PROJECT BRIEF FOR THE DANUBE
REGIONAL PROJECT
Strengthening the Implementation
Capacities for Nutrient Reduction
and Transboundary Cooperation
in the Danube River Basin
1 September 2000
International Commission for the
Protection of the Danube River
UNDP/GEF Assistance
UNDP
Cover Note
Project Title: "Strengthening the Implementation Capacities for Nutrient Reduction and
Transboundary Cooperation in the Danube River Basin"
Date: 31 August 2000
Work Program Inclusion
Reference/Note:
1. Country Ownership
· Country Eligibility
Cover page
· Country Driveness
Clear description of project's fit within:
· National reports/communications to Conventions
· Chapter 1.1
· National or sector development plans
· Chapter 1.6
· Recommendations of appropriate regional intergovernmental meetings
· Chapter 1.7; 4
or agreements.
· Endorsement
· Endorsement by national operational focal point.
· Annex 13
2. Program & Policy Conformity
· Program Designation
· Describe how project objectives are consistent with Operational
· Chapter 1.1
& Conformity
Program objectives or operational criteria.
· Chapter 4; Annex 1
· Annex 9
· Project Design
Describe:
· Sector issues, root causes, threats, barriers, etc, affecting global
· Chapter 1.1 1.5; 1.7
environment.
· Project logical framework, including a consistent strategy, goals,
· Annex 2
objectives, outputs, inputs/activities, measurable performance indicators,
risks and assumptions.
· Detailed description of goals, objectives, outputs, and related
· Chapter 2
assumptions, risks and performance indicators.
· Brief description of proposed project activities, including an explanation · Chapter 3; Annex 2
how the activities would result in project outputs,
· Global environmental benefits of project.
· Chapter 8; Annex 1
1
UNDP
Work Program Inclusion
Reference/Note:
· Incremental Cost Estimation based on the project logical framework.
· Annex 1
! Describe project outputs (and related activities and costs) that result
in global/regional environmental benefits
! Describe project outputs (and related activities and costs) that result
in joint global and national environmental benefits.
! Describe project outputs (and related activities and costs) that result
in national environmental benefits.
! Describe the process used to jointly estimate incremental cost with
in-country project partner.
! Present the incremental cost estimate. If presented as a range, then a
brief explanation of challenges and constraints and how these would
be addressed by the time of CEO endorsement.
· Sustainability
Describe proposed approach to address factors influencing sustainability,
· Chapter 4
(including financial
within and/or outside the project to deal with these factors.
sustainability)
· Replicability
Describe the proposed approach to replication (for e.g., dissemination of
· Chapter 2
lessons, training workshops, information exchange, national and regional
· Chapter 3.2 (v)
forum, etc) (could be within project description).
· Chapter 3.3
· Stakeholder
· Describe how stakeholders have been involved in project development.
· Chapter 4
Involvement
· Describe the approach for stakeholder involvement in further project
· Chapter 10.1
development and implementation.
· Monitoring &
· Describe how the project design has incorporated lessons from similar
· Chapter 5
Evaluation
projects in the past.
· Describe approach for project M&E system, based on the project logical
· Chapter 10; Annex 2
framework, including the following elements:
! Specification of indicators for objectives and outputs, including
! Annex 2
intermediate benchmarks, and means of measurement.
! Outline organizational arrangement for implementing M&E.
! Chapter 10
! Indicative total cost of M&E (maybe reflected in total project cost).
! included in total project costs
2
UNDP
Work Program Inclusion
Reference/Note:
3. Financing
· Financing Plan
· Estimate total GEF project cost :
· Chapter 6.1; Annex 4
· Estimate contribution by financing partners :
· Chapter 6.2
· Baseline Contributions :
· Chapter 6.3-6.7
· Propose type of financing instrument
· The ICPDR PMTF shall coordinate donor support and
assist to mobilize funds for implementation of investment
programs for pollution reduction under the DRPC.
· Implementing Agency
· Propose IA fee
· Chapter 6.1; Annex 4
Fees
· Cost-effectiveness
· Estimate cost effectiveness, if feasible.
· Chapter 8
· Describe alternate project approaches considered and discarded.
· The present developed approach promises to be the most
effective way to reach the project objectives, considering
the implementation of the Pollution Reduction Program
(Investment Program) and the development of policies and
legislation for nutrient reduction within the institutional and
operational frame of the ICPDR.
4. Institutional Coordination & Support
· IA Coordination and
Describe how the proposed project is located within the IA's:
Support
· Country/regional/global/sector programs.
· Chapter 10.1
· Core commitments &
· GEF activities with potential influence on the proposed project (design
· UNDP/GEF, UNEP and the World Bank (Partnership
Linkages
and implementation).
Program) will participate in the ICPDR/PMTF together with
other interested bilateral donors and international
organizations to assure efficient project implementation and
evaluation of results.
· Consultation,
· Describe how the proposed project relates to activities of other IAs in
· The "Programmatic Approach" developed by UNDP/GEF
Coordination and
the country/region.
indicates the cooperating mechanisms between the World
Collaboration between
Bank (WB-GEF Partnership Program), the International
IAs, and IAs and EAs,
Commission for the Protection of the Black Sea and the
if appropriate.
International Commission for the Protection of the Danube
River.
· Describe planned/agreed coordination, collaboration between IAs in
· In the frame of the ICPDR/PMTF all activities related to
project implementation.
protection of international waters will be coordinated with
particular attention to the EU approximation process and the
development of policies and legislation in line with
international and EU Directives.
3
UNDP
Work Program Inclusion
Reference/Note:
5. Response to Reviews
Council
Respond to Council Comments at pipeline entry.
To be completed by headquarters
Convention Secretariat
Respond to comments from Convention Secretariats .
To be completed by headquarters
GEF Secretariat
Respond to comments from GEFSEC on draft project brief.
To be completed by headquarters
Other IAs and 4 RDBs
Respond to comments from other IAs, 4RDBss on draft project brief.
To be completed by headquarters
STAP
Respond to comments by STAP at work program inclusion
To be completed by headquarters
Review by expert from
Respond to review by expert from STAP roster.1
To be completed by headquarters
STAP Roster
1 STAP Roster Review, and IA response, is a required annex of the project brief.
4
PROJECT BRIEF
1. IDENTIFIERS
PROJECT NUMBER
PROJECT NAME
Strengthening the Implementation Capacities for
Nutrient Reduction and Transboundary
Cooperation in the Danube River Basin
DURATION
5 years (July 2001 June 2006)
IMPLEMENTING AGENCY
UNDP
EXECUTING AGENCY
UNOPS / ICPDR
REQUESTING COUNTRIES
Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Slovenia,
Croatia, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Yugoslavia, Bulgaria,
Romania, Moldova, Ukraine
ELIGIBILITY
Eligible under para. 9(b) of GEF Instrument
PARTICIPATING COUNTRIES
Germany and Austria
GEF FOCAL AREA
International Waters
GEF PROGRAMMING FRAMEWORK
GEF Operational Strategy for International Waters /
Waterbody-Based Operational Programme (#8)
2. SUMMARY
The long-term development objective of the proposed Regional Project is to contribute to sustainable
human development in the DRB through reinforcing the capacities of the participating countries in
developing effective mechanisms for regional cooperation and coordination in order to ensure protection
of international waters, sustainable management of natural resources and biodiversity.
In this context, the proposed GEF Regional Project should support the ICPDR, its structures and the
participating countries in order to ensure an integrated and coherent implementation of the Strategic
Action Plan 1994 (SAP 1994), the Common Platform and the forthcoming JAP and the related investment
programs in line with the objectives of the DRPC.
The overall objective of the Danube Regional Project is to complement the activities of the ICPDR
required to provide a regional approach and global significance to the development of national policies
and legislation and the definition of priority actions for nutrient reduction and pollution control with
particular attention to achieving sustainable transboundary ecological effects within the DRB and the
Black Sea area.
Further, the Danube Regional Project shall facilitate project implementation in providing a framework for
coordination, dissemination and replication of successful demonstration that will be developed through the
implementation of investment projects (World Bank-GEF Strategic Partnership).
Taking into account the basic orientations of the Danube/Black Sea Basin Programmatic Approach, the
following immediate objectives can be designed to respond to the overall development objective:
(1)
Creation of sustainable ecological conditions for land use and water management,
(2)
Capacity building and reinforcement of transboundary cooperation for the improvement of water
quality and environmental standards in the Danube River Basin,
(3)
Strengthening of public involvement in environmental decision making and reinforcement of
community actions for pollution reduction and protection of ecosystems,
(4)
Reinforcement of monitoring, evaluation and information systems for transboundary pollution
control and nutrient reduction.
3. COSTS AND FINANCING (US$)
GEF:
- Project
13,800,000 USD
[administrative cost]
1,200,000 USD
- PDF
350,000 USD
Subtotal GEF
15,350,000 USD
Co-Financing:
Government
16,500,000 USD
UNDP
not available
Subtotal Co-financing
16,500,000 USD
Total Project Cost:
31,850,000 USD
4. Associated Financing
Baseline Costs:
881,237,000 USD
5. GEF Operational Focal Point Endorsements (Annex 13)
Slovakia
31 August, 2000
Hungary
30 August, 2000
Slovenia
29 August, 2000
Bosnia & Herzegovina
1 September, 2000
Bulgaria
1 September, 2000
Romania
30 August, 2000
Moldova
30 August, 2000
6. Implementing Agency Contact
Project Brief / Danube Regional Project
3
Table of Contents
1
Background Information........................................................................................................................... 5
1.1 Context of the Proposed Danube Regional Project .........................................................................................5
1.2 The Danube River Basin....................................................................................................................................6
1.3 Political, Demographic and Economic Issues...................................................................................................7
1.4 Accidental Pollution in the Danube and the Tisza Sub-River Basin..............................................................9
1.5 Institutional and Legal Mechanisms and Investment Programs for Nutrient Reduction in the
Danube Countries...............................................................................................................................................9
1.6 Mechanisms for Regional Cooperation for the Protection of Water and Ecological Resources
in the Danube River Basin.................................................................................................................................13
1.7 Cooperation between the ICPDR and the International Commission for the Protection of the
Black Sea (ICPBS)..............................................................................................................................................14
2
Project Objectives ...................................................................................................................................... 15
3
Project description ..................................................................................................................................... 17
3.1 Creation of sustainable ecological conditions for land use and water management ....................................17
3.2 Capacity building and reinforcement of transboundary cooperation for the improvement of
water quality and environmental standards in the Danube River Basin ......................................................22
3.3 Strengthening of public involvement in environmental decision making and reinforcement of
community actions for pollution reduction and protection of ecosystems ....................................................25
3.4 Reinforcement of monitoring, evaluation and information systems for transboundary
pollution control and nutrient reduction..........................................................................................................26
4
Sustainability and Participation ............................................................................................................... 29
5
Lessons Learned......................................................................................................................................... 30
6
Project Budget and Financing................................................................................................................... 31
6.1 GEF Budget Contribution .................................................................................................................................31
6.2 Contributions from the ICPDR and participating countries: ........................................................................33
6.3 National Capital Investments (JAP) and Development Costs ........................................................................33
6.4 World Bank Partnership and UNDP................................................................................................................33
6.5 Investments from EU for environmental measures (accession countries).....................................................33
6.6 Assistance from bilateral sources......................................................................................................................34
6.7 Assistance provided through private sector organizations (international and Danube NGOs) ..................34
6.8 Total contributions for environmental protection and nutrient reduction in the Danube
River Basin..........................................................................................................................................................34
7
Incremental Costs ...................................................................................................................................... 36
8
Cost-effectiveness ....................................................................................................................................... 37
9
Project Risks............................................................................................................................................... 38
10 Institutional Frameworks and Implementation ...................................................................................... 39
10.1 Institutional Arrangements ...............................................................................................................................39
10.2 Monitoring and Evaluation ...............................................................................................................................40
10.3 Implementation Schedule ..................................................................................................................................40
Annexes
4
List of Abbreviations
AEPWS/EG
Accident Emergency Prevention and Warning System Expert Group
AQC
Analytical Quality Control
BAT
Best available technology
BEP
Best environmental practices
BOD
Biological Oxygen Demand
COD
Chemical Oxygen Demand
DBAM
Danube Basin Alarm Model
DEPA
Danish Environmental Protection Agency
DANUBIS
Danube Information System
DPRP
Danube Pollution Reduction Program
DRB
Danube River Basin
DRBM/EG
Danube River basin Management Expert Group
DRP
Danube Regional Project
DRPC
Danube River Protection Convention
DWQM
Danube Water Quality Model
EMIS/EG
Emission Expert Group
EPDRB
Environmental Program for the Danube River Basin
GEF IW
Global Environment Facility
GDP
Gross Domestic Product
GPA
Global Programme of Action
IAA
Implementing Agency Agreement
ICPDR
International Commission for the protection of the Danube River
ICPBS
International Commission for the Protection of the Black Sea
IFI
International Financing Institution
IW
International Waters
MLIM/EG
Monitoring Laboratory and Information Management Expert Group
MONERIS
Modeling Nutrient Emission in River System
M&E
Monitoring and Evaluation
MSP
Medium Sized Project
NGOs
Non Government Organisation
PRP
Pollution Reduction Program
S/EG
Strategic Expert Group
SAP
Strategic Action Plan
SIA
Significant Impact Area
STAP
Scientific and Technical Advisory Panel
TAR
Transboundary Analysis Report
UNDP
United Nation Development Program
UNIDO
United Nations Industrial Development Office
UNIDO-TEST
UNIDO - Transfer of Environmentally Sound Technology to Reduce Transboundary
Pollution in the Danube River Basin
UNOPS
United Nations Office for Project Services ....
USAID
United State Agency for International Development
WPPCM
Water Pollution Prevention and Control Model
Project Brief / Danube Regional Project
5
1
Background Information
1.1 Context of the Proposed Danube Regional Project
In the frame of the Environmental Program for the Danube River Basin (EPDRB) international support was
provided to facilitate the development and the implementation of the Danube River Protection Convention
(DRPC). Since 1992 the European Community has supported, in particular through its Phare and Tacis
programs and the UNDP/GEF, in particular through its Pollution Reduction Program (June 1997 to June
1999), the efforts of the Danube countries and of the Interim Commission for the Protection of the Danube
River (ICPDR) to develop the necessary mechanisms for effective implementation of the Convention. These
mechanisms relate in particular to the development of a regional Strategic Action Plan (SAP) based on
national contributions, the elaboration of a Transboundary Analysis to define causes and effects of
transboundary pollution within the Danube River Basin and on the Black Sea. Based on the results of the
Transboundary Analysis, an investment portfolio has been developed in the frame of the Danube Pollution
Reduction Program with particular attention to nutrient reduction. All the measures, projects and programs
proposed to reduce emissions from both point and non-point sources of pollution will improve water quality,
considering a reduction of 50 % in Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) emissions and 70 % in Biological
Oxygen Demand (BOD) emissions and other toxic elements and thus reduce transboundary effects within the
Danube River basin. Once implemented, these measures will further substantially contribute to reducing
nutrient transport (Phosphorus by 27 % and Nitrates by 14 %) to the Black Sea to improve, over time,
environmental status indicators of Black Sea ecosystems of the western shelf.
Since 1992/1993, donor investments in the frame of the Environmental Program for the Danube River Basin
(EPDRB) have been in the order of 27,2 million US$ for the Phare and Tacis Programs (ending October
2000) and of 12,4 million US$ for the UNDP/GEF assistance.
The ICPDR is currently developing a first Joint Action Programme (JAP) for the years 2001 - 2005, which is
expected to be adopted at the ICPDR Plenary Session in November 2000. The JAP will deal i.a. with
pollution from point and non-point sources, wetland and floodplain restoration, priority substances, water
quality standards, prevention of accidental pollution, floods and river basin management.
In order to ensure efficient implementation of the Common Platform for Development of National Policies
and Actions for Pollution Reduction under the DRPC (Common Platform), the Pollution Reduction Program
and the JAP and to reinforce the appropriate development and application of policies, strategies and
legislation for transboundary pollution reduction at the national level, a new phase of GEF assistance shall
complement the activities of the ICPDR and the Black Sea PIU.
The new GEF assistance is planned within the frame of the Danube/Black Sea Basin Programmatic
Approach (Annex 9) for the Danube and the Black Sea Basin. The DanubeBlack Sea program is composed
of three complementary parts:
(i)
a series of country-related investment projects executed through the World Bank-GEF
Strategic Partnership with GEF financial support and
(ii) two Regional Projects for the Danube River Basin and the Black Sea respectively,
(iii) other GEF and donor interventions in the basin targeting reduction of nutrients and toxic
pollutants.
The GEF regional Danube/Black Sea basin Programmatic Approach shall provide assistance to the ICPDR
and the Black Sea PIU to reinforce their activities in terms of policy/legislative reforms and enforcement of
environmental regulations (with particular attention to the reduction of nutrients and toxic substances). The
regional projects, in their respective sphere of intervention and jointly, shall also assure a coherent and
coordinated approach and global significance of policy and legislative measures introduced at the national
level of the participating countries. Further, the GEF regional components of the Danube/Black Sea basin
Programmatic Approach shall facilitate project implementation in providing a framework for dissemination
and replication of successful demonstration that will be developed through the implementation of investment
projects through the World Bank-GEF Strategic Partnership.
6
In this context, the proposed Danube Regional Project (DRP) has to be seen as an integral part of the
Danube/Black Sea basin Programmatic Approach and a logical continuation of the GEF support for capacity
building provided for a period of six years to the countries of the DRB. For the reason of continuity and
utmost utilization of available expertise, the Danube Regional Project has to take into account and build on
the existing mechanisms and structures, including:
the Common Platform, focusing on policies and strategies for water quality control and pollution
reduction with particular attention to transboundary issues and reduction of nutrient transport to
the Black Sea; regional policies and strategies have to be coordinated with the development of
national policies and legislation and implemented through national investment programs;
the Transboundary Analysis Report (TAR) identifies causes and effects of pollution with
particular attention to transboundary issues and nutrient transport to the Black Sea; the TAR
defines priorities for control and management strategies at the regional and national levels;
The Danube Pollution Reduction Program (DPRP), is the actual investment program of the
ICPDR. It is the operational basis for the promotion and monitoring of pollution reduction
measures in the DRB. A total of 421 projects for 5,66 billion US$, primarily addressing hot spots
have been identified for municipal, industrial and agricultural projects which, once implemented,
would decrease phosphorus and nitrogen loads to the Danube and downstream to the Black Sea
by 27 and 14 % respectively;
the ICPDR, its Permanent Secretariat and the existing, respectively proposed expert groups
(EMIS/EG, MLIM/EG, AEPWS/EG, S/EG and the Ad-hoc EG for implementation of EU Water
Framework Directives and River basin Management DRBM/EG) are responsible for the
implementation of the DRPC. The Danube Regional Project shall make use of these structures
and instruments to pursue its objectives and organize its activities.
the Joint Action Programme 2001-2005 is presently prepared by the EMIS EG and should be
approved by the ICPDR at the Plenary Session in November 2000. The projects and strategic
measures contained in the Joint Action Programme are in most cases coherent with the projects in
the Five Year Nutrient Reduction Action Plan, where the total amount of investment is 4.11
billion out of which 3.25 billion are earmarked as national contributions.
1.2 The Danube River Basin
The Danube River is with a length of 2 780 km the second largest river in Europe and drains an area of 817
000 square km. This includes: all of Hungary, nearly all parts of Austria, Romania, Slovenia, Slovakia and
FR Yugoslavia, significant parts of Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Moldova and
small parts of Germany and Ukraine. The Danube River discharges into the Black Sea through a delta, which
is the second largest natural wetland in Europe.
Discharges of the Danube River,
also indicating the inputs of its
Longitudinal profile of the annual water volume in the Danube
tributaries, are presented in the
in 10003 m3/a, by countries of origin
250
attached figure.
M990604g
water 10003 m3/a
The Basin, with a total of about
Germany
Austria
Czech_Re
Slovakia
817.000 km² is characterized by
200
8.6
(4.3%)
Hungary
Slovenia
Croatia
Yugoslav
1.5
(0.7%)
Bosnia_H
Bulgaria
Romania
Moldova
an aquatic ecosystem with
Ukraine
35.6
(17.6%)
numerous important wetlands
7.5
(3.7%)
150
17.8
(8.8%)
and floodplains. It is of high
23.0
(11.3%)
environmental as well as
100
13.0
(6.4%)
economic and social value. It
6.3
(3.1%)
8.8
(4.3%)
3.9
(1.9%)
supports drinking water supply,
2.5
(1.2%)
44.8
(22.1%)
agriculture, industry, fishing,
50
tourism and recreation, power
29.5
(14.5%)
generation, navigation, etc. A
0
r
r
r
r
r
total 202.8 (100%)
ce
r
u
d
e
de
/
YU
d
e
d
e
d
e
or
or
or
or
large number of dams, dikes,
so
b
or
t
R
C
-A
Hb
Ob
Gb
Ob
D
K-
-R
-
B
R
S
-
Ho
U
G-
A
YU
Y
B
Inn
a/
r
av
Drava
Delta
Mo
Iron Gate
navigation locks and other
690 m3/s
2310 m3/s Tisa
5520 m3/s
6550 m3/s
2860 m3/s
hydraulic structures have been
Sava
3550 m3/s
built throughout the region.
Cumulative discharges for the Danube River in m3/s
(Annex 7 - Maps: Major
Hydraulic Structures in the Danube River Basin).
Project Brief / Danube Regional Project
7
Utilizing water resources for important economic activities and the release of waste water without adequate
treatment has resulted in changes in the hydrological systems. Problems of water quality and quantity have
been created, including significant environmental damage, with resulting impairment of public health and
quality of life.
Central and eastern European countries in particular, during the period of centralized planning system, failed
to develop adequate environmental protection policies and subsequent measures to fully respond to water
pollution and degradation of river ecosystems. The economic situation of the countries in transition, most of
which are considered as accession countries to the European Union, does not allow them to fully respond to
the needs for environmental protection and the implementation of pollution control measures.
Appropriate water management concerns must be better integrated into municipal, industrial and agricultural
policies and legislation to assure sustainable human development and promotion of economic activities. The
Danube/Black Sea Basin Programmatic Approach shall in particular assist the countries in transition to
respond to the regional and global environmental concerns with particular attention to nutrient reduction and
elimination of other toxic substances in the water bodies.
1.3 Political, Demographic and Economic Issues
The present population of the Danube River Basin is about 83 million inhabitants (16 % of the population in
Europe). Nearly 57 % of this population lives in increasingly growing urban areas. The share of the
population connected to public water supply varies from 29% in Moldova to 98 % in Germany, yielding an
average of 74%. The share of population branched to public sewer system varies from 14% in Moldova to
89% in Germany an average of 52%. Based on the national projection figures, the population of the
Danube River Basin can be expected to remain at its present level by the year 2020.
The analysis of economic disparities shows a clear trend of a west east decline of the GDP from the
upstream countries such as Germany and Austria, with about 25,000 US$ per capita and year (in 1997), to
the downstream countries among which Ukraine accounts for less than 1,000 US$ per capita and year.
The middle and downstream
Danube countries in transition
The Danube Countries:
are facing serious economic and
GDP per Capita in USD (1998)
financial problems in responding
and GDP adjusted for Purchasing Power Parity
to the objectives of the Danube
River Protection Convention and
30,000
implementing measures for
pollution reduction and for
25,000
GDP per Capita in USD
environmental protection as
20,000
GDP per Capita adjusted with
Purchase Power Parity
required for the accession to the
European Union. This analysis
15,000
also shows the need to assist the
10,000
countries in transition and makes
evident the responsibilities of the
GDP per Capita (USD)
5,000
international community to
0
respond to the regional and
A
D
CZ
H
SK
HR
global concerns of environmental
SLO
RO
BG
YU*
UA
BiH*
MD*
* estimation
protection.
8
In general terms, the 13 DRB countries can be categorized and characterized as follows:
(i)
Germany and Austria
These two countries are members of the European Union and are located at the upper part of the DRB.
Compared to all other DRB countries, Germany and Austria have significantly higher economic
development levels, represented by a per capita income of about 25 000 USD per annum. In terms of
pollution reduction (COD, BOD, N and P) they have achieved high standards of emission reduction and
water pollution control. From 1990 to 1999 both countries have invested important amounts for the
installation of third stages and for the upgrading of municipal waste water treatment plants.
In 1997 and 1998 (2 years) Germany invested more then 2,4 billion US$ for pollution reduction measures to
respond to EU Water Directives and in particular to Nitrate Directive. Current investment in the water sector
in the German part of the Danube River Basin is at the level of about 1,5 billion US$ per year of which 1.2
billion US$ is spent for communal waste water treatment facilities (including 3rd stage for nutrient removal).
From 1993 to 1999 Austria invested about 9 billion ATS (780 million US$) per year for municipal waste
water treatment including nutrient removal facilities.
Concerning the ongoing projects indicated in the Nutrient Reduction Plan, further investments of 234 million
US$ for Germany and 264 million US$ for Austria are foreseen for the period from 2000 to 2005.
Based on the data from the DWQM, Germany and Austria were in 1996/97 in spite of these efforts still
responsible for 26,2 % of the nitrates and 15,3 % of phosphates reaching the Black Sea. In the field of
agriculture, even presently, neither country has yet met the European emission standards (EU Nitrate
Directive). However, one must bear in mind that changes in agricultural practices and land management will
due to delay in runoff - take five or more years before producing obvious effects in terms of nutrient
reduction.
(ii)
Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Slovenia and Croatia
These countries are located in the central part of the DRB. They have to a great extent overcome the former
central state planning systems and have reached medium economic development levels reflected in their
annual GDP of between USD 4,000 and USD 9,000 per capita. The economic transition process has caused
significant reduction of industrial and agricultural production, thus temporarily reducing production-related
pollution loads. This has created an opportunity to establish and integrate environmental objectives into
industrial and agricultural policies and legislation in line with EU guidelines. All these countries are
interested in joining the EU as soon as possible; Hungary, the Czech Republic and Slovenia are obviously
the priority candidates. In the process of fulfilling the basic accession criteria, these countries as well as
Slovakia will receive special financial and technical support from the European Commission (ISPA funds) to
help them develop an infrastructure and meet environmental standards. The present Regional Project shall
assist these countries to develop adequate policies and legislation for emission control with particular
attention to nutrient reduction.
(iii)
FR Yugoslavia and Bosnia and Herzegovina
These two countries, also located in the central Danube River Basin, are still in the critical phase, struggling
to overcome the aftermath of the war. In the forthcoming period, their main task will be to re-organize their
political, legal, administrative and socio-economic structures in order to comply with the requirements of the
commencing process of economic liberalization and privatization as well as of international normalization.
With annual per-capita GDP of USD 1,100 (BiH) and USD 1,500 (Yugoslavia), both countries are presently
well below their pre-war levels.
(iv)
Romania, Bulgaria, Moldova and Ukraine
These countries, located in the lower Danube River Basin, are the major polluters, with a lot of
environmental damage done in each country. Romania, Bulgaria and Ukraine are also Black Sea countries
and substantially contribute to the degradation of the Black Sea ecosystems. These countries are both
polluters and victims of pollution to the Black Sea. All four countries face serious economic problems and
are in a difficult phase of political and social transition. Environmental protection and investments for
pollution reduction are not the priority issues in the near future. Particularly critical is the fact, that their legal
and administrative framework is still to a certain extent determined by the former central planning structures
and therefore not yet in compliance with the requirements of the commencing process of economic
Project Brief / Danube Regional Project
9
liberalization and privatization. This is particularly true for the two former Soviet Union countries Moldova
and Ukraine and to a lesser extent for the two potential EU-Accession countries Bulgaria and Romania. The
lower economic status of the four downstream Danube River countries is clearly documented by per capita
GDP between USD 900 and 1500 per annum.
It is obvious from this broad description of the DRB countries that there is a clear distinction in terms of
political, administrative and economic capability from the wealthy countries in the upper DRB, the mid-
income countries in the central DRB, down to the poorer countries in the lower part of the DRB.
1.4 Accidental Pollution in the Danube and the Tisza Sub-River Basin
Since the DRPC entered into force, first concerns about contamination of ground and surface waters were
raised during the NATO intervention against Yugoslavia from March to June 1999. The bombing and
destruction of petrochemical plants and refineries led to contamination of channels and tributaries emptying
into the Danube River. Sampling and analysis have shown high levels of contamination with heavy metals,
in particular mercury, oil and petroleum products, volatile organic substances, PCBs, PAHs, etc. However,
one must bear in mind that the accumulation of toxic substances is not the effect of the recent bombing of
industrial installations only but also the result of years of inefficient treatment and careless handling of
wastes from industrial and mining activities.
In the beginning of the year 2000 several accidents occurred with disastrous environmental effects in the
upper Tisza Sub-River Basin where mining activities are carried out. Waste water containing cyanide and
heavy metals was accidentally discharged into receiving waters. Ecosystems where affected and large fish
kills of several hundred tons were reported. Drinking water supply for urban centers at the riverbanks and
fishing activities had to be suspended. Important economic losses were reported in tourism and fisheries. The
effects of the cyanide wave were reported over a stretch of 900 to 1.000 km from the Tisza River to the
Danube and dangerous cyanide concentrations were still measured even downstream of the Iron Gate dam in
Bulgaria.
Further, there are serious concerns over the possible accumulation of toxic substances in the sediments and
biota of the Iron Gate reservoirs. Preventive management programs have to be developed and implemented
in order to gradually clean up the sediments and assure the rehabilitation of ecosystems in the central and
lower part of the Danube River basin.
1.5 Institutional and Legal Mechanisms and Investment Programs for
Nutrient Reduction in the Danube Countries
In the frame of the present project preparation (PDF-Block B activities), specific subjects concerning the
institutional, legal and policy frame as well as national investment programs for nutrient reduction have been
studied and analyzed.
(i)
Inter ministerial coordination mechanisms
In the frame of the PDF-Block B activities, inter-ministerial mechanism at the national level and concepts of
cooperation for pollution reduction, in particular nutrient reduction, have been analyzed. The diversity of
views and proposals for the implementation of EU Directives in the frame of the accession process create an
encouraging environment for the countries to create new inter-ministerial mechanism or improve the existing
structures with nutrient reduction and control responsibilities. Based on the finding of the national
contributions, the Danube countries can be classified in three groups.
The first group is made up of EU member countries, Germany and Austria, in which the existing national
inter-ministerial structures allow an effective performance of nutrient reduction and control tasks. In
Germany, the inter-ministerial cooperation takes place on both federal and state levels, covering legislative
procedures, implementation of EU-directives, and development of minimum requirements for point sources
for municipalities as well as for industrial branches. In Austria, the recently restructured Ministry of
Agriculture, Forestry, Environment and Water Management provides the necessary structure to adequately
implement nutrient control and reduction measures.
10
The second group, made up of the Czech Republic, Hungary, Romania and Bulgaria includes countries
where specific mechanisms or inter-ministerial structures for nutrient reduction do not yet exist. However,
there are several relevant national inter-ministerial bodies with responsibilities for water pollution abatement
and environmental protection. Most of these structures also deal with diffuse sources of pollution, the
implementation of pollution reduction measures or approval of new investments in the water sector.
Finally, in the remaining Danube countries, the nutrient reduction and control issues do yet not represent a
high priority for the policy makers.
All countries have developed proposals for the improvement/creation of inter-ministerial mechanisms
capable of responding to nutrient reduction concerns. These proposals refer to both legal and institutional
frameworks and include:
(i)
the implementation of nutrient-related legislation based on EU Directives and ratified
International Conventions,
(ii)
the development of instruments for diffuse pollution characterization and control,
(iii)
the elaboration of rules for good farming practices and good practices in drinking water
protection zones,
(iv)
the application of an integrated approach to the management of water resources on the river
basin level.
The Danube countries believe that cooperation between governments, local communities and Non-
Governmental Organizations in relation to the nutrient reduction is very important. Nutrient reduction issues
are included directly or indirectly in the mandate and the responsibilities of the local authorities, farm
enterprises, industrial plants and environmental NGOs. In the frame of river basin organizations the majority
of the countries sets good examples of cooperation between the government, inter-ministerial bodies, local
communities and NGOs.
The activities of the PDF-Block B investigation have raised awareness and provided important legitimacy to
the concept of inter-ministerial mechanism for nutrient reduction and helped move it into the mainstream of
policy debate for its implementation. The forthcoming Danube Regional Project will reinforce national
initiatives and contribute towards the setting up of adequate nutrient reduction mechanisms at the national
and regional levels.
(ii)
Policies and legislation relating to nutrient control and reduction
After a critical period of transition, all DRB countries have in the meantime developed a comprehensive
hierarchic system of short, medium and long-term environmental policy objectives, strategies and principles
which usually reflect the key country-specific environmental problems and the sector priorities on national
and regional levels.
Despite the diversity of problems, interests and priorities across the DRB, the Danube countries share certain
values and principles relating to the environment, conservation of natural resources and nutrient control and
reduction. The most essential and commonly accepted principles are:
· the precautionary principle;
· best available technology (BAT) - best environmental practice (BEP);
· control of pollution at the source;
· the "polluter pays" principle and the related "user pays" principle;
· the principle of integrated approach (e.g. River Basin Management approach);
· the principle of shared responsibilities, respectively the principle of subsidiarity;
· the implementation of EU Directive 76/464/EEC on pollution caused by certain dangerous
substances.
None of the DRB countries currently has an explicitly formulated nutrient reduction program. Measures and
activities with relevance to nutrient reduction are usually sub-components of or are substantially incorporated
in other programs.
While Germany and Austria have legislation in compliance with "highest environmental standards" on
nutrients (e.g. EU Nitrate Directive), they have not yet fully implemented / enforced these legislation. The
adequacy of the legal framework for sound environmental management of water resources of the other
Project Brief / Danube Regional Project
11
countries has to be viewed against the political, economic, administrative and social changes that have taken
place in the particular DRB countries during the previous years of transition.
Thus, the relevant legislation is in most DRB countries currently undergoing substantial reform and
modernization. Given the complexity of the task, the reform can be expected to take several years before the
relevant legislation has reached an acceptable level of compliance with the international requirements.
Except for the two EC member states, Germany and Austria, all other DRB countries consider the
harmonization of national environment and water-related legislation with EU legislation as the most essential
prerequisite for long-term sustainable nutrient control and reduction in their countries. In the Czech
Republic, Hungary and Bulgaria, this harmonization is incorporated in an ongoing program and considered
as a short-term task.
In Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia, the harmonization of relevant national laws with EU legislation or
standards is expected to be achieved in the short, respectively medium term. For the final implementation of
the Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive, an adjustment period of approximately 10 to 20 years is
considered to be necessary.
In other countries - Moldova, Ukraine and the war-impacted countries Croatia, Bosnia-Herzegovina and
Yugoslavia - the status of the water sector legislation is still unsatisfactory.
From the point of view of nutrients, the most essential issue is the substantial transposition of:
· the proposal for a Council Directive establishing a framework for community action in the
field of water policy (97/C 184/02) COM(97) 49 final - (particularly regarding the River
Basin Management task);
· the Council Directive 91/271/EEC of May 1991 concerning urban waste-water treatment;
· the Council Directive 91/676/EEC of 12 December 1991 concerning the protection of waters
against pollution caused by nitrates from agricultural sources.
Regarding the particular issue of control, respectively the out-phasing of phosphate-containing detergents,
the current situation in the particular DRB countries indicates that there is a substantial potential for
phosphorus reduction in most DRB countries, which should be followed up on.
(iii)
Nutrient reduction programs 2000 2005 and related investments
(a)
Point Source Projects and anticipated nutrient reduction
Within the elaboration of the PDF-B project all 13 DRB countries have provided a draft national lists of
priority projects that are supposed to be ready for implementation in the coming 5-year period and can be
considered as a reasonable basis for the elaboration of comprehensive Nutrient Reduction Action Plans as
part of the ICPDR Joint Action Program.
According to the available data, the total investment required for the 244 priority point source projects for all
13 DRB countries amounts to about EUR 4100 million.
The structure of the identified investment requirements by sector is as follows:
Municipal
Industrial
Agricultural
Wetlands
Total
No of Projects
157
44
21
22
244
Million EUR
3404
267
113
318
4,111
(%)-Structure
83%
7%
3%
8%
100
The structure of the identified investment requirements by countries is as follows:
GER
A
CZ
SK HUN SLO CRO B&H YUG BUL RO MOL UA TOT
No of Proj.
