1. 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

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

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

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

6. 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.

7. 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

8. 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

9. 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.

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

11. 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:

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

13. 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

14. 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.

15. 15

16. Longitudinal profile of the annual water volume in the Danube in 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 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
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

17. 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)

18. Joint Action Programme

19. 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.

20. Investments and expected results Joint Action Programme
Municipal waste water collection & treatment: billion USD
Industrial waste water treatment: billion USD
Agricultural projects and land use: billion USD
Rehabilitation of wetlands: billion USD
Nitrogen reduction:
from point sources : 58,600 t/y
from diffuse sources : 60,000 t/y
total emission reduction : %
Phosphorus reduction:
from point sources : 12,000 t/y
from diffuse sources : 4,000 t/y
total emission reduction : %

21. 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).

22. 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

23. 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)

24. 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

25. 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

26. 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.

28. 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

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

30. UNDP / GEF Danube Regional Project30
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

31. International Cooperation
Cooperation with the Black Sea Commission

32. 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.

33. 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

34. 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).

35. International Cooperation
Cooperation with the EU DABLAS TF

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

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

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

40. More than 100 events
throughout the Danube
with wide participation

41. 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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