1. INTERNATIONAL SAVA RIVER BASIN COMMISSION Almaty (KZ) 23-25 October 2007 SAVA RIVER BASIN COMMISSION Dragan Zeljko The Sava Commission Secretariat Deputy Secretary for Integrated RBM and water planning

2. INTERNATIONAL SAVA RIVER BASIN COMMISSION Almaty (KZ) 23-25 October 2007 2 Main characteristics of the Sava River Basin (1/2) Sava river length: 944,7 km* Basin area: 97.713,2 km2** Mean discharge: 1564 m3/s*** * 586 km navigable before 90-ies ** 2nd Danube tributary (after Tisza) *** 1st Danube tributary (almost 25% of total discharge)

3. INTERNATIONAL SAVA RIVER BASIN COMMISSION Almaty (KZ) 23-25 October 2007 3 Main characteristics of the Sava River Basin (2/2) Sava River Basin Area Total AreaCountry share% 97.713,2 km 2 Slovenia11.734,8 km 2 12,01 Croatia25.373,5 km 2 25,97 Bosnia and Herzegovina 38.349,10 km 2 39,25 Serbia15.147,0 km 2 15,50 Montenegro6.929,8 km 2 7,09 Albania179,0 km 2 0,18

4. INTERNATIONAL SAVA RIVER BASIN COMMISSION Almaty (KZ) 23-25 October 2007 4 Need for action Prior to disintegration of former Yugoslavia, Sava was the biggest national river with proper instruments for water management and it was navigable After the war Sava became an international river » Need for action Economic reasons:  Commercial traffic cannot be reestablished without rehabilitation of waterways, ports and other supporting infrastructure Lack of institutional mechanisms for:  addressing transboundary impacts causing serious environmental concerns in the basin  cooperation among the countries to rehabilitate, develop, and manage the basin

5. INTERNATIONAL SAVA RIVER BASIN COMMISSION Almaty (KZ) 23-25 October 2007 5 200120022003200420052006 From initiative to an agreement on cooperation Establishment of the Int. Sava River Basin Commission - ISRBC (Zagreb, June 27-29, 2005) Launch of the Sava River Initiative Stability Pact for SEE (June 2001) 200120022003200420052006 Signing the Letter of Intent on cooperation within the Sava River Basin (Nov. 29, 2001) Signing the Framework Agreement on the Sava River Basin - FASRB (Kranjska Gora, Dec. 3, 2002) Establishment of the Interim Sava River Commission (Brussels, March 12, 2003) (7 sessions + 1 ad-hoc session held, with the administrative support of REC, CO Banja Luka) Ratification of the Framework Agreement (FASRB) (December 29, 2004) Establishment of the ISRBC Secretariat (Zagreb, January 9, 2006)

6. INTERNATIONAL SAVA RIVER BASIN COMMISSION Almaty (KZ) 23-25 October 2007 6 The Parties The Parties to the FASRB: Slovenia Croatia B&H Serbia* * The Agreement signed by Serbia and Montenegro

7. INTERNATIONAL SAVA RIVER BASIN COMMISSION Almaty (KZ) 23-25 October 2007 7 Negotiations Started on March 12 2002 Led and chaired by Stability Pact for South Eastern Europe Soon recognized that expert teams formed by the negotiating countries are capable of drafting all legal norms alone => abandoned principle of agreeing of each step on the high level and under supervision of the SP coordinators The final text adopted by the state delegations without modifications Huge interest and different contribution to the process by the IC: - UN ECE, OSCE, UNITAR - EU institutions - Governments of the USA, Netherlands, Hungary - NGOs

8. INTERNATIONAL SAVA RIVER BASIN COMMISSION Almaty (KZ) 23-25 October 2007 8 The Framework agreement on the Sava RB (FASRB) new legal framework for regional cooperation and development OBJECTIVES: Establishment of an international regime of navigation on the Sava River and its navigable tributaries; Establishment of sustainable water management; Undertaking of measures to prevent or limit hazards, and reduce and eliminate adverse consequences (floods, ice hazards, droughts and incidents involving substances hazardous to water). GENERAL PRINCIPLES: Cooperation on the basis of soverein equality, territorial integrity, mutual benefit, good faith “no harm” rule - take all appropriate measures to prevent harm to others