11
4
11
20
24
24
11
12
40
21
24
31
10
243
Mill. EUR
231
264
144
118
687
384
433
176
783
125
204
493
67
4,111
(%)
6
6
4
3
17
9
10
4
19
3
5
12
2
100
12
The anticipated composition of the funding of the identified priority projects across the DRB countries is as
follows:
Funding component
Million EUR
(%) Structure
National funding contribution
1662
41 (%)
International loans:
1016
25 (%)
International grants:
575
14 (%)
Not secured funding components:
848
21 (%)
Total:
4101
100 (%)
According to the available data provided by the national reports, total pollution reduction as a result of the
implementation of the proposed priority point source projects including waste water from urban areas, which
are not connected to WWTP, is anticipated to be in the following ranges:
Municipal
Industrial
Agricultural
Wetlands
Total
No of Projects
157
44
21
22
244
N (t/y)
32 200
3 800
6 700
16 600
59 300
P (t/y)
7 400
3 700
1 100
1 800
14 000
BOD (t/y)
181 000
39 700
9 500
5 900
236 000
COD (t/y)
351 000
78 700
15 000
32 400
477 000
(b)
Nutrient reduction from agricultural non point sources of pollution
Based on the available data, the assessment of the anticipated nutrients reduction from agricultural non point
sources of pollution shows values ranging between 10 and 25 % for nitrogen and between 3 and 25 % for
phosphorus.
To ensure significant nutrient loads reduction from diffuse sources of pollution, the Danube countries have
identified measures that primarily address:
(i)
Policy and legislation-related actions: the improvement of national policies and legislation
regarding the utilization of fertilizers and livestock waste and approximation of national
legislation to relevant EU legislation and standards;
(ii)
Institutional strengthening and capacity building: the elaboration and enforcement of guidance
on the application of the agro-environmental schemes;
(iii)
Raising public awareness and strengthening public participation in nutrient reduction initiatives:
the development of pilot projects for the implementation of alternative methods.
The estimates of the nitrogen and phosphorus reduction for point sources and non point sources as
presented in the national contributions are summarized below:
Country
Nutrient loads
Anticipated national emission reductions Expected national
(DWQM)
Point Sources
Non Point Sources*
load reduction
N (t/y)
P (t/y)
N (%)
P (%)
N (%)
P (%)
N (t/y)
P (t/y)
Germany
68,000
3,700
6.0
2.0
10.0
3.0
10.891
185
Austria
77,000
3,800
5.1
10.6
10.0
3.0
11.650
518
Czech Republic
15,000
1,100
7.3
5.6
10.0
3.0
2.591
95
Slovakia
30,000
1,700
8.6
8.6
15.0
10.0
7.074
318
Hungary
31,000
3,800
21.6
40.1
15.0
10.0
11.358
1.902
Slovenia
20,000
1,300
26.2
62.6
15.0
10.0
8.233
944
Croatia
23,000
2,200
6.6
10.9
15.0
10.0
4.959
459
Bosnia-Herzegovina
36,000
2,200
13.1
38.8
10.0
10.0
8.300
1.073
Yugoslavia
72,000
7,000
9.4
69.3
10.0
10.0
13.993
5.550
Bulgaria
23,000
4,000
11.7
15.0
10.0
10.0
4.983
999
Romania
121,000
12,700
8.3
8.6
10.0
10.0
22.120
2.361
Moldova
8,000
1,400
86.3
64.6
5.0
5.0
7.298
975
Ukraine
28,000
4,000
1.7
1.6
10.0
5.0
3.286
265
Total
552,000
48,900
10.3
23.8
10.9
8.2
116.736
15,643
* Percentage for expected reduction of nutrient emissions from non-point sources for groups of countries has
been estimated, based on available information and data for expected emission reduction following the
implementation of new policies and legislation in line with EU Directives
Project Brief / Danube Regional Project
13
The results indicate that with the implementation of structural (projects) and non-structural measures
(policies and legislation), the total annual nutrient reduction will be about 117.000 tons for nitrogen and
16.000 tons for phosphorus. It can be further assumed that about half of the nitrate reduction will come from
the rehabilitation of point sources (waste water treatment) and the other part from nutrient reduction from
diffuse sources, in particular from change of agricultural practices. The GEF Regional Project will provide
the necessary support to the ICPDR and the participating countries to realize these goals and to contribute
essentially to the improvement of water quality and ecosystems in the Danube River Basin and consequently
in the Black Sea.
1.6 Mechanisms for Regional Cooperation for the Protection of Water and
Ecological Resources in the Danube River Basin
(i)
The Danube River Protection Convention
The Danube River Protection Convention is a legally binding instrument, which provides a substantial
framework and a legal basis for cooperation between the contracting parties, including enforcement. The
main objective is the protection and sustainable use of ground and surface waters and ecological resources,
directed at basin-wide and sub-basin-wide cooperation with transboundary relevance. Joint activities and
actions are focused on coordination and enhancement of policies and strategies, while the implementation of
measures lies mainly with the executive tools at the national level. The Strategic Action Plan provides for
guidance concerning policies and strategies in developing and supporting the implementation measures for
pollution reduction and sustainable management of water resources enhancing the enforcement of the
Danube River Protection Convention.
Eleven of the 13 DRB countries eligible to join the Convention have signed with the European Commission
the Danube River Protection Convention (DRPC), which came into force in October 1998, and most have
ratified it.
(ii)
The International Commission for the Protection of the Danube River (ICPDR)
Recognizing individually and responding in common to the obligations of the DRPC, the Danube countries
have established the International Commission for the Protection of the Danube River to strengthen regional
cooperation. It is the
institutional frame not
Organizational Structure under the Danube River Protection Convention
only for pollution control
and the protection of
CONFERENCE OF THE PARTIES
water bodies but it also
Permanent Secretariat (PS)
sets a common platform
· Supporting ICPDR sessions
for sustainable use of
International Commission for the
· Supporting Expert Groups, PMTF
Protection of the Danube River -
· Coordinating Work Programme
ecological resources and
Programme Management Task Force
ICPDR
· Supporting project development and
(PMTF)
coherent and integrated
· Implementation of the Danube River
implementation
· Coordination and Implementation of
Protection Convention
· Maintenance of Information System
river basin management.
donor supported activities
· Decision making, management and
· Development of financing mechanisms
coordination of regional cooperation
The Commission has
for project execution
· Approval of annual work program
GEF/ Danube Regional Project
and budget
·Development of policies, legal instruments,
created several Expert
· Follow up of activities and evaluation
measures for exacting compliance
Groups to strengthen the
of results from Expert Groups
·Institutional strengthening, capacity building
·Awareness raising and NGO participation
proactive participation of
·Development of monitoring and information
_______ existing structure
on transboundary pollution control
........... planned structure
all Contracting Parties
and associated countries
Emission Issues
Monitoring, Laboratory &
Accidental Emergency
Strategic Expert
Ad hoc Expert Group
in the design and
(EMIS/EG)
Information Management
Prevention and Warning
Group (S / EG)
on WFD and RBM
(MLIM/EG)
System (AEPWS / EG)
(WFD/RBM)
implementation of joint
·Point sources
·Trans National Monitoring
·Accidental pollution
·Strategic issues
·Implementation of Water
measures for pollution
·Diffuse sources
Network
incidents
·Legal issues
Framework Directive
·Joint action programmes
·Laboratory quality assurance
·AEWS operations
·Administrative and
·River Basin Management
reduction, including
·Basic information and
·Respective information
·Accident prevention
financial issues
guidelines
management
nutrients, and water
management.
14
1.7 Cooperation between the ICPDR and the International Commission for
the Protection of the Black Sea (ICPBS)
(i)
Findings of the Joint Ad-hoc Technical Working Group of the ICPDR and the ICPBS
In 1998, the ICPDR and the ICPBS established a joint Working Group, which analyzed the causes and the
effects of eutrophication in the Black Sea. In its findings, the Working Group indicated that the loads
entering the Black Sea from the Danube had fallen in recent years due to the collapse of the economy of
many transition countries formerly attached to the Soviet Block, the measures undertaken to reduce nutrient
discharges in the upper Danube countries, in particular Germany and Austria, and a decline in the use of
phosphate in detergent.
The Working Group concluded that in spite of the evidence of recovery in the Black Sea ecosystems, there
were still concerns that the nutrient discharges to the Black Sea in line with the expected economic growth
were likely to rise again unless action was taken to implement nutrient discharge control measures as part
of economic development strategies.
The Working Group went on to define the possible objectives and strategies, which are presently included in
the Memorandum of Understanding between the ICPDR and the ICPBS, as follows:
the long-term goal is defined as a recovery of the Black Sea ecosystems to conditions similar to
those in 1960;
as a mid-term goal, measures should be taken to prevent discharges of nutrients and hazardous
substances from exceeding the levels of 1997;
inputs of nutrients and hazardous substances should be assessed, monitoring and sampling
procedures should be determined, and the results should be reported.
(ii)
Analysis of Point Sources and Non-Point Sources of Pollution with particular Attention to
Nutrient Transport to the Black Sea
In the frame of the Pollution Reduction Program, over 500 hot spots were identified for the municipal,
industrial and agricultural sectors. The geographical distribution of hot spots in the Danube River Basin
indicates a clear concentration of municipal and agricultural hot spots in the upper Drava and Sava Sub-river
Basins, in the Lower Tisza and around Belgrade and in the central part of Bosnia-Herzegovina. In the
Carpathian Mountains of the upper Tisza and Prut Sub-river Basins, important mining and industrial hot
spots have been identified, from which recent accidents - the cyanide spill of Baia Mare and the sludge
containing heavy metals from Baia Borsa - have been reported. (Annex 7 Maps: Distribution of Hot Spots
in the Danube Sub-River Basins).
Applying the Danube Water
Quality Model (DWQM), the
Annual Nitrogen Load in the Danube (in kt/y), by countries
total nutrient transport from point
of origin, with a high estimate for the in stream
and non-point sources, to the
denitrification (= removal rate)
Black Sea was analyzed,
nitrogen (kt/a)
600
indicating a total of 551 kilotons
28 (5.1%)
of nitrogen and 48,9 kilotons of
8 (1.5%)
500
GERMANY
AUSTRIA
CZECH_RE
SLOVAKIA
HUNGARY
SLOVENIA
CROATIA
YUGOSLAV
phosphorus reaching annually
121
(22%)
BOSNIA_H
BULGARIA
ROMANIA
MOLDOVA
the Black Sea. Studies
400
UKRAINE
23 (4.1%)
36 (6.5%)
undertaken in the frame of the
300
72 (13.1%)
Danube Environmental Program
23 (4.1%)
20 (3.5%)
suggest that about half of the
200
31 (5.6%)
30 (5.4%)
nutrient discharged internally in
15 (2.8%)
77 (13.9%)
the basin come from agriculture
100
(diffuse sources of pollution),
68 (12.3%)
0
n
r
U
s
a
v
a
e
r
t
e
s
e
r
o
w
slightly more than one quarter
u
r
c
e
In
d
er
a
v
a
d
er
o
r
d
e
/Y
R
Ti
Sa
o
rd
o
rd
so
bor
b
Dr
C
b
b
bor
o
u
tfl
-
A
-
H
O
o
n
Ga
G
O
D
K
to
H
-R
Ir
-B
-
R
-S
U
U
G
total
551 (100%)
Y
Y
B
from domestic sources, an
v
a
/
A
ra
Mo
additional larger share comes
from industry and the remainder
from "background" sources.
Project Brief / Danube Regional Project
15
2
Project Objectives
The long-term development objective of the proposed Regional Project is to contribute to sustainable human
development in the DRB through reinforcing the capacities of the participating countries in developing
effective mechanisms for regional cooperation and coordination in order to ensure protection of international
waters, sustainable management of natural resources and biodiversity.
In this context, the proposed GEF Regional Project should support the ICPDR, its structures and the
participating countries in order to ensure an integrated and coherent implementation of the Strategic Action
Plan 1994 (SAP 1994), the Common Platform and the forthcoming JAP and the related investment programs
in line with the objectives of the DRPC.
The overall objective of the Danube Regional Project is to complement the activities of the ICPDR required
to provide a regional approach and global significance to the development of national policies and legislation
and the definition of priority actions for nutrient reduction and pollution control with particular attention to
achieving sustainable transboundary ecological effects within the DRB and the Black Sea area.
Further, the Danube Regional Project shall facilitate project implementation in providing a framework for
coordination, dissemination and replication of successful demonstration that will be developed through the
implementation of investment projects (World Bank-GEF Strategic Partnership).
Taking into account the basic orientations of the Danube/Black Sea Basin Programmatic Approach, the
following immediate objectives can be designed to respond to the overall development objective:
(1)
OBJECTIVE : Creation of sustainable ecological conditions for land use and water management
Output : Nutrient reduction policies, legal instruments and measures for exacting compliance are
developed and implemented in all Danube River Basin countries.
Approach : Supporting the ICPDR and the DRB countries in developing of appropriate policies and
legal instruments to improve water management and water quality control with particular attention to
toxic substances and nutrient reduction (e.g. agricultural, industrial, and municipal policy and
legislative reforms, wetlands management) and in developing of mechanisms for exacting compliance
with policies and legislation.
Assuring policy coherence to the guidelines of the Global Program of Action on Control of Land
Based Sources of Pollution, with particular emphasis on the strategic goals regarding mitigation of
transboundary effects and rehabilitation of the Black Sea.
(2)
OBJECTIVE : Capacity building and reinforcement of transboundary cooperation for the
improvement of water quality and environmental standards in the DRB
Output : Institutional and organizational mechanisms for transboundary cooperation in pollution
control and nutrient reduction are developed and operational at the regional and national level.
Approach : Supporting the ICPDR and its Expert Groups to improve their institutional, administrative
and technical capacities to assure basin wide harmonization of water quality regulatory standards
including specific provisions for nutrient reduction; to further develop specific regional information
system and mechanisms for transboundary pollution monitoring and evaluation considering EU
regulations (WFD) and GEF IW M&E indicators (process, stress reduction, environmental status).
Organizing workshops and training courses on institutional, administrative, technological and
economic issues for individuals and participants from ministries, public authorities and private
institutions with responsibilities related to the use, control and impacts of nutrients in the DRB,
respectively their effects on the Black Sea.
16
(3)
OBJECTIVE : Strengthening of public involvement in environmental decision making and
reinforcement of community actions for pollution reduction and protection of ecosystems
Output : Community based projects for nutrient reduction and awareness campaigns are prepared and
implemented all DRB countries and public concern and response to ecological issues has increased.
Approach : Supporting NGOs in professional, institutional, administrative and funding issues to boost
their capacities for active participation in transboundary pollution control with particular attention to
nutrients and certain toxic substances.
In this context, NGO activities shall be reinforced through the setting up of a Small Grants Program
("applied" awareness raising) to provide financial support for community based nutrient reduction
projects.
(4)
OBJECTIVE : Reinforcement of monitoring, evaluation and information systems for
transboundary pollution control and nutrient reduction
Output : A Danube Basin wide system for monitoring and evaluation and is developed and
operational, using indicators for process, stress reduction and environmental status in line with EU and
international reporting requirements, allowing at the same time follow-up and evaluation of project
implementation results.
Approach : supporting the development and the upgrading the monitoring and information systems,
which are of significant importance for transboundary cooperation in water quality and water
management and of common interest for the Danube and the Black Sea countries. Particular attention
will be given to the development of indicators (process, stress reduction and environmental status
indicators) to monitor progress of project implementation. For this purpose special methodologies will
be developed for assessment of sediments (heavy metals, toxic substances) and nutrient removal
capacities of wetlands. Also economic mechanisms will be analyzed to encourage investments in
nutrient reduction measures.
Project Brief / Danube Regional Project
17
3
Project description
The compilation of immediate objectives indicates the broad spectrum of project components and activities
to be dealt with in the framework of the proposed Danube Regional Project in order to fulfil its role as an
integral part of the proposed Danube/Black Sea Basin Programmatic Approach.
In line with the immediate objectives, the particular project components of the proposed Regional Project
can be grouped as follows:
1. Creation of sustainable ecological conditions for land use and water management;
2. Capacity building and reinforcement of transboundary cooperation for the improvement of
water quality and environmental standards in the Danube River Basin;
3. Strengthening of public involvement in environmental decision making awareness and
reinforcement of community actions for pollution reduction and protection of ecosystems;
4. Reinforcement of monitoring, evaluation and information systems for transboundary pollution
control and nutrient reduction.
3.1 Creation of sustainable ecological conditions for land use and water
management
In most central and downstream DRB countries, the development of water-related policies and legal
instruments are still in the phase of preparation and it is obvious that there are significant deficiencies in the
existing policy framework. Most of these countries are in the EU accession process and have to adjust their
legal frame to meet the EU directives and regulations and assure compliance. For issues that are of common
interest for the DRB countries and of special importance for water quality and water resource management,
particularly related to nutrients, seven project components have been identified to be carried out in the frame
of the present Regional Project.
(i)
Development of policy guidelines for river basin and water resources management
Considering the DRPCŽs mandate to assure sustainable water management in the DRB and taking into
account the central role of the river basin management in implementing the new EU Water Framework
Directive, there is a substantial need to facilitate the development of river basin management plans in the
Danube River Basin and in its sub-basin areas. These river basin management plans will have to deal with
nutrient reduction from point and non- point-sources.
To assure efficient implementation of the EU Water Framework Directive and a coherent approach to River
Basin Management, the ICPDR has set up a specialized Expert Group to develop guidelines for the
elaboration of the River Basin Management Plans, their implementation and the development of institutional
and legal mechanisms. Two workshops are currently being organized in the frame of the EC Phare assistance
program and case study materials are being prepared. These elements will be integrated in the proposed
activities of the GEF-DRP.
The activities of the EG shall be supported by international expertise in order to develop standardized
methodologies and guidelines for sub-river basin management plans and a methodology for the aggregation
of the sub-river basin management plans to a basin wide management concept. This should take into
consideration EU-WFD and GEF IW strategies to develop guidelines for particular sub-river basins to
reinforce transboundary cooperation.
The main activities to be supported and carried out by relevant ICPDR Expert Group can be summarized as
follows:
· defining sub-river basins for planning purposes on geographic and socio-political grounds;
· analyzing river basin management practices in selected DRB countries;
· developing river basin management tools, using in particular satellite remote sensing for analysis of
surface materials and pathways of pollution;
· identifying typical deficiencies and needs in relation to the requirements of the new EU-Water
Framework Directive with particular attention to nutrient reduction;
18
· developing methodology, standards and guidelines for the preparation of sub-river basin
management plans (ref. EU WFD, Annex VII, June 2000);
· developing methodology for the aggregation of sub-river basin management plans to a basin-wide
management concept;
· introducing appropriate structures at national, regional and basin wide level (ICPDR) to assure
efficient transboundary cooperation;
· developing strategies for the particular DRB countries to bring them in compliance with the new EU
Water Framework Directive with particular attention to nutrient reduction;
· organizing sub-regional workshops with participants from relevant ministries, local administration
and the private sector to reinforce transboundary cooperation for the development and
implementation of Sub-river-basin Management Plans.
(ii)
Reduction of nutrients and other harmful substances from agricultural non-point sources
through appropriate agricultural practice and organic farming
As indicated in chapter 1.7 it is assumed that about half of nutrient discharged internally in the Danube Basin
to the fine web of the river network comes from agriculture. The project will support a series of measures to
operationalize actions for reduction of non-point source pollution from agriculture. A first analysis should be
based on and take into account the findings and recommendations of the field-based demonstration programs
conducted in Eastern European countries with the support of the European Union and GEF. The project will
identify specific policy and legal measures to assist the participating countries in meeting their obligations to
reduce agricultural non-point source pollution. For EU accession countries, specific programs will be
developed that will assist them in meeting their obligations under the EU Environment and Water
Framework Directives, as well as the requirements of the important Nitrate Directive (91/676/EEC).
The main focus of this assistance is to identify the main legal, administrative, institutional and funding
deficiencies and develop priority reform measures required to support integration of environmental concerns
into farm management, including improvements in the handling of manure and sludge from livestock
operations, minimization of chemical fertilizers and pesticides, promotion of improved tillage methods,
management of restored wetlands and buffer zones as well as farmer education and outreach activities.
For this purpose, the following actions should be considered:
· assisting the countries in designing new agricultural non-point source pollution control policies and
legislation and compliance and enforcement plans in line with the existing and emerging (including
EU accession) national legislation;
· reviewing relevant legislation, the current state of its enforcement, the existing programs and pilot
projects for appropriate agricultural practices and organic farming in selected DRB countries;
· identifying agrochemicals (fertilizers, pesticides, etc.) that are relevant in terms of utilized quantities,
misuse of application, environmental impacts and potential for reduction;
· identifying the main legal, administrative, institutional and funding deficiencies;
· developing and assessing alternative concepts for the introduction of appropriate agricultural
practices and organic farming in the central and downstream DRB countries by taking into account
the traditional, country-specific social and economic issues with particular attention to the transition
process and the gradual recovery of the agricultural sector;
· introducing necessary changes in legislation which will lead to a significant reduction in the use of
agrochemicals and ensure compatibility with the EU directives and guidelines;
· implementing necessary complementary measures on the national level (training, financial support,
institutional and legislative measures);
· organizing a series of workshops with participants from relevant ministries, private organizations,
farmersŽ associations, etc., dealing with country-specific legal and institutional reform measures to
facilitate the introduction of appropriate agricultural practices and organic farming in specific DRB
countries.
Project Brief / Danube Regional Project
19
(iii)
Development of pilot projects for a reduction of nutrients and other harmful substances from
agricultural point-sources by introduction of appropriate manure handling
This project component has to be considered as complementary to the above-described activity, particularly
focusing on adequate handling of manure considering agro-technical and economic issues. Agricultural
point sources, including inappropriate handling of manure, are estimated to supply 2,5% and 6,8 %,
respectively, of the nitrogen and phosphorus reaching the Danube River Basin.
Relevant sites for demonstration projects should be identified in the frame of the above-mentioned sub-
regional agro-policy workshops.
The following steps should lead to an efficient implementation of this project component:
· assisting the countries with the development of new nutrient point source control policies and
legislation and compliance and enforcement mechanisms in line with existing and emerging
(including EU accession) national environmental legislation;
· reviewing legislation and actual state of enforcement at country level;
· analyzing existing programs and pilot projects for animal farming and manure handling and share
information with similar activities planned under the GEF Baltic Regional Project;
· developing alternative concepts for the introduction of appropriate animal farming practices and
manure handling in the central and downstream DRB countries by taking into account national
demand and international markets;
· implementing the necessary complementary measures on national level (information on best
available techniques, financial support, etc.);
· preparing and developing for the central and lower DRB countries typical pilot projects;
· implementing pilot projects with the cooperation of interested farmers and associations and assure
monitoring and evaluation of progress;
· disseminating component results to farming communities in the basin through appropriate networks;
· organizing a series of demonstration workshops with participants from the farming community,
banking institutions and government agencies.
(iv)
Policy development for wetlands rehabilitation and remedial measures in response to inappro-
priate land use (resulting from settlement, agricultural activities, hydraulic structures, etc.)
In the case of conflicting land use, priorities were in the past usually set on extension and intensification of
human settlement and economic activities, with the consequence that ecologically sensitive areas/wetlands
were steadily impacted in their function or completely disappeared.
The present project component shall address questions in relation to typical situations of inappropriate land
use resulting from municipal settlement, agricultural activities, hydraulic structures and their impact on
ecologically sensitive areas and wetlands and effects of transboundary pollution with particular attention to
nutrients and toxic substances. Standardized concepts shall be developed for the rehabilitation of sensitive
areas/wetlands, and required policy, legal and institutional reforms shall be proposed for specific cases.
The main tasks of the proposed activity can be summarized as follows:
· assisting the countries to prepare new land use and wetlands rehabilitation/protection policies and
legislation and compliance and enforcement mechanisms in line with the existing and emerging
(including EU accession) environmental legislation.
· analyzing typical situations of inappropriate land use that leads to significant transboundary pollution
from nutrients and toxic substances in the DRB;
· developing alternative concepts for harmonization of land use with particular consideration of
conflicting environmental and economic issues and identify required legal and institutional reforms;
· implementing required actions and measures (regulatory and legal issues, economic fines and
incentives, compensation payments, etc);
· defining pilot projects for each of the identified types of conflicting land use with particular attention
to wetlands rehabilitation;
· organizing a workshop on policy and legal issues of land rehabilitation and wetlands management
with participants from relevant ministries of the particular DRB countries.
20
(v)
Industrial reform and development of policies and legislation for clean industrial production
towards nutrient and toxic substance reduction
Industrial reform is one of the most urgent and most critical issues in most central and lower DRB countries
and can certainly not be efficiently initiated by an environmental program of this scale. Considering that in
transition countries the industrial production is actually very low, it is not surprising, that industry generates
only respectively 5 and 8 % of nitrogen and phosphorus that enter the Danube River.
Taking into account the expected revitalization of industries, it is necessary to focus on industrial policies
and on a review of legislation in order to ensure that environmental considerations are adequately taken into
account and that mechanisms for compliance are put in place.
The project should also address the problem of industrial nutrient hot spots in relation to Significant Impact
Areas (SIA) as identified in the Transboundary Analysis, to determine transboundary nutrients and toxics
pollution from particular industries and identify possible solutions (clean technologies, treatment process,
etc.) to reduce the emissions of toxic substances and nutrients in particular.
The subject of this component is closely related to the work of the EMIS/EG., therefore the project
component should closely cooperate with the envisaged UNIDO-TEST MSP to ensure that interventions at
the policy/legislative and at the technical (demonstration) levels are complementary. In this context, the
execution of the project component through an IAA or sub-contract with UNIDO should be considered.
The following steps should lead to an efficient implementation of this project component:
· assisting countries in development of new industrial nutrient/toxics pollution control policies and
legislation and compliance enforcement mechanisms in line with existing and emerging (including
EU legislation) national legislation.
· reviewing the data and information on the current status of industrial production technologies
involving nitrogen and phosphorus in the DRB countries;
· reviewing the policies and legislation for industrial pollution control and the actual state of
enforcement at country level;
· collecting information on relevant EU-legislation and international standards and assist DRB
countries to adapt national legislation accordingly;
· developing the necessary complementary policy and legal measures for the introduction of clean
technologies (regulatory and legal issues, awareness raising, financial fines and incentives, etc.).
· identifying, in relation to Significant Impact Areas (SIA), the industries that have significant impacts
on water resources and water quality and implement measures for reduction of water pollution with
nutrients and toxic substances in the most cost-effective way;
· developing for the different categories of DRB countries alternative concepts for a step-by-step
introduction of environment-friendly production technologies in industries utilizing or producing
nitrogen and/or phosphorus, taking into account the restricted financial capabilities of the industrial
enterprises and the economic affordability for the particular countries;
· organizing a series of workshops for industrial managers, banking institutions and government
agencies, supplying them with information on the best available technologies, financial support, etc.
(vi)
Policy reform and legislative measures for the application of economically and socially
acceptable waste water tariffs, focusing on nutrient reduction and control of toxic substances
It is obvious from the National Review Reports and investment programs that the funding of water sector-
related investments and the cost coverage for the operation of WWTP in the DRB countries largely depends
on economically and socially acceptable water and waste water tariffs. An assessment of water and waste
water tariffs is currently being conducted with financial support from the Austrian Environmental GEF Trust
Fund. Based on the results of this study, policy and legislative measures shall be developed for interested
DRB countries to assure the introduction of economically and socially acceptable tariffs. This project
component shall help to improve the investment possibilities for reduction of nutrients and toxic substances.
The implementation of new policy and legislative measures can make a substantial contribution towards
increasing internal funds and releasing public budgets and can thus facilitate the provision of baseline
contributions for new investment projects in transboundary nutrient reduction and pollution control.
Project Brief / Danube Regional Project
21
Based on the results of the assessment of Water and Waste Water Tariffs, the following actions shall be
considered:
· assisting the countries in the development of new tariff systems to facilitate cost covering operations
of WWTP with third stage for nutrient reduction and to encourage respective investment decisions;
· analyzing significant deficiencies in international comparison (level of tariffs, status of metering,
collection rate, etc);
· developing for the different categories of DRB countries alternative concepts for tariff reforms,
considering cost covering models also for the low income segments of the population;
· assessing for the particular DRB countries the potential for additional revenues from water and
wastewater services as additional funding sources for water sector operation and investment;
· proposing recommendations for phased implementation of tariff reforms;
· organizing a workshop with participants from relevant ministries, municipalities and the private
sector on the introduction of economically and socially acceptable waste water tariffs with particular
attention to the operation of treatment plants with nutrient reduction stage.
(vii)
Implementation of effective systems of water pollution fines and incentives, focusing on
nutrients and toxic substances
It is obvious from the National Review Reports that most DRB countries are not currently applying an
effective system of fines for water pollution and respective incentives in comparison to industrialized
Western European countries. The basic idea is, therefore, to assist the interested DRB countries to develop an
effective system of fines and incentives to promote rational utilization of water resources and to prevent or
reduce effects of environmental pollution, specifically nutrients and certain toxics. Within the broad
framework of fines and incentives particular attention should be given on discharges of nutrients and toxic
pollutants with significant transboundary effects.
The main tasks of the proposed activity can be summarized as follows:
· assisting the countries in preparation of new systems of fines for water pollution and/or respective
incentives.
· analyzing the present systems of fines for water pollution (nutrients, toxics) and respective incentives
in the DRB countries and identifying significant deficiencies in international comparison (types of
fines and incentives, effectiveness, collection procedures, exemptions, etc);
· identifying the most essential and effective fines and incentives, assess the main problems for their
introduction and develop mechanisms to assure compliance;
· assessing the willingness and institutional and economic capabilities of the particular DRB countries
for a reform of pollution fines and incentives;
· developing for the different categories of DRB countries alternative concepts for the introduction of
balanced and effective systems of pollution fines and incentives;
· organizing a workshop on the application of pollution fines and incentives, in conjunction with the
workshop on tariffs, with participants from relevant ministries, municipalities and the private sector.
(viii) Recommendations for changes in legislation concerning phosphorus reduction by means of
restricted detergent standards
The EU policies and legislation do not provide for phosphate detergents phase-out plans. The present
situation in the EU countries is based on voluntary arrangements set by the industry.
The basic idea of this project component is to:
· examine the existing legislation and to assess the stakeholdersŽ reform willingness;
· develop phosphorus restricting standards and a timeframe for phosphorus detergents phase-out
plans taking into account EU Directive 73/404/EEC and 73/405/EEC concerning detergents
methods of testing, covering anionic, non-ionic, cationic and amphoteric surfactants ;
· develop proposals for enforcement and compliance (economic, financial incentives);
· assist particular countries to introduce policy and legislative reforms;
· evaluate the results.
22
The country-specific recommendations and implementation schedules should be mostly based on the
experiences from Western European countries and should take into account the institutional and especially
the economic capability of the particular DRB countries.
3.2 Capacity building and reinforcement of transboundary cooperation for
the improvement of water quality and environmental standards in the
Danube River Basin
One of the essential and positive results of the previous GEF-Project was the successful support provided for
institutional strengthening and capacity building of government, local administration and the private sector
(NGOs) in the participating DRB countries.
In order to ensure efficient implementation of the ICPDR policies and related Investment Program defined
under the DRPC, it is recommended that national capacities of the central and the sub-ordinate national level
should be reinforced. In this context, exchange of information, reinforcement of environment research and
standardization of methods and parameters are essential to strengthen regional cooperation and joint decision
making in implementing the SAP.
The respective project components defined in the frame of the present Regional Project are primarily
designed to support the ICPDR in establishing an appropriate Management and Information System and in
establishing appropriate indicators for evaluation and monitoring of program and project implementation
(process, status and stress reduction). Secondly, the Expert Groups established under the ICPDR should be
supported in carrying out the particular tasks and activities clearly dealing with nutrient reduction and
transboundary issues, which might not be adequately covered without GEF assistance.
(i)
Development of operational tools for monitoring, laboratory and information management and
for emission analysis from point and non-point sources of pollution with particular attention to
nutrients and toxic substances
The subject of this component is professional and financial support aimed at reinforcing the activities related
to emission control (EMIS/EG) and monitoring of water quality, laboratory and information management
(MLIM/EG), particularly aiming at improvement, further development and application of:
· the Danube Water Quality Model;
· the Modeling Nutrient Emissions in River Systems (MONERIS);
· the Analytical Quality Control (AQC).
If adequately designed and provided with reliable data, these two models and the quality assurance program
are essential tools for a profound assessment of transboundary nutrient and toxic pollutant flows as well as an
assessment of the expected effects of nutrient and other pollution reduction measures. The present nutrient
reduction plans can be adjusted and the implementation of policy measures can be focused on specific areas
or sectors.
Further assistance is proposed to strengthen other activities in the MLIM/EG and the EMIS/EG, with
particular attention to the following nutrient/pollution reduction and transboundary issues:
· harmonization of water quality standards and quality assurance as well as methods for water
sampling and laboratory analysis for nutrients and toxic substances;
· database and emission inventory for point and non point sources of phosphorus and nitrogen;
· sources and amounts of transboundary pollution for substances on the list of EU priority chemicals.
In this context, consultation and working meetings of the Expert Groups for particular research work
(modeling, development of nutrient data base, etc) should be arranged in cooperation with international
consultants specialized in the respective field of work. For this purpose, special TOR have to be defined by
the Expert Groups.
To assure the coherence and viability of data collection in all Danube countries, it would be necessary to
provide training and additional laboratory and monitoring tools, in particular for those countries that:
· still need to be brought to the same operational level (Ukraine, Moldova) or
· are not yet integrated in the MLIM and EMIS systems (Bosnia-Herzegovina, FR Yugoslavia).
Project Brief / Danube Regional Project
23
(ii)
Improvement of procedures and tools for accidental emergency response with particular
attention to transboundary emergency situations
The recent accidental pollution of the Tisza river from mining activities and the effects of NATO
intervention in Yugoslavia, the bombing of petrochemical and other industrial complexes in the Danube
River Basin, lad to a contamination of ground water and rivers with toxic substances (PCBs, PAHs, cyanide,
etc.), the accumulation of heavy metals in sediments and to a destruction of ecosystems (fish kill). Hence,
urgent support is needed to improve preventive and emergency response measures.
The subject of this project component is to support development activities for accident emergency warning
and prevention of accidental pollution. The experience from the recent accidental pollution events indicates
that the basically established AEPWS/EG needs substantial improvement before it can become a satisfactory
tool for adequate management of transboundary contamination from catastrophic events.
In this context, technical assistance and reinforcement of operational conditions are required for:
· The design of preventive measures, adaptation of national legislation and improve compliance with
safety standards;
· the reinforcement of operational conditions in national stations and geographical extension of the
AEPWS in Moldova, Ukraine, Bosnia & Herzegovina and the FR of Yugoslavia1);
· the completion of the inventory presently available only for the upper Tisza River Basin, and
evaluation of all high accidental risk spots in all countries in the Danube River Basin considering
that similar accidental "hot spots exist in many transition countries;
· the functional upgrading and calibration of the Danube Basin Alarm Model (DBAM), to monitor
pollution transport of toxic substances in the Danube River system and to the Black Sea;
· the organization of workshops to reinforce cooperation in accidental emergency warning and
development of preventive measures.
(iii)
Support for reinforcement of ICPDR Information and Monitoring System (DANUBIS)
The Danube Information System (DANUBIS) has been developed with the financial support from the
Austrian Government (computer equipment and software) and from the Austrian Environmental Trust Fund,
administered by UNOPS (concept and development of the Information System). The system is presently
installed at the Permanent Secretariat of the ICPDR (Vienna International Center) and fully operational.
Further professional/technical and financial support is needed for the build-up and extension of DANUBIS to
assure adequate administration of the information and reporting obligations under the DRPC. A new
interactive web-site is to be adapted ensuring a smooth flow of textual and geographic information between
the national level and the central unit at the ICPDR Secretariat to achieve permanent monitoring and
exchange of information on pollution control and nutrient reduction measures and to disseminate information
to the public on policy and legal matters related to nutrient reduction: GEF nutrient reduction policies,
relevant EU guidelines and directives, other information from international initiatives/conventions
concerning land based sources of pollution, agricultural practices, fertilizer application, phosphate free
detergents, etc.
