ROMANIAN EXPERIENCE on TRANSBOUNDARY ...NA”Apele Romane”, National Institute for Hydrology and Water Management, National Administration of Meteorology, National Administration

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ROMANIAN EXPERIENCE on

TRANSBOUNDARY WATERS

COOPERATION

Bucharest, 24 - 25 November 2009

EAP Task Force

WATER RESOURCES MANAGEMENT

NATIONAL LEVEL

TRANSBOUNDARY LEVEL

INTERNATIONAL LEVEL

WATER MANAGEMENT – INTERNATIONAL LEVEL

• Most international

River Basin in

the world

• 19 countries

COOPERATION IN THE DANUBE RIVER BASIN

• 1985 –Bucharest Declaration concerning the cooperation of the DanubianStates on the Danube water management issues particularly for its waterprotection against pollution

• 1992 – Convention for the Protection of the Black Sea Against Pollution –Bucharest

• 1994 – Convention on Co-operation for the Protection and Sustainable Useof the River Danube (Danube River Protection Convention) – Sofia

WATER RESOURCES MANAGEMENT SYSTEM

• Based on the principle of water management at basinlevel (since 50 ‘ies); - 11 river basins

• the existing institutional structure ensures integrated water management interms of:

• quantity - quality• groundwater and surface water

WATER RESOURCES MANAGEMENT – NATIONAL LEVEL (1)

The Ministry of Environment

• Elaborates the environmental protection and water management policies at national level and the specific regulations for these activities development and harmonization with the general policy framework of the Government.

• Ensures and coordinates the implementation of the Government Strategy on environmental protection and water management, accomplishing the role of state authority for synthesis, coordination and control in these fields.

• Ensure international cooperation in water field, especially transboundary cooperation within the framework of the bilateral agreements with the neighboring countries –Hungary, Serbia, Ukraine and Moldova and also within the Convention for Cooperation on the Protection and Sustainable Use of the Danube River and Convention on the Protection of the Black Sea Against Pollution.

WATER MANAGEMENT – NATIONAL LEVEL (2)

• The National Administration “Apele

Romane” is the Romanian water

management body under the direct

authority of the Ministry of Environment

•11 river basins managed by the

National Administration “Apele

Romane” through its units – Water

Directorates

• All the 11 Romanian River sub-basins

of the Danube River

Main tasks:

• Water resources management

• Integrated water monitoring system

• Administration of hydraulic structures

• Water protection against pollution and over use

• Flood control management

• Coordination of national investments in water resources field

• Implementation of the EU Directives related to the water

• Application of international and bilateral water conventions

COMPLEX HYDROGRAPHIC NETWORK

From early times Romania set up bilateral agreements with the

neighboring countries.

Over the time they have been renewed taking into consideration the international regulations and

conventions (e.g. UNECE Convention on the protection and

use of transboundary watercourses and international

lakes, Helsinki, 1992)

UKRAINE

HUNGARY

BULGARIA

MOLDOVA

SERBIA

BILATERAL COOPERATION (1)

Goal: to establish rules and obligations, according to which the

Parties proceed in the scope of their cooperation related to transboundary waters, as well as to define the structural, institutional and economic conditions, upon which they develop the cooperation.

BILATERAL COOPERATION (2)

Develop of co-operation mechanisms:

- regularly and regulated exchange of information in the areas covered by the Agreement

- hold consultations and active participation of the institutions established by the Agreement

- take the legislative, administrative, technical and other measures needed for the implementation of the Agreement.

BILATERAL AGREEMENTS (1)

Between Governments or Ministries responsible for water management

For each Agreement is set up a Joint Commission (JC) or is appointed a Governmental Commissioner (GC)

Annually Session of the JC or GC

Protocol of the Session approved by the Government (Governmental Decision) and published in the Official Journal

Secretariats of the JC or GC - ensured by the Water Department – MoE

Activities between Sessions – Working Programme

BILATERAL AGREEMENTS (2)PROVISIONS

• Scope• Goals• Definitions• Objectives• Basic principles• Way of co-operation• Protection and sustainable use of

waters

• Responsibility for accidental pollution of transboundary waters

• Flood Protection

• Joint Hydrotechnical Commission (Structure, Tasks)

• Maintenance of geodesic base-points

• Mutual assistance• Exchange of data and information,

research, development and co-ordination

• Covering the expenses• Border crossing provisions• Settlement of disputes• Final provisions