9. INTERNATIONAL SAVA RIVER BASIN COMMISSION Almaty (KZ) 23-25 October 2007 9 The Framework agreement on the Sava RB (FASRB) AREAS of cooperation : NAVIGATION: Establishment of an international regime of navigation; Marking of navigable waterways; Development of technical rules; Maintenance of the waterways Establishment of sustainable water management; WATER MANAGEMENT: Cooperation in integrated management of surface and ground waters Preparation of the Sava river basin management plan (following the EU WFD principles and coordinated with the ICPDR activities)

10. INTERNATIONAL SAVA RIVER BASIN COMMISSION Almaty (KZ) 23-25 October 2007 10 International Sava River Basin Commission (ISRBC) Established for the implementation of the FASRB; 2 representatives from each state (member and deputy); Rotating chairmanship every 3 year; Regular sessions (1 per year) and special sessions; Financing- annual contribution of the Parties; Seat of the Sava Commission in Zagreb (Croatia); Decisions shall be adopted by unanimous vote; Decision in navigation binding to all Parties - Protocol; Secretariat: administrative and executive services for Commission

11. INTERNATIONAL SAVA RIVER BASIN COMMISSION Almaty (KZ) 23-25 October 2007 11 Main tasks of the Sava Commission Coordination: in preparation of a joint / integrated Sava RB Management Plan in establishment of an unified information system of activities on protection of the aquatic eco-system of the Sava RB of majority of activities in the fields of navigation and water management Proposition: of the Sava River Basin Management Plan of priority projects Decision making in the field of navigation Cooperation with international and national organizations Issuing documents and publications

12. INTERNATIONAL SAVA RIVER BASIN COMMISSION Almaty (KZ) 23-25 October 2007 12 Structure of the Secretariat Navigation Integrated RBM & Water Planning Protection of Water & Aquat. Ecosystem Special Advisor for Econ. & Financ. Affairs Special Advisor for Legal & General Affairs Deputy Secretary Advisor for Techn. Issues of Navigation Advisor for Navigation Safety Special Advisor for Information Systems Advisor for Pro. Against Haz. Water Impacts Advisor for Reg. and Tech. Main. of Wat. Regime Secretary Advisor for Prot. of Water & Aq. Ecosys. Deputy Secretary Deputy Secretary Planned Current

13. INTERNATIONAL SAVA RIVER BASIN COMMISSION Almaty (KZ) 23-25 October 2007 13 Decision making process

14. INTERNATIONAL SAVA RIVER BASIN COMMISSION Almaty (KZ) 23-25 October 2007 14 Permanent and ad hoc expert groups Permanent expert groups (PEGs): PEG for River basin management; PEG for Navigation; PEG for Accident prevention and control; PEG for Flood prevention Ad hoc expert groups currently established: Legal EG; GIS EG; Hydrological isues related to navigation; More to come...

15. INTERNATIONAL SAVA RIVER BASIN COMMISSION Almaty (KZ) 23-25 October 2007 15 Protocols Additions to the FASRB for regulating specific issues Protocol on navigation in force! Development of protocols on: - transboundary impacts - flood protection - emergency situations - prevention of the water polution caused by navigation

16. INTERNATIONAL SAVA RIVER BASIN COMMISSION Almaty (KZ) 23-25 October 2007 16 International Sava River Basin Commission Nova Ves 11 10 000 Zagreb Croatia Tel. +385 1 4886 960 Fax. +385 1 4886 986 E-mail: isrbc@savacommission.orgisrbc@savacommission.org dzeljko@savacommission.org Web: www.savacommission.orgwww.savacommission.org

17. INTERNATIONAL SAVA RIVER BASIN COMMISSION Almaty (KZ) 23-25 October 2007 17 Thank you for your attention!