This would require that:
· The ICPDR information System, used by its expert groups and other operational bodies, would be
fully integrated in the frame of the Water Pollution Prevention and Control Model (WPPCM);
· All Contracting Parties of the ICPDR and other participating countries would be linked to
DANUBIS, which applies the development and implementation of national linkages and
establishment of operational units to communicate also in case of accidental emergency situations;
1 The FR of Yugoslavia is situated in an extremely important geographical position in the center of the Danube River Basin where the
most important tributaries, Tisza, Sava and Drava are joining the Danube. During the recent accidental pollution the AEWS has
also informed Yugoslavia and cooperated with its technical staff to monitor the effects of accidental pollution. The UNEP Balkan
Task Force and the EU-Baia Mare Task Force have closely cooperated with Yugoslavian authorities in the assessment of
accidental pollution and the design of emergency measures.
24
· DANUBIS would be reinforced through the implementation of an interactive web-site to integrate
further textual, numerical and digital mapping information and to fulfill all the requirements of the
work of the Nutrient Reduction Program (communication, monitoring, public information, etc.);
· An extensive training program would be launched and series of workshops be organized at different
users level and in different regions of the DRB to train and assist futures users in the best use of the
tools made available by the system.
It should be noted that the ICPDR assure regular maintenance and up-dating of the information with
particular attention the Data Base developed within the frame of the previous GEF project (Danube Pollution
Reduction Program.
(iv)
Implementation of the Memorandum of Understanding between the ICPDR and the ICPBS
relating to discharges of nutrients and hazardous substances to the Black Sea
This implies assisting the ICPBS and the ICPDR in further implementation of the Memorandum of
Understanding, identifying appropriate modalities for the implementation and developing a monitoring
system for commonly agreed process, stress reduction and environmental status indicators for the Black Sea.
The main tasks for the implementation of the MoU can be summarized as follows:
· organizing joint Danube-Black Sea meeting to approve and sign MoU by both Commissions;
· developing a joint work program for MOU implementation;
· defining and agreeing on status indicators to monitor nutrient transport from the Danube and other
sources and consequent and change of ecosystems in the Black Sea;
· defining and implementing a common AQC system and monitoring and sampling procedures;
· defining and establish reporting procedures;
· re-establishing and organizing regular meetings of the Joint Danube-Black Sea Working Group to
evaluate progress of nutrient reduction and recovery of Black Sea ecosystems.
(v)
Training and consultation workshops for resource management and pollution control with
particular attention to nutrient reduction and transboundary issues
In order to assure sustainability of appropriate resources management and pollution control and to assure the
same level of understanding throughout the Danube River Basin, it is necessary to provide training in the
fields of environmental analysis and planning, management and impact assessment for nutrient reduction and
control of toxic substances through workshops, consultation meetings and study tours for participants from
government, local administration, NGOs and other stakeholder from the private sector (professional
associations, opinion leaders, etc.). Besides this, additional materials and equipment should be supplied and
technical assistance should be provided where necessary.
Besides the workshops on policy development and legislation to be organized in the frame of each of the
above-described project components, training courses should be provided in the following fields:
· policy development and legal frame for transboundary cooperation in nutrient reduction and control
of toxic substances;
· technical and legal issues of river basin planning and transboundary water resources management in
line with the new EU Water Framework Directive with a view to ensuring effective nutrient
reduction;
· technical and legal issues (land reclamation) of wetland restoration and management to assure
nutrient removal;
· innovative technologies for municipal and industrial waste water treatment; use of sewage and
animal waste as fertilizer to reduce nutrient emissions;
· technical and legal issues of management and control of use of fertilizers and manure;
· preparation of documents for nutrient reduction projects with international co-funding and
application of GEF criteria concerning incremental cost calculation.
The last training course should also focus on methodology and standards for economic and financial analysis
of bankable projects with international co-funding; and in particular on identification and documentation of
nutrient reduction projects according to GEF requirements and guidelines regarding baseline / incremental
cost, transboundary effects, etc.
Project Brief / Danube Regional Project
25
The proposed training courses should be organized with the assistance of experienced international
consultants in a series of three-to-five-day workshops and should also be run in the national languages at
least twice during the project period of 5 years. Regional Workshops designed to reinforce transboundary
cooperation should be attended by at least two or three participants from each DRB country. One essential
task will be to prepare, prior to the workshops, adequate documents and case study materials for
dissemination among the participants.
3.3 Strengthening of public involvement in environmental decision making
and reinforcement of community actions for pollution reduction and
protection of ecosystems
All activities outlined in the previous chapter on institutional strengthening and capacity building contribute
to awareness raising in a broader sense. The publication through the mass media and through publications of
the ICPDR (Danube Watch etc.) of the results of ICPDRŽs and its Expert GroupsŽ activities, in particular the
results of workshops and consultation meetings, constitute an excellent opportunity to raise public
awareness. These actions of awareness raising should primarily address representatives from central and
local governments and from administration and - to a lesser extent - from the private sector.
The Regional Environmental Center (REC) in Hungary has elaborated a project proposal for GEF financial
support for the Building of Environmental Citizenship to Support Transboundary Pollution Reduction in the
Danube. Public awareness and public participation, as well as cooperation with the government and
administration, shall be demonstrated in the frame of two pilot projects in Hungary and Slovenia.
The present project component has a much wider spectrum and geographical outreach but should
nevertheless benefit from the REC initiative and establish close cooperation during its implementation
period.
The objective of the present project component is to enhance awareness raising in the civil society and the
reinforcement of the role of NGOs in water management and pollution reduction (nutrients and toxic
substances) with particular attention to transboundary cooperation and river basin management. This can
best be achieved through practical measures and the support of community-based activities for rational
resources management, transboundary cooperation and pollution control with particular attention to nutrient
reduction. Financial support should be provided to assist the implementation of community-based
demonstration projects in various Danube River Basin countries (Small Grants Program).
Cooperation of the civil society and in particular the local NGOs is essential to achieving the objectives and
goals of the ICPDR and the new Danube Regional Project. Particular attention will be given to the
reinforcement and the role of the Danube Environmental Forum (DEF), which is the umbrella organization
of the NGOs in the Danube River Basin. The previous GEF Project has supported the organization of NGO
cooperation at the national level and the establishment of the Danube Environmental Forum.
Within the frame of the present project component, the support for awareness raising should be linked with
the reinforcement of NGO activities and should focus on measures of pollution control, nutrient reduction
and transboundary cooperation. In this context, the following project components have been identified as
particularly promising:
(i)
Support for institutional development of NGOs and community involvement
This should come in the form of technical/professional assistance and financial support for the Danube
Environmental Forum and for national NGOs working on transboundary pollution issues and nutrient
reduction, focusing on:
· support for the DEF Secretariat for operation, communication and information management;
· organization of consultation meetings and training workshops on nutrients and toxics issues;
· publishing special NGO publications in national languages on nutrients and toxic substances;
· organization of training courses for the development of NGO activities and cooperation in
national projects (nutrient reduction).
26
(ii) Applied awareness raising through community based Small Grant Program
It is necessary to provide administrative, professional and financial support for the continuation of the GEF-
Small Grants Program, mainly focusing on the performance of:
· environmental assessment related to nutrients and toxic substances and effects of transboundary
pollution;
· demonstration activities and awareness campaigns for sustainable land management and pollution
reduction (nutrients) in the agricultural, industrial and municipal sectors;
· small-scale community-based investment projects for pollution control, rehabilitation of wetlands,
best agricultural practices, reduction in the use of fertilizers, manure handling, improvement of
village sewer systems, etc.
(iii) Organization of public awareness raising campaigns on nutrient reduction and control of toxic
substances
· conceptualization and implementation of public awareness raising campaigns on nutrients issues;
· development and production of materials for public press and mass media on nutrients and toxics;
· support to the publication of scientific documents and regular papers or special issues on water
management and pollution reduction with particular attention to nutrient issues and Black Sea
recovery.
3.4 Reinforcement of monitoring, evaluation and information systems for
transboundary pollution control and nutrient reduction
The development and the upgrading the monitoring and information systems, is of significant importance for
transboundary cooperation in water quality and water management and of common interest for the Danube
and the Black Sea countries. Particular attention will be given to the development of indicators (process,
stress reduction and environmental status indicators) to monitor progress of project implementation. For this
purpose special methodologies will be developed for assessment of sediments (heavy metals, toxic
substances) and nutrient removal capacities of wetlands. Also economic mechanisms will be analyzed to
encourage investments in nutrient reduction measures.
Regarding specific issues on monitoring and preparation of information, the following project activities have
been proposed to be carried out within the frame of the Danube Regional Project:
(i)
Development of indicators for project monitoring and impact evaluation
To assure efficient monitoring and evaluation of project implementation and to document project and
program achievements, it is necessary in line with EU and the existing international requirements to establish
an operational system of indicators (process, stress reduction and environmental status) under the ICPDR. It
should be considered, that under the forthcoming EC Water Framework Directive criteria for the assessment
of the ecological status of the rivers and for monitoring the achievement of good ecological status will have
to be applied. The following tasks should be carried out under this component:
· developing and operationalizing a monitoring and evaluation system to follow project and program
implementation in financial and technical terms (pollution reduction) and assess environmental
impact (water quality, health, recovery of ecosystems, etc.);
· reviewing indicators for emission control and water quality monitoring with particular attention to
nutrients and toxic substances;
· developing progress indicators for the monitoring of project implementation (GEF- supported
nutrient reduction projects);
· developing impact indicators (process, stress reduction, environmental status) to evaluate
environmental effects of policy and program implementation (nutrient reduction);
· analyzing ecological characteristics and development of bio-indicators;
· preparing a manual on the use and application of monitoring and impact indicators.
Project Brief / Danube Regional Project
27
(ii)
Analysis of sediments in the Iron Gate reservoir and impact assessment of heavy metals and
other toxic substances on the Danube and the Black Sea ecosystems
In the frame of the UNEP-Habitat-Balkan Task Force/ICPDR Expert Mission to Yugoslavia in August 1999,
a first sampling of sediments in the Iron Gate was carried out to analyze heavy metals and other toxic
substances as a consequence of NATO air strikes on industrial and other targets in the Danube River Basin.
The present project component should extend the first analysis and provide a complete coverage of the
quality analysis of the sediments of the Iron Gate including toxic substances (heavy metals) and phosphorus.
Based on the results of the analysis, adequate measures should be developed to undertake precautionary
measures to prevent future deterioration of water quality in the Danube and negatives effects on the Black
Sea ecosystems.
This study should be carried out as a special activity of the MLIM/EG and should cover the following tasks:
· collecting and reviewing the existing data and information on present situation;
· assessing the main types and quantities of dangerous substances;
· assessing the potential environmental impacts on the Danube and the Black Sea;
· forecasting development for a period of 20 years;
· discussing possible precautionary and rehabilitation measures for the Danube and the Black Sea;
· preparing recommendations for dealing with this problem in the forthcoming decade (measures to
be included in the joint action program of the ICPDR);
· proposing further monitoring programs.
(iii)
Monitoring and assessment of wetlandsŽ nutrient removal capacities
In the frame of the Pollution Reduction Program, the rehabilitation and management of about 600.000
hectares of wetlands and floodplains in the DRB have been proposed. In the World Bank-GEF Strategic
Partnership, the restoration or creation of wetlands is one of the three types of projects eligible for funding. It
is generally recognized that the removal capacity varies considerably according to water flow, concentration,
loads and natural conditions of the wetlands. In the frame of the proposed implementation of wetland
rehabilitation schemes under the Partnership, monitoring systems would be installed to show effective
nutrient removal. These results would considerably improve and disseminate world-wide the knowledge
about nutrient removal through wetlands rehabilitation and would define the technical and economic
parameters for efficient wetlands management.
This proposed project component, which would support a larger GEF need in the frame of Targeted
Research, should cover the following tasks:
· classifying the wetlands in the DRB by categories and define rehabilitation pilot projects and
observation sites;
· defining the methodological approach for assessment of nutrient removal capacities of wetlands
and flood plains;
· defining and implementing an observation program to assess the annual nutrient removal capacity
(tons of N and P per ha) for each category of wetland for a period of 20 years (5 years covered by
the present project);
· evaluating the aggregated nutrient removal capacities/potentials of the wetlands proposed for
restoration (DPRP) and floodplains, taking into account the results of the "Danube Green Corridor"
and other investment programs under the Partnership;
· developing optimized wetlands management programs to assure maximum nutrient removal under
best environmental, social and economic conditions;
· preparing relevant regulations for wetland restoration to assure implementation of projects with
maximum nutrient removal capacities.
28
(iv)
Danube Basin feasibility study and consultation process on economic instruments for nutrient
reduction
In the frame of the study on Financing Pollution Reduction Measures in the DRB Present Situation and
Suggestions for New Instruments, the implementation of a system of nutrient discharge quotas and auctions
has been proposed. Considering the diversified economic conditions of the riparian countries and the
particular relation of the Danube countries to the Black Sea new approaches, in particular economic
instruments would be necessary to achieve efficiency in nutrient reduction reforms. Whenever the principle
of "pollutant auctions" is presently not compatible with the EU water quality guidelines, which are based on
the emission principle, interesting and innovative approaches could be developed and possibly introduced in
the forthcoming EU policies to solve the nutrient problem. Further, the results would also contribute to
support a larger GEF need for targeted research in developing economic instruments for nutrient reduction.
It should further be noted that the present study proposed for the Danube River Basin (considering in
particular the EU policies and directives) is complementary to a similar study conducted by the World Bank
in the frame of the Black Sea Regional Project, which shall develop the concept of nutrient emission trading
taking into account the specific conditions of the Black Sea countries.
For this purpose, it is proposed to prepare an EU-Danube specific assessment covering the following main
issues:
· a review of the existing concepts of successful "pollutant auctions" or "pollution trading" in the
water and air pollution sector in the US and Europe;
· a study of the general possibility to establish economic instruments for nutrient reduction under the
EU policies and directives in the Danube River Basin;
· an assessment of the main problems and the interest of the particular DRB countries (polluting and
receiving countries) to establish discharge quotas and to develop economic solutions for nutrient
reduction;
· the initiation of a "thinking" process within the EU on how to introduce in medium and long term
economic instruments (economic sanctions, incentives, nutrient emission trading, auctions, etc)
· the development of alternative concepts and timeframe for the introduction of economic
instruments for nutrient reduction at the river basin or regional level;
· Discuss concepts with EU and participating countries (polluting and receiving countries) and
develop timeframe for implementation of economic instruments for nutrient reduction in EU
regulations and national legislation.
Project Brief / Danube Regional Project
29
4
Sustainability and Participation
The proposed Danube Regional Project has to be seen as a logical continuation of the GEF assistance to the
Danube Environmental Program. The Danube Pollution Reduction Program has established the necessary
conditions for the ICPDR and for the DRB countries to assure efficient implementation of policies and
measures for pollution reduction and resource management. The proposed Danube Regional Project can
build on a very favorable framework for sustainability and participation and the findings and
recommendations of:
· the SAP 1994 as the agreed-upon policy document of the EPDRB focussing on policies and
strategies for pollution control and resource management,
· the Common Platform for the Development of National Policies and Actions for Pollution
Reduction under the DRPC, representing a summary of policies and actions developed in the frame
of the Pollution Reduction Program,
· the Danube Pollution Reduction Program (DPRP) and the Inventory of Investment Projects
(Database) providing the operational basis for promoting investments for pollution reduction
measures.
Institutional capacities and arrangements: With its entry into force on 22 October 1998, the Danube
River Protection Convention (DRPC), to which the ECE-Convention for the protection and use of
transboundary waters (Helsinki Convention 1992) is the framework, became the overall legal instrument for
cooperation and transboundary water management in the Danube River Basin. Since mid-1999 all bodies of
the ICPDR, the Expert Groups and the ICPDR Permanent Secretariat have been fully operational. The
primary objective of the proposed Danube Regional Project is to support the ICPDR in order to achieve a
well-balanced integrated implementation of the Common Platform, the PRP and the forthcoming JAP. It is
assured that there is a full developed and functioning institutional framework for project performance.
As the ICPDR is permanently sustained via financial contributions of the member states, the GEF
intervention would support and strengthen the ICPDR and its Expert Groups to improve technical and
management capacities for the implementation of nutrient reduction measures identified in the Pollution
Reduction Program.
The participation of the contracting parties including the European Community, the signatory countries
(Ukraine) and other cooperating countries (Bosnia-Herzegovina and Yugoslavia) of the DRB is assured
through the work of ICPDR-Steering Group and the through the Conference of Parties, which is the highest
body for the implementation of the Danube River Protection Convention.
Government commitment : All countries in the DRB have actively participated in the frame of the
elaboration of the Pollution Reduction Program and have provided all necessary information for the
preparation of the present Project Brief (PDF-Block B actives) and thus demonstrated their interest in and
commitment to pollution control, nutrient reduction and sustainable water management. Further, it should be
noticed that central and downstream Danube countries are actually preparing for accession to the European
Union and are therefore committed to applying the European water directives and guidelines for pollution
reduction with particular attention to the EU Nitrate Directives, the Urban Waste Water Directives and the
implementation of the new EU Water Framework Directives.
Legal Frame: The Danube River Protection Convention is a legally binding instrument, which provides a
solid framework and a legal basis for cooperation, including enforcement. The International Commission for
the Protection of the Danube River (ICPDR) has been established according to the Danube River Protection
Convention provision (Art.18) and has its seat in Vienna, Austria. The ICPDR and its bodies are responsible
for the implementation of the Danube River Protection Convention.
Stakeholder participation: The development of NGOs and the creation of the Danube Environmental
Forum as an umbrella organization for all Danube NGOs was an essential contribution of the previous GEF
assistance to assure public participation in the planning and plan implementation process. Further, the GEF
Small Grants Program has facilitated the implementation of community-based projects in the middle and
lower Danube countries. It is thus assured that the existing structures of local NGOs and the DEF will play
an important role in the implementation of the Pollution Reduction Program and in the development and
application of new policies and regulation to improve water quality and to assure rational use of resources.
30
5
Lessons Learned
Some important lessons have been learned from a range of GEF and other environmental planning projects
in the region and elsewhere, and especially from the essential one the GEF-supported Danube Pollution
Reduction Program, which has recently been completed.
The first phase of the DPRP in particular indicated how time-consuming and difficult it is to set up
institutional structures, information networks and to introduce new approaches of planning in countries that
are in a continuous process of political and economic transition. Based on this experience, it is recommended
that wherever possible - the existing institutional settings, networks and methodological tools should be
used for the performance of the Danube Regional Project. Special emphasis should be put on the maximum
utilization of the participatory approach, which is now fully understood and accepted by the participating
countries.
A general lesson learned from other projects in the region is an awareness of the difficulty of getting projects
endorsed and implemented when there is not a clear coordination and cooperation between the different
implementing agencies and potential IFIs. In addition, inter-ministerial coordination is another common and
serious problem for project implementation when coordinating structures are missing at national levels. The
involvement and cooperation of all relevant governmental bodies, in particular the Ministry of Finance,
Ministry of Agriculture, Land Reform, Foreign Affairs, etc. is essential in the early project preparation
phase.
In many transition countries the policy and legal frame is presently being reviewed and adjusted, in particular
unclear land ownership and uncontrolled resource management (forestry, mining, etc.) are leading to
environmental degradation and damages. Compliance with environmental laws and regulations is in many
countries not controlled and is consequently very low. This is partially due to structural and organizational
weaknesses and more to budgetary limitations.
Another lesson learned is that project activities conducted by international expert teams without close
integration and cooperation with experts from the relevant Danube countries are often not recognized. In the
frame of the Environmental Program for the Danube River Basin many project components have failed to be
sufficiently coordinated with the ICPDR and its Expert Groups and thus did not respond to the expressed
needs of the beneficiaries. It is therefore recommended that all project components should be carried out
under the guidance of the ICPDR and in close cooperation with its expert bodies, that highly qualified
national experts/consultants available in all DRB countries should be contracted.
A particular feature impacting basin-wide project activities is that the different categories of DRB countries
still have clearly different institutional, administrative and economic capabilities and are confronted with
qualitatively different requirements. Particular attention should be given on the one hand to the EU accession
countries that have reached a high level of competence and organization and, on the other hand, to the central
Danube Basin countries as Bosnia-Herzegovina and Yugoslavia, which have been affected by the war and
political instability.
Project Brief / Danube Regional Project
31
6
Project Budget and Financing
6.1 GEF Budget Contribution
The total financial requirements for the performance of the proposed Danube Regional Project are USD 15.0
million. According to the provisional estimates the allocation of the budget by cost categories is anticipated
as follows:
BUDGET OF THE DRP BY COST CATEGORIES
USD
Percentage
Permanent professional project staff
1,200,000
8,0 %
Subcontractors / International consultants from DRB countries
2,589,240
17,3 %
National consultants from the DRB countries
2,360,000
15,7 %
Project Support Staff
750,000
5,0 %
Workshops, training courses, meetings
2,200,760
14.7 %
"GEF- Small Grants Program"
2,000,000
13.3 %
Awareness raising and public information material
800,000
5.3 %
Equipment for nutrient monitoring/information
700,000
4.7 %
Project operational costs
700,000
4.7 %
Organizational support for DEF and NGOs
500,000
3.3 %
UNOPS/ICPDR Support cost
1,200,000
8.0 %
Total
15,000,000
100.0 %
The allocation of the budget by the main project components according to the budget proposal (Annex 4) is
as follows:
BUDGET BY MAIN PROJECT COMPONENTS
USD
Percentage
(1) Creation of sustainable ecological conditions
5,653,100
37.7 %
(2) Capacity building and reinforc. of transboundary cooperation
2,749,360
18.3 %
(3) Strengthening of public involvement and reinforc. community actions
4,304,500
28.7 %
(4) Reinforcement of monitoring, evaluation and info. systems
1,093,040
7.3 %
UNOPS/ICPDR Support cost
1,200,000
8.0 %
Total
15,000,000
100,0 %
From the GEF budget contributions 37.7 % is earmarked for the development of policies and legal
instruments for nutrient reduction and will be invested directly in supporting the work at the national level.
18.3 % of the budget is aimed at strengthening regional cooperation for implementing the ICPDR policies
and related investment programs (JAP) and at reinforcing monitoring and information capacities. In both first
project components a total of 25.6 % is allocated for training courses and workshops.
The budgetary allotment for awareness raising and NGO activities is 28.7 % out of which 46.5 % is for the
implementation of community-based nutrient reduction projects to assure participation of the civil society in
nutrient reduction activities. 7.3 % of the GEF budget is earmarked for strengthening monitoring, evaluation
and information systems. 8.0 % is earmarked as support cost for the executing agencies.
32
Detailed Budget by Project Components
Project Budget (USD)
Baseline
and Assigned Baseline Costs
Costs
GEF
ICPDR
1
Creation of sustainable ecological conditions for land use and water management
General project costs
1,653,000
1,000,000
1.1 Development of policy guidelines for river basin management
1,078,080 2,970,000
55,840,000
1.2 Reduction of nutrients and harmful substances from agricultural non-
809,040
41,850,000
point sources
1.3 Reduction of nutrients from agricultural point sources/manure handling
809,040
41,850,000
1.4 Policy development for wetlands and remedial of inappropriate land use
440,760
23,490,000
1.5 Industrial reforms and policies and legislation for "clean" industrial
689,080
39,915,000
production
1.6 Policies for application of acceptable waste water tariffs
248,840
18,950,000
1.7 Implementation of water pollution fines and incentives focusing on
218,840
11,625,000
nutrients
1.8 Legislation concerning phosphorus reduction and restricted detergents
194,420
9,310,000
standards
Subtotal
6,141,100 2,970,000 243,830,000
2
Capacity building and reinforcement of transboundary cooperation
General project costs
780,500
6,000,000
2.1 Monitoring, laboratory and information management
561,600 2,722,500
55,800,000
2.2 Accidental emergency response to transboundary situation
397,360 1,905,750
39,060,000
2.3 Reinforcement of ICPDR information and monitoring systems
695,900 2,994,750
61,380,000
2.4 Implementation of the Memorandum of Understanding for ICPDR and
50,000
544,500
11,160,000
ICPBS
2.5 Training and consultation workshops for management and pollution
512,000
344,500,000
control
Subtotal
2,997,360 8,167,500 517,900,000
3
Strengthening of public involvement in env. decision making and reinforcement of community actions
General project costs
651,500
25,250,000
3.1 Institutional development of NGOs and community involvement
625,000
358,050
6,310,000
3.2 Community based "Small Grants Program"
2,246,000
138,600
22,530,000
3.3 Public Awareness raising campaigns on nutrient reduction
1,156,000
658,350
117,000
Subtotal
4,678,500 1,155,000
54,207,000
4
Reinforcement of monitoring, evaluation and information systems
General project costs
445,000
4.1 Development of indicators for project monitoring and impact evaluation
142,800
907,500
18,600,000
4.2 Analysis of sediments in Iron Gate and impact on Black Sea ecosystems
184,000
990,000
13,950,000
4.3 Monitoring and assessment of nutrient removal capacities of wetlands
237,240 1,320,000
18,800,000
4.4 Consultation process on economic instruments for nutrient reduction
174,000
990,000
13,950,000
Subtotal
1,183,040 4,207,500
46,700,000
PDF-B
350,000
PROJECT TOTAL
15,350,000 16,500,000 881,237,000
Project Brief / Danube Regional Project
33
6.2 Contributions from the ICPDR and participating countries:
Total ICPDR and Danube country contributions :
16,500,000 USD
o The ICPDR, Permanent Secretariat will facilitate overall project
implementation with an annual operational budget of 800.000 USD for a
period of 5 years :
4,000,000 USD
o The ICPDR Expert Groups will assure the implementation of project
components. The cost for experts, operation, participation and
communication can be estimated at 1.200.000 USD per year, for a period
of 5 years :
6,000,000 USD
o The participating countries will contribute in the frame of joint
activities under the DRPC to project implementation through financial
and in kind contributions (experts, equipment, operational cost), estimated
at 100.000 USD per country and year, for 13 countries and 5 years :
6,500,000 USD
6.3 National Capital Investments (JAP) and Development Costs
The Joint Action Program (JAP) has been developed under the ICPDR, and is in most cases coherent with
the Five-Year Nutrient Reduction Action Plan prepared in the frame of the PDF-Block B activities (see
Annex 8-3). The following costs for policy and legislation development and for capital investments for
municipal and industrial waste water treatment and wetland restoration have been identified :
Total capital investments2) :
4.11 billion
o Assured national funding :
1.66 billion
o Assured international loans :
1.02 billion
o Expected grants (national and EU) :
0.58 billion
o Additional funding to be raised :
0.86 billion
Total cost for non-structural measures :
0.51 billion
It should be noted that from the planned investments of 4.11 billion , about 3.25 billion have been made
available from national funding sources, whereas 0.86 billion remain to be raised. 510,989,000 are
estimated for developing adequate monitoring and enforcement systems in the frame of the EU accession
process3) and are considered as non-structural investments to be mobilized by all Danube countries.
6.4 World Bank Partnership and UNDP
W.B. Nutrient reduction projects :
o Loans
210.000.000 USD
280,000,000 USD
o GEF Grants:
70.000.000 USD
UNDP country programs (not complete)
300.000 USD
6.5 Investments from EU for environmental measures (accession countries)
The following investment from the EU is for a period of seven years to assist accession countries to improve
environmental management and to build or modernize waste water treatment plants and other technical
structures; it can be assumed that about half of the Phare money is earmarked for non-structural measures:
Total investment for a period of 7 years 4)
13.5 billion
o EU Stability Pact for Southeastern Europe (Danube countries) :
3.0 billion
o Phare for environmental protection (Danube countries) :
5.3 billion
o ISPA funds for environment and infrastructure (Danube countries) :
3.5 billion
o SAPARD funds for agricultural sector (Danube countries) :
1.7 billion
2 ) 3.74 billion US$, respectively 2.96 billion USD available and 0.74 billion USD to be raised
3 ) Sector Case Study, WRc, Report CO 3291/2, 1993
4 ) 12.28 billion US$, applied exchange rate : 1 = 0.91 USD
34
6.6 Assistance from bilateral sources
o USAID (amount allocated for environmental/sustainable
development projects in 2000)
162,000,000 USD
o Danish Environmental Protection Agency (DEPA)
not available
o Netherlands (Wetlands Ukraine)
6.7 Assistance provided through private sector organizations (international
and Danube NGOs)
Total Investments:
29,437,000 USD
o Regional Environmental Center (REC): support for national NGO
22,500,000 USD
activities (environmental, sustainable development, awareness raising)
o World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF): Implementation of environmental
5,800,000 USD
projects in cooperation with governments and national NGOs
o Danube national NGOs (ECCG-Romania, Distelverein-Austria)
1,137,000 USD
6.8 Total contributions for environmental protection and nutrient reduction
in the Danube River Basin
The total allocations earmarked for pollution control and nutrient reduction in the Danube River Basin fall
into two categories:
1. Non-structural projects: Reinforcement of legislation and institutional mechanisms for transboundary
cooperation (Danube Regional Project for nutrient reduction):
· GEF UNDP: Danube Regional Project :
15,000,000 USD
· ICPDR and participating countries for Danube Regional Project:
16,500,000 USD
· Bilateral Assistance (USAID) and UNDP (not complete):
42,300,000 USD
· International private organizations and NGOs
29,437,000 USD
· National investments for monitoring and enforcement systems
465,000,000 USD
· EU program for Danube accession countries, 5 years period
344,500,000 USD
(10 % of Phare program is estimated for non structural measures)
The GEF budget and the contributions from the ICPDR and the participating countries are considered as
"incremental" costs for the overall development and implementation of new policies and legislation in line
with GEF operational principles for international waters and with EU environmental directives. The non-
structural "baseline" cost is 881.2 million US$, out of which the Danube countries will contribute 52.8 %
and the EU in the frame of the Phare program 39.1 %. Other types of bilateral assistance and NGOs will
provide 8.1 % of the total costs. However, it has to be taken into account that the actual figures are
incomplete and that real bilateral and NGO contributions in the coming 5 years will be a great deal higher
than indicated.
2. Structural projects: Investments in waste water treatment facilities, wetland restoration, the reduction
of pollution from non-point sources (agricultural pilot projects, etc):
· GEF World Bank Partnership Program :
280,000,000 USD
· Bilateral Assistance (USAID, other not available) :
120,000,000 USD
· Joint Action Program (assured funds from Danube countries) :
2,960,000,000 USD
· EU program for Danube accession countries, 5-year period (ISPA,
9,002,737,000 USD
SAPARD, Stability Pact, 90% Phare for structural measures) :
In the frame of the Joint Action Program (5-Year Nutrient Reduction Plan), the Danube countries contribute
from own resources and internal loans 23.9 % to finance structural projects (municipal and industrial waste
water treatment plants, wetlands restoration, agricultural projects etc.). The EU provides the biggest share of
72.8 % of investments to support national efforts of EU accession countries. The contribution of the World
Bank Partnership represents 2.3 % of investments for structural projects and is complementary to the
UNDP/GEF Danube Regional Project. Other contributions, e.g. from the EBRD or the EIB, are not taken
into account.
Project Brief / Danube Regional Project
35
3. Summary of capital investments by country and expected nutrient reduction
Country
Assured Funding
Funds to be raised
Total Investments
Expected Reduction
(t/y)
N
P
Germany
231,000,000
231,000,000
4,091
74
Austria
264,000,000
264,000,000
3,950
404
Czech Republic
101,000,000
43,000,000
144,000,000
1,091
62
Slovakia
54,000,000
65,000,000
118,000,000
2,574
147
Hungary
682,000,000
5,000,000
687,000,000
6,708
1,522
Croatia
12,000,000
421,000,000
433,000,000
5,233
814
Slovenia
382,000,000
2,000,000
384,000,000
1,509
239
Bosnia & Herzegovina
176,000,000
176,000,000
4,700
853
Yugoslavia
785,000,000
785,000,000
6,793
4,850
Bulgaria
37,000,000
88,000,000
125,000,000
2,683
599
Romania
204,000,000
204,000,000
10,020
1,091
Moldova
493,000,000
493,000,000
6,901
905
Ukraine
5,000,000
62,000,000
67,000,000
486
65
TOTAL
3,250,000,000
862,000,000
4,111,000,000
56,739
11,625
4. Summary of investments for non-structural projects / programs by country and expected nutrient
reduction
Country
Funding Scheme (USD)
Expected
Reduction (t/y)
Governments UNDP
USAID
EU
NGO
Total
N
P
Germany
51,290,900
51,290,900
6,800
111
Austria
43,400,000
1,583,300
44,983,300
7,700
114
Czech Republic
15,781,800
95,000
2,455,000
14,681,900
2,983,300
52,632,900
1,500
33
Slovakia
29,309,100
125,000
5,454,000
27,266,400
2,983,300
69,190,200
4,500
170
Hungary
57,490,900
5,454,000
53,484,000
2,741,700
97,005,300
4,650
380
Croatia
9,581,800
3,954,000
8,914,000
2,741,700
47,596,200
3,000
130
Slovenia
18,036,400
80,000
2,455,000
16,779,300
2,741,700
54,630,700
3,450
220
Bosnia & Herzegovina
16,345,500
3,954,000
15,206,200
2,500,000
54,118,200
3,600
220
Yugoslavia
50,727,300
2,455,000
47,191,800
2,741,700
87,241,700
7,200
700
Bulgaria
21,981,800
3,954,000
20,449,800
3,466,700
60,721,200
2,300
400
Romania
127,381,800
6,955,000
118,503,800
3,503,700
169,158,200
12,100
1,270
Moldova
6,200,000
2,455,000
5,767,900
483,300
40,456,100
397
70
Ukraine
17,472,700
2,455,000
16,254,900
966,600
52,212,100
2,800
200
TOTAL
465,000,000
300,000 42,000,000
344,500,000
29,437,000
881,237,000
59,997
4,018
Total Expected Nutrient Reduction from capital Investments and investments for
116,736 tons N / y
non-structural projects
15,643 tons P / y
36
7
Incremental Costs
The description and calculation of baseline and incremental costs can adequately be done for technical
investment projects designed for the protection and management of international waters, respectively the
conservation of biodiversity. In these cases it is possible to determine for each expected output and for each
activity the respective baseline and incremental costs and analyze the resulting domestic and global benefits.
In the case of the Danube Regional Project, "incremental" costs are considered to be the GEF project cost
(including PDF-B) of 15,350,000 US$. The special contributions of the ICPDR and the participating
countries for implementing the DRPC, which amount to 16,500,000 US$, are considered as "incremental"
co-financing costs. The Project, with a total financial support of 31,850,000 UD$ will reinforce - in addition
to the investments described under "baseline" cost - the capacities of the ICPDR and the participating
countries to address adequately the problem of nutrient reduction. "Incremental" costs are specially defined
to strengthen transboundary cooperation under the DRPC for the development of national policies and
legislation and the identification of jointly implemented priority actions for nutrient reduction leading to the
restoration of the Black Sea ecosystems.
For the definition of "baseline" costs directly related to the development of adequate monitoring and
enforcement systems at the national level, the results of the WRc Sector Case Study from 19935) have been
taken into account. According to this report, the present systems of monitoring are budget inadequate, staff
resources are overstretched and laboratory facilities overloaded. The report estimates the annual cost of
compliance for Bulgaria 10 million , Hungary 12 million , Romania 28 million and Slovakia 6 million
based on per capita cost of 1.16 at 1990 prices. Based on this information, the total cost for compliance,
also for those Danube countries, which are not yet in the approximation process but which are undertaking
special efforts to upgrade their legislation and mechanisms for compliance with international and EU
standards has been estimated at 465,000,000 US$ for the coming 5 years.
Other "baseline" costs, with a total of 416.2 million US$, but only indirectly related with project activities,
can be identified in relation to non-structural projects for the development of policies, legislation,
institutional mechanisms and enforcement systems, which are financed in the frame of technical assistance
projects from bilateral and international sources :
· Bilateral Assistance (USAID) and UNDP (not complete):
42,300,000 USD
· International private organizations and NGOs
29,437,000 USD
· EU program for Danube accession countries, 5 years period
344,500,000 USD
(10 % of the Phare Program is estimated for non structural measures)
Considering that the approximation process of the Danube countries will take between 10 and 20 years,
including the introduction of new environmental standards in line with international and EU directives, the
"incremental" support of the Project will enhance the process with particular attention to nutrient reduction
and will considerably accelerate the development and implementation of policies, regulations and adequate
monitoring and enforcement systems for nutrient emissions and reduction of nutrient loads discharged into
the Black Sea.
