The Danube River Protection Convention Signed 29 June

The Danube River Protection Convention Signed 29. June 1994 Entry into force 22. October 1998 Permanent Secretariat since 1 October 1999 A legal frame for co-operation to assure the protection of water and ecological resources and their sustainable use in the Danube River Basin 1

DRPC - objectives èstrengthen international cooperation èensure sustainable water management èensure conservation, improvement and rational use of surface waters and ground water èreduce inputs of nutrients and hazardous substances ècontrol floods and ice hazards èreduce pollution loads of the Black Sea 2

has been established to implement the objectives and provisions and to achieve the goals of the Danube River Protection Convention Photo WWF The International Commission for the Protection of the Danube River ( ICPDR ) 3

Contracting Parties Germany Austria Czech Republic Slovakia Hungary Slovenia Croatia Bosnia & Herzegovina Rep. of Serbia Romania Bulgaria Rep. of Moldova Ukraine European Union Montenegro (ratification process under way) 4

Observers to the ICPDR Black Sea Commission Die Donau – Tourism Commission Friends of Nature Navigation Commission Europ. Angling Ass. REC VGB Power Tech GWP CEE UNESCO - IHP 5

Organizational Structure under the Danube River Protection Convention 6

EU Water Framework Directive ICPDR – common platform for the implementation of EU WFD in the Danube River Basin 7

Coordination Mechanism C H DE U A Bilateral agreements IT AT MD PL CZ SK R O ICPDR H U B G SI RS MK BA Cooperation AL H R Cooperation at sub-basin level: e. g. Sava, Tisza 8

Danube Basin Analysis 2004 ð First comprehensive analysis of the entire Danube River Basin ð Basis for any future river basin management planning ð Identification of significant water management issues 9

Significant Water Management Issues Organic Pollution Agenda Item: 3. 1 Nutrient Pollution Hazardous Substances Pollution Hydromorphological Alterations 10

Identification Significant Water Management Issues 11

Trans National Monitoring Network – TNMN until 2007 – only surface waters TNMN Has been adapted to WFD requirements and report was sent to EC in March 2007 12

Joint Danube Survey - Objectives ð International longitudinal ship survey producing homogeneous information on water quality for the whole of the length of the Danube River including the major tributaries. ð To provide the information necessary for the implementation of the EU Water Framework Directive 13

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Watch your Danube! 15

Pollution reduction: Joint Action Programme 2001 -2005 16

Investments and expected results Investments: » Municipal wastewater collection & treatment » Industrial waste water treatment » Agricultural projects and land use » Rehabilitation of wetlands 3. 709 bill USD 0. 276 bill USD 0. 113 bill USD 0. 323 bill USD Nitrogen reduction: » from point sources » from diffuse sources » total emission reduction: 58, 600 t/y 60, 000 t/y 22 % Phosphorus reduction: » from point sources » from diffuse sources » total emission reduction 12, 000 t/y 4, 000 t/y 33 % 17

Investments Joint Action Program 18

Flood Issues in the DRB 19

Action Programme on Sustainable Flood Protection in the Danube River Basin Adopted at the ICPDR Ministerial Conference on 13 December 2004 20

Cooperation with the Black Sea “Towards stronger partnership in water management Danube Black Sea countries”, Feb 23, Bucharest 21

Partnering with business 22

Outreach „Solidarity accross the Basin“ - Linking people - Joining forces 23

Danube Day 2008 Let us celebrate Danube Day 2008 together! 24

The Danube flows through us! INTERNATIONAL DANUBE ART MASTER 2006 25

Danube Box Teachers` handbook CD ROM (additional information, photo gallery, quiz, interactive section for pupils) Poster showing the basin at a glance In partnership with: 26

Danube Box Goals: • • • Promote identification with the Danube river basin Support teachers by developing education tools, and well proven and innovative material Tool for the entire basin - translated into national languages Raising awareness for the values of rivers and their sustainable development Motivation for developing skills for responsible behaviour 27

International Thiess Riverprize In 2007 the ICPDR was awarded the prestigious International Riverprize for excellent water resource management! September 2007, Brisbane, Australia 28

Publications of the ICPDR • Annual Report • Danube Watch • ICPDR website 29

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Thank you for your attention! www. icpdr. org icpdr@unvienna. org 31