example) AL Sub-river basin cooperation (example: Sava River)

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 Roof RBM Plan - Part A National Plans (part B) and Contributions for part A Public information and consultation process

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

Structure of the report Part A – Basin-wide overview (WFD Roof report) Part B – Detailed national reports Due to the size of the basin and the complexity of the issues the report is divided into two parts: ... The EU Member States (shown here in dark green) will send Part A together with Part B to the European Commission. As regards the other countries not obligated to report to the EC it is proposed that the ICPDR will send Part A together with Part B of those countries that have prepared a national report to the EC as an informal information.

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

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

UNDP / GEF Danube Regional Project 30 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) Monitoring, Laboratory & Info Management (2.2) NGO Small Grants Programme (3.2) Agriculture - Pilot Projects (1.3) Accident Emergency Response (2.3) Education, Information & Communication Strategy + Public Awareness Campaigns (3.3) 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

International Cooperation Cooperation with the Black Sea Commission

Downstream linkages to estuaries, coastal zones and the Black Sea. Map Credit: Design Unit of the World Bank Downstream linkages to estuaries, coastal zones and the Black Sea.

Joint Danube / Black Sea TWG Bulgaria Romania Ukraine Russia ICPDR PS 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

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).

International Cooperation Cooperation with the EU DABLAS TF

Evaluation of Policies, Regulation, and Investment Projects Implemented in the Danube River Basin Countries in Line with EU Directives and Regulations

Projects in all sectors finalised before the end of 2003, 2005 and after 2005

Danube Day, June 29 10th anniversary of signing the DRPC Events in all Danube Basin Countries Involvement of GOs, NGOs, private sector and others

More than 100 events throughout the Danube with wide participation

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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