Structural projects concerning investments in waste water treatment facilities, wetland restoration,
agricultural pilot projects and other environmental measures, contributing mostly to pollution reduction from
point sources or in-stream pollution reduction, amount to 12.4 billion US$. These capital investments are not
contributing to project implementation and therefore are not considered as baseline cost.
5 ) Sector Case Study, WRc, Report CO 3291/2, 1993
Project Brief / Danube Regional Project
37
8
Cost-effectiveness
Taking into account the social and economic development which will take place in the coming 10 to 20 years
in the Danube Transition Countries and considering the EU approximation process and the need to adapt
environmental standards to international and EU directives, it is evident that investments in environmental
protection and management of resources are necessary to assure a sustainable development in the countries
of the Danube River Basin.
It is to be expected that most Danube countries - mainly those in transition will in the next five years see
their GDP grow at an annual rate of 2 to 4 % ending up in five years from now at 10 to 20 % above its
current level. This economic growth will be the result of economic recovery in transition countries and new
investments in industry, agriculture and services. The development and implementation of adequate
environmental standards and mechanisms for compliance is, therefore, essential to assure sustainable
development in the region.
The implementation of projects for waste water treatment in the urban and industrial sectors (including agro-
industries) is part of national investment programs for pollution reduction from point sources, summarized in
the Five-Year Nutrient Reduction Action Plan and the Joint Action Plan of the ICPDR respectively.
According to these documents, capital investments will be about 4.11 billion (3.74 billion US$).
Considering EU engagements for accession countries and other multilateral and bilateral assistance in the
form of soft loans and grants (World Bank/GEF), the additional financial assistance for implementation of
structural projects will be 9.4 billion US$. These investments will lead to an annual reduction of 56,700 tons
of nitrogen and 11,600 tons of phosphorus representing 10.3 % and 23.9 % respectively of the total nutrient
loads discharged into the Black Sea.
Non-point sources of pollution in relation to land use and agricultural activities represent about half of all
nutrients, in particular nitrogen, discharged into the Black Sea. It is assumed that through the development
and implementation of policies, legislation and mechanism for compliance, nutrient emissions from non-
point sources (land use and agriculture) can be considerably reduced. The actual estimations in the Five-Year
Nutrient Reduction Action Plan show that development and implementation of appropriate policies and
legislation will lead to a reduction of about 60,000 tons of nitrogen and 4,000 tons of phosphorus,
representing 10.9 % and 8.2 % respectively of total nutrient loads discharged into the Black Sea.
The corresponding investments for the development of new policies, legislation and monitoring and
enforcements systems in line with international and EU directives are 913.1 million US$, out of which the
major part 465.0 million US$ or 50.9 % is considered as national contributions and part of direct baseline
costs. 344.5 million US$ or 37.7 % is provided from the EU Phare program to the accession countries and
71.7 million US$ or 7.9 % is provided in the frame of international, bilateral and non-governmental
assistance. These investments for technical assistance are also baseline cost but only indirectly related to
project implementation measures.
Considering the GEF/ICPDR investment of 31.85 million US$ in the particular sector of nutrient reduction
and restoration of the Black Sea ecosystems, the benefits for nutrient reduction from non-point sources of
pollution - 10.9 % for nitrogen and 8.2 % for phosphorus - can be calculated as representing 20 % of the
value for capital investments for nutrient reduction in point sources projects of the Five Year Nutrient
Reduction Action Plan, which is equal to 748.2 million US$6).
The cost-effectiveness of this Project lies in the opportunity to improve water quality in general and to
reduce transboundary nutrient loads in particular, thus contributing to the rehabilitation of the Black Sea
ecosystems. Considering incremental cost of 31.85 million US$, the benefits of the Project, at a cost-
effectiveness ratio of 1:24, are considerable in terms of its contribution to reducing and mitigating serious
damage to regional and globally important waters and ecosystems.
6 ) The Pollution Reduction Program Report, GEF/Environmental Program for the DRB, June 1999 indicates in its
methodological approach that 20 % of investments in WWTP are specified for nutrient reduction. Considering a total
investments in the 5-YNRAP of 4.11 billion = 3.74 billion US$, 20 % of the investment = 748.2 million US$ would
be needed for pollution reduction from point sources. This amount is considered as the comparative benefit for removal
of nutrient also from non-point sources of pollution.
38
9
Project Risks
The success of two Regional Projects for the Danube and the Black Sea depends ultimately upon the political
willingness and the financial and technical means of the contracting parties and participating countries to
cooperate. This willingness depends not only on issues related to national or international security but also
on changing political and economic conditions of the countries involved. Risks for the performance of the
proposed Danube Regional Project might be occur in the following fields:
(i)
Commitment of participating countries
At the institutional level the conditions for the implementation of the Danube Regional Project are already
set-up through the structures of the ICPDR, which have already been successfully utilized in the frame of the
Pollution Reduction Program. Taking into account that financial inputs from the participating countries are
relatively small, there are probably no significant risks for project performance. All Danube countries are
prepared to deliver in-kind contributions in the frame of the ICPDR Expert Groups and experience has
shown that special in-kind contributions to the project implementation are also voluntarily made available.
Considering political and administrative constraints and slow decision-making process, a certain risk can be
expected for the actual implementation of the findings and recommendations of the project, especially
regarding the issues of policy reforms and changes of legislation. Also administrative obstacles might
hamper the implementation of measures for exacting compliance.
(ii)
Methodological approach
As long as the methodology applied for the implementation of the proposed project components is in line
with the work program of the ICPDR and corresponds national standards it is unlikely to expect major
problems.
An essential prerequisite is in this context the choice of qualified experts, which should be familiar with the
social and economic conditions in the Danube River Basin and in the participating countries, knowledgeable
about modern planning methodology and the efficient organization of consultation meetings and workshops.
The scope for the organization of workshops and awareness building activities should be clearly defined
from the beginning and accepted by the participating countries; this should include the precise definition and
agreement for the selection of participants, which is a joint responsibility of the stakeholders involved.
The same agreements have to be reached for the identification of sub-contractors and national consultants,
which should respond to defined levels of professional standards and be acceptable to the ICPDR and the
Executing Agency.
(iii)
Delivery of counterpart contribution and availability of information
Considering administrative and financial constraints, participating countries might not be able to provide in
time necessary data for the proposed project components and administrative support for meetings and
workshops.
Hence, requests for counterpart contribution are to be precisely defined and timely delivery has to be agreed
upon. The type of analysis and information needed has to be clearly identified in order to assure the timely
availability of precise and viable information.
Project Brief / Danube Regional Project
39
10 Institutional Frameworks and Implementation
10.1 Institutional Arrangements
Taking into account that there was a successful GEF project in operation for 6 years, which resulted in a
revised SAP (Common Platform for Development of National Policies and Actions for Pollution Reduction
under the DRPC), and a Pollution Reduction Program for the DRB, it is proposed to make utmost use of
institutional mechanisms and structures which are already operational.
In this context it is proposed that the International Commission for the Protection of the Danube River
(ICPDR) will become the responsible organization for project implementation in cooperation with UNOPS
as executing agency. A Project Coordinator, under the supervision of the ICPDR Executive Secretary, shall
establish close cooperation with all participating countries, organise efficiently the planning process and
assure timely execution of all project components.
The ICPDR Steering Group enlarged by the PMTF members should guide the implementation of the Danube
Regional Project and assure engagement and cooperation at the national level. For this purpose the ICPDR
SG/PMTF should meet :
· at the beginning of the project to review and define scope, planning approach and work program of
the project;
· during project implementation use regular, twice a year, Steering Group/PMTF meetings to review
and assess the progress, to evaluate completed project components and to make recommendations
for the continuation and/or adjustment of activities;
· at the end of the project to assess and approve the final results at a terminal joint review meeting.
Regarding the elaboration of
Institutional Arrangements
detailed scope of work and
actual performance of the
ICPDR
UNDP / GEF
WB Partnership
EU
various project components it is
proposed to use the
Germany
professional competence and
Austria
ICPDR Steering
country specific experience of
ICPBS
Czech Republic
Group/PMTF
the existing Expert Groups
Slovakia
established under the ICPDR :
Hungary
EMIS, MLIM, AEPWS and the
Joint
Slovenia
ICPDR Permanent
Black Sea
newly created Ad-hoc Expert
Secretariat (PS)
DB-BS
PIU
Croatia
WG
Group for implementation of
Bulgaria
Water Framework Directives
Danube Regional
Black Sea Regional
Romania
and River Basin Management.
Project
Project
Moldova
At the central level, the Project
Ukraine
ICPDR - International Commission for the Protection of the Danube River
Coordinator, under the
European Commission
ICPBS - International Commission for the Protection of the Black Sea
Black Sea PIU - Black Sea Programme Implementation Unit
supervision of the ICPDR
Bosnia i Herzegovina
Joint DB-BS EG - Joint Danube Basin - Black Sea Working Group
Executive Secretary and
UNDP/GEF - United Nations Development Programme/Global Environment Facility
Yugoslavia
WB - World Bank
following the directives of the
PMTF - Programme Management Task Force
Steering Group/PMTF, will
have the mandate to organize and coordinate the planning process and implementation activities and to
assure, with UNOPS administrative support, proper management of the GEF project funds.
At the national level it is proposed to incorporate as far as possible the professional competence, experience
and knowledge of the Country Program Coordinators (CPC) assigned in the framework of the previous GEF-
Pollution Reduction Program.
A Joint Danube Basin-Black Sea Working Group (DB-BS/WG) shall assure proper coordination of activities
between the Danube Regional Project, the Black Sea Regional Project and the W.B. Partnership. Besides this
coordinating role of project activities, the WG shall also follow-up the implementation of the Memorandum
of Understanding for the Protection of the Black Sea agreed upon by the two Commissions. The Joint DB-
BS Working Group shall meet at least twice a year after the respective Steering Group meetings of the two
Commissions.
40
According to the broad spectrum of activities it is envisaged that most of the particular project components
should be carried out by consultant services (on the basis of sub-contracts for international consulting
companies and individual consultants from the DRB countries). Objectives, scope and terms of reference
will have to be defined in close co-operation with the respective Expert Groups of the ICPDR and approved
by the Steering Group Meeting.
In this case the project personnel employed on a fixed term basis and located in the offices of the ICPDR
Permanent Secretariat can be restricted to :
· one highly-qualified environmental policy expert, with particular experience in institutional
arrangements and water pollution legislation and knowledge of EU environmental directives and
guidelines and nutrient issues;
· one specialist for awareness raising, organization of training courses and follow up of NGO
activities, in particular implementation of the Small Grants Program;
· one project administrator, with particular experience in budgeting, follow-up of expenditures and
establishment of contracts;
· two administrative project assistant/secretary (support staff).
For specific tasks, conceptualization of activities and evaluation of results, highly specialized international
consultants shall be assigned.
10.2 Monitoring and Evaluation
The project will submit an APR (Annual Project/Program Report) in line with UNDP requirements and also
participate in the GEF's PIR (Project Implementation Review) exercise each year.
The project will be subject to two external reviews during the 5-years execution period, the first one
preferably in mid-term and the second one at the end of the project period. At these occasions an independent
consultant team shall make an overall assessment of the project advancement and prepare an Independent
Evaluation. During the first review the team should particularly formulate recommendations for eventual
adjustments of procedures and activities.
The members of the ICPDR Steering Group should meet after the first external review to evaluate project
performance and make recommendations for the continuation and/or adjustment of activities and should
assess and approve the final results at a terminal joint review meeting.
At the end of the project period, the project team, under the guidance of the ICPDR Permanent Secretariat,
shall prepare a Project Performance Evaluation Report, which should be endorsed by the ICPDR Plenary
Session.
10.3 Implementation Schedule
A provisional implementation schedule for the proposed Danube Regional Project is presented in Annex 5.
The project is supposed to start in the first half of 2001 and will have a total duration of 60 months. This
period includes a project mobilization phase of four month for putting in place institutional structures and
organizational preparation of project activities, and a four months consolidation phase, serving as a buffer
zone at the end of the project period.
Project Brief / Danube Regional Project
Annexes
ANNEXES
ANNEX 1
Incremental Cost Analysis and Matrix
ANNEX 2
Logical Frame Matrix (Objectives, Results,
Activities)
ANNEX 3
STAP Review (UNDP) and Response
ANNEX 4
Project Budget
ANNEX 5
Project Implementation Schedule
ANNEX 6
Assessment of Nutrient Emissions and Loads
Discharged into the Black Sea
ANNEX 7
Thematic Maps
ANNEX 8
Summary Reports on National Contributions in
Support of the Project Brief
ANNEX 9
Danube / Black Sea Basin Programmatic
Approach
ANNEX 10 Relevance of the GPA for Land-Based Sources of
Pollution in the frame of the DRPC
ANNEX 11 Causes and Effects of Eutrophication in the Black
Sea
ANNEX 12 Evaluation of the UNDP/GEF Pollution
Reduction Programme
ANNEX 13 Endorsement Letters
Project Brief / Danube Regional Project
Annexes
ANNEX 1 Incremental Cost Analysis
and Matrix
Annex 1 : Incremental Costs Analysis and Matrix
1
INCREMENTAL COST ANALYSIS
1. BROAD DEVELOPMENT GOAL
The Danube River Basin is an extensive unique ecosystem in which the balance between the non-living and
living resources on one hand and human population on the other has been repeatedly disturbed. Due to the
numerous environmental disturbances within its own limits, the Danube River has a negative impact on the
complex ecosystems of the Black Sea. All Danube countries are urgently seeking to address environmental
protection of transboundary waters under the Danube River Protection Convention.
The current economic conditions of the countries in transition do not allow them to fully respond to the
needs for environmental protection and implementation of pollution control measures. Therefore, the GEF
project will assist the countries in transition to respond to regional and global environmental issues with
particular attention to pollution control and nutrient reduction.
The major perceived problems of the Danube River Basin can be summarised as follows:
! Significant degradation of water quality and ecosystems
! Change in hydrological systems
! Increased nutrient loads to the Black Sea
! Reduced quality of life and human health
! Limited capability to create a sustainable mechanism for co-operation that will be embodied in an
international legal and policy framework for co-operation in protection and sustainable use of the
Danube River.
The long-term development objective of the proposed Regional Project is to contribute to sustainable human
development and promotion of economic activities in the DRB through reinforcing the capacities of the
participating countries in developing effective mechanisms for regional cooperation and coordination, in
order to ensure protection of international waters, sustainable management of natural resources and
biodiversity.
2. BASELINE
The need for protection and management of the Danube river basin environment and its resources has
preoccupied the Danube countries for some years. However, while the EU member States, Germany and
Austria have already adapted their legal frame according to EU requirements, the Danube countries in
transition are still making great efforts to revise and adapt their legislation to EU standards.
Recently, largely as a consequence of the development of previous UNDP/GEF project "Danube Pollution
Reduction Program", there has been an increasing awareness that legal measures and projects to reduce
emissions from point and non-point sources of pollution are urgently needed, in particular measures that will
substantively contribute to reducing the transport of nutrients, in particular nitrates to the Black Sea.
The commitment to cooperate and seek common solutions towards implementing nutrient reduction and
pollution control measures has been underlined during the development of the Pollution Reduction Program
and the elaboration of the Transboundary Analysis. In addition, the Danube countries have cooperated either
in the frame of ICPDR or bilaterally and multilaterally, through conventions and agreements, with a view to
jointly formulating and implementing transboundary pollution reduction and environmental protection
actions and measures.
However, national mechanisms for pollution control in transition countries are often not fully operational and
the inter-ministerial structures for transboundary cooperation in water related environmental issues are weak
or missing in most of the transition countries.
2
Project Brief / Danube Regional Project
All Danube countries, in particular Germany and Austria, have made significant investments in an effort to
reduce emissions and improve environmental standards. These ongoing programs form an important part of
the project baseline. In addition, there is financial support being provided by international and bilateral
organisations. Contributions came from EU PHARE and TACIS, GEF/UNDP, USAID, DEPA, and other
multilateral and bilateral donors as well as from international NGOs.
The ICPDR Expert Groups and the Joint Danube-Black Sea Ad-hoc Working Group have already formulated
and facilitated the development of common strategies and policies to assure a reduction of nutrient load in
the Black Sea. It is a solid baseline for co-operative research and joint implementation of measures for
pollution abatement. Moreover, the ICPDR Information System, DANUBIS, has contributed to an efficient
exchange of information throughout the Danube Basin countries.
Considering that the approximation process of the Danube countries will take 10 to 20 years, including the
introduction of new environmental standards in line with international and EU directives, the "incremental"
support of the Project will enhance the process with particular attention to nutrient reduction and will
considerably accelerate the development and implementation of policies, regulations and adequate
monitoring and enforcement systems for nutrient emissions and reduction of nutrient loads discharged into
the Black Sea.
3. GLOBAL ENVIRONMENTAL OBJECTIVE
The global environmental objective of the proposed project is to ensure a regional approach to (i) the
development of national policies and legislation and, (ii) the identification of priority measures and actions
for nutrient reduction and pollution control, so as to obtain maximum long-term benefits while protecting
human health and ecological integrity and ensuring sustainability.
The potential global and regional benefits are likely to be substantial, including the protection of
international waters, sustainable management of natural resources and the maintenance of a diverse aquatic
ecosystem. The project will also develop effective mechanisms for regional co-operation and co-ordination
geared towards the implementation of pollution control and nutrient reduction measures.
The GEF interventions will be accompanied by the current support through bilateral and multilateral
programmes in the basin.
4. GEF PROJECT ACTIVITIES
GEF will provide the catalytic support for incremental costs associated with the development of nutrient
reduction policies and the creation of efficient mechanisms for regional co-operation under the Danube River
Protection Convention to assure efficient control and monitoring of transboundary benefits of the reduction
of nutrients and toxic substances within the Danube River Basin.
The strengthening of transboundary co-operation will contribute to an efficient implementation of the Joint
Action Program under DRPC with particular benefits gained due to nutrient reduction in the Black Sea and
the rehabilitation of its ecosystems.
The approach would be consistent with the guidance for the GEF "Waterbody-based Operational
Programme." For this project, the goal is to assist the Danube countries, especially the transition countries, in
making changes in the ways that human activities are conducted in different sectors so that the Danube River
and its multi-country drainage basin can sustainably support the human activities. Projects in this OP focus
mainly on seriously threatened water bodies and the most imminent transboundary threats to their
ecosystems as described in the Operational Strategy. Consequently, priority is placed on changing sectoral
policies and activities responsible for the most serious root causes needed to solve the top priority
transboundary environmental concerns which is given for this present project by the pollution and nutrient
reduction.
Annex 1: Incremental Costs Analysis and Matrix
3
The GEF alternative would support the proposed project in:
! Developing nutrient reduction policies and legal instruments and measures for exacting compliance
! Strengthening institutional mechanism and building capacity for transboundary cooperation in
nutrient reduction
! Raising awareness and reinforcing NGO participation in implementing "Small Grants" Projects
! Strengthening the monitoring and information mechanisms on transboundary pollution control and
nutrient reduction
This regional project represents a motivating case in which the improvement of transboundary co-operation
and co-ordination shall help ICPDR and the countries to reinforce their efforts aimed at an efficient
implementation of the DRPC.
In addition, improved transboundary co-operation will provide a better basis for the sustainable use of
natural resources and the conservation of biological diversity in the Danube river basin. The cost of doing
this is evidently incremental to the national efforts of all thirteen countries, focused on maximising
environmental benefits through comprehensive global and domestic environmental management strategies.
5. SYSTEM BOUNDARY
For the purpose of this project, the area of GEF interventions is defined by the hydrological catchment basin
of the Danube river, as regards the international water boundaries, and beyond this, the natural resources of
the Danube countries, as regards the natural resources management and biodiversity conservation objectives.
The project will inevitably result in a large number of domestic and regional impacts and benefits and
attention has been paid to include these within the system boundary.
The participating countries include Germany, Austria, the Slovak Republic, the Czech Republic, Hungary,
Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Yugoslavia, Bulgaria, Romania, Moldova and Ukraine.
Over the long-term, a variety of domestic benefits would be gained through the implementation of the
proposed project. The most valuable domestic benefits to be gained from the project are associated with
substantially strengthened institutional and human capacity in pollution control and water quality assessment,
increased technical knowledge and public awareness of Danube environmental issues and transboundary co-
operation, and improved national capacities in environmental legislation and enforcement as well as in
natural resources management.
Bilateral and multilateral programmes focused on domestic improvements in water management and
pollution control have been included within the baseline in order to clearly distinguish between actions most
likely to result in domestic benefits (baseline bilateral projects) and those that will mainly result in regional
and global ones (the present project).
Summary Incremental Costs :
Baseline
881,287,000 USD
Alternative
913,087,000 USD
Incremental
31,850,000 USD
GEF Financing:
Project
13,800,000 USD
PDF-B
350,000 USD
Project Support Costs
1,200,000 USD
Co-Finance
16,500,000 USD
Total project Cost
31,850,000 USD
Annex 1: Incremental Costs Analysis and Matrix
5
Incremental Cost Matrix Benefits
Component
Benefits
Baseline
Alternative
Incremental
OBJECTIVE 1:
Domestic 1. EU member states, Germany and Austria,
1. EU member states Germany and Austria
1. Improved harmonization of policies and
Creation of
have adapted their legal frame to EU stan-
will continue to improve compliance
regulations with those existing in EU mem-
sustainable ecological
dards and are improving conditions through
with guidelines for nutrient reduction
ber states and improved mechanisms for
conditions for land
additional investments to assure compliance;
from non-point sources of pollution
compliance are developed to assure efficient
use and water
2. Danube countries in transition are in differ-
through changes in agricultural and land
reduction of nutrients and toxic substances :
management
ent stages of adapting their legislation to EU
use practices (eco-farming);
· from agricultural non-point sources of
standards;
2. Countries in transition in the central and
pollution by introducing new agricul-
3. Countries in transition have to revise their
lower DRB will increase their efforts to
tural practices (organic farming) and
water and waste water tariffs to assure am-
adapt national legislation to EU stan-
land management (green river belts,
ortization of investments and economic op-
dards with particular attention to the EU
wetlands restoration; etc);
eration of treatment plants, considering in
nitrate directives and phosphorus phase-
· from agricultural point sources of pol-
particular third stage for nutrient removal;
out regulations for detergents;
lution (animal farms, agro-industries)
4. At the national level, most Danube countries 3. Economic conditions for investments
by introducing adequate waste water
in transition have no efficient mechanisms
and operation of waste water treatment
treatment and new manure handling
or inter-ministerial structures for coopera-
facilities in the municipal, industrial and
practices;
tion in water related environmental issues
agro-industrial sectors, in particular for
· from industrial and mining companies
(pollution control, nutrient removal, etc.);
nutrient reduction, will be improved
introducing "clean" industrial produc-
through adopted regulations and new
1. All Danube countries have developed in-
tion and safety regulation in the indus-
tariffs for waste water management;
vestment programs to reduce emissions and
trial and mining sectors;
improve environmental standards; the total
4. Policies and regulations as well as
2. Existence of revised tariffs, incentives and
investment of committed priority projects
mechanisms for compliance will be de-
fines in all transition countries to assure am-
for municipal, industrial, agricultural waste
veloped for nutrient reduction from non-
ortisation of investments and coverage of
water treatment facilities and wetland resto-
point sources of pollution with particular
operational cost for waste water treatment
ration projects is 4.1 billion .
attention to agricultural practices (or-
and nutrient reduction;
ganic farming) and land management
(green river belts, wetlands restoration;
3. Existence of legislation adapted to EU stan-
etc);
dards in all transition countries and exis-
tence of measures for compliance in relation
to the implementation of the Nitrate Direc-
tive and regulations for phosphorus phase-
out in detergent;
6
Project Brief / Danube Regional Project
Component
Benefits
Baseline
Alternative
Incremental
OBJECTIVE 1:
Global-
1. Either in the frame of the ICPDR or
1. The harmonization of national standards
1. Improved and harmonized standards and
Creation of
Regional
bilaterally and multilaterally, the Danube
and procedures will facilitate regional
procedures in all participating countries will
sustainable
countries formulate common policies and
cooperation under the Danube River
facilitate joint monitoring of transboundary
ecological conditions
actions for transboundary cooperation in
Protection Convention as well as control
effects and control of pollution and nutrient
for land use and
pollution reduction and environmental pro-
and monitoring of transboundary bene-
reduction measures introduced in municipal,
water management
tection; compliance is often not assured
fits of pollution and nutrient reduction;
industrial and agricultural sectors;
2. The ICPDR has created an ad-hoc working
2. The new EU WFD will be implemented
2. Middle and lower Danube states will have
group to assure efficient implementation of
in the whole DRB using river basin
defined their respective program of coop-
the new EU Water Framework Directive
management as the most efficient ap-
eration for the implementation of the EU
using river basin management as the appro-
proach; this calls for the cooperation of
WFD and their participation in the devel-
priate approach to assure stakeholder par-
all Danube countries, the civil society
opment of River Basin Management Plans;
ticipation and transboundary cooperation;
and NGOs to develop joint mechanisms
3. The first and second phase of the EU WFD
3. In the Joint Action Program of the ICPDR,
and structures at the ICPDR and the sub-
will be implemented by the majority of the
transboundary policy measures and projects
regional level;
DRB countries and operational mechanisms
have been identified to reduce trans-
3. The implementation of the Joint Action
and structures for the preparation of RBM
boundary pollution;
Program under the DRPC will be rein-
plans will be put in place;
forced through transboundary coopera-
4. The existence of common policies for sus-
tion, defining complementary actions to
tainable use of land and natural resources,
reach common goals of pollution reduc-
nature conservation and wetland restoration,
tion in Significant Impact Areas (SIA)
developed in the frame of an Annex to the
and rehabilitation of ecosystems; par-
Convention, will facilitate the development
ticular benefits will be the reduction of
of RPM plans;
nutrient load in the Black Sea and the
5. Improved capacities for cooperation under
rehabilitation of its ecosystems;
the DRPC and improved linkages to Inter-
national Financing Institutions will facilitate
the implementation and enlargement of the
Joint Action Plan and, consequently, a fur-
ther reduction of pollution and nutrient loads
affecting SIA in the DRB and the Black Sea;
Annex 1: Incremental Costs Analysis and Matrix
7
Component
Benefits
Baseline
Alternative
Incremental
OBJECTIVE 2:
Domestic
1. National mechanisms for pollution control
1. National and transboundary mechanisms
1. The improvement and strengthening of na-
Capacity building
in transition countries are frequently not
for pollution control will reach compara-
tional mechanisms for pollution control,
and reinforcement
fully operational (lack of funds, outdated
ble standards in all Danube countries to
standards for emission control and water
of transboundary
equipment etc.)
assure reliable data and coherence of in-
quality assessment and environmental im-
cooperation for the
2. National allowable emissions and quality
formation;
pact assessment for prevention of accidental
improvement of
standards are not yet fully harmonized with
2. National emission limits and water qual-
pollution will facilitate regional cooperation;
water quality and
EU standards and control mechanisms
ity standards will be adapted to EU
2. The improvement of the accidental emer-
environmental
(laboratories) are insufficiently equipped;
regulations and control mechanisms will
gency system will facilitate efficient moni-
standards in the
3. In transition countries, national mechanisms
be fully functional in all DRB countries;
toring of accidental "hot spots" and preven-
Danube River Basin
for environmental impact assessment are
3. Environmental impact assessment will
tion of accidental pollution from toxic sub-
weak and control mechanisms are often not
be part of national regulations to assure
stances from mining and industrial plants;
operational (see recent accidental pollution
efficient control of industrial, mining
in theTisza River Basin);
and transport activities and to introduce
preventive measures;
Global-
1. The ICPDR has put in place Expert Groups
1. To facilitate monitoring and evaluation
1. The existence of commonly agreed indica-
Regional
to develop common strategies and standards
of joint implementation of pollution re-
tors to measure process, environmental
for pollution control (emissions), water
duction measures, the participating
status and stress reduction will facilitate
quality control, accidental emergency
countries under the ICPDR will improve
joint monitoring and evaluation of the im-
warning and river basin management (im-
mechanisms for monitoring and evalua-
plementation of pollution reduction meas-
plementation of EU WFD);
tion and develop indicators to measure
ures;
2. The Joint DanubeBlack Sea ad-hoc work-
process, environmental status and stress
2. Increased technical and managerial knowl-
ing group has formulated common strategies
reduction;
edge for transboundary cooperation and de-
to assure a reduction in nutrient load in the
2. The DanubeBlack Sea Joint Working
velopment of joint policies and actions
Black Sea with the objective to restore the
Group will implement the commonly
through training workshops and organiza-
Black Sea ecosystems;
agreed strategies and actions, develop
tion of regional consultation meetings;
3. The ICPDR has put in place an Information
respective impact indicators and report
3. The publishing of regular evaluation reports
System (DANUBIS) to assure efficient ex-
the results regularly to both Commis-
on water quality and nutrient
change of information within the member
sions;
loads/concentrations in the TNMN Year-
states and Expert groups and to provide in-
3. All Danube countries will use the
books and other relevant documents will fa-
formation to the public
ICPDR Information System (DANUBIS)
cilitate cooperation and public information;
as an interactive plat-form for the devel-
4. Regular reports on the status of the Black
opment and exchange of information and
Sea ecosystems will be issued by the Joint
provide access to reliable data and in-
Danube-Black Sea Working Group based on
formation to the public;
observation of commonly agreed indicators;
5. The existence of the ICPDR Information
System will facilitate interactive internal
monitoring and information exchange and
provide information to the public;
8
Project Brief / Danube Regional Project
Component
Benefits
Baseline
Alternative
Incremental
OBJECTIVE 3:
Domestic
1. National NGO have been actively partici-
1. Community-based activities for pollu-
1. Community based actions and programs for
Strengthening of
pating in implementing GEF Small Grants
tion/nutrient reduction measures and
nutrient reduction and awareness raising are
public involvement
projects and in conducting awareness raising
wetlands restoration will be supported by
efficiently implemented with the financial
in environmental
campaigns for pollution reduction;
the "Small Grants Programme" and im-
support of the "Small Grants Program", and
decision making and
2. In Germany as well as in Austria and also in
plemented through NGO involvement;
with the cooperation of national NGOs;
reinforcement of
several Danube transition countries, national 2. National NGO's will be strengthened to
2. Efficient participation of NGOs in national
community actions
NGOs have established good working or in-
enable them to participate in national
debates and public hearings related to envi-
for pollution
fluential relationships with governments at
debates and public hearings on environ-
ronmental protection and RBM is archived
reduction and
national and local level;
mental issues with particular attention to
trough their involvement in the Small Grants
protection of
3. Government campaigns for awareness rais-
pollution control, nutrient reduction and
Programme and in the organization of
ecosystems
ing for pollution control and waste water
EIA;
awareness raising campaigns;
management are relatively rare in transition
3. National NGOs will organize and im-
3. Improved public awareness and response to
countries (scarcity of funding);
plement, in relation to "Small Grants
nutrient reduction and pollution control is
4. Reports from mass media on National Plan-
Programmes" particular awareness rais-
archived through public campaigns and the
ning Workshops, organized in the frame of
ing campaigns for pollution control and
implementation of actions and projects in
the UNDP/GEF Pollution Reduction Pro-
nutrient reduction;
the frame of the Small Grants Programme
gram in 1998/99, contributed to public
("applied" awareness raising);
awareness raising;
Global-
1. At the regional level, national NGOs are or-
1. The Danube Environmental Forum will
1. The existence of operational mechanisms
Regional
ganized in the Danube Environmental Fo-
be fully operational at the national and
and structures for basin-wide coordination
rum (DEF); DEF representatives participate
regional levels; the DEF will participate
and development of NGO policies and ac-
in ICPDR meetings and in the ad-hoc
with qualified expertise in all ICPDR
tions under the DEF is achieved through op-
RMB/WFD Expert Group; an internal in-
Expert Groups to assure the implemen-
erational and structural support;
formation exchange by e-mail is function-
tation of NGO strategies and actions in
2. Improved and efficient cooperation with the
ing;
support of the DRPC;
ICPDR is assured through participation in
2. International NGOs, and WWF in particular, 2. The DEF has developed mechanisms to
ICPDR bodies and decision making process;
play an important role in wetland restoration
assure sustainable financial resources for 3. Financial sustainability of the DEF is as-
and environmental awareness raising and
its operation and activities;
sured though development of funding
participate in all emergency situations (Bal-
3. Under the ICPDR, basin-wide awareness
schemes and resource mobilization;
kan Task Force, Baia Mare Task Force,
raising campaigns will be organized to
4. Increased awareness of the public and the
etc.);
enhance public participation in the im-
decision makers of nutrient reduction and
3. Under the Danube River Basin Environ-
plementation of the water framework
pollution control is achieved through public
mental Program, the periodical "Danube
and nitrate directives with particular at-
awareness raising campaigns organized in
Watch" was published quarterly from 1995
tention to nutrient reduction measures
cooperation with the DEF and national
(?) to 2000 as a channel to inform the gov-
and phosphorus phase- out programmes;
NGOs and through special publications of
ernment and private readers about water
4. The Danube Watch will be used as a pe-
the ICPDR;
pollution and related problems in the DRB
riodical information journal of the
and the progress made in implementing the
ICPDR;
programme in support of the DRPC;
Annex 1: Incremental Costs Analysis and Matrix
9
Component
Benefits
Baseline
Alternative
Incremental
OBJECTIVE 4:
Domestic
1. In transition countries, the analysis of sedi-
1. Specialized institutions at the national
1. Improved performance of national institu-
Reinforcement of
ments and monitoring of bio-indicators is
level will be identified to participate in
tions to execute sampling and analysis of
monitoring,
only done occasionally; funding of institu-
the sampling and analysis of bio- indi-
bio-indicators and sediments to control toxic
evaluation and
tions and laboratories is insufficient to con-
cators and sediments to control toxic
substances, heavy metals and other pollut-
information systems
duct regular programs;
substances, heavy metals and other pol-
ants in national waters;
for transboundary
2. Monitoring of nutrient-removal capacities of
lutants in national waters;
2. Improved knowledge on toxic substances
pollution control
wetlands is only done in the frame of spe-
2. In the frame of the implementation of
accumulate in sediments in the Danube
and nutrient
cific projects outside the DRB; no regular
wetland rehabilitation projects, moni-
River and its tributaries and on possible ef-
reduction
programme exists in the Danube countries;
toring programmes will be set up to
fects on the Black Sea;
analyse the effects of nutrient reduction
3. Improved knowledge on the most cost-
and to determine the most cost-effective
effective way of wetland restoration in the
solutions for wetland restoration in the
DRB;
DRB;
Global-
1. Upstream Danube countries, in particular
1. EU countries, Germany and Austria are
1. Economic instruments are defined and dis-
Regional
Germany and Austria, are not fully in com-
increasing their efforts to comply with
cussion with the EU is initiated to identify
pliance with EU water quality directives
EU Nitrate Directive in regard to dif-
new or alternative ways for the implementa-
(Nitrate Directive) whereas downstream
fuses sources of pollution, (in particular
tion of nutrient reduction measures, includ-
countries have a good potential (but no
agricultural activities); in this context,
ing incentives and voluntary measures of
funds!) to introduce cost-efficient nutrient
economic measures will be examined to
basin wide cooperation;
reduction measures
speed up nutrient reduction measures in
2. The existence of regular monitoring pro-
2. Transboundary effects of pollutants in sedi-
the frame of joint actions under the
grams to analyse the effects of nutrient re-
ments (toxic substances and heavy metals)
ICPDR;
duction and to evaluate their effect on eco-
are not investigated; transport mechanisms
2. The ICPDR will set up a regular pro-
systems in the DRB and the Black Sea;
of sediments and effects on the Black Sea
gramme for the sampling and analysis of
ecosystems are presently not know;
bio indicators and sediments to control
transboundary flow of toxic substances,
heavy metals and other pollutants as well
as their effects on ecosystems in the
DRB and the Black Sea;
10
Project Brief / Danube Regional Project
Component
Benefits
Baseline
Alternative
Incremental
INVESTMENTS:
Domestic
Investments: 4.1 billion for five years out of
In the frame of the existing funding
Through the implementation of the above-
Five Year Nutrient
which 41% of funding is assured through na-
schemes, additional funds (850 million )
mentioned measures of the GEF Regional Proj-
Reduction Plan /
tional funding, 25 % through international
will be mobilized through:
ect in terms of the development of policies and
ICPDR Joint Action
loans and 14% through international grants;
· World Bank Partnership : 210 million $
regulations for nutrient reduction in line with
Programme
21% of the proposed investment remains to be
in loans and 70 million $ in GEF grants
EU Directives (Urban Waste Water Directive,
raised.
