1 Dr. Anne Schulte-Wülwer-Leidig Assistant Manager ICPR International Commission for the Protection of the Rhine Transboundary Cooperation in Water Management – Practical Experience from the Rhine River Basin

2 Content (1) The Rhine river basin: uses and conflicts (2) The ICPR Members Organization Rules and procedures of cooperation (3) Results (4) Some considerations and lessons learnt

3 The Rhine River Basin Catchment: km² The Rhine = 3rd biggest European river

4 The Rhine from source to sea Alp RhineHigh Rhine Upper RhineMiddle RhineLower RhineDelta Rhine

5 The ideal river for nature protection … for agriculture … for drainage … for navigation... for local recreation... for economy... for power generation... for drinking water uses Functions of the Rhine

6 The Rhine river basin 3rd biggest European river catchment km² Inhabitants 58 million Drinking water 30 million people Main stream 1230 km

7 The Rhine river basin Navigable length 825 km Basel - Rotterdam Europe’s busiest shipping lane Important chemical industries along the banks of the Rhine Hydropower plants High Rhine (11) and Upper Rhine (10)

8 The Rhine river basin - 9 countries Germany ~54% Switzerland ~ 14% France ~ 12% The Netherlands ~17% Italy, Austria, Liechtenstein, Luxemburg, Belgium (about 3%)

9 Rules of cooperation I De-centralised organization Secretariat National delegations political mandate technical know how funds What makes ICPR work so effective? Plenary assembly Luxembourg

Organizational Chart of the ICPR

Regular budget Euro/year 75% salaries, 25% operating costs Budget of the ICPR - secretariat 2.5%: EC 12.0%: Switzerland 85.5%: France(32.5%) Germany(32.5%) Netherlands(32.5%) Luxembourg( 2.5%) Implementation: EU directives (special budget) 32% each: France, Germany, Netherlands 1.5% each: Austria, Luxembourg 0.5% each: Belgium/Wallonia, Liechtenstein Repartition key

Unanimity / consensus Decisions are recommendations Obligation to report about the implementation of measures Political trust, no sanctions Rules of cooperation II What makes ICPR work so effective?

Basin-wide cooperation requires solidarity Upstream => downstream  water quality issues  water quantity issues:  e.g. flood and drought prevention, hydropower generation  sediment and temperature management  climate change impacts

Basin-wide cooperation requires solidarity Downstream => upstream River continuity (free migration for migratory fish species) Shipping lane: down- and upstream continuity

1950 – 1976 Drafting of conventions 1986 – 2000 Sandoz accident accelerated implementation Two heavy floods (Lower Rhine) Since 2001 Legislation: EU level Water Framework Directive Groundwater Directive Floods Directive ICPR – Milestones: 3 phases

16 Cooperation with observers Representatives of the public opinion 1.Non-governmental organizations – NGOs (16): Nature conservation Flood protection Drinking water supply Chemical industry Hydropower Navigation 2. Other river basin commissions: Danube, Elbe,… 3. Other intergovernmental organizations (IGOs )

17 Lessons learnt I Water is a common source not individual property Defintions are imperative:  1. the common interests in a basin  2. the special interests of the different countries  3. common concrete goals for  reducing water pollution  improving flood mitigation/protection  nature-near intact river ecosystems

18 Lessons learnt II Changing participants‘ perspective is imperative Exchange of know-how and create mutual understanding Allow time: The ICPR needed a lot of time for creating political trust Best solutions are win-win solutions for all partners Cooperation within basins creates mutual understanding and … friendship

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