BILATERAL AGREEMENTS (3)

Ministry of Environment (Chair of the JC/GC, according to GD; secretariat)

NA”Apele Romane”, National Institute for Hydrology and Water Management, National Administration of Meteorology, National Administration of Land Reclamation - implementation

Cooperation based on specific REGULATIONS: Mutual exchange of meteorological and hydrological data Assessment of water quantity and quality (water samples, monitoring,

intercallibration) Mutual agreement/approval of hydro-technical works Procedures to follow in case of accidental pollution Flood protection

BILATERAL AGREEMENTS (4)

• Joint Commission- Chair

- members

• Permanent or ad-hoc Subcommissions on:

- floods

- water quality

- hydrometeorology and water (quantity) management

• Experts Groups (Hungary, Serbia, Bulgaria)

• Government Commissioner • Deputy Commissioner• Working Groups at the level of

river basin (Tisza, Siret and Prut and the Danube River)

• Experts Groups

(Ukraine)

Agreement between the Government of Romania and the Government of Ukraine on the cooperation in the

transboundary waters field (Galati, 30 September 1997)

Based on the provisions of the UNECE Convention on the protection

and use of transboundary watercourses and international lakes (Helsinki, 1992) and the Convention on co-operation for the protection and sustainable use of Danube (Sofia, 1994)

Principles of cooperation:

Maintain and improve the water quality

Rational use of water

Prevention, control and reduction of water pollution

Precautionary and “polluter pays” principles

Cooperation Romania - Moldova

Convention between Romania and former USSR concerning the collaboration the field of transboundary water management – Moscow 1986

Memorandum of Understanding for the cooperation on the Prut river between NA “Apele Romane” and the related institution from Moldova “Moldavien Waters” – 1995

Cooperation on a specific Regulation on maintenance and operation of the Hydrotechnical Knot Stanca-Costesti on the Prut River

Cooperation under the ICPDR coordination

1996 - negotiations for a new agreement (on principles of the Helsinki Water Convention and the Convention for the Protection of the Danube River)

2006 – Romania sent a new proposal taking into account provisions of the Water Framework Directive

The Agreement between the Government of Romania and the Government of Republic of Hungary on the

collaboration for the transboundary waters protection and sustainable use

(Budapest, 15 September 2003)

Continues the former Convention (25 June 1986), but takes particularly into

account the relevant provisions of the WFD

Provisions of the Helsinki 1992 Water Convention and 1994 Convention of

the Protection of the Danube River

Objectives (article 3):

To achieve “good status” of water

To prevent the alteration of water status and to control the pollution

To prevent, to limit and to control the transboundary harmful effects (of

floods, drought, accidental pollution)

To develop the surveillance and assessment systems for water status

To ensure the sustainable use of water resources

Agreement between the Government of P.R of Romania (today Romania) and the Government of FPR of Yugoslavia (today Serbia)

concerning water engineering issues related to boundary and transboundary systems and watercourse (Bucharest, 7 April 1955)

Provisions regarding:

Water courses regulation

Flood control

Protection against pollution

Hydropower production

There is a need to generate a new agreement

The process started in 1996 (Romania has submitted a proposal)

Exchange of proposals between 2006 – 2009

Agreement between the Ministry of Environment and Water Management of Romania and Ministry of Water

Management of Republic of Bulgaria on the cooperation in water management field - Bucharest, 2004

Helsinki Water Convention, Convention for the Protection of the Danube

River, EU Legislation

Regulations on exchange of meteo and hydrological information, on water

quality and on implementation of WFD – in progress

BILATERAL AGREEMENTS ON TRANSBOUNDARY WATERS -IMPORTANCE

Avoid and solve problems on transboundary water management

Establish clear obligations and rules

Develop co-operation on specific regulations related to water quality and quantity

Develop the professional relations between the similar regional bodies responsible for transboundary water management

Contribute to the protection of people and environment in case of accidental water pollution and floods

Contribute to the decreasing of water pollution at regional level ; identify and develop studies/projects in the field of water management

Ensure the legal basis and institutional framework for the achievement of WFD objectives within the transboundary water basins

Provide the framework for harmonizing national interests in the border area

Thank you for your attention !

Ana Drapa, Ministry of Environment