· ISPA funds : 3.5 billion
Nitrate Directive, WFD, etc.), additional bene-
Through the implementation of projects for
· SAPARD funds : 1.7 billion
fits will be achieved in reducing emissions
waste water treatment in the municipal, indus-
from non-point sources, in particular from agri-
· Other EU funds : 8.3 billion
trial and agro-industrial sectors (ICPDR Joint
cultural activities.
· EBRD funds : to be determined
Action Programme), domestic benefits in pol-
lution reduction (COD, BOD, N + P) are
· Bilateral funds : to be determined
achieved;
Considering that the economic situation of
all transition countries will be improved
over time, the 5-year investment program
can be amended and additional investments
can be foreseen to further facilitate the im-
plementation of pollution reduction meas-
ures. Particular attention will also be paid to
nutrient reduction from non-point sources
of pollution through the development and
implementation of respective policies and
legislation.
Global-
The implementation of the above measures will
All the projects described above and the
The implementation of the above measures at
Regional
also yield transboundary and therefore regional
measures implemented at the national level
the national level will also yield transboundary
benefits; concerning the reduction of nutrient
will have transboundary consequences in
and therefore regional benefits in improving the
transport to the Black Sea, global benefits will
the improvement of health and ecological
ecological conditions in Significant Impact Ar-
also be achieved.
conditions in the Danube River Basin (Sen-
eas of the DRB; concerning the reduction of
sitive Impact Areas) and, through reduction
nutrients from non-point sources, substantive
of nutrient load, in the recovery of the Black
global benefits will also be achieved for the
Sea ecosystems.
Black Sea and the restoration of its ecosystems.
Incremental Costs Matrix - Costs
Objective
Outputs
Baseline Costs
Alternative
Incremental Costs
Costs
Governments
UNDP
Bilat. Donors
EU
NGOs
Total
ICPDR
GEF
Total
(USAID)
Baseline
Incremental
Objective 1: Creation of
General costs related to Objective 1
1,000,000
1,000,000
2,165,000
1,165,000
1,165,000
sustainable ecological
1.1 Development of policy guidelines for river basin and water
55,800,000
40,000
55,840,000
59,888,080
2,970,000
1,078,080
4,048,080
conditions for land use and
resources management
water management
1.2 Reduction of nutrients and other harmful substances from
41,850,000
41,850,000
42,659,040
809,040
809,040
agricultural non-point sources
1.3 Development of pilot projects on reduction of nutrients and 41,850,000
41,850,000
42,659,040
809,040
809,040
other harmful substances from agricultural point-sources
1.4 Policy development for wetlands rehabilitation and
23,250,000
40,000
200,000
23,490,000
23,930,760
440,760
440,760
remedial measures for inappropriate land use
1.5 Industrial reform and development of policies and
34,875,000
40,000
5,000,000
39,915,000
40,604,080
689,080
689,080
legislation for "clean" industrial production
1.6 Policy reform and legislative measures for the application
13,950,000
5,000,000
18,950,000
19,198,840
248,840
248,840
of waste water tariffs
1.7 Implementation of effective systems of water pollution fines 11,625,000
11,625,000
11,843,840
218,840
218,840
and incentives
1.8 Recommendations for changes in legislation concerning
9,300,000
10,000
9,310,000
9,504,420
194,420
194,420
phosphorus reduction
Subtotal 232,500,000
130,000
11,000,000
200,000
243,830,000 252,453,100
2,970,000
5,653,100
8,623,100
Objective 2: Capacity building General costs related to Objective 2
6,000,000
6,000,000
6,532,500
532,500
532,500
and reinforcement of
2.1 Development of operational tools for monitoring, laboratory 55,800,000
55,800,000
59,084,100
2,722,500
561,600
3,284,100
transboundary cooperation for and information management and for emission analysis
the improvement of water
2.2 Improvement of procedures and tools for accidental
39,060,000
39,060,000
41,363,110
1,905,750
397,360
2,303,110
quality and environmental
emergency response
standards in the Danube River 2.3 Support for reinforcement of ICPDR Information and
61,380,000
61,380,000
65,070,650
2,994,750
695,900
3,690,650
Basin
Monitoring System (DANUBIS)
2.4 Implementation of the "Memorandum of Understanding"
11,160,000
11,160,000
11,754,500
544,500
50,000
594,500
2.5 Training and consultation workshops for resource
0
344,500,000
344,500,000 345,012,000
0
512,000
512,000
management and pollution control
Subtotal 186,000,000
6,000,000
344,500,000
517,900,000 548,324,360
9,075,000
2,749,360
10,916,860
Objective 3:Strengthening of
General costs related to Objective 3
10,000,000
15,250,000
25,250,000
25,527,500
277,500
277,500
public involvement in
3.1 Support for institutional development of NGOs and
60,000
6,250,000
6,310,000
7,293,050
358,050
625,000
983,050
environmental decision making community involvement
and reinforcement of
3.2 Applied awareness raising through community based
30,000
15,000,000
7,500,000
22,530,000
24,914,600
138,600
2,246,000
2,384,600
community actions for pollution "Small Grant Program"
reduction and protection of
3.3 Organization of public awareness raising campaigns on
80,000
37,000
117,000
1,931,350
658,350
1,156,000
1,814,350
ecosystems
nutrient reduction and control of toxic substances
Subtotal
170,000
25,000,000
29,037,000
54,207,000
59,666,500
1,155,000
4,304,500
5,459,500
Objective 4: Reinforcement of General costs related to objective 4
355,000
355,000
355,000
monitoring, evaluation and
4.1 Development of indicators for project monitoring and
18,600,000
18,600,000
19,650,300
907,500
142,800
1,050,300
information systems for
impact evaluation
transboundary pollution control 4.2 Analysis of sediments in the Iron Gate reservoir and
13,950,000
13,950,000
15,124,000
990,000
184,000
1,174,000
and nutrient reduction
impact assessment of heavy metals
4.3 Monitoring and assessment of nutrient removal capacities
18,600,000
200,000
18,800,000
20,357,240
1,320,000
237,240
1,557,240
of wetlands
4.4 Danube Basin feasibility study and consultation process on 13,950,000
13,950,000
15,114,000
990,000
174,000
1,164,000
economic instruments for nutrient reduction
Subtotal 46,500,000
0
200,000
46,700,000
51,093,040
3,300,000
1,093,040
5,300,540
Total Capacity Building
465,000,000
300,000
42,000,000 344,500,000 29,437,000 881,237,000 911,537,000
16,500,000
13,800,000
30,300,000
PDF-B
350,000
350,000
Support Costs
1,200,000
1,200,000
Total
465,000,000
300,000
42,000,000 344,500,000 29,437,000 881,237,000 913,087,000
16,500,000
15,350,000
31,850,000
Bilateral Donors: USAID, DEPA NGOs: REC, WWF, Danube NGOs
Project Brief / Danube Regional Project
Annexes
ANNEX 2 Logical Frame Matrix
(Objectives, Outputs, Activities)
Annex 2: Logical Frame Matrix
1
Logical Frame Matrix (Objectives, Outputs, Activities)
Objectives/Purpose
Objectively Verifiable Indicators
Sources of Verification
Assumptions and Risks
1. Long-term development Objective:
Overall Project Objective: At the end of the project
· Reports of Joint Danube/ Black Sea · The Danube/Black
The long-term development objective of the proposed
period, nutrient loads to the Black Sea are
Working Group, in 2005;
Sea Joint Working
Regional Project is to contribute to sustainable
considerably reduced by 21,1 % for nitrogen and
· TNMN Annual Reports.
Group if operational.
human development in the DRB through reinforcing
32,0 % for phosphorus,
the capacities of the participating countries in
Objective 1 : At the end of the project period all
· Revised Joint Action Plan including · All countries
developing effective mechanisms for regional
Danube River Basin countries have developed and
nutrient reduction measures is adopted
participate in the
cooperation and coordination in order to ensure
ratified policies and legal instruments and Action
legally binding by the ICPDR.
elaboration of the
protection of international waters, sustainable
Plans for nutrient reduction and have put in place
revised JAP.
management of natural resources and biodiversity.
mechanisms for exacting compliance,
Objective 2: Operational mechanisms for
· The ICPDR Information system is · National Governments
2. Overall Objective:
monitoring of water pollution and control of
operational in all Danube countries as
have provided
The overall objective of the Danube Regional Project
emissions from point sources and non-point sources
a tool for transboundary monitoring of
sufficient funding for
is to complement the activities of the ICPDR required
and a reliable information system under the ICPDR
water pollution and implement-ation
operation of national
to provide a regional approach and global
are functional at the regional and national level to
of reduction measures.
Information System.
significance to the development of national policies
assess improvement of water quality and nutrient
and legislation and the definition of priority actions
reduction to the Black Sea,
for nutrient reduction and pollution control with
Objective 3: The civil society and in particular
· The Danube Environmental Forum is · The DEF has
particular attention to achieving sustainable
national NGOs in all Danube countries are at the end
represented in all Danube countries
mobilized the
transboundary ecological effects within the DRB and
of the project period proactively implicated in
and has an established Secretariat with
necessary funds for
the Black Sea area.
national nutrient reduction measures, have conducted
its proper financial means;
operation.
at least two national awareness raising campaigns and
· The GEF Small Grants Program is
3. Purpose of the Project:
have participated in the implementation of
fully implemented and 80 % of all
community based nutrient reduction projects financed
projects show sustainable results
Further, the Danube Regional Project shall facilitate
under the GEF Small Grants Program,
project implementation in providing a framework for
coordination, dissemination and replication of
Objective 4: Knowledge on sedimentation, transport
· Measures to reduce toxic substances · Cooperation of all
successful demonstration that will be developed
and removal of nutrients and toxic substances is
from the Iron Gate reservoirs are
countries and
through the implementation of investment projects.
considerably increased and economic instruments to
introduced;
organizations, in
encourage investments for nutrient reduction are
· Nutrient retention capacities of
particular the EU in
developed and put in place at the national and
wetlands are know;
the analysis and
regional level.
· Economic instruments to facilitate
application of
investments in nutrient reduction
proposals.
projects are defined and implemented.
2
Project Brief / Danube Regional Project
Objective 1: Creation of sustainable ecological conditions for land use and water management
Objective / Output / Activity
Objectively Verifiable Indicators
Sources of Verification
Assumptions and Risks
Output 1.1:
1. sub-river basins are defined
1. maps with sub-river basin
1. differing concepts on the sub-river basins
Development of policy guidelines
2. river basin management practices are identified and
boundaries
delimitation might appear
for river basin and water
gaps and needs in relation of WFD requirements are
2. reports on required steps to
5. limited capacities for implementation of
resources management
clarified
ensure WFD implementation
WFD of downstream countries
3. methodology for preparation and aggregation of sub-
3. methodology and guidelines for
river basins management plans is developed
river basin management plans
4. appropriate structures for transboundary cooperation
4. rules of procedure for creation
such as river basin committees are created and
and operation of river basin
operational
authorities
5. transboundary cooperation and coordination is
5. coherent river basin management
enhanced
plans are in preparation
1.1.1 Define sub-river basins for planning purposes on geographic and socio-political grounds;
1.1.2 Analyse river basin management practices in selected DRB countries;
1.1.3 developing river basin management tools, using in particular satellite remote sensing for analysis of surface materials and pathways of pollution;
1.1.4 Identifying typical deficiencies and needs in relation to the requirements of the new EU-Water Framework Directive (in particular the EU Nitrate Directive);
1.1.5 Develop methodology, standards and guidelines for the preparation of sub-river basin management plans;
1.1.6 Develop methodology for the aggregation of sub-river basin management plans to a basin-wide management concept;
1.1.7 Introduce appropriate structures at national, regional and basin wide level (ICPDR) to assure efficient transboundary cooperation;
1.1.8 Develop strategies for the particular DRB countries to come in compliance with the new EU Water Framework Directive and particularly the EU Nitrate Directive;
1.1.9 Organize sub-regional workshops with participants from relevant ministries, local administration and the private sector to reinforce transboundary cooperation for the
development and implementation of Sub-river-basin Management Plans.
Annex 2: Logical Frame Matrix
3
Objective 1: Creation of sustainable ecological conditions for land use and water management
Objective / Output / Activity
Objectively Verifiable Indicators
Sources of Verification
Assumptions and Risks
Output 1.2:
1. assessment of legislation on non-point sources of
1. analysis reports available
1. information need to be available
Reduction of nutrients and other
pollution, enforcement and existing projects for
2. qualitative and quantitative list
2. shortage of public funds in support of
harmful substances from
agricultural practices and organic farming is updated
of suitable agrochemicals
agricultural research
agricultural non-point sources
2. list of hazardous agrochemicals and their impacts is
approved
3. policy makers discourage the adoption of
through appropriate agricultural
identified
4. - 5. guidebooks for
new appropriate agricultural practices and
practice and organic farming
3. alternative concepts for agricultural practices and
implementing new agricultural
organic farming
farming in line with EU requirements for central and
non-point sources policies
4. trained labour, time and management
downstream Danube countries are elaborated
elaborated
skills are necessary
4. national institutional, legal and capacity building
5. slow decision making process
measures for designing and implementing new
agricultural non-point sources policies are developed
5. appropriate agricultural practices and organic farming
are introduced in the central and downstream Danube
countries
1.2.1 Assist countries in design of new agricultural non-point source pollution control policies and legislation and compliance and enforcement plans in line with existing and
emerging (including EU accession) national legislation;
1.2.2 Review relevant legislation, actual state of enforcement, existing programs and pilot projects for appropriate agricultural practices and organic farming in selected DRB
countries;
1.2.3 Identify agrochemicals (fertilizers, pesticides, etc.) which are important in quantities of utilization, misuse of application, environmental impacts and potential for reduction;
1.2.4 Identify main legal, administrative, institutional and funding deficiencies;
1.2.5 Develop and assess alternative concepts for the introduction of appropriate agricultural practices and organic farming in the central and downstream DRB countries by taking
into account country specific traditional, social and economic issues with particular attention to the transition process and the gradual recovery of the agricultural sector;
1.2.6 Introduce necessary changes in legislation which will lead to a significant reduction in utilization of agrochemicals and ensure compatibility with EU directives and guidelines;
1.2.7 Implement necessary complementary measures on national level (training, financial support, institutional and legislative measures);
1.2.8 Organize a series of workshops with participants from relevant ministries, private organizations, farmer's associations etc, dealing with country specific legal and institutional
reform measures to facilitate the introduction of appropriate agricultural practices and organic farming in specific DRB countries.
4
Project Brief / Danube Regional Project
Objective 1: Creation of sustainable ecological conditions for land use and water management
Objective / Output / Activity
Objectively Verifiable Indicators
Sources of Verification
Assumptions and Risks
Output 1.3:
1. assessment of legislation on point sources of pollution,
1. analysis reports available
1. information availability
Development of pilot projects on
enforcement and existing projects for animal farming
2. guidebooks and instructions for
3. knowledge is needed to inform farm
reduction of nutrients and other
and manure handling are updated
implementation available
managers and policy makers on the trade-
harmful substances from
2. alternative concepts for animal farming and manure
3. new concepts in place
off between on-farm practices and off-
agricultural point-sources by
handling in line with EU requirements for central and
4. number of pilot projects
farm consequences
introduction of appropriate
downstream Danube countries are elaborated
4. controversy on the economic and
manure handling
3. understanding of decision makers and farmers on the
financial viability of selected pilot farms
need to introduce new concepts for animal farming and
may occur
manure handling is improved
4. monitoring and progress evaluation through pilot
projects is performed
1.3.1 Assist countries in development of new nutrient point source control policies and legislation and compliance and enforcement mechanisms in line with existing and emerging
(including EU accession) national environmental legislation;
1.3.2 Review legislation and actual state of enforcement at country level;
1.3.3 Analyze existing programs and pilot projects for animal farming and manure handling;
1.3.4 Develop alternative concepts for the introduction of appropriate animal farming practices and manure handling in the central and downstream DRB countries by taking into
account national demand and international markets;
1.3.5 Implement necessary complementary measures on national level (information on best available techniques, financial support, etc.);
1.3.6 Prepare and develop for the central and lower DRB countries typical pilot projects;
1.3.7 Implement pilot projects with the cooperation of interested farmers and associations and assure monitoring and evaluation of progress;
1.3.8 Disseminate component results to farming communities in the basin through appropriate networks;
1.3.9 Organize a series of demonstration workshops with participants from animal farms, banking institutions and government agencies.
Annex 2: Logical Frame Matrix
5
Objective 1: Creation of sustainable ecological conditions for land use and water management
Objective / Output / Activity
Objectively Verifiable Indicators
Sources of Verification
Assumptions and Risks
Output 1.4:
1. assessment of inappropriate land use is updated
1. analysis report available
1. need for interdisciplinary problem solving
Policy development for wetlands
2. legal and institutional reform for integration of
2. guidelines on land uses and
research system
rehabilitation and remedial
environmental and economic issues is prepared
wetlands restoration available
2. knowledge on the economic and
measures for inappropriate land
3. legal and market based instruments are elaborated and
3. new regulations on payments
environmental benefits and costs of
use (resulting from settlement,
implemented
and compensations for land use
various land uses
agricultural activities, hydraulic
4. pilot projects in areas with inappropriate land use
and environmental services
3. participatory approach ensured between
structures, etc.)
practices are developed
adopted
economical and environmental authorities
5. lessons on land rehabilitation are learned and
4. - 5. recommendations for various
4. uncertainty in assessing the location
stakeholders cooperation is achieved
types of conflicting land use
potential to demonstrate the value of the
wetland or the costs of various conflicting
land uses
4. - 5. financial resources secured
1.4.1 Assist countries to prepare new land use and wetlands rehabilitation/protection policies and legislation and compliance and enforcement mechanisms, in line with existing and
emerging (including EU accession) environmental legislation.
1.4.2 Analyze typical situations of inappropriate land use which leads to significant transboundary pollution from nutrients and toxic substances in the DRB;
1.4.3 Develop alternative concepts for harmonization with particular consideration of the usually conflicting environmental and economic issues and identify required legal and
institutional reforms;
1.4.4 Implement required actions and measures (regulatory and legal issues, economic fines and incentives, compensation payments, etc);
1.4.5 Define pilot projects for each of the identified types of conflicting landuse;
1.4.6 Organize a workshop on policy and legal issues of land rehabilitation with participants from relevant ministries of the particular DRB countries.
6
Project Brief / Danube Regional Project
Objective 1: Creation of sustainable ecological conditions for land use and water management
Objective / Output / Activity
Objectively Verifiable Indicators
Sources of Verification
Assumptions and Risks
Output 1.5:
1. inventory on industrial production technologies is
1. -2. reports on inventory of
1. accessibility to the most updated
Industrial reform and
updated
industrial technologies and
databases
development of policies and
2. assessment of the existing legislative and enforcement
existing legal status available
3. industrial managers, researchers and
legislation for "clean" industrial
status is elaborated
3. relevant legal documents adapted
policy makers will perceive the benefits
production towards nutrient and
3. DRB countries have adapted national legislation in line
available
of the EU policies
toxic reduction
with the EU
4. statistics of compliance schedule
4. the national government policy inhibits
4. national action plan for nutrient reduction to respond to
and enforcement actions taken
the action plan implementation
SIA are implemented
by industries
5. the industries are reluctant to the changes
5. alternative concepts for environmentally friendly
5. guides to pollution reduction for
production technologies in industries in particular
different industries available
countries are developed
6. case studies of application of
6. knowledge and understanding on the benefits and costs
alternative concepts
of various alternative concepts are improved
1.5.1 Assist countries in development of new industrial nutrient/toxics pollution control policies and legislation and compliance enforcement mechanisms in line with existing and
emerging (including EU legislation) national legislation.
1.5.2 Review data and information on the actual status of industrial production technologies involving nitrogen and phosphorus in the DRB countries;
1.5.3 Review policies and legislation for industrial pollution control and the actual state of enforcement at country level;
1.5.4 Collect information on relevant EU-legislation and international standards and assist DRB countries to adapt national legislation accordingly;
1.5.5 Develop necessary complementary policy and legal measures for the introduction of clean technologies (regulatory and legal issues, awareness raising, financial fines and
incentives, etc.).
1.5.6 Identify, in relation to Significant Impact Areas (SIA), industries with significant impacts on water resources and water quality and implement measures for reduction of
nutrients and toxics water pollution in the most cost effective way;
1.5.7 Develop for the different categories of DRB countries alternative concepts for a step-by-step introduction of environment friendly production technologies in industries utilizing
or producing nitrogen and/or phosphorus, taking into account the restricted financial capabilities of the industrial enterprises and the economic affordability of the particular
countries;
1.5.8 Organize a series of workshops for industrial mangers, banking institutions and government agencies, introducing information on best available technologies, financial support,
etc.
Annex 2: Logical Frame Matrix
7
Objective 1: Creation of sustainable ecological conditions for land use and water management
Objective / Output / Activity
Objectively Verifiable Indicators
Sources of Verification
Assumptions and Risks
Output 1.6:
1. deficiencies in international comparison related to
1. comparative tariff study
1. information accessibility
Policy reform and legislative
tariffs, metering etc. are identified
available
2. political and administrative constrains
measures for the application of
2. most appropriate cost recovery models and gradual
2. policies and recommendations
3. keeping the water companies competitive
economically and socially
tariffs reform are proposed for specific countries
on cost recovery models
4. absence of governmental income support
acceptable waste water tariffs,
3. economic and financial viability of the water companies
available
program
focusing on nutrient reduction and
for specific countries are ensured
3. financial accounts of the water
control of toxic substances
4. improved knowledge on the best tariff alternatives are
companies available
ensured
4. tariff schemes rules
economically and socially
accepted
1.6.1 Assist countries in development of new tariff systems to facilitate cost covering operations of WWTP with third stage for nutrient reduction and to encourage respective
investment decisions;
1.6.2 Analyze significant deficiencies in international comparison (level of tariffs, status of metering, collection rate, etc);
1.6.3 Develop for the different categories of DRB countries alternative concepts for tariff reforms, considering cost covering models also for the low income segments of the
population;
1.6.4 Assess for the particular DRB countries the potential for additional revenues from water and wastewater services as additional funding sources for water sector operation and
investment;
1.6.5 Propose recommendations for phased implementation of tariff reforms;
1.6.6 Organize a workshop with participants from relevant ministries, municipalities and the private sector on the introduction of economically and socially acceptable wastewater
tariffs with particular attention to the operation of treatment plants with nutrient reduction stage.
8
Project Brief / Danube Regional Project
Objective 1: Creation of sustainable ecological conditions for land use and water management
Objective / Output / Activity
Objectively Verifiable Indicators
Sources of Verification
Assumptions and Risks
Output 1.7:
1. alternative concepts for introduction of incentives based
1. proposals of incentive based
1. low government willingness to introduce
Implementation of effective
instruments for groups of DRB countries are identified
instruments for specific groups
economic incentives
systems of water pollution fines
2. institutional and economic capabilities to implement
of DRB countries available
2. lack of commitment of economic
and incentives, focusing on
economic instruments are assessed
2. recommendations on
authorities to introduce incentives
nutrients and toxic substances
3. water pollution fines, incentives and tariffs are
strengthening of institutional and
3. limited knowledge on costs and benefits
harmonised and implemented
economic capabilities developed
of incentives schemes
4. information on the cost-benefits of incentives based
3. rules for water pollution fines,
instruments are disseminated
incentives and tariffs available
4. workshop reports existing
1.7.1 Assisting the countries in preparation of new systems of fines for water pollution and/or respective incentives.
1.7.2 Analyzing the present systems of fines for water pollution (nutrients, toxics) and respective incentives in the DRB countries and identifying significant deficiencies in
international comparison (types of fines and incentives, effectiveness, collection procedures, exemptions, etc);
1.7.3 Identifying the most essential and effective fines and incentives, assess the main problems for their introduction and develop mechanisms to assure compliance;
1.7.4 Assessing the willingness and institutional and economic capabilities of the particular DRB countries for a reform of pollution fines and incentives;
1.7.5 Developing for the different categories of DRB countries alternative concepts for the introduction of balanced and effective systems of pollution fines and incentives;
1.7.6 Organizing a workshop on the application of pollution fines and incentives, in conjunction with the workshop on tariffs, with participants from relevant ministries,
municipalities and the private sector.
Output 1.8:
1. analysis of legal and institutional possibilities for
1. options paper prepared
1. low priority concern for introducing
Recommendations for changes in
introducing restrictive standards for detergents use is
2. draft standards and phase-out
detergents standard at governmental level
legislation concerning phosphorus
performed
plans for phosphorus detergents
4. weak governmental support for producers
reduction by means of restricted
2. proposals of severe standards and implementation
available
of detergents
detergent standards
schedule for phosphorus reduction are developed
3. economic and financial rules
3. proposals for enforcement and compliance are
developed
elaborated
4. recommendations on future
4. lessons on phosphorus reduction are learned
actions on phosphorus reduction
available
1.8.1 Examine the existing legislation and assess the stakeholdersŽ reform willingness;
1.8.2 Develop phosphorus restricting standards and a timeframe for phosphorus detergents phase-out plans;
1.8.3 Develop proposals for enforcement and compliance (economic, financial incentives);
1.8.4 Assist particular countries to introduce policy and legislative reforms;
1.8.5 Evaluate the results.
Annex 2: Logical Frame Matrix
9
Objective 2: Capacity building and reinforcement of transboundary cooperation for the improvement of water quality and environmental standards in the
Danube River Basin
Objective / Output / Activity
Objectively Verifiable Indicators
Sources of Verification
Assumptions and Risks
Output 2.1:
1. water quality objectives and nutrient and toxics
1. standards and river classification
1. criteria for harmonization agreed
Development of operational tools
quality conditions are harmonised
available
2. - 4. capacity building and training ensured
for monitoring, laboratory and
2. statistics of emissions from point and non-pint
2. list of N, P emissions from point and
5. need for participatory approach
information management and for
sources for P and N are existing
non-point sources accessible
emission analysis from point and
3. inventory of priority chemicals in line with EU are
3. statistic of priority chemicals
non-point sources of pollution
prepared
existing
with particular attention to
4. laboratories are equipped and operational
4. results of analysis available
nutrients and toxic substances
5. information system and network are operational
5. transmission reports available
2.1.1 Harmonization of water quality standards and quality assurance for nutrients and toxic substances,
2.1.2 Database and emission inventory for point and non point sources of phosphorus and nitrogen,
2.1.3 Sources and amounts of transboundary pollution for substances on the list of EU priority chemicals
Output 2.2:
1. guidelines on accidental pollution prevention are
1. guidelines on interventions during
1. inferior priority on the accidental
Improvement of procedures and
designed, adapted and implemented
accidents available
pollution issues of the ministries
tools for accidental emergency
2. national stations - PIACs for MD, UA, BiH, YU are
2. transmission files available
2. delays in regulatory decisions
response with particular attention
fully operational
3. , 5. reports and statistics of
3. financial and material resources secured
to transboundary emergency
3. inventory and assessment of high accidental risks
emissions accessible
4. countries need to receive information and
situations
spots are completed in all countries
4. rules of operation of DBAM
assessment in developing new
4. DBAM is improved to respond to pollution transport
existing
management skills
issues
5. methods have not focused on integrating
5. cooperation on preventive and emergency measures
knowledge into practical solutions to
is improved
intervene during accidents
2.2.1 Design of preventive measures, adaptation of national legislation and improve compliance with safety standards;
2.2.2 Reinforcement of operational conditions in national stations and geographical extension of the AEPWS in Moldova, Ukraine, Bosnia & Herzegovina and the FR of
Yugoslavia1),
2.2.3 Completion of the inventory presently available only for the upper Tiza River Basin, and evaluation of all high accidental risk spots in all countries in the Danube River Basin
considering that similar accidental "hot spots" of mining and industrial activities exist in many transition countries,
2.2.4 Functional upgrade and calibration of the Danube Basin Alarm Model (DBAM), to monitor pollution transport of toxic subst. in the Danube River system and to the Black Sea;
2.2.5 Organization of workshops to reinforce cooperation in accidental emergency warning and development of preventive measures;
1 The F.R. of Yugoslavia is situated in an extreme important geographical position in the center of the Danube River Basin where the most important tributaries, Tiza, Save and Drave are joining the
Danube. During the recent accidental pollution the AEWS has also informed Yugoslavia and cooperated with its technical staff to monitor the effects of accidental pollution. The UNEP Balkan Task
Force and the EU-Baia Mare Task Force have closely cooperated with Yugoslavian authorities in the assessment of accidental pollution and the design of emergency measures.
10
Project Brief / Danube Regional Project
Objective 2: Capacity building and reinforcement of transboundary cooperation for the improvement of water quality and environmental standards in the
Danube River Basin
Objective / Output / Activity
Objectively Verifiable Indicators
Sources of Verification
Assumptions and Risks
Output 2.3:
1. ICPDR Information System as a part of WPPCM is
1. WPPCM scheme available
1. delays in reaching agreement on the
Support for reinforcement of
fully integrated
2. information exchange during
integration within WPPCM
ICPDR Information and
2. networking within DANUBIS by all ICPDR
emergency situations files
2. low commitment and limited resources of
Monitoring System (DANUBIS)
contracting parties is realised
3. web site accessible
governments to link to DANUBIS
3. DANUBIS web site is operational
4. rules of accessions rights to
3. inadequate user skills
4. mechanisms of having access to information are
DANUBIS approved
4. countries must undertake interactions to
available
facilitate transboundary communication
2.3.1 The ICPDR information System, used by its expert groups and other operational bodies, would be fully integrated in the frame of a Water Pollution Prevention and Control
Model (WPPCM);
2.3.2 All Contracting Parties of the ICPDR and other participating countries would be linked to DANUBIS, which applies the development and implementation of national linkages
and establishment of operational units to communicate also in case of accidental emergency situations;
2.3.3 DANUBIS would be reinforced through the implementation of an interactive web-site to integrate further textual, numerical and digital mapping information and to fulfill all
requirements of the work of the Nutrient Reduction Program (communication, monitoring, public information, etc.);
2.3.4 An extensive training program would be launched and series of workshops be organized at different users level and in different regions of the DRB to train and assist futures
users in the best use of the tools made available by the system.
Output 2.4:
1. joint work programme for MoU is developed
1. joint work programme available
1. unequal involvement of ICPDR and
Implementation of the
2. agreement of status indicators is reached
2. - 5. agreements on the indicators
ICPBS
"Memorandum of Understanding"
3. joint AQC system is defined and implemented
and rules accessible
2. delayed national contributions the MoU
between the ICPDR and the
4. rules of reporting are developed
6. MoU file available
ICPBS relating to discharges of
nutrients and hazardous
5. agreement on regular meetings is concluded
substances to the Black Sea
6. MoU is signed
2.4.1 Develop joint work program for MOU implementation
2.4.2 Define and agree on status indicators to monitor nutrient transport from the Danube and change of ecosystems in the Black Sea;
2.4.3 Define and implement a common AQC system and monitoring and sampling procedures;
2.4.4 Define and establish reporting procedures
2.4.5 Reestablish and organize regular meeting of the Joint Danube - Black Sea working Group to evaluate progress of nutrient reduction and recovery of Black Sea ecosystems.
2.4.6 Organize joint Danube - Black Sea meeting to approve and sign MOU;
Annex 2: Logical Frame Matrix
11
Objective 2: Capacity building and reinforcement of transboundary cooperation for the improvement of water quality and environmental standards in the
Danube River Basin
Objective / Output / Activity
Objectively Verifiable Indicators
Sources of Verification
Assumptions and Risks
Output 2.5:
1. knowledge, professional skills and understanding on
1. number of workshops and trained
Training and consultation
nutrient reduction issues are enhanced
participants
workshops for resource
management and pollution control
with particular attention to
nutrient reduction and
transboundary issues
Training courses in the following fields
2.5.1 Policy development and legal frame for transboundary cooperation in nutrient reduction and control of toxic substances;
2.5.2 Technical and legal issues of river basin planning and transboundary water resources management in line with the new EU Water Framework Directive in view to assure
effective nutrient reduction;
2.5.3 Technical and legal issues (land reclamation) of wetland restoration and management to assure nutrient removal;
2.5.4 Innovative technologies for municipal and industrial waste water treatment; use of sewage and animal waste as fertilizer to reduce nutrient emissions;
2.5.5 Technical and legal issues of management and control of use of fertilizers and manure;
2.5.6 Preparation of documents for nutrient reduction projects with international co-funding and application of GEF criteria concerning "incremental cost" calculation;
12
Project Brief / Danube Regional Project
Objective 3: Strengthening of public involvement in environmental decision making and reinforcement of community actions for pollution reduction and
protection of ecosystems
Objective / Output / Activity
Objectively Verifiable Indicators
Sources of Verification
Assumptions and Risks
Output 3.1:
1. optimal operation of DEF secretariat is achieved
1. rules of operation of the DEF
1. lack of adequately trained staff
Support for institutional
2. knowledge on nutrient and toxic are improved
secretariat approved
4. low willingness of governments to
development of NGOs and
3. reports on nutrient and toxic, in national languages,
3. reports printed
collaborate with NGOs
community involvement
are published
4. cooperation between NGOs and governments is
strengthened
3.1.1 Support for the DEF Secretariat for operation, communication and information management;
3.1.2 Organization of consultation meetings and training workshops on nutrients and toxics issues;
3.1.3 Editing of special NGO publications in national languages on nutrients and toxic substances;
3.1.4 Organization of training courses for development of NGO activities and cooperation in national projects (nutrient reduction);
Output 3.2:
1. efficient and effective NGO involvement through
1. list of proposed and implemented
1. correct acknowledgement of the SGP
Applied awareness raising
assessment exercise and pilot and investment
projects available
ensured
through community based "Small
projects is ensured
Grant Program"
3.2.1 Environmental assessment related to nutrients and toxic substances and effects of transboundary pollution;
3.2.2 Demonstration activities and awareness campaigns for sustainable land management and pollution reduction (nutrients) in the agricultural, industrial and municipal sectors;
3.2.3 Small scale community based investment projects for pollution control, rehabilitation of wetlands, best agricultural practices, reduction of use of fertilizers, manure handling,
improvement of village sewer systems, etc.
Output 3.3:
1. realistic approach on organizing public campaigns is
1. rules for public hearings available
1. willingness of local administration to
Organization of public awareness
developed
2. mechanisms of having access to
support organization of public events
raising campaigns on nutrient
2. sufficient and reliable information for mass media
information developed
2. information access restricted
reduction and control of toxic
purposes are prepared
3. printed materials available
3. limited funds
substances
3. documents are published
3.3.1 Conceptualization and implementation of public awareness raising campaigns on nutrients issues;
3.3.2 Development and production of materials for public press and mass media on nutrients and toxics;
3.3.3 Support publication of scientific documents and regular papers or special issues on water management and pollution reduction with particular attention to nutrient issues and
Black Sea recovery.
Annex 2: Logical Frame Matrix
13
Objective 4: Reinforcement of monitoring, evaluation and information systems for transboundary pollution control and nutrient reduction
Objective / Output / Activity
Objectively Verifiable Indicators
Sources of Verification
Assumptions and Risks
Output 4.1:
1. monitoring and evaluation system for project
1. monitoring and evaluation
1. - 6. knowledge is needed to define the
Development of indicators for
implementation is developed and operational
procedures available
most appropriate monitoring and
project monitoring and impact
2. indicators for emissions and water quality are
2. statistics on the emissions and water
assessment methods and indicators
evaluation
reviewed to answer to nutrient concerns
quality status accessible
1. - 6. countries need to agree with selected
3. progress indicators for monitoring project
3. - 5. list of progress, impact and
indicators
progresses are developed
ecological indicators accessible
4. impact indicators to evaluate environmental effects
6. guidelines files available
are defined
5. ecological indicators are developed
6. guidelines on the monitoring and impact indicators
use are elaborated
4.1.1 Develop and operationalize a monitoring and evaluation system to follow project and program implementation in financial and technical terms (pollution reduction) and assess
environmental impact (water quality, health, recovery of ecosystems, etc.)
4.1.2 Review indicators for emission control and water quality monitoring with particular attention to nutrients and toxic substances;
4.1.3 Develop progress indicators for monitoring of project implementation (GEF- supported nutrient reduction projects);
4.1.4 Develop impact indicators (process, stress reduction, environmental status) to evaluate environmental effects of policy and program implementation (nutrient reduction)
4.1.5 Analysis of ecological characteristics and development of bio-indicators,
4.1.6 Prepare a manual on use and application of monitoring and impact indicators.
Output 4.2:
1. assessment of the heavy metal contents and impacts
1. study including maps and diagrams
1. appropriate analysis equipment and
Analysis of sediments in the Iron
in relation to the sediments dynamics are updated
showing the existing situation and
trained personnel available
Gate reservoir and impact
and predicted
expected trends available
2. financial sources assured
assessment of heavy metals and
2. recommendations, control measures and monitoring
2. joint action programme available
other toxic substances on the
programmes are proposed
Danube and the Black Sea
ecosystems
4.2.1 Collect and review existing data and information on present situation;
4.2.2 Assess main types and quantities of dangerous substances;
4.2.3 Assess potential environmental impacts in the Danube and the Black Sea;
4.2.4 Forecast development for a period of 20 years;
4.2.5 Discuss possible precautionary and rehabilitation measures for the Danube and the Black Sea;
4.2.6 Prepare recommendations how to deal with this problem in the forthcoming decade (measures to be include in the a joint action program of the ICPDR);
4.2.7 Propose further monitoring programs;
14
Project Brief / Danube Regional Project
Objective 4: Reinforcement of monitoring, evaluation and information systems for transboundary pollution control and nutrient reduction
Objective / Output / Activity
Objectively Verifiable Indicators
Sources of Verification
Assumptions and Risks
Output 4.3:
1. criteria for wetlands classification and projects
1. list of criteria and projects available
1. lack of understanding on the need to
Monitoring and assessment of
prioritization are defined
2. methodology report existing
restore wetlands
nutrient removal capacities of
2. methodological approach for assessment of nutrient
3. observation programme file
2. absence of methodology for correlation
wetlands
removal capacities is developed taking into account
available
and interpretation of results of linked
results of other projects
4. list of measures and regulations for
projects
3. observation programme to assess annual removal
wetland restoration programmes
3. review the state of scientific and
capacities is designed and implemented
accessible
economic knowledge on wetlands
4. wetland management programmes and regulations
restorations and to determine what type of
are implemented
research is needed
4.3.1 Classify the wetlands in the DRB by categories and define rehabilitation pilot projects and observation sites;
4.3.2 Define the methodological approach for assessment of nutrient removal capacities of wetlands and flood plains;
4.3.3 Define and implement an observation program to assess the annual nutrient removal capacity (tons of N and P per ha) for each category of wetland for a period of 20 years (5
years covered by the present project);
4.3.4 Evaluate the aggregated nutrient removal capacities/potentials of the wetlands proposed for restoration (DPRP), taking into account the results of the "Danube Green Corridor"
and other investment programs under the Partnership;
4.3.5 Develop optimized wetlands management programs to assure maximum nutrient removal under best environmental, social and economic conditions;
4.3.6 Prepare relevant regulations for wetland restoration to assure implementation of projects with maximum nutrient removal capacities.
Output 4.4:
1. understanding on tradable permits approach and
1. comparison of national experiences
1. clear understanding on the need to shift
Danube Basin feasibility study
potential are facilitated
world-wide available
from traditional to market approach
and consultation process on
2. assessment on discharge quotas between involved
2. waste water balance reports existing
2. willingness of governments to accelerate
economic instruments for nutrient
neighbouring countries are undertaken
3. compilation of EU requirements file
the EU harmonization
reduction
3. agreement with EU requirements on introduction of
available
3. governmental support to implement
economic instruments through a consultation are
4. list of economic instruments and
economic instruments
achieved
work plan accessible
4. tradable permits must be carefully
4. proposals and schedules for implementation are
adapted to economic and social condition
developed
of the countries and regions
4.4.1 Review existing concepts of successful "pollutant auctions" or "pollution trading" in the water and air pollution sector in the US and Europe;
4.4.2 Study the general possibility to establish economic instruments for nutrient reduction under the EU policies and directives in the Danube River Basin;
4.4.3 Assess the main problems and the interest of the particular DRB countries (polluting and receiving countries) to establish discharge quotas and to develop economic solutions
for nutrient reduction;
4.4.4 Establish a consultation process with the EU to introduce in medium and long term economic instruments (economic sanctions, incentives, nutr. emission trading, auctions, etc)
4.4.5 Develop alternative concepts and timeframe for the introduction of economic instruments for nutrient reduction at a river basin ore regional level;
4.4.6 Discuss concepts with EU and participating countries (polluting and receiving countries) and develop timeframe for implementation of economic instruments for nutrient
reduction in EU regulations and national legislation.
Project Brief / Danube Regional Project
Annexes
ANNEX 3 STAP Review (UNDP)
and Response
Annex 3.1
STAP Review
Annex 3.2
Response to STAP Review
Annex 3.1: STAP Review
1
Elaboration of a Danube Regional Project: Strengthening of Implementation
Capacities for Nutrient Reduction and Transboundary Cooperation. Proposed
UNDP/GEF: International Waters Project
STAP-Roster Independent Technical Review undertaken by
Dr Gunilla Björklund
Marmorv 16A
SE-752 44 Uppsala, SWEDEN
Overall impressions - general soundness
Since 1992 the European Community and the UNDP/GEF have supported efforts of the Danube
countries and the Interim Commission for the Protection of the Danube River (ICPDR) to develop
the necessary mechanisms for effective implementation of the Convention.
The new project is developed to ensure efficient implementation of the regional Strategic Action
Plan based on national contributions, the Transboundary Analysis of causes and effects of
transboundary pollution within the Danube River Basin and on the Black Sea and the Pollution
Reduction Program resulting from that. In order to do so it would be necessary to reinforce the
appropriate development and application of policies, strategies and legislation for transboundary
pollution reduction at the national level.
The new GEF assistance, which is planned within the frame of the Danube/Black Sea Basin
Programmatic Approach for the Danube and the Black Sea Basin, should complement the activities
of the ICPDR and the Black Sea Program Implementation Unit. It shall
! provide assistance for them to reinforce their activities in terms of policy/legislative reforms and
enforcement of environmental regulations, including for measures introduced at the national
levels of the participating countries, and
! facilitate project implementation in providing a framework for dissemination and replication of
successful demonstration that will be developed through the implementation of investment
projects through the World Bank-GEF Strategic Partnership.
The Danube Regional Project is, according to the Project Brief, to be seen as an Integral Part of the
Danube/Black Sea Basin Programmatic Approach and a logical continuation of the GEF support for
capacity building provided for a period of six years to the countries of the Danube River Basin. The
Project is to utilise available expertise and build on the existing mechanisms and structures.
The overall impressions of the project as described in the project brief are very positive. Even
though a Strategic Action Plan has been developed and revised for the area it is essential that
regional policies and strategies be coordinated with the development of national policies and
legislation and implemented through national investment programs. Some of the countries will need
assistance to develop adequate policies and legislation for emission control with particular attention
to nutrient reduction. This is particularly true for those who will need to re-organise their political,
legal, administrative and socio-economic structures due to the economic transition process or to the
aftermath of the war. The project will facilitate the provisions for protection of the environment in
those countries where environment protection and investments for pollution reduction are not the
priority issues in the near future. It will thus help providing for a coordinated regional and
transboundary water management of the whole Danube River Basin including its discharge area in
the Black Sea.
2
Project Brief / Danube Regional Project
1. Relevance to GEF, priority
The project would be of great importance and it relates highly to the International Waters focal
area as it will ensure protection of international waters (the Danube River Basin and the Black Sea),
sustainable management of natural resources and biodiversity. It is of high priority as it would help
ensuring implementation of regional policies and strategies for nutrient and pollution reduction at
national level in the whole river basin.
It has particular relevance under the Operational Program Number 8: Waterbody-Based Operational
Program and to some extent under OP No 10: Contaminant-Based OP. It aims at "undertaking
projects that involve helping groups of countries to work collaboratively with the support of
implementing agencies in achieving changes in sectoral policies and activities so that transboundary
environmental concerns degrading specific water-bodies can be resolved"(OP 8). It does also aim at
"demonstrate ways of overcoming barriers to the use of best practices for limiting release of
contaminants causing priority concerns in the International Waters focal area..."(OP 10).
2. Objectives
The overall objective of the Danube Regional Project is to "complement the activities of the ICPDR
required to provide a regional approach and global significance to the development of national
policies and legislation and the priority actions for nutrient reduction and pollution control with
particular attention to transboundary effects within the DRB and the Black Sea area". This objective
is valid although it lacks the recognition of the environmental concerns that needs to be taken into
account. A long term objective should be to achieve environmental sustainability in the
transboundary Danube River Basin including in its discharging area in the Black Sea. To reach such
an objective it would be necessary to apply the regional approach and undertake the priority actions
as described. It is essential that a GEF supported project is focused towards achieving sustainable
transboundary ecological effects.
The presented four immediate objectives:
! "development of nutrient reduction policies and legal instruments and measures for exacting
compliance;
! institutional strengthening and capacity building for transboundary cooperation in nutrient
reduction;
! awareness raising and reinforcement of NGO participation in nutrient reduction activities; and
! strengthening the monitoring and information mechanisms on transboundary pollution control
and nutrient reduction"
in the presentation should further be regarded as activities to reach the objectives. They do, how
ever necessary, sound too technical to be regarded as objectives and do not pay sufficient attention
to the ecological concerns. The activities as described in the project brief would if properly
implemented result in a transboundary cooperation and ecological sustainability but the latter must
be clearly identified as an objective to ensure such a result.
2
Annex 3.1: STAP Review
3
3. Approach
The project brief defines the approach as being coherent and coordinated and that the project will
build on existing mechanisms and structure. As the proposed Danube Regional Project is to be an
integral part of the proposed Danube/Black Sea Basin Programmatic Approach it needs to be
identified within that framework. The approach is technically sound, in line with the overall
framework. It would result in achieving the objectives as presented, including the environmental
benefits that are not identified in the project brief but would be an overall long-term objective for
GEF support.
As the Black Sea is a water-body big enough to have a coriolis induced current system, nutrients
and pollution discharged by the Danube River into the Black Sea might adversely affect coastal
zones of other countries in the Black Sea. These effects might be defined in earlier Black Sea
projects but are not taken into account in the current project brief. Such effects need to be made
clear in order to define whether any of the other Black Sea riparians ought to be included in the
project.
4. Background Information
As the Danube Regional Project is seen as a logical continuation of previous projects, focusing on
Strengthening of Implementation Capacities for Nutrient Reduction and Transboundary
Cooperation background information provided is essentially building on information within this
context. This information is both relevant and substantial. It would, however, be useful to include
project evaluations of these projects as annexes. This information could serve as a useful point-of-
departure for the project as defined in the project brief.
5. Funding level
The project needs to be seen within the framework of the whole Danube-Black Sea program which
is composed of three complementary parts:
1. a series of country-related investment projects executed through the World Bank-GEF Strategic
Partnership with GEF financial support,
2. two Regional Projects, for the Danube River Basin and the Black Sea respectively, and
3. other GEF and donor interventions in the basin targeting reduction of nutrients and toxic
pollutants.
The proposed Danube Regional Project should be implemented within that context, thus taking into
account and build on the existing mechanisms and structures. The project would thus not need to
establish new systems which of course would imply financial as well as structural benefit. Funding
for the Environmental protection and nutrient reduction in the Danube River Basin will be provided
from different sources in accordance with what is described in the project brief. The proposed
UNDP/GEF Danube Regional Project would be an integral part of that. Against this background,
the funding level should be seen as appropriate.
4
Project Brief / Danube Regional Project
6. Innovation
The most innovative aspects of this project proposal lie in the framework in which it is based, the
Danube/Black Sea Programmatic Approach. This has a truly integrated approach, including its
technical aspects of transboundary pollution reduction, and application of regional policies at
national level to protect the environment. The transboundary cooperation that is needed to succeed
in development and application of policies and strategies between countries where the economic,
social and political pre-conditions are so different is a true challenge.
One of the activities to be undertaken as part of the project in order to meet the immediate
"objective" of awareness raising and reinforcement of NGO participation in nutrient reduction
activities is supporting NGOs to boost their capacities for active participation within the project by
setting up a Small Grants Program. This would provide for cooperation between all actors,
governmental as well as NGOs. Such innovative cooperation if successful could serve as a model
for future cooperation and collaboration in larger, integrated GEF-supported projects.
7. Strengths/Weakness
The greatest strength of the project is the it could be seen as a natural continuation of two successful
projects, and what is described above as the most innovative aspects of the proposal.
The most significant weaknesses of the proposal is that it is lacking proper references to the
environmental impacts of the nutrient and toxic emissions. Further, although the strengthening of
the monitoring and information mechanisms is one of the immediate "objectives", there is no proper
process for Monitoring and Evaluation of the project included in the project brief. The component
aiming at Strengthening of the monitoring and information mechanisms would include provisions
for "Analysis of sediments in the Iron Gate reservoir and impact assessment of heavy metals and
other toxic substances on the Danube and the Black Sea ecosystems", "Monitoring and assessment
of wetlands' nutrient removal capacities", and "Danube Basin feasibility study and consultation
process on economic instruments for nutrient reduction".
Some of the aspects of these monitoring and assessments could be used in a Project Monitoring and
Evaluation process of the Project Implementation but it is important to early in the process establish
criteria and indicators in order to be able to undertake a proper process, thereby to identify
successes and failures in the project and its implementation.
------------------------------------
The project, which is a very useful and innovative project would benefit from a stronger reference
to and analyses of environmental impacts and ecosystem degradation from the nutrient and toxic
effluents. A better developed system for project Monitoring and Evaluation should be developed.
And an evaluation report from the earlier GEF supported projects in the Danube and Black Sea
should be annexed. This would strengthen the project.
28 August, 2000
Gunilla Björklund
4
Annex 3.2: Response to STAP Review
1
Response from the ICPDR/GEF Project team to the comments from:
STAP-Roster Independent Technical Review undertaken by
Dr Gunilla Björklund
Marmorv 16A
SE-752 44 Uppsala, SWEDEN
On the Danube Regional Project: "Strengthening of Implementation Capacities for Nutrient
Reduction and Transboundary Cooperation in the Danube River Basin
General comment:
We appreciate the comments received from Dr Gunilla Björklund, which are well founded and
which we have taken into account to prepare a revised version of the Project Brief. This revised
version reflects also other comments received in the meantime from participating countries and
from the GEF Secretariat, as from Al Duda and others.
Specific amendments in relation to STAP-Roster Independent Technical Review:
2. Objectives
1.
We think that the overall objective reflects the situation under given conditions and in how far
the project can contribute to environmental concerns.
2.
The Project Objective has been amended : The overall objective of the Danube Regional
Project is to complement the activities of the ICPDR required to provide a regional approach
and global significance to the development of national policies and legislation and the
definition of priority actions for nutrient reduction and pollution control with particular
attention to achieving sustainable transboundary ecological effects within the DRB and the
Black Sea area.
3.
The four immediate objectives have been changed (made less technical), we do hope with
some success :
OBJECTIVE 1: Creation of sustainable ecological conditions for land use and water management
OBJECTIVE 2: Capacity building and reinforcement of transboundary cooperation for the
improvement of water quality and environmental standards in the DRB
OBJECTIVE 3: Strengthening of public involvement in environmental decision making and
reinforcement of community actions for pollution reduction and protection of ecosystems
OBJECTIVE 4: Reinforcement of monitoring, evaluation and information systems for transboundary
pollution control and nutrient reduction
1
2
Project Brief / Danube Regional Project
3. Approach
Effects concerning the ecosystems in the Black Sea and its coastal zones are indeed defined in other
reports : (i) we do hope in the Black Sea Project Brief and (ii) in the report , Annex 11 to the
Danube Project Brief :"Causes and Effects of Eutrophication in the Black Sea".
4. Background Information
Two evaluation reports from the UNDP/GEF Pollution Reduction Program have been added in
Annex 12 : (i) Terminal Evaluation from UNOPS, (ii) Terminal Report from the Project Manager
6. Innovation
Thanks for recognizing this innovative approach; I do hope that all decision makers see this as well:
"One of the activities to be undertaken as part of the project in order to meet the immediate
"objective" of awareness raising and reinforcement of NGO participation in nutrient reduction
activities is supporting NGOs to boost their capacities for active participation within the project by
setting up a Small Grants Program. This would provide for cooperation between all actors,
governmental as well as NGOs. Such innovative cooperation if successful could serve as a model
for future cooperation and collaboration in larger, integrated GEF-supported projects"
7. Strengths/Weakness
To provide information on environmental impacts of the nutrient and toxic emissions, we have
added as Annex 10 a report on "Causes and Effects of Eutrophication in the Black Sea"; this report
has been elaborated in June 1999 by the joint Danube/Black Sea Ad-hoc working Group and is the
basis for the "Memorandum of Understanding" between the Danube and the Black Sea Commission
and describes the effects of nutrient emission and toxic substances to the Black Sea.
Concerning Objective 4, which has been reformulated, we have moved Activity 2.4 under Objective
4 to adequately respond to activities in relation to monitoring, evaluation and information, with
particular attention to indicators. Activities under Objective 3.4 are now the following:
(i)
Development of Indicators for project monitoring and impact evaluation;
(ii) Analysis of sediments in the Iron Gate reservoir and impact assessment of heavy metals
and other toxic substances on the Danube and the Black Sea ecosystems;
(iii) Monitoring and assessment of wetlands nutrient removing capacities;
(iv) Danube Basin feasibility study and consultation process on economic instruments for
nutrient reduction.
Concerning development of indicators please refer also to Annex 8.4 : "Development of Process,
Stress Reduction and Environmental Status Indicators to Monitor Nutrient Reduction and its Effects
in the Danube River and the Black Sea"
Vienna, August 31, 2000
Joachim Bendow
Executive Secretary ICPDR
2
Project Brief / Danube Regional Project
Annexes
ANNEX 4 Project Budget
1
Annex 4: Project Budget - Danube Regional Project
Permanent Project Staff
Sub-contractors/
National
Workshops/Training Courses/Meetings
Investments
Operation &
Support cost
TOTAL
PROJECT COMPONENTS
Professional Staff Admin. Technical
Int. Consultants
Consultants
(120 USD per diem /day/participant)
(Small Grants, administrative
UNOPS/
Budget
AND OBJECTIVES
Support Staff
(15000 USD/month) (5000 USD/month)
(500 USD travel cost / participant)
equip./trans.)
support
ICPDR
Months
USD Months
USD Months
USD Months
USD
No of
No of
No of
USD
USD
USD
USD
USD
workshops Particip.
Days
1 Creation of sustainable ecological conditions for
land use and water management
A) General project costs
30
390,000
60 375,000
100,000
300,000
488,000
1,653,000
B) Costs attributed to specific objectives :
1.1 Development of policy guidelines for
20
360,000
66
330,000
12
33
4
388,080
1,078,080
river basin management
1.2 Reduction of nutrients and harmful subst.
14
252,000
66
330,000
12
22
3
227,040
809,040
from agricultural non-point sources
1.3 Reduction of nutrients from agricultural
14
252,000
66
330,000
12
22
3
227,040
809,040
point sources/manure handling
1.4 Policy development for wetlands and
13
234,000
30
150,000
2
33
3
56,760
440,760
remedial of inappropriate land use
1.5 Industrial reforms and policies and legis-
20
360,000
30
150,000
11
22
2
179,080
689,080
lation for "clean" industrial production
1.6 Policies for application of acceptable
5
90,000
22
110,000
2
33
2
48,840
248,840
waste water tariffs
1.7 Implementation of water pollution fines
5
90,000
16
80,000
2
33
2
48,840
218,840
and incentives focusing on nutrients
1.8 Legislation concerning phosphorus reduc-
5
90,000
16
80,000
1
33
2
24,420
194,420
tion and restricted detergents standards
1
Subtotal
30
390,000
60 375,000
96 1,728,000
312 1,560,000
54
231
21 1,200,100
100,000
300,000
488,000
6,141,100
2 Capacity building and reinforcement of
transboundar cooperation
A) General project costs
15
195,000
30 187,500
150,000
248,000
780,500
B) Costs attributed to specific objectives :
2.1 Monitoring, laboratory and information
2
36,000
22
110,000
10
22
4
215,600
200,000
561,600
management
2.2 Accidental emergency response to
2
36,000
22
110,000
8
22
3
151,360
100,000
397,360
transboundary situations
2.3 Reinforcement of ICPDR information and
8
144,000
22
110,000
5
33
3
141,900
300,000
695,900
monitoring systems
2.4 Implementation of the Memorandum of
0
10
50,000
0
50,000
Understanding for ICPDR and ICPBS
2.5 Training and consultation workshops
4
72,000
0
10
40
5
440,000
512,000
for management and pollution control
2
Subtotal
15
195,000
30 187,500
16
288,000
76
380,000
33
117
15
948,860
600,000
150,000
248,000
2,997,360
2
Annex 4: Project Budget - Danube Regional Project
Permanent Project Staff
Sub-contractors/
National
Workshops/Training Courses/Meetings
Investments
Operation &
Support cost
TOTAL
PROJECT COMPONENTS
Professional Staff Admin. Technical
Int. Consultants
Consultants
(120 USD per diem /day/participant)
(Small Grants, administrative
UNOPS/
Budget
AND OBJECTIVES
Support Staff
(15000 USD/month) (5000 USD/month)
(500 USD travel cost / participant)
equip./trans.)
support
ICPDR
Months
USD Months
USD Months
USD Months
USD
No of
No of
No of
USD
USD
USD
USD
USD
workshops Particip.
Days
3 Strengthening of public involv. in envir. decision
making and reinforcement of community actions
0
A) General project costs
5
65,000
10 62,500
0
150,000
374,000
651,500
B) Costs attributed to specific objectives :
0
3.1 Institutional development of NGOs and
10
70,000
0
11
55,000
500,000
625,000
community involvement
0
3.2 Community based "Small Grants
20
140,000
2
36,000
14
70,000
2,000,000
2,246,000
Program"
0
3.3 Public Awareness raising campaigns on
30
210,000
2
36,000
22
110,000
800,000
1,156,000
nutrient reduction
0
3
Subtotal
65
485,000
10 62,500
4
72,000
47
235,000
0
0
0
2,800,000
650,000
374,000
4,678,500
4 Reinforcement of monitoring, envaluation and
information systems
A) General project costs
10
130,000
20 125,000
0
100,000
90,000
445,000
B) Costs attributed to specific objectives :
4.1 Development of indicators for project
2
36,000
11
55,000
2
35
2
51,800
142,800
monitoring and impact evaluation
4.2 Analysis of sediments in Iron Gate and
8
144,000
8
40,000
184,000
impact on Black Sea ecosystems
4.3 Monitoring and assessment of nutrient
10
177,240
12
60,000
237,240
removal capacities of wetlands
4.4 Consultation process on economic instru-
8
144,000
6
30,000
174,000
ments for nutrient reduction
4
Subtotal
10
130,000
20 125,000
28
501,240
37
185,000
2
35
2
51,800
0
100,000
90,000
1,183,040
Project TOTAL
120 1,200,000
120 750,000
144 2,589,240
472 2,360,000
89
383
38 2,200,760
3,500,000
1,200,000
1,200,000 15,000,000
Project Brief / Danube Regional Project
Annexes
ANNEX 5 Project Implementation Schedule
Annex 5: Project Implementation Schedule - Danube Regional Project
PROJECT COMPONENTS
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
AND OBJECTIVES
10 11 12
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9 10 11 12
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9 10 11 12
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9 10 11 12
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9 10 11 12
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9 10 11 12
1
2
3
4
5
6
Creation of sustainable ecologic. conditions for land use and water
1.
management
Development of policy guidelines for river basin and water resources
1.1
management
Reduction of nutrients and harmful substances from agricultural non-
1.2
point sources
Development of pilot projects on reduction of nutrients and other
1.3
harmful substances from agricultural point-sources
Policy development for wetlands and remedial measures for
1.4
inappropriate land use
Industrial reform and development of policies and legislation for
1.5
"clean" industrial production
Policy reform and legislative measures for the application of waaste
1.6
wate tariffs
Implementation of effective systems of water pollution fines and
1.7
incentives
Recommendations for changes in legislation concerning phosphorus
1.8
reduction
2.
Capacity building and reinforcement of transboundary cooperation
Development of operational tools for monitoring, laboratory and
2.1
information management and for emission analysis
Improvement of procedures and tools for accidental emergency
2.2
response
Support for reinforcement of ICPDR Information and Monitoring
2.3
System (DANUBIS)
2.4
Implementation of the Memorandum of Understanding
Training and consultation workshops for management and pollution
2.5
control
Strengthening of public involv. in envir. decision making and
3.
reinforc. of community actions
Support for institutional development of NGOs and community
3.1
involvement
Applied awareness raising through community based "Small Grant
3.2
Program"
Organization of public awareness raising campaigns on nutrient
3.3
reduction and control of toxic substances
4.
Reinforcement of monitoring, evaluation and information systems
4.1
Development of indicators for project monitoring and impact evaluation
Analysis of sediments in the Iron Gate reservoir and impact assessment
4.2
of heavy metals
4.3
Monitoring and assessment of nutrient removal capacities of wetlands
Danube Basin feasibility study and consultation process on economic
4.4
instruments for nutrient reduction
project mobilisation phase
evaluation of results
preparation phase of project component
mid-term evaluation
implementation of project component
success story
consolidation phase
Project Brief / Danube Regional Project
Annexes
ANNEX 6 Assessment of Nutrient Emissions
and Loads Discharged into the
Black Sea
Annex 6: Assesment of Nutrient Emmissions and Loads Discharged to the Black Sea
1
Assessment of Nutrient Emissions and Loads
Discharged into the Black Sea
1. Introduction
The Danube River Protection Convention, created in the framework of the ECE-Convention for the
protection of trans-boundary waters (Helsinki Convention 1992), became with its entry into force on 22
October 1998 the overall legal instrument for co-operation and trans-boundary water management in the
Danube River Basin. The overall objective of the DRPC is to achieve and maintain the sustainable
development and use of water resources in the Danube River Basin. The Contracting Parties are
recommended to aim at an intensified regional co-operation, a due balance between ecology and economy,
an integrated implementation as well as goal-oriented policies and strategies, executive structures and tools.
In order to achieve substantial progress in the protection and sustainable use of the water resources, the
following overall strategic goals and targets are defined:
! to maintain and improve the status of water resources as to quality and quantity;
! to prevent, reduce and control water pollution, including accidental pollution, in particular where
hazardous substances and nutrients are involved;
! to improve the aquatic ecosystems and biodiversity;
! to contribute to the protection of the Black Sea from land-based pollution.
National and regional policies are based on common principles related to the protection and use of natural
resources, in particular on the Precautionary and the Polluter Pays Principles, the best available technology
(BAT) and the best environmental practice (BEP). The same applies to the Convention. Most of the
Contracting Parties have developed a water management policy as part of their national policy. Sector
policies for reducing point sources of pollution are mostly in place whereas specific policies for reducing
diffuse sources of pollution are partly under development; policies regarding wetland rehabilitation are
emerging.
The protection of the Black Sea and its ecosystems from land-based pollution constitutes a multifaceted
regional framework objective. Its realisation depends to a considerable degree on the implementation of
relevant objectives and policies in the Danube River Basin, in particular regarding eutrophication caused by
nutrient discharges. Hence, the Commissions responsible for the protection of the Danube River (ICPDR)
and the protection of the Black Sea (ICPBS) jointly declare their policies and willingness to co-operate for
achieving common strategic goals as specified in a "Memorandum of Understanding" which shall be
adopted in the year 2000. These goals particularly address assessment and urgent control measures regarding
nutrients and hazardous substances. A defined ecological status is intended to be maintained and in the long
term recovered through ensuring appropriate practices and measures.
In the frame of the Danube Environmental Programme, the UNDP Global Environment Fund and the EU
through its Phare and Tacis programs, have since 1992 provided international assistance to develop
appropriate mechanisms and planning tools for the implementation of the Danube River Protection
Convention. In the particular context of the Pollution Reduction Programme, the causes and the effects of
water pollution have been analysed and policy guidelines, strategies, and projects for pollution reduction
and water management have been developed. The project considers root causes for "Inadequate
Management of Water Resources", referring primarily to the middle and lower Danube countries, taking into
account problems related to socio-political transition, reforms and general economic recession; war and
displacement of population; absence of national strategies for water management and inefficient
environmental management, enforcement and compliance.
Concerning direct causes, important sources of pollution or priority "hot spots" have been identified for the
municipal, industrial and agricultural sectors. 51 "Significant Impact Areas" have been identified in the
Danube River Basin, which are in particular affected by industrial pollution, COD and toxic materials as
well as by excessive nutrient loads. Special consideration was also given to the nutrient transports to the
Black Sea, indicating a total of 552 kilotons of Nitrate and 48,9 kilotons of Phosphorus annually reaching
the Black Sea.
2
Danube Regional Project / Project Brief
In the frame of the "Five Year Nutrient Reduction Programme", elaborated under the PDF-B activities, over
240 projects have been developed, responding generally to "hot spots" or point sources of emission,
representing national priorities and taking equally into account the obligation to mitigate trans-boundary
effects. Particular attention was given to the identification of sites for wetland restoration, which play an
important role not only as natural habitats, but also as nutrient sinks.
The total investment required to respond to the priority projects is estimated to be about 4,1 billion US$,
covering the following sectors:
! Municipal waste water collection and treatment plants
! Industrial waste water treatment
! Agricultural projects and land use
! Rehabilitation of wetlands
The expected results of the implementation of the Five Year Nutrient Reduction Plan show a considerable
decrease of pollution in terms of COD/BOD, respectively in terms of N and P. The implementation of the
proposed priority projects in the municipal, industrial and agricultural sectors will lead to an annual
reduction of about 116,736 tons of N and 15,657 tons of P. The latter has a direct influence on the Black
Sea and will contribute to achieving common Danube and Black Sea goals to restore marine ecosystems in
the north-western shelf.
2. The Danube Water Quality Model
The Danube Water Quality Model (DWQM) was developed in the frame of the Danube Pollution Reduction
Programme to simulate the actual in-stream nutrient load. Simulations have been conducted to support the
Trans-boundary Analysis as well as to support the definition of priority measures of the Pollution Reduction
Programme demonstrating nutrient reduction through the implementation of the projects and policy
measures. Details about the work can be found in the related report (GEF, 1999).
2.1 System description
The Danube Water Quality Model (DWQM) describes the fate of the nutrients nitrogen (N) and phosphorus
(P) in the Danube catchment. These nutrients are discharged in the aquatic environment due to human
activities and natural processes. The model contains a schematisation of the Danube River and its main
tributaries, derived from (Vituki, 1996) and the National Reviews (GEF, 1998), called "the network" as
presented in Fig. 1.
Fig. 1: The river network of the DWQM.
Annex 6: Assesment of Nutrient Emmissions and Loads Discharged to the Black Sea
3
900
With the DWQM's
objectives in mind,
800
Germany
Austria
Czech_Republic
the catchment has
Slovakia
Hungary
Slovenia
been subdivided over
700
Croatia
Yugoslavia
Bosnia_Herzegovina
Bulgaria
Romania
Moldova
the 13 principal
Ukraine
600
Danube countries (see
Fig. 2).
500
400
300
200
100
0
Source
n
der
d
e
r
In
U
r
der
r
d
er
Outflow
der
bor
/
Y
bor
bo
bo
-
H
R
O
a
t
e
s
G
O
C
-
R
-
B
-
R
-
A bor
r
a
v
a
/
v
a
-
SK
to
a
v
a
s
a
U
U
D
Mo A
H
Dr
Ti
Sa
Y
I
r
on G
Y
BG
Fig. 2: The catchment profile along the Danube (in 1000 km2),
subdivided over the 13 principal Danube countries.
2.2 Conceptual model
The conceptual model of the DWQM is shown in Fig. 3. The emissions are split into two parts: the
emissions directly to the river network and the retained emissions, which refer to any process effectively
removing nutrients from the catchment1. Seasonal cycles of uptake and release are not considered retention.
Relevant retention processes of nitrogen
Danube river and
therefore include: (a) denitrification in the
Danube catchment
main tributaries
ground water and the surface water, (b) long-
term accumulation of nitrogen in the ground
Human activities
emissions directly
water.
(+natural processes)
to the river
Retention processes of phosphorus include net
effective emissions
storage in the sediments of lakes, flood plains
remaining emissions
to the river
and wetlands. The part of the remaining
emissions not retained in the catchment reaches
the network as effective emissions to the river.
Retention in
Retention in the river
the catchment
The final result is the in-stream transport of
nutrients which is equal to the trans-boundary
In-stream (trans-bound.)
nutrient loads at the borders between the
transport of pollution
Danube countries.
Fig. 3: Systems diagram
2.3 Implementation
The total emissions have been computed for all the Danube countries based on the "materials accounting
method" (University of Vienna ea., 1997). The emissions estimates were originally made for the years
1988/1989 and 1992, but were later updated (University of Vienna, 1999) to 1994-1997 based on data
collected in the National Reviews (GEF, 1998), see Fig. 4 and Fig. 5.
1 The subject of retention of nutrients in the aquatic cycles of river catchments has been described in detail by many
authors, e.g. Tonderski (1997), de Wit (1999).
4
Danube Regional Project / Project Brief
Large individual point sources of N and P discharging directly to the river network were identified based on
the EMIS inventory (Mehlhorn, 1998) and the National Reviews (GEF, 1998). The remaining emissions
(Fig. 3) were computed by subtracting these emissions directly to the river from the total emissions
discussed above.
N Emissions
Other
P Emissions
20%
Other
Population
Population
6%
27%
39%
Industry
5%
Agriculture
Agriculture
Industry
48%
47%
8%
Fig. 4: Subdivision of N emissions.
Fig. 5: Subdivision of P emissions.
The retention in the catchment is represented by an empirically derived "immission/emission-ratio". High
(95% probability) and low (5% probability) estimates for these factors for N and P, as a function of the area
specific run-off, were derived from Behrendt ea. (1999). The values for N range from 5-36% (low runoff) to
59-88% (high runoff), while the values for P range from 5-36% (low) to 72-100% (high).
Based on an analysis of the available data, two processes were identified as having the potential to cause a
non-negligible retention in the river: denitrification (N) and net sedimentation in the backwater area of the
Iron Gates dams on the Yugoslavian-Romanian border (P).
3. Results
3.1 The Trans-boundary Analysis
The Danube Water Quality model has been used to support the Trans-Boundary Analysis (TBA). To this
end, a computation was carried out for a situation somewhere between the high and low estimates.
The precise definition of the computation was made by matching in-stream loads with the best available load
data derived from
nitrogen (kt/a)
600
observed nutrient
28 (5.1%)
concentrations and
8 (1.5%)
500
GERMANY
AUSTRIA
CZECH_RE
SLOVAKIA
water discharges.
HUNGARY
SLOVENIA
CROATIA
YUGOSLAV
121 (22%)
The overall comput-
BOSNIA_H
BULGARIA
ROMANIA
MOLDOVA
ation was split into
400
UKRAINE
23 (4.1%)
13 different seg-
36 (6.5%)
ments: each one of
300
72 (13.1%)
them with the
emissions from one
23 (4.1%)
20 (3.5%)
individual country.
200
31 (5.6%)
The results of the 13
30 (5.4%)
15 (2.8%)
computations were
77 (13.9%)
100
superimposed to ob-
tain the overall
68 (12.3%)
result. Because all
0
n
r
s
c
e
U
equations in the
In
v
a
s
a
v
a
e
r
e
r
e
r
r
der
de
/Y
a
d
te
d
rd
o
w
o
R
Ti
Sa
a
o
s
our
b
bor
Dr
u
tfl
C
bor
bor
b
o
-
A
-
H
O
o
n
G
G
O
D
K
to
DWQM were strict-
H
-
R
Ir
-
B
-R
-
S
U
U
G
total
551 (100%)
Y
Y
B
v
a
/
A
F
ly linear, this was a
o
r
a
M
ig. 6: In-stream loads of Nitrogen
mathematically
valid procedure.
The results are
Annex 6: Assesment of Nutrient Emmissions and Loads Discharged to the Black Sea
5
presented in Fig. 6 and Fig. 7. Both figures present the nutrient loads (vertical axis) as a function of the
distance along the river (horizontal axis).
Fig. 6 shows the gradual increase of the in-stream nitrogen load from the source of the Danube up to the
middle Danube area, where it increases very rapidly due to the inflows of the Drava, Tisza and Sava
tributaries. The gradual increase continues up to the outflow.
The country contributions show a gradual or jump-wise build-up, similar to the build-up of their catchment
contributions (see Fig 2). Downstream, the country nitrogen load contributions decrease gradually. This is
the result of in-stream denitrification.
Fig. 7 shows a
phosphorus (kt/a
50
similar picture for
4.0 (8.1%)
45
phosphorus. In
1.4 (2.9%)
GERMANY AUSTRIA
CZECH_RE SLOVAKIA
this case,
40
HUNGARY SLOVENIA
CROATIA
YUGOSLAV
however, the in-
12.7 (26.0%)
stream removal is
BOSNIA_H
BULGARIA
ROMANIA
MOLDOVA
35
not distributed
UKRAINE
over the whole
30
4.0 (8.1%)
river as with
2.2 (4.6%)
nitrogen.
25
Phosphorus is
7.0 (14.4%)
20
only removed
2.2 (4.5%)
from the river in
15
1.3 (2.7%)
the Iron Gates
3.8 (7.7%)
lakes area,
10
1.7 (3.5%)
downstream of the
1.1 (2.2%)
3.8 (7.7%)
5
inflows of the
Drava, Tisza and
3.7 (7.6%)
0
Sava tributaries.
n
e
r
U
s
r
w
r
ce
In
er
v
a
s
a
v
a
e
e
r
u
r
d
rd
/
Y
a
o
Ti
Sa
r
d
er
a
te
o
rd
rd
o
t
f
l
o
so
bo
b
Dr
CR
bo
n
G
b
b
ou
Therefore, the in-
-
A
-
H
o
O
o
G
O
D
K
Ir
H t
-
R
-B
-R
-
S
U
U
G
Y
Y
B
total
48.9 (100%)
stream load sharp-
v
a
/
A
ra
o
M
ly decreases just
downstream of the
Fig. 7: In-stream loads of Phosphorus.
strong increase at
the locations of
these tributaries.
3.2 The Five Year Nutrient Reduction Action Plan
Taking into account the implementation of all projects of the Five Year Nutrient Reduction Action Plan
(5YNRAP) and other pollution reduction measures in the Danube River Basin countries, the expected
pollution reduction in
Expected Nitrogen Reduction per Country and Sector
terms of N is
presented per country
25,000
and sector in Fig 8 and
Wetlands
summ-arised for N and
20,000
Agriculture
P per sector in Fig 9.
Industry
15,000
Municipalities
e
a
r
10,000
Fig. 8: Expected
t
o
n
s
/y
pollution reduction of
N from proposed and
5,000
ongoing national
projects and policy
0
D
A
CZ
H
SK
HU
O
HR
YU
BG
RO
SL
BI
MD
UA
6
Danube Regional Project / Project Brief
measures per country and per sector.
The presentation shows the particular importance of N and P reduction through municipal waste water
treatment facilities and through the restoration or rehabilitation of wetlands functioning as nutrient sinks.
Concerning the comp-
Expected N itrogen and P hosphorus
aratively high
reduction by S ectors
reduction from the
agricultural sector, it
80,000
should be noted, that
70,000
agricultural projects
60,000
P
refer mainly to point
r
a
50,000
N
sources of pollu-tion
40,000
/
ye
(animal farms). The
s
30,000
largest share of the
t
on
20,000
nutrient pollution in
10,000
the agricultural sector,
0
which is caused by
Municipalities
Industry
Agriculture
W etlands
diffuse emissions from
fertiliser application,
Fig. 9: Expected pollution reduction of N and P from proposed and ongoing
will be reduced
national projects, summarised per sector.
through a change of
agricul-tural practices
Nitrogen Re duction
and new policy
600,000
instruments, which
Wetlands
will be devel-oped
500,000
A griculture
during the new GEF
Industry
Regional Project.
400,000
Municipalities
Remaining Pollution
The positive impacts
ear
/
y 300,000
on the Black Sea
t
ons
concerning the redu-
200,000
ction of nitrogen and
phosphorus load are
100,000
indicated in Fig 10 and
Fig. 11.
0
D
A
H
CZ
SK
HU
O
HR
YU
BG
RO
MD
UA
Altogether the redu-
SL
BI
ction of nutrient load
Fig. 11: In-stream nitrogen load profile for the Danube countries, before and
discharged into the
after implementation of the 5YNRAP, with the additional effect of the
Black Sea is expected
restoration of wetlands.
to reach the amount of
117,000 t/y for
Phosphorus Re duction
nitrogen and 16,000 t/y
60,000
for phosphorus after
the implementation of
Wetlands
50,000
Agriculture
the proposed projects
Industry
for municipal, indus-
40,000
Municipalities
trial, agricultural waste
Remaining Pollution
ear
water treatment plants,
/
y 30,000
wetland restoration and
t
ons
reduction from agricul-
20,000
tural non-point sources
10,000
of pollution through
the application of EU
0
Nitrate Directive and
D
A
H
CZ
SK
HU
O
HR
YU
BG
RO
MD
UA
consequent change of
SL
BI
agricultural practices.
Fig. 10: In-stream phosphorus load profile for the Danube countries, before and
after implementation of the 5YNRAP, with the additional effect of the restoration
of wetlands.
Annex 6: Assesment of Nutrient Emmissions and Loads Discharged to the Black Sea
7
The highest concentration of hot spots is in the middle but also in the lower part of the Danube River Basin.
As the DWQM results show that P reduction in respect to the Black Sea might be more effective closer to
the Black Sea, whereas N reduction does not appear to be so distance related, emphasis should be given to
projects in the middle and lower Danube to reduce loads to the Black Sea. These considerations should be
balanced with the responsibility of all countries that contribute nutrients to the Danube to take action
(Polluter Pays Principle).
The analysis of the effects of emission reductions per sector (see Fig. 10 and 11) shows clearly the
importance of actions to be undertaken in the central and downstream countries of the Danube River Basin.
Projects developed for the urban sector (population) are leading to a considerable decrease of nutrient
emissions in particular phosphorus, which reflects the result of important investments in this sector. The
industrial sector seems insignificant in terms of nutrient emissions, but could have a devastating effect if in
downstream countries old industries with outdated technologies would be put back into operation. The
agricultural sector accounts for the highest contribution of the nutrient load and proposed measures will in
fact show more important results after 2005, when all policy measures for nutrient reduction have been
implemented.
In the downstream countries, the reduction of nutrients is merely due to the rehabilitation of wetlands then
to the reduction of use of fertilisers and pesticides. The most attention should therefore be paid to policy
reforms and changes of agricultural practices, which is the main focus of the present GEF Regional Project.
Annex 6: Assesment of Nutrient Emmissions and Loads Discharged to the Black Sea
9
Annex: Estimation of Nutrient Load and Expected Reduction
Country
Total Emissions
Five Year Nutrient Reduction Plan
Total Expected Load Reduction
Remaining Pollution
(DWQM)
Municipalities
Industry
Agriculture*
Wetlands**
N (t/y)
P (t/y)
N (t/y)
P (t/y)
N (t/y)
P (t/y)
N (t/y)
P (t/y)
N (t/y)
P (t/y)
N (t/y)
N(%)
P (t/y)
P(%)
N (t/y)
P (t/y)
Germany
68,000
3,700
3,620
13
260
40
6,800
111
211
21
10,891
16
185
5
57,109
3,515
Austria
77,000
3,800
3,950
404
0
0
7,700
114
11,650
15
518
14
65,350
3,282
Czech Republic
15,000
1,100
1,010
58
61
1
1,520
36
0
0
2,591
17
95
9
12,409
1,005
Slovakia
30,000
1,700
2,001
125
348
0
4,500
170
225
23
7,074
24
318
19
22,926
1,382
Hungary
31,000
3,800
3,455
1,153
420
6
7,250
720
233
23
11,358
37
1,902
50
19,642
1,898
Slovenia
20,000
1,300
5,053
786
0
0
3,180
158
0
0
8,233
41
944
73
11,767
356
Croatia
23,000
2,200
1,509
239
0
0
3,450
220
0
0
4,959
22
459
21
18,041
1,741
Bosnia -Herzegovina
36,000
2,200
3,005
450
125
53
5,170
570
0
0
8,300
23
1,073
49
27,700
1,127
Yugoslavia***
72,000
7,000
2,486
700
1,347
3,571
7,840
942
2,320
350
13,993
19
5,563
79
58,007
1,437
Bulgaria
23,000
4,000
2,308
562
0
0
2,300
400
375
37
4,983
22
999
25
18,017
3,001
Romania
121,000
12,700
1,804
323
688
3
13,474
1,420
6,154
615
22,120
18
2,361
19
98,880
10,339
Moldova***
8,000
1,400
784
119
167
36
747
95
5,600
725
7,298
91
975
70
702
425
Ukraine
28,000
4,000
486
65
0
0
2,800
200
0
0
3,286
12
265
7
24,714
3,735
Total
552,000
48,900
31,471
4,997
3,416
3,710
66,731
5,156
15,118
1,794
116,736
21
15,657
32
435,264
33,243
* Agriculture = agricultural industries and diffuse sources
** Wetlands = in-stream reduction
*** Data adjusted: YU - Municipalities; MD - Wetlands
Project Brief / Danube Regional Project
Annexes
ANNEX 7 Thematic Maps
Annex 7.1
Distribution of Hot Spots in the Danube
Sub-river Basins
Annex 7.2
Major Hydraulic Structures and
Descriptions in the Danube Basin
Distribution of Hot Spots in the Danube Sub-river Basins
Based on Natio nal Pla nnin g W ork s hop Rep orts 19 98, Upd ates Ma rch 1999
UA
P L
#
S #
S5
#
1 4
Brno
$
T
1
$
T 2
2
$
T
S1 #S15
#
S
6
1
#
S
#
Y#
S 1 3#
S
$
T
2
#
S
#
S2
%
U
1 7
1
1 6
#
S
#
S7
#
S
D
$
T
%
U4 %U1#
S3
#
S #
S
%
U3
#
S
2
CZ
%
U2#S4
#
S4 #S
6
3
#
S2
#
S
1 7
#
S
MD
#
S
#
S
$
T
1
#
S
$
T
$
T
$
T
21
#
Y
#
S 1
2
#
S2
#
S1
SK
Chisinau
1
#
S
#
S
Bratislava
5
18 #
S
$
T19
#
S20
%
U 3
#
S
#
S
#
Y
4
#
S1
7
$
T
18
3
$
T
%
U %U $
T
#
S
3
$
T4
#
S
#
Y
#
S
#
S
#
S
#
S1
#
Y
1 9
4
#
S
#
S
#
S6
$
T3
Wien
5
#
S
2 1
6
$
T
#
S
#
S5
$
T
$
T
1
$
T
1 $
T
München
#
S1
A
#
S4 %U
2
Budapest
#
S4
$
T %U
4
1 $
T
8
7
5
6
#
S
22
2
#
S
#
S
8
$
T #
S5
$
T$
T
#
S
#
S
#
S
3
#
S
7
3
#
S
#
S
%
U2
$
T
#
S15
$
T
3 #
S
%
U3
2
$
T7
%
U7
#
S
7
8
9
8
$
T
$
T$
T $
T
3
$
T
4
#
S
$
T
5
2 3
2 0
#
S6
#
Y
10
9
$
T
$
T
2 4
$
T RO
#
S
#
S
#
S
2
9
$
T
#
S
16
$
T
8 $
T $T
#
S
10
#
S
1
13 $
T
#
S 11
$
T
4
10
$
T
9
10
6
#
S9
1 2
1
#
S
2 2
2 5
#
S
$
T
9
#
S
#
S
2 3
1 4 $
T
$
T
2
$
T
#
S
#
S
#
Y
%
#
S
1 0
15
U
5
CH
2
#
S
11
%
U
%
#
S1
8
$
T
5
#
S1
U
2 6 $
T
5 #
Y#
S
#
S$
T2%U3
4
14
%
U
3
%
U
4
10
$
T
6
#
S
2 4
$
T15
1 1
$
T $
T
$
T
5
8
%
U1#
S
5
#
S
#
S
%
U
11
#
Y$
T
#
S
$
T 2 #
S
H
7
%9
13
#
S U
$
T
%
6
U4 #
S4
#
S
I
#
S
1
1
#
S
1 3
#
S
#
S
13 $
T$
T
$
T
$
T
1
#
S
#
S
#
S
8
1 2
1 2
6
1 0
1 1
1 2
$
T
$
T
#
S
#
S
#
S
10
3
#
S
#
S
1 7
#
S
#
S
4
1
1
12
#
S
#
S
%
U #
S11
1 4
16
#
Y
#
S2
#
S
#
S
#
S
1 8
#
S
11
14
23
1
#
S%U
2
$
T19
#
S
1
1 2 %
#
S89
$
T#Y$T
$
T
11 #
S
% U% 3
%
U
$
T
1 4
6
16
20
U 15%U
$
T
2 #
S
$
T
$
T
1 2
%
13
U
7
$
T
#
S
#
Y
5
13
%
U4 3
#
S
13 #
S
#
S $T
7
22
$
T #
S
%
U
13
2
#
S#
S6
5
$
T #
S
2 1
4
%
U #
S
#
S
2 0
1 5
6
%
U
3
$
T $
T
#
S
LE GE ND
#
Y
$
T
21
2
1
1 0
3
%
U
#
S
#
S#
S 3
%
U
$
T
$
T
Bu curesti
SLO
24
6
#
S 16
#
S#S
Border
5
3
4
#
S
$
T
#
S
7
3
19
$
T
$
T $
T
3
#
S
1 5
2 5
$
T
1 4
%
U
9
#
S #
S6 4
29
%
UBeograd
9
4
%
U $
T
2
#
S
Danube River Basin
#
S
%
U2
#
S
#
S
1
28
%42
$
T
1
U 3#
S
#
S
#
S
12
#
Y
$
T
10
$
T
8
7
5
#
S7
#
S
#
S
$
T1
18
#
S
$
T
4
$
T
$
T %U
$
T
%5
9
20
S
$
T
Metropolis ( > 1 Million Inhabitants)
#
S
U
#
S
1
8
6
#
S#%
$
T 7 18 %U
%
U
1 0
U
#
S
$
T
6
8
#
S
30
1
$
T
#
S
#
S
#
S
Cities (250 000 - 1 Mil ion Inhabitants)
#
S
$
T #
S
26
17
27
#
S
3
3
1 1
%
U
#
S7$
T
$
T
1 7
$
T
#
S
3
HR
#
S
2 #
S
Towns (100 000 - 250 000 Inhabitants)
9 #
Y
#
SSarajevo
#
S
8
1 9
%2
#
S
1 0
U
#
S
Border
Sub-river Basins
2
16
1
#
S
#
S
%
U2
#
S3
#
S
#
S7$
T2
#
S17
#
S
#
S 3
#
S
10
9
#
S
Danube Ri ver Basin
$
T
#
S
5
Hot Spo t Typ e:
4
#
S
6
2 $
T1
#
S
#
S
#
S
1 3
#
S
4
5
1
3 1
#
S618 %
#
S U#
S #
S
8
#
S4
Municipal (Mun)
#
S
#
S
7
BIH
14
32
#
S
#
S #
S
$
T
$
T
3
15
11
3 3
$
T
Indus trial (Ind)
#
S
15
#
S #
S
4
14
#
S
$
T
#
S
10
1
8
#
S
Sofija
#
S
$
T
1
BG
#
S#S
%
U Agricultural (Agr)
#
S
1 6
YU
2 #
S
13
#
S
#
S 9
12
Hot Sp ot Priorities w ith Nu mbers:
see Lis t f or H ot Sp o ts i n Su b- riv e r Bas in s
Danube P ollution Reduction P rogramme
#
S
9
$
T %U7 High Priority (HP)
United Nations D evelopme nt Programme
12
Global Environme ntal Fa cilit y
#
S 1
1
$
T %U4 Medium Priority (MP)
IC PDR - Programme Coordina tion U nit
(I n Ge r m a ny an d Au st ria : " So ur ce s o f Po llut io n" )
1400 Vienn a, P.O. Box 50 0, Austria
N
50
0
50
100 Kilomete rs
Produced by ZINKE ENVIRONMENT CONSULTING
for Central and Eastern Europe, Vienna, 1999
Scale: 1: 4 500 000
(Cartography by U.SCHWARZ)
Major Hydraulic Structures and Description of Rivers in the Danube Basin
Based on Information from National Level and Additional Research 1999
PL
CZ
UA
$
#
S
$
$ $
Rhine
$
$
$
Brno
$
$
#
Y
$
$
$
$
#
S
$
$
$
D
$ #S
#
S
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
SK
MD
$
$ $
$
$
$
$
$
$
#
S
$
$
$ #
S $
$
$
#
S
$
$
$
$ #S $
$ $
$
$
#
Y
$$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$$
$
$
$ $
$
$
$
$
$
$
Bratis $lava
#
S
Chisinau
$
$
$
$
$
#
S
#
S
$
$ $ $
$
$
#
Y
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
#
Y
$
#
S
$
$
München $
$ $
$
$
$
$ $
$ $ $ $#
S
$ $
$
$
$
#
Y
#
S
$
$
$
$
$
$ $
$
Wien
$
$ #S$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
#
S
$
$ $ $
$
$
$
$ $
$ $ $
$ $ $
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$
$$$
$
$
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$
$
$
$
$
#
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$
Budapest
$
$ $
$
$
$
#
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$ $
$
$
$
$
$
#
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$ $
$
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$
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$
$
$
$
$
#
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$
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$
$ $
$
$
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$
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$
$
$
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$
$
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$
$
$
$
$
$
#
Y
#
S
$
$
$
$
$
$
$$
$ $ $ $ $
$
#
S
A
H
$
$
$
$
$
#
S
$
$
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#
Y$
#
S
$
$
$
$
$
$ $
$
$
$
$
RO
$
$
#
Y
#
S
$
$
$
$
CH
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
#
Y
#
S
$ $
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$ $ $
#
S
$
$
$
$
$
$
#
S
#
S
#
S
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
#
S
$
#
S
I
$
$
$
Ljubljana
#
S
$
$
$
#
Y
$
$
$
$
$
#
Y
#
Y
Zagreb
$
$
$
#
S
$
$
$
$
ea
LEGEND
#
Y
$
$
#
S $
$
$
$
$
#
S
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
Bucuresti
SLO
#
S
$
$
$
$
Border
$
$
$
$
l
ack S
$
$
$
$
$
$$
#
S
B
Danube River Basin
#
S
#
Y
$ $
#
S
$
Metropolis ( > 1 Million Inhabitants)
#
S
$
#
S
#
S
$
#
S
Beograd
#
S
Cities (250 000 - 1 Mil ion Inhabitants)
#
S
HR
$
Towns (100 000 - 250 000 Inhabitants)
#
Y
$
$
Sarajevo
#
S
$
$
$
Dams
#
S
$
$
#
S
Reservoirs
$
BIH
$
Navigation Routes
Sofija
BG
$
Polder Areas
#
S
YU
River Stretches:
Impounded Stretches
Strongly Regulated Stretches
Danube Pollution Reduction Programme
Free flowing Stretches
United Nations Development Programme
Global Environmental Facility
Canals
Not classified
ICPDR - Programme Coordination Unit
1400 Vienna, P.O. Box 500, Austria
N
50
0
50
100 Kilometers
Produced by ZINKE ENVIRONMENT CONSULTING
for Central and Eastern Europe, Vienna, 1999
Scale: 1: 4 500 000
(Cartography by U.SCHWARZ)
Project Brief / Danube Regional Project
Annexes
ANNEX 8 Summary Reports on National
Contributions in Support of the
Project Brief
Annex 8.1
Existing and Planned Inter-ministerial
Co-ordination Mechanisms Relating to
Pollution Control and Nutrient
Reduction
Annex 8.2
Existing and Planned Policies and
Legislation Relating to Pollution Control
and Nutrient Reduction
Annex 8.3
Five Year Nutrient Reduction
Action Plan
Annex 8.4
Reinforcement of NGO Activities in
Project Implementation and Awareness
Raising
Annex 8.5
Development of Process, Stress
Reduction and Environmental Status
Indicators to Monitor Nutrients
Reduction and its Effects in the Danube
River Basin and the Black Sea
STRENGTHENING THE IMPLEMENTATION OF NUTRIENT
REDUCTION MEASURES AND TRANSBOUNDARY
COOPERATION IN THE DANUBE RIVER BASIN
EXISTING AND PLANNED INTER-MINISTERIAL
CO-ORDINATION MECHANISMS RELATING TO
POLLUTION CONTROL AND NUTRIENT
REDUCTION
SUMMARY REPORT IN SUPPORT OF THE PROJECT BRIEF
AUGUST 2000
International Commission for
the Protection of the Danube River
UNDP/GEF Assistance
Summary Report
3
TABLE OF CONTENTS
LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS
1
INTRODUCTION.....................................................................................................................5
2
ASSESSMENT OF RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS ........................................................6
2.1
Analysis of the existing national inter-ministerial mechanisms for
nutrient control and reduction ................................................................................................6
2.2
Guidelines for the improvement / creation of national inter-ministerial
nutrient control and reduction mechanisms...........................................................................7
2.3
Main barriers to the creation of national inter-ministerial mechanisms.............................7
2.4
Proposed national inter-ministerial mechanisms...................................................................8
2.5
Inter-ministerial Mechanisms for Nutrient Reduction in the Danube
River Basin ................................................................................................................................9
ANNEX
COUNTRY REPORTS
1
GERMANY .............................................................................................................................19
2
AUSTRIA.................................................................................................................................22
3
CZECH REPUBLIC...............................................................................................................23
4
SLOVAKIA .............................................................................................................................26
5
HUNGARY..............................................................................................................................28
6
SLOVENIA..............................................................................................................................30
7
CROATIA................................................................................................................................32
8
BOSNIA HERZEGOVINA.................................................................................................34
9
YUGOSLAVIA .......................................................................................................................37
10
BULGARIA .............................................................................................................................39
11
ROMANIA...............................................................................................................................42
12
MOLDOVA .............................................................................................................................44
13
UKRAINE................................................................................................................................46
4
Summary Report
LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS
AHEG
Ad-Hoc Expert Group
BD
Bucharest Declaration
BOD5
Biochemical Oxygen Demand in 5 days
COD
Chemical Oxygen Demand
CPC
Country Program Co-ordinator
DRB
Danube River Basin
DRBPRP
Danube River Basin Pollution Reduction Programme
DWQM
Danube Water-Quality Model
EIA
Environmental Impact Assessment
EMIS/EG
Emission Expert Group
EPA
Environmental Protection Act
EPDRB
Environmental programme for Danube River Basin
EU
European Union
GEF
Global Environment Facility
GNP
Gross National Product
HS
Hot Spot
ICPDR
International Commission for the Protection of the Danube River
IPPC
Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control
ISPA
Instrument for Structural Policies for Pre-Accession
IWWTP
Industrial Waste-Water Treatment Plants
LAWA
Joint Austrian water commission of the states
MAFF
Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Food
MTCWM
Ministry of Transport, Communication and Water Management
MESP
Ministry of Environment and Spatial Planning
MH
Ministry of Health
MIT
Ministry of Industry and Trade
N
Nitrogen (all forms)
N/A
Not Available (i.e. missing data)
NEAP
National Environmental Action Programme
NEPP
National Environmental Protection Program
NFP
National Focal Point
NGO
Non-Governmental Organisation
NRL
National Reference Laboratory
P
Phosphorus (all forms)
PCU
Program Co-ordination Unit (in Vienna)
PE
Population Equivalent = load of one person into waste water
PHARE
European Union Programme for Development
PPP
Polluter Pays Principle
RBM
River Basin Management
SIA
Significant Impact Areas
SWWTP
Small Waste-Water Treatment Plants
TAIEX
European Union programme for technical assistance
TOR
Terms of Reference
UNDP
United Nations Development Programme
UWWTD
Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive
WFD
Water Framework Directive
Existing and Planned Inter-ministerial Coordination Mechanisms Relating to Nutrient Control and Reduction
5
1
INTRODUCTION
The purpose of this Summary Report is to provide an overview and assessment of the existing and planned
inter-ministerial mechanisms related to pollution abatement with particular attention to nutrient control and
reduction in the Danube River Basin countries.
The Summary Report is an integral component for the preparation of the GEF/UNDP funded project entitled
"Strengthening Implementation of Nutrient Reduction Measures and Transboundary Co-operation in the
Danube River Basin". The basic task of this preparatory work is to prepare a qualified material basis for the
elaboration of a complete Danube Regional Project for submission to the GEF Council.
The GEF/UNDP funded project aims to promote (i) a basin wide approach to the development of national
policies and legal instruments to improve water quality, (ii) integration of nutrient control and reduction
measures into environmental policies, (iii) institutional strengthening and capacity building to assure
compliance and enforcement, and (iv) awareness raising for active involvement in transboundary pollution
control and environmental protection.
The underlying problem causing unsustainable water use practices leading to an increased nutrient content in
the Danube River is that nutrient control and reduction measures are often not determined and implemented
as part of water resources management policies or environmental protection strategies. For some countries,
such as the Czech Republic, nutrient control and reduction measures are part of the water and environmental
protection strategy.
This Summary Reports represents an assessment for all DRB countries, respectively particular categories of
DRB countries and the country presentation on existing and planned inter-ministerial structures relating to
nutrient control and reduction, based on reports from national consultants for each of the DRB countries. The
contributions delivered by the consultants differ in terms of depth, completeness and totality of the
presentations.
The structure of the Country Report follows the structure of the "national reports", and provides both
particular information and data for each of the DRB countries. Country-specific information is structured as
follows:
(1) Description of the relevant national inter-ministerial mechanisms with responsibilities for nutrient control
and reduction
! Organization, duties, responsibilities, rules of procedure and results
! Co-operation between governments and local communities/ non-governmental organizations in
relation to nutrient reduction concerns
! Description of main problems
(2) Guidelines for the improvement/creation of national inter-ministerial nutrient control and reduction
mechanisms
! Recommendations for improvement of the existing national inter-ministerial mechanisms to
respond to nutrient reduction concerns
! Suggestions for the creation of new mechanisms for nutrient control and reduction
(3) Main barriers to the creation of national inter-ministerial mechanisms
! Legal and institutional barriers
! Financial barriers
(4) Proposed national inter-ministerial mechanisms
! Institutional and legal framework
! Schedule for implementation
(5) Main country-specific features and conclusions
6
Summary Report
2
ASSESSMENT OF RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS
2.1
Analysis of the existing national inter-ministerial mechanisms for
nutrient control and reduction
Not all Danube countries place sufficient emphasis on cooperation between environmental and agricultural
authorities or industrial enterprises, farmers and local communities as a substitute for the traditional systems
based on fragmented decision making process. For most of the countries, especially for those in transition,
the idea of a national inter-ministerial mechanism for pollution control and nutrient reduction does not
represent a priority. However, the governments are aware of the potential such a mechanism carries in terms
of reducing nutrients in the Danube River Basin and the
Black Sea. The diversity of views and proposals and the
The Danube countries identified
biases built into modern EU Directives concepts create a
agricultural diffuse sources as the
precondition encouraging the countries to create a new
most damaging and widespread
inter-ministerial mechanism or improve the existing
threat to the environment.
structures by charging them with nutrient reduction and
pollution control responsibilities.
There is a substantial need in the Danube River Basin countries for the creation of nutrient reduction and
pollution control mechanisms. Among the accession countries in particular, there is a large potential and
willingness to implement nutrient reduction measures.
Based on the findings of the national
Existence of Inter-ministerial Mechanisms for
contributions, the countries can be divided
Nutrient Reduction
into three groups. The first group includes
EU member countries such as Germany and
Austria, whose existing national inter-
CZ / SK / HR / SLO / BiH / MD / UA
ministerial and ministerial structures allow
an effective performance of nutrient
BG / RO / D
reduction and control tasks. The second
group includes countries where specific
mechanisms for nutrient reduction do not
exist. However, there are several relevant
H / YU / A
national inter-ministerial mechanisms with
Inter-ministerial Mechanisms (IMM)
responsibilities for water pollution abatement
no IMM
IMM / no specific concern for nutrient reduction
and environmental protection. Most of these
IMM / specific concern for nutrient reduction
structures also deal with diffuse pollution,
implementing pollution reduction measures
or approving new investments in the water
sector. This group comprises the Czech Republic, Romania and Bulgaria. Finally, in the rest of the Danube
countries, nutrient reduction and pollution control is not high on the policy makers' agenda.
The existing national inter-ministerial and
ministerial mechanisms include central
Composition of the Existing
environmental authorities, water companies,
Inter-ministerial Mechanisms
agricultural, forestry, industry, finance and
health authorities.
D
A
CZ SK
H SLO HR BiH YU BG RO MD UA
central
environm.
x
x
authorities
environment
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
water
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
agriculture
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
forestry
x
x
x
x
x
industry
x
x
x
x
x
finance
x
x
health
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
Existing and Planned Inter-ministerial Coordination Mechanisms Relating to Nutrient Control and Reduction
7
2.2
Guidelines for the improvement / creation of national inter-ministerial
nutrient control and reduction mechanisms
Proposals for the improvement or creation of inter-ministerial mechanisms capable to respond to nutrient
reduction concerns have been developed by all countries.
These proposals refer to both legal and
institutional frameworks and include: (i) the
Proposed Improvement of
implementation of nutrient-related
Inter-ministerial Mechanisms
legislation based on EU Directives and
ratified International Conventions, (ii) the
D
A
CZ SK
H SLO HR BiH YU BG RO MD UA
development of instruments for diffuse
legislative
pollution characterization and control, (iii)
improvement of
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
existing IMM
the creation of rules for good farming
institutional
practices and good practices in drinking
improvement of
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
water protection zones, and (iv) the
existing IMM
application of an integrated approach to the
creation of new
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
legislation
management of water resources on the river
basin level.
creation of new
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
institutions
The Danube countries believe that
cooperation between governments and local
communities/ non-governmental
organizations with respect to nutrient reduction issues is very important. Nutrient reduction is directly or
indirectly included in the duties and responsibilities of several ministries, local authorities, farmers, new
owners of industrial plants, environmental NGOs and researchers.
Very good examples for cooperation between the
The majority of DRB countries have
governments, the inter-ministerial mechanisms and the local
proposed the creation of national
communities and NGOs are shown by the majority of the
pollution control and nutrient
countries through the establishment of the river basin
reduction mechanisms.
authorities.
However, there are limitations to the identified mechanisms
of the middle and lower Danube countries, including:
restricted financial resources, inadequate legal and institutional frameworks, and low priority placed on
nutrient reduction compared to other water quality or environment-related problems.
2.3
Main barriers to the creation of national inter-ministerial mechanisms
There are several legal and institutional
barriers to the creation of national inter-
Problems of the Existing
ministerial mechanisms dealing with nutrient
Inter-ministerial Mechanisms
reduction and pollution control.
D
A CZ SK H SLO HR BiH YU BG RO MD UA
fragmented water
These measures are mainly referring to the
management
x
x
x
x
x
(i) lack of adequate environmental
administration tasks
legislation and institutional frame, (ii)
low priority of nutrient
reduction at the
x
x
x
fragmentation of responsibilities among the
governmental level
water, environmental and agricultural
weak institutional
x
x
capabilities
authorities, and (iii) limited integration of
insufficient legal
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
environmental requirements into economic
framework
development policies. In addition, transition
insufficient database
x
countries are faced with financial barriers
limited funds
x
x
x
x
x
x
related to reduced financial resources.
8
Summary Report
2.4
Proposed national inter-ministerial mechanisms
The proposals - formulated mainly by the transition countries - for the improvement or creation of national
inter-ministerial mechanisms for nutrient reduction and pollution control are related to both legal and
institutional framework and cover:
(i) harmonization of the existing legislation with the EU
requirements, including the implementation of nutrient-
The majority of the Danube River
related legislation based on EU Directives and ratified
Basin countries do have the
international conventions and agreements,
potential and the willingness for the
creation of national pollution
(ii) the creation of rules for good agricultural practices, and
control and nutrient reduction
(iii) the introduction of an integrated water management
mechanisms.
approach on the river basin level, including the creation
of river basin committees.
Existing and Planned Inter-ministerial Coordination Mechanisms Relating to Nutrient Control and Reduction
9
2.5
Inter- ministerial Mechanisms for Nutrient Reduction in the Danube River Basin
Existing inter-ministerial mechanisms
Proposed inter-ministerial mechanisms
Name
Composition
Tasks
Problems
Improvement of existing
Creation of new structures
structures
Legal
Institutional
Legal
Institutional
framework
framework
framework
framework
1. Germany (incl. Bavaria)
1) Co-ordination of legalisation
1. LAWA* and federal 1. Implementation of
on federal and state level
ministries
EU-directives, federal
regulations and acts; set
minimum requirements
for municipalities and
industries
2. Coordination groups for legal
2. State ministries
2. Bavarian water act,
1. Intensify the
1. Intensify the
regulations and planning
3. State ministries for
State development
use of the
use of the
3. Coordination groups for
environment and
program
existing
existing
environmental affairs
agriculture
3. Program ,,Stickstoff
mechanism
mechanism
4. Regional planning association
4. Relevant social groups
2000";
5. Working groups on
including municipalities
,,Gülleprogramm";
administrative level
5. State office for water
,,Kultur-
Landschaftsprogram"
6. Cooperation between federal
management,
,,Good farming practice"
and state administrations and
Geological survey,
scientific and technical
4. Regional plans (18
state offices for
associations
Regions)
agriculture
5. Regulations for
6. LAWA and ATV-
protected areas for
DVWK
drinking water, program
for water quality in rural
areas, projects for water
quality protection in
catchment areas of lakes
and reservoirs
6. Investigations and
reviews concerning
agricultural impacts on
water quality
10
Summary Report
Existing inter-ministerial mechanisms
Proposed inter-ministerial mechanisms
Name
Composition
Tasks
Problems
Improvement of existing
Creation of new structures
structures
Legal
Institutional
Legal
Institutional
framework
framework
framework
framework
2. Austria
1. The main competencies for
1. Central authority for
1. Policy setting and
1. By combining
1. Improvement
protection of waters are
water protection is the
implementation
the former
of co-operation
allocated to the Ministry of
Ministry of Agriculture,
2. Preparation of water
Ministry of
between central
Agriculture, Forestry,
Forestry, Environment
and environmental
Agriculture and
authorities
Environment and Water
and Water management.
legislation. Provision of
Forestry and the
Management.
2. Soil protection is
financial incentives for
former Ministry
2. Work based on inter-
competence of the
technical measures as
of the
ministerial co-operative
Länder.
well as for introduction
Environment
mechanism was done on a case
(Youth and
3. Implementation of
of environmental
by case basis:
Family) co-
related EU-legislation
friendly agricultural
operation and co-
e.g.: Former Elaboration of
lies within the federal
practices.
ordination has
Austria's National
level and Länderlevel
3. Water Quality and
further improved.
Environmental Plan (in
Quantity monitoring.
cooperation with different
4. Awareness raising
ministries, stakeholders and
NGO's)
e.g.: Former Elaboration of the
National Environmental Health
Action Plan within the frame of
UN-ECE Water and Health.
3. Czech Republic
1. Ad-hoc WG on various
Central and local
1. Water and
1. Division of
1. Finalization
1. Intensified
1. Approval of
1. Improved co-
subjects
authorities dealing with
environmental protection
main tasks in
of the new
research
new Water Act
operation
2. WGs on harmonisation of
environment, water and
2. Drafting new laws
water
Water Act
regarding EU
and of a set of
between
legislature
agriculture
management
Directive on
laws regarding
responsible
3. Harmonization with
between two
Nitrates
state
ministries in the
with EU
EU regulations
ministries
requirements
administration
form of WGs
3. No specific mechanism on
2. Lack of funds
2. EU Directive
on specific
nutrient reduction
on Nitrates
subjects
implementation
Existing and Planned Inter-ministerial Coordination Mechanisms Relating to Nutrient Control and Reduction
11
Existing inter-ministerial mechanisms
Proposed inter-ministerial mechanisms
Name
Composition
Tasks
Problems
Improvement of existing
Creation of new structures
structures
Legal
Institutional
Legal
Institutional
framework
framework
framework
framework
4. Slovakia
1. Inter-ministerial co-operation
Central authorities
1. Water quality and
1. Incomplete
1. Design EU
1. Create WG
during permitting process
dealing with
environmental protection
legislation
harmonized
on nutrient
2. No specific mechanism on
environment, soil
2. Designing legislation
2. Limited
legislation
reduction
nutrient reduction set up but
management, economy,
financial support
2. Introduce
2. Improve
with initial elements in place
finance
rules on the use
communication
of P-free
and exchange of
detergents
information
between sectors
5. Hungary
1. No specific mechanism
Central authorities for
1. Water and
1. Slow
1. Incorporate
1. Improve
1. Implement
1. Create bodies
2. Co-operation between
environment, agriculture,
environmental
development
more explicitly
operation of
WFD
requested by
specific bodies: Inter-ministerial
regional development,
protection, according to
process
National
WFD and with
nutrient
2. Implement
Committee on Central
health, transport, water
the National
Environmental
the nutrient
reduction
Nitrate
Environmental Fund, chaired by
In the intersectoral
Environmental
Council
handling body
concerns into
Directive
MoE, Inter-ministerial
bodies, NGOs and the
Protection Programme,
as advised by
the existing
2. Establish
Committee on Water
commercial sector are
including nutrient
3. Implement
EU
legislation
institutional
Management Fund chaired by
represented
reduction
mechanism for
Urban Waste
2. Set up
MTWM, Inter-ministerial
the
Water Directive
National Water
Steering Committee for the
implementation
4. Implement
Framework
Implementation of WFD chaired
of WFD
Sewage Sludge
Committee
by MTWM, WG for the
Directive
3. Create
implementation of NEPP
National River
3. National Environmental
Basin Planning
Council
Committee
4. Bodies of the ongoing
government programmes
12
Summary Report
Existing inter-ministerial mechanisms
Proposed inter-ministerial mechanisms
Name
Composition
Tasks
Problems
Improvement of existing
Creation of new structures
structures
Legal
Institutional
Legal
Institutional
framework
framework
framework
framework
6. Slovenia
1. Inter-ministerial ad-hoc
Central authorities
Water and environmental
1. Absence of
1. Set up
1. Improve local
1. Implement
1. Develop
groups responsible for
dealing with
protection and public
adequate
government
level Agenda 21
Water
regional level
environment and physical
environment and
health
legal framework
body for
body for
Framework
authority for
planning, industry, agriculture,
physical planning,
sustainable
sustainable
Directive
integrated river
2. Lack of
public health, etc.
industry, agriculture
development
development
basin
financial support
management
3. Conflicts of
interest between
bodies
7. Croatia
1. National Water Council co-
State Water Directorate,
Water quality protection
1. Absence of
1. Improvement
1. Improvement
1. Creation of a
operating with other bodies
Croatian Waters, central
including nutrient
legal framework
of National
of National
special Co-
2. No specific mechanism on
authorities dealing with
reduction concerns
2. Low priority
Water Council
Water Council
ordination Body
nutrient reduction
environment, agriculture
for nutrient
3. Lack of time
and forestry, health,
reduction
public works, tourism
4. Lack of funds
and finance
8. Bosnia-Herzegovina
1. Environmental Steering
Central authorities
1. Environmental
1. Lack of
1. Ensure
1. Set up for
1. New legal
1. WG co-
Committee
dealing with
protection
adequate unified
implementa-tion
both countries a
framework
ordinated by the
2. Commission for Water
environment, physical
2. Water management
legal approach
of an integrated
common central
2. Create
Environmental
Management
planning, construction
between the
approach to the
authority
complete
Steering
bodies
management of
responsible for
database
Committee
2. Weak
water resources
environmental
3. Access to
institutional
2. Implement
and water issues
information
capabilities
EU Directive on
4. Develop
3. Insufficient
nitrates
pollution
database
register
4. Low priority
5. Limited funds
Existing and Planned Inter-ministerial Coordination Mechanisms Relating to Nutrient Control and Reduction
13
Existing inter-ministerial mechanisms
Proposed inter-ministerial mechanisms
Name
Composition
Tasks
Problems
Improvement of existing
Creation of new structures
structures
Legal
Institutional
Legal
Institutional
framework
framework
framework
framework
9. Yugoslavia
1. WG on various subjects
Federal and republican-
1. Water management
1. Absence of
1. Improve legal
1. Develop new
1. Create new
2. No specific mechanism on
level ministries dealing
and environmental
adequate legal
framework
rules imposing
inter-ministerial
nutrient reduction
with water, environment,
protection
framework for
tasks on nutrient
mechanism at
agriculture, health and
nutrient reduction
reduction
the
economy
governmental
level
for nutrient
reduction
10. Bulgaria
1. Inter-ministerial Expert
1-6. Central authorities
1. Environment and
1. Insufficient
1. Completion
1. Design new
1. New Inter-
Group for Implementation of
dealing with
water management on
staff
of the ongoing
strategy for
ministerial
NEHAP
environment,
national and regional
2. Lack of
process of
nutrient
Commission
2. National Environmental
agriculture, water,
levels
adequate
development of
reduction
2. Creation of a
Protection Fund
forest, health, public
2, 3. Approval of
legislation,
new EU-
2. Set up river
commission
works and regional
harmonised
3. Supreme Environmental
investments
including a
basin
with the
development
legislation for
Experts Council
4-6. Water quality, health nutrient reduction
management
Supreme
strategy
water,
plan
Consultative
4.WG on various subjects
and environmental
environment,
Water Council
5. National Commission for
protection
CAP and BAT.
3. Creation of
Sustainable Development
2. Ensure
River Basin
6. Advisory Council of MOEW
introduction of
Council
River basin
management
and
implementation
of integrated
environment
and water
management
14
Summary Report
Existing inter-ministerial mechanisms
Proposed inter-ministerial mechanisms
Name
Composition
Tasks
Problems
Improvement of existing
Creation of new structures
structures
Legal
Institutional
Legal
Institutional
framework
framework
framework
framework
11. Romania
1. Inter-ministerial committee
Central, basin-level and
1. Multipurpose water
1. Lack of logical
1. Implement
1. Develop
1. Create special
for environmental development
local authorities dealing
management approach,
framework
BEP and BAT
specific sectoral
WG for nutrient
2. Various structures (WG, Task
with water, environment,
integrated land and water
approach matrix
strategy for
reduction
Force) co-operating on
forestry, agriculture,
management plans,
for long/ short
sustainable
environmental and water issues
food, industry, trade,
environmental audit,
terms
agricultural
land planning, consumer
mechanisms for control
2. Unclear
practices
protection, health
of nutrient application
developed
2. Pollution abatement,
objectives
design of economic
instruments
12. Moldova
1. National Committee
Central and local
Water and environmental
1.Division of
1. Intensified
1. Strengthening
2. Inter-ministerial committees
authorities dealing with
protection
responsibilities
collaboration
institutions
environment, industry,
capabilities
3. No specific nutrient reduction
2. Too many
2. integration of
foreign affairs, civil
mechanism
organizations
environmental
defense, health, water
3. Lack of
concerns into
and forest companies,
collaboration at
sectoral policies
institutes for hydro-
the central level
meteo, geography
ecology, zoology
Existing and Planned Inter-ministerial Coordination Mechanisms Relating to Nutrient Control and Reduction
15
Existing inter-ministerial mechanisms
Proposed inter-ministerial mechanisms
Name
Composition
Tasks
Problems
Improvement of existing
Creation of new structures
structures
Legal
Institutional
Legal
Institutional
framework
framework
framework
framework
13. Ukraine
1. Inter-sectoral committees
Ministry of the
Water quality protection,
1. Lack of funds
1. Harmonize
1. Improve
1. Create
1. New inter-
with WGs on various subjects
Environment and Natural
environmental concerns
2. Conflict of
legislation with
institutional
regulatory
sectoral
2. Council for Environmental
Resources
interest between
EU
capacity for
framework for
committee with
Problems of Dnipro River Basin
bodies
pollution control decreasing the
WG on nutrient
and prevention
use of P-free
reduction
3. Insufficient co-
during land
detergents
ordination
2. New inter-
privatization
sectoral
between state
process
committee for
programs
2. Improve
the
institutional
implementation
capacities of
of State
river basins
Program for the
authorities
Protection and
Rehabilitation
of Azov and
Black Seas
Existing and Planned Inter-ministerial Coordination Mechanisms Relating to Nutrient Control and Reduction
17
ANNEX
COUNTRY REPORTS
1. GERMANY
2. AUSTRIA
3. CZECH REPUBLIC
4. SLOVAKIA
5. HUNGARY
6. SLOVENIA
7. CROATIA
8. BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA
9. YUGOSLAVIA
10. BULGARIA
11. ROMANIA
12. MOLDOVA
13. UKRAINE
Existing and Planned Inter-ministerial Coordination Mechanisms Relating to Nutrient Control and Reduction
19
1 GERMANY
1.1
Description of the relevant national inter-ministerial mechanisms with
responsibilities for nutrient control and reduction
In Germany, inter-ministerial cooperation takes place on both federal and state levels. First, on the federal
level, there is inter-ministerial coordination in the frame of legislative procedures, e.g. plant protection act,
nutrient-application regulation, implementation of EU-directives, development of minimum requirements for
point sources for municipalities as well as industrial branches. Second, coordination and cooperation
between the federal and the state levels exist for the establishment of legislative procedures through a joint
water commission of the states (LAWA). Third, at the state level (Bavaria), there are inter-ministerial
coordination groups for legal regulations and planning on state level, e.g. Bavarian water act and state
development program. Finally, there is bilateral cooperation in cases of inter-ministerial concern. Examples
of cooperation of the state ministries for environment and agriculture include "Stickstoff 2000", "Gülle
Programm", "Kultur-Landschafts-Programm" programmes involving the development of rules for good
farming practices.
In most of the states, nutrient control and reduction is under the responsibility of the ministries of the
environment and the ministries of agriculture. The implementation of the relevant legal regulations belongs
to the responsibilities of the state administrations. The nitrate directive and the requirements for drinking
water supply from groundwater are controlled by the agricultural as well as by the water administration.
Groundwater protection and in this context the role of agriculture as the main non-point source of pollution
are of major importance for the policy makers.
In Bavaria, on the state level, in all water plans prepared until now, the relevant topics concerning nutrients
and pesticides have been developed in cooperation with the agricultural administration. Further, inter-
ministerial activities on the administrative level include the development of recommendations for good
practices in drinking water protection zones.
There is cooperation between governments and local communities / non-governmental organizations in
relation to nutrient reduction concerns. In the preparation phase of all laws in general, the federal and state
ministries usually arrange hearings with relevant experts and, in particular, with the technical and scientific
associations (ATV-DVWK).
On the federal level, working groups are organized, with participants coming from state institutions as well
as from industries, universities and private consultant enterprises.
In Bavaria, forums for different environmental aspects are established, and one of them relates to
environment and agriculture. The participants come from different governmental, economic, social and
private institutions and organizations.
Agricultural associations are usually represented in the state development and regional planning councils.
Intensive negotiations take place between water supply companies and municipalities on the one side and
farmers in the catchment area of the groundwater abstraction locations on the other side, based on the
recommendations developed by the state administration.
Germany has suggested that cooperation between the water and the agricultural administration should be
intensified in the sense that the measures regarding farming practices and agricultural methodologies should
to a large extent be placed under the responsibility of the agricultural administrations and associations. The
first steps have already been taken and the necessary negotiations on the inter-ministerial level are have been
embarked on.
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Summary Report
1.2
Guidelines for the improvement / creation of national inter-ministerial
nutrient control and reduction mechanisms
(1) Recommendations for improvement of the existing national inter-ministerial mechanisms to
respond to nutrient reduction concerns.
For Germany, the development of nutrient control mechanisms should be based on (i) legal
regulations and mandatory objectives for ground and surface water quality, (ii) instruments of
execution which include emission standards, water quality standards for users and ecological
requirements and regulations or standards for a good and ecologically sustainable practice, and
(iii) enforcement through licensing, command and control measures, economic instruments or
action programs.
Therefore, Germany has proposed improvements of the legal instruments on diffuse sources,
which are less developed. On the emission side, regulations exist for fertilizers and their
application, which were originally not designed with a view to meeting the EU-Nitrate-
Directive. The execution of these regulations is difficult and requires strong cooperation
between water and agricultural administrations. Positive steps have already been taken through
the implementation of several programs initiated by the agricultural and environmental
administrations.
(2) Suggestions for the creation of new mechanisms for nutrient control and reduction
Additional mechanisms of inter-ministerial coordination might be necessary if the
responsibilities are spread over more than one ministry or distributed between the federal and
state administrations. Especially for the control of pollution from non-point sources, new and
efficient mechanisms have to be developed through joint efforts of the agricultural and water
administrations.
1.3
Main barriers to the creation of national inter-ministerial mechanisms
(1) Legal and institutional barriers
The main barrier to progress in nutrient control is set by the difficult economic situation in
agriculture. A profitable agricultural production implies application of intensive farming
methods with high rates of fertilizers, which contravene the environmental requirements.
(2) Financial barriers
The high cost of preparing arable land for a switch to extensive production methods or for
reduction of cattle density per ha could be considered as financial impediments. Since arable
land is private property, income reductions have to be compensated by incentives, such as
subsidies.
1.4
Proposed national inter-ministerial mechanisms
(1) Institutional and legal framework
In Germany, both the existing institutional and legal frameworks allow the creation of new
inter-ministerial structures according to requirements mainly imposed by nutrient reduction
and control from diffuse sources of pollution. There is a specific concern that fully developed
methods, which have proved their efficiency in practical tests, may be implemented on small-
scale applications as well as to larger catchment areas.
(2) Schedule for implementation
Germany considers that a stepwise approach seems to be the only way of ensuring
development and application of regionally differentiated rules for best farming practice,
teaching and education of farmers and implementation of methods for minimization of
fertilizer input based on a regional balance. The whole process is expected to take five years.
Existing and Planned Inter-ministerial Coordination Mechanisms Relating to Nutrient Control and Reduction
21
1.5
Main country-specific features and conclusions
Germany is one of the few countries in the Danube River Basin where cooperation between the
environmental and agricultural authorities through inter-ministerial mechanism on nutrient reduction and
control issues is significant. One specific feature involves the existence of two levels of cooperation, the
federal and state levels. Other features of Germany are related to (1) intensified activities leading to the
development and implementation of rules for good farming practices and good practices in drinking water
protection zones, (2) the importance placed by the policy makers on groundwater protection issues and the
role of agriculture as the main non-point pollution source, and (3) active co-operation between governments
and local communities/non-governmental organizations regarding nutrient reduction concerns.
Like other Danube countries, Germany considers that there is a need to enhance cooperation between the
water and agricultural administrations. Positive steps are already taken through the implementation of several
programs initiated by the agricultural and environmental administrations.
Germany believes that additional mechanisms of inter-ministerial coordination might be necessary,
especially for the control of pollution from non-point sources through joint efforts of both agricultural and
water administrations.
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Summary Report
2
AUSTRIA
2.1
Description of the relevant national inter-ministerial mechanisms with
responsibilities for nutrient control and reduction
In Austria, the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry formulates the agricultural and water protection
policies. Therefore, competencies and responsibilities for implementing nutrient control and reduction
measures belong to the same authority.
There were in the past examples of overall environmental policy formulation which also involved the
Ministry of the Environment.
With the changes the new Austrian government introduced in spring 2000, the former Ministries of
Agriculture and Forestry and the Ministry of the Environment (previously responsible for overall
environmental policy affairs) were merged and now constitute a single Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry,
Environment and Water Management.
2.2
Guidelines for the improvement / creation of national inter-ministerial
nutrient control and reduction mechanisms
(1) Recommendations for improvements of the existing national inter/ministerial mechanisms to
respond to nutrient reduction concerns
Austria considers that the implementation of agricultural and water policies through the newly
created central authority is a way to assure that responsibilities related to nutrient reduction are
efficiently carried out.
(2) Suggestions for the creation of new mechanisms for nutrient control and reduction
Austria considers that an inter-ministerial mechanism for co-operation on nutrient reduction
measures is not necessary as long as the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry
efficiently performs the tasks related to pollution control and nutrient reduction concerns.
2.3
Main barriers to the creation of national inter-ministerial mechanisms
(1) Legal and institutional barriers
There are no institutional or legal barriers that might impede a clear functioning of the new
ministry as a mechanism able to perform pollution control and nutrient reduction tasks.
(2) Current financial barriers
Austria considers that also, there are no significant financial barriers.
2.4
Proposed national inter-ministerial mechanisms
(1) Institutional and legal framework
No inter-ministerial mechanism is needed in the future as all environmental competencies,
including those related to nutrient reduction, have recently been assigned to a single ministry.
2.5
Main country-specific features and conclusions
The most outstanding feature is related to the fact that Austria is the only one country in the Danube River
Basin that has one competent central authority that can function as an inter-ministerial mechanism on
nutrient reduction and control problems. Therefore, the country considers that an inter-ministerial
mechanism for co-operation on nutrient reduction measures is not necessary as long as the Federal Ministry
of Agriculture, Forestry, the Environment and Water Management efficiently performs, among its other
responsibilities, the tasks related to nutrient reduction and control concerns.
Significant efforts are being made by the policy makers to reduce and control nutrients from both types of
pollution sources, diffuse and point sources.
Existing and Planned Inter-ministerial Coordination Mechanisms Relating to Nutrient Control and Reduction
23
3
CZECH REPUBLIC
3.1
Description of the relevant national inter-ministerial mechanisms with
responsibilities for nutrient control and reduction
The Czech Republic is actively preoccupied with the requirements related to the expected accession to the
European Union. Most of its environmental policy and legislation is geared towards preparing the Czech
Republic for membership in the European Union, which is the government's first priority.
In the Czech Republic, nutrient control and reduction concerns are an integral component of comprehensive
water resources management activities.
Two ministries share the main responsibilities for water and environmental protection in the Czech Republic:
Ministry of the Environment and Ministry of Agriculture.
Ad-hoc working groups have been created to fulfill the tasks emerging especially from the need to develop
new laws and other regulations.
There is also a Working Committee for the Realization of the European Agreement, which co-ordinates the
activities of all central authorities to meet the targets related to the EU accession.
Based on the decision of the Working Committee, 23 working groups have been established. In some of
these groups, in co-operation with all interested ministries, water quality-related issues are addressed
together with some broader environmental problems.
The Czech Republic considers that a well-informed public is a powerful tool for implementing government
policy in environmental protection, with NGOs playing the main role. This legal tool allows the public to be
actively involved in the decision making process.
Although the Czech Republic, unlike most Danube countries, has reported good results in water protection
actions and in water management planning, nutrient removal in wastewater treatment plants was neglected in
the past. The new economic and political situation since 1990 has brought about new challenges, which are
supposed to be solved in the next few years, especially those related to the (i) completion of the legislative
arrangement and its approximation to EU regulations, (ii) need to change the public administration structure,
and (iii) clarification of duties and responsibilities in relation to water management problems.
3.2
Guidelines for the improvement / creation of national inter-ministerial
nutrient control and reduction mechanisms
(1) Recommendations for improvements of the existing national inter-ministerial structures to
answer to the nutrient reduction concerns
The Czech Republic considers that the main frame-guidelines for water quality improvement
are provided by the 1999 updated version of the State Environmental Policy.
New principles have been incorporated in these guidelines, relating to (i) sustainable
development, (ii) harmonization of the Czech legislation with EU regulations, (iii) shift from
the traditional command and control approach to market-based instruments, and (iv)
introduction of voluntary compliance.
In addition, the regulations establish parameters and their limits for municipal, industrial and
agricultural point sources of pollution. Moreover, immission limits for two categories of
surface waters are also defined.
The Czech Republic has also introduced a flexible and incentive system of charges for
wastewater discharge into surface water. Emissions exceeding the limited amount or
concentration of COD, dissolved matters, suspended solids, nutrients, specific organic
compounds and some heavy metals are chargeable.
One significant initiative of the country is reflected in the Voluntary Agreement the Ministry
of the Environment concluded with the Association of Soap and Detergents Producers on the
reduction of environmental impact of their products. The producers are bound by the
24
Summary Report
agreement to ensure that their products do not exceed a 5% limit on phosphorus content, while
the production of detergents without phosphorus is encouraged.
The Czech Republic proposes recommendations for expanding cooperation between the
involved authorities within the work performed by WGs to incorporate specific nutrient
reduction tasks.
As nutrient control and reduction measures are viewed as an integral part of water protection
in general, the Czech Republic does not make any additional proposals for mechanism for
nutrient reduction and control. The new Water Act will bring positive changes in terms of
incorporating modern principles and strict permitting procedures. The new law on water
supply and sewage systems will also contribute to the improvement of the existing legal
framework, by setting severe limits on discharges to the municipal sewage systems.
(2) Suggestions for the creation of new mechanisms for nutrient control and reduction
As for the Czech Republic, nutrient reduction and control measures are perceived as an
integral part of water protection measures. The suggestions include the creation of a special
working group to carry out tasks related to nutrient reduction and control while at the same
time avoiding an unnecessary increase in the number of working groups and commissions of
this type.
3.3
Main barriers to the creation of national inter-ministerial mechanisms
(1) Legal and institutional barriers
The Czech Republic recognizes the need to update the current legal framework to better
respond to the actual needs, especially related to the EU harmonization process. One particular
example is the Water Act of 1973, which has already been revised and is in the stage of
approval.
In the field of water management and protection, preparations for entry in the EU are
complicated and require both a large investment and respective organizational measures.
(2) Financial barriers
There is a need to ensure the necessary funds for the improvement of water-related
infrastructure in small municipalities. In addition, there is little experience with co-financing
on municipal level. Finally, there is not a sufficient level of willingness on the part of small
municipalities to form associations in order to solve wastewater problems.
3.4
Proposed national inter-ministerial mechanisms
(1) Institutional and legal framework
The Czech Republic will create inter-ministerial working groups and specify their
responsibilities according to the actual need. The ad-hoc working group set up to design the
new Water Act is an example of such a mechanism.
(2) Schedule for implementation
The schedule for harmonization of the Czech laws with EU regulations is provided in the
Approximation Strategy. Priority is given to EU directives 91/271/EEC, 91/676/EEC, and
75/440/EEC, which relate to water protection against nutrients and their control. The Czech
Republic will create working groups on other specific concerns according to the actual need.
Existing and Planned Inter-ministerial Coordination Mechanisms Relating to Nutrient Control and Reduction
25
3.5
Main country-specific features and conclusions
Like some other Danube countries, the Czech Republic, too, is actively involved with the requirements
related to the expected accession to the European Union.
A specific feature of the country's legal framework is the application of an integrated approach to the
management of water resources, in which nutrient reduction already occupies an important place. The
responsible bodies for water and environmental protection include Ministry of the Environment and Ministry
of Agriculture.
Ad-hoc working groups have been created to fulfil tasks emerging especially from the need to develop new
laws and regulations.
There is also a Working Committee for the Realization of the European Agreement, which co-ordinates the
activities of all central authorities in order to fulfill the targets related to the EU accession.
The Czech Republic believes that a well-informed public is a powerful tool in the government's
environmental policy and that NGOs have a major role to play in this respect.
Unlike most Danube countries, the Czech Republic has reported good results in its efforts to improve water
quality. One significant initiative of the country is reflected in the Voluntary Agreement which the Ministry
of the Environment concluded with the Association of Soap and Detergents Producers regarding the
reduction of environmental impact of their products. The producers are bound by the agreement not to
exceed the 5% limit on the content of phosphorus in their products while the production of detergents
without phosphorus is encouraged.
The Czech Republic has made recommendations for expanding cooperation between the involved authorities
within the work performed by WGs to incorporate specific nutrient reduction tasks.
In addition, the country has pointed to the need to create a new working group, with experts from various
organizations, able to implement nutrient reduction and control tasks in line with the EU Association
Agreement.
26
Summary Report
4
SLOVAKIA
4.1
Description of the relevant national inter-ministerial mechanisms with
responsibilities for nutrient control and reduction
In the Slovak Republic, competencies related to water management are shared between the Ministry of the
Environment (MOE) and Ministry of Soil Management (MSM). In addition, state administration of the
regions is carried out by eight Regional Offices and 79 District Offices with their Environmental
Departments established under the Ministry of the Interior. The operation and maintenance of drinking water
systems, public sewerage and WWTPs, as well as agricultural activities, are under the scope of activities of
MSM.
For the time being, there are no established inter-ministerial environmental committees, which should have a
responsibility for the coordination of activities related to control and reduction of nutrient content in surface
waters. However, coordination of these activities does exist and elements of inter-ministerial mechanisms
designed to protect surface water quality can be considered as existing on different levels.
In the case of control of nutrient input into surface waters from point sources of pollution, there is a
governmental decree that sets maximum permissible pollution levels (including N and P) in both discharged
waste waters and in receiving surface water.
Slovakia is among the few countries that have designed a Law on Fertilizers. The new Law on Fertilizers
establishes conditions for the registration, stocking, and utilization of both artificial fertilizers and manure.
An example of cooperation between the government, local communities and NGOs in the development of
legislative material is the preparation of National Environmental Action Plan II, which defines the priorities,
principles, objectives of the state environmental policy and measures to be realized to fulfill the set
objectives.
4.2
Guidelines for the improvement / creation of national inter-ministerial
nutrient control and reduction mechanisms
(1) Recommendations for improvements of the existing national inter-ministerial structures to
respond to nutrient reduction concerns
First improvements related to the clarification of duties and responsibilities between the
relevant sectors will be reflected in the new Water Law expected to come into force in 2001.
Second, transposition of the EU water legislation in the national legislation is seen as a major
contribution towards water pollution abatement and control mechanisms.
As regards the control of quality of wastewater discharged into surface waters, the content of
N and P is not measured for all relevant polluters. This makes it difficult to calculate the
nutrient input from point sources of pollution, although such information is very important for
the state administration to set quantitative targets, plan measures for the protection of waters,
and monitor improvements. It is suggested that this activity should be coordinated from one
organization/institution of MOE, in order to ensure a unified approach.
The other recommendation refers to the need to involve the Ministry of Finance in solving the
problem of compensation of financial losses to agricultural companies, which would result
from limitation of their activities in the areas of special land regime.
(2) Suggestions for the creation of new mechanisms for nutrient control and reduction
One suggestion made by Slovakia involves the creation of mechanisms for decreasing the use
of P-free detergents. The process should involve Ministry of the Environment, Ministry of Soil
Management, Ministry of Economics and the Finance Ministry.
Another suggestion involves the creation of economic tools for applying ecological soil
management.
Existing and Planned Inter-ministerial Coordination Mechanisms Relating to Nutrient Control and Reduction
27
4.3
Main barriers to the creation of national inter-ministerial mechanisms
(1) Legal and institutional barriers
The only legal or institutional barriers to be considered for the operation of a future inter-
ministerial structure on nutrient reduction issues are those related to the completeness of the
existing legislation, with required pieces of laws and rules for pollution abatement, in
particular for nutrient reduction.
(2) Financial barriers
The available financial sources are a limiting factor in the process of reduction of nutrients
input into waters. Funding is necessary for the construction of sewerage, waste water
treatment plants, technological changes in the manufacturing process, building of suitable
storage capacities for manure, etc. This problem is a real concern for Slovakia.
4.4
Proposed national inter-ministerial mechanisms
(1) Institutional and legal framework
In the national inter-ministerial mechanisms for nutrient reduction and control to be created in
the future, the Ministry of the Environment, Ministry of Soil Management, Ministry of the
Interior, Ministry of Economics and the Finance Ministry should be involved as core sectors.
The general objective should refer to the reduction of nitrogen and phosphorus.
In order to ensure an effective reduction in nitrogen and phosphorus content in waters, actions
and measures need to be taken by all involved ministries, which should closely co-operate
from the very start, i.e. in defining the targets and measures. The targets and measures need to
be achievable and realistic in terms of the current economic situation in the country.
(2) Schedule for implementation
The proposed inter-ministerial mechanism may be created during the coming three-year
period.
4.5
Main country-specific features and conclusions
Since the Slovak Republic is in the process of accession to the EU, transposition and implementation of EU
Directives, including those related to control and reduction of nutrients in water, are the government's
priorities. Therefore, it is expected that important legislation regarding the reduction and control of nutrients
will come into force in the coming few years.
As a result of the country's economic transformation, the amount of used fertilizers and the amount of
produced manure have rapidly decreased, and the reduction of nutrient input from fertilizers/manure does not
seem to be a priority. As it is expected that the amount of fertilizers/manure will be continuously increasing
in the future, it is necessary to prepare proper legislation regarding good agricultural practice, in order to
minimize the input of nutrients into waters from soil management.
Slovakia proposes the creation of mechanisms for decreasing the use of P-free detergents. Moreover, the
introduction and use of economic instruments to control soil management is also seen as an immediate
priority.
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Summary Report
5
HUNGARY
5.1
Description of the relevant national inter-ministerial mechanisms with
responsibilities for nutrient control and reduction
In Hungary, the regulation of inter-ministerial mechanisms for nutrient control and reduction is part of the
general provisions of the environmental legislation. There are no mechanisms addressing exclusively nutrient
control and reduction.
However, there are some inter-ministerial structures dealing with nutrient control, which include (1) Inter-
ministerial Committee on Central Environmental Fund chaired by MoE, (2) Inter-ministerial Committee on
Water Management Fund chaired by MTWM, and (3) Inter-ministerial Steering Committee for the
Implementation of Water Framework Directive, also chaired by MTWM.
There are, in addition, other inter-sectoral coordinating bodies dealing with nutrient reduction, including the
National Environmental Council and the National Regional Development Council.
Finally, Hungary has several ongoing governmental programmes related to nutrient control, in which the
decision of the government determines the required inter-ministerial mechanism for their implementation.
These programs are related to the water management development program for Lake Balaton, the national
programme for the protection of other lakes, and a programme for the rehabilitation of oxbows and
floodplains of the Tisza river.
5.2
Guidelines for the improvement / creation of national inter-ministerial
nutrient control and reduction mechanisms
(1) Recommendations for improvements of the existing national inter-ministerial structures to
respond to nutrient reduction concerns
Hungary believes that the development of inter-ministerial mechanisms for nutrient reduction
should be correlated with the provisions of the draft Water Framework Directive (WFD).
Proposals are currently being drafted and the process is controlled by an inter-ministerial
Steering Committee.
(2) Suggestions for the creation of new mechanisms for nutrient control and reduction
Hungary has proposed an inter-ministerial mechanism on nutrient reduction to be developed in
accordance with the provisions of the Water Framework Directive (WFD). This exercise is
already initiated and coordinated by an inter-ministerial Steering Committee. In addition,
Hungary has suggested that the performance of this inter-ministerial mechanisms for nutrient-
reduction should be synchronized with the administrative arrangements within the river basin
districts.
It is expected that the implementation of WFD will require a global co-ordination mechanism
for all water management issues, both at the river basin and ministerial levels. The nutrient
reduction problems that cannot be handled at the river basin level will be solved through inter-
ministerial mechanisms.
5.3
Main barriers to the creation of national inter-ministerial mechanisms
(1) Legal and institutional barriers
Hungary believes that, from the legal and institutional point of view, there are no detectable
barriers to the functioning of the existing mechanisms.
(2) Financial barriers
The creation of a national inter-ministerial mechanism for nutrient control is not only a
financial issue; rather, it depends on governmental priorities in environmental protection.
Existing and Planned Inter-ministerial Coordination Mechanisms Relating to Nutrient Control and Reduction
29
5.4
Proposed national inter-ministerial mechanisms
(1) Institutional and legal framework
Hungary has proposed the creation of two major structures at the ministerial level: Water
Framework Committee and River Basin Planning Committee. Clarification of duties and
responsibilities has not yet been achieved. A Nutrient Reduction Working Group could be set
up as a subdivision to the Water Framework Committee.
(2) Schedule for implementation
The schedule for the implementation of the proposed inter-ministerial mechanism is directly
influenced by (i) date of entering into force of the WFD and (ii) the country's preparation
programme for EU membership. According to the Government Programme, Hungary has to
fulfill all the legal approximation by December 31, 2001.
5.5
Main country-specific features and conclusions
Like other countries of the Danube River Basin, Hungary has embarked on an ambitious program leading to
EU accession.
One obvious particularity of Hungary is the current reduced interest in nutrient reduction concerns on the
part of policy makers. However, this may be taken into consideration and further developed within the
framework of the future proposed committees.
The proposals refer to the creation of inter-ministerial committees that will deal with the Water Framework
Directive and with the implementation of river basin planning approach through the creation of river basin
councils. The created bodies will also undertake tasks related to nutrient reduction and control measures.
30
Summary Report
6
SLOVENIA
6.1
Description of the relevant national inter-ministerial mechanisms with
responsibilities for nutrient control and reduction
Like other Danube countries, Slovenia is rapidly approaching the EU regarding the adoption of the EU
legislation, restructuring of the economy and government administration, building democracy, etc.
Inter-ministerial cooperation and coordination is still developing, with occasional problems related to intra-
ministerial coordination. Still, a number of bodies and working groups have been established to ease the
cooperation and coordination between different sectors and ministries.
Vertical cooperation is to some extent obstructed by two distinct levels of administration, i.e. the state
government and the local government. In this respect, Slovenia will have to introduce an intermediate level
a regional (basin wide) level.
As regards nutrient control and reduction or removal measures, Slovenia has already adopted some key EU
directives, such as the Nitrates Directive, the Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive, the Quality of Water
for Human Consumption and is preparing to accept Water Framework Directive through the Water Law
(Water Act), which is currently being debated in Parliament.
Environmental considerations are being integrated into the policies of five key sectors - industry, energy
sector, agriculture and forestry, traffic and tourism. The aim of the integration of environmental policy into
individual activities/sectors is primarily linked to the harmonization process with the requirements of Agenda
21, the Environmental Protection Act and EU policy in individual areas.
Coordination between different ministries during the phase of preparation of legal instruments, such as
national programmes, strategies, action plans, laws and implementing regulations is informal. Formally,
these instruments are coordinated at the cabinet level by at least one of the three existing standing
governmental committees.
Cooperation is mainly established through many NGOs, which take an active part in public life and in
ministerial affairs. Ministries are keen to invite public and NGOs to workshops and other public
presentations or working bodies for diverse projects.
Slovenian NGOs have participated in the preparation of initiatives and demands concerning motorway
construction and in the preparation of the document "Agenda 21 for Slovenia". NGOs also play an important
role in the promotion of sustainable agriculture and nature conservation (in the process of the adoption of
agricultural reform, e.g. PHARE pilot project on Dravsko polje) and in the field of energy efficiency
(example: the construction of a new facility - thermal power plant Trbovlje 3).
6.2
Guidelines for the improvement / creation of national inter-ministerial
nutrient control and reduction mechanisms
(1) Develop recommendations for improvement of the existing national inter-ministerial
structures with the revision of their responsibilities to respond to nutrient reduction concerns
By signing the Europe Agreement, Slovenia accepted the foundations of the environmental
protection policy of the EU and committed itself to establishing and using new instruments for
its enforcement. This calls for (1) active monitoring of the adoption of new environmental
protection requirements within the EU, and (2) incorporation of these requirements into the
Slovenian legal system in all sectors. It also requires an upgrading of the institutional system
for putting these requirements into practice.
(2) Suggestions for new mechanisms for nutrient control and reduction
Slovenia is willing to propose a new inter-ministerial mechanism charged with nutrient
reduction tasks. The ongoing pre-accession programs (e.g. twinning, TAIEX, PHARE) will
help develop the needed mechanisms for better inter- as well as intra-ministerial cooperation
and coordination. The task of establishing an intermediate level of government (at the basin
level) will also stipulate cooperation between ministries. More active involvement of the
public and NGOs will also be needed.
Existing and Planned Inter-ministerial Coordination Mechanisms Relating to Nutrient Control and Reduction
31
6.3
Main barriers to the creation of national inter-ministerial mechanisms
(1) Legal and institutional barriers
Slovenia recognizes the presence of some barriers which include: (I) conflict of interests
environmental protection hinders the implementation of certain sectoral policies (i.e.
agriculture/nature; energy sector/environment), (ii) political opposition, (iii) lack of legal,
administrative and institutional capabilities, (iv) lack of qualified staff.
(2) Financial barriers
The integration of environmental considerations into sectoral policies demands substantial
financial resources which the economy is reluctant to commit due to a lack of money.
6.4
Proposed national inter-ministerial mechanisms
(1) Institutional and legal framework
Slovenia is willing to create a new inter-ministerial structure based on a detailed analysis. The
Ministry of Environmental and Spatial Planning is willing to harmonize all the relevant
environmental legislation within a short period of time of approx. 2-3 years. The involvement
of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Food, which is already performing tasks related to
nutrient reduction, is essential for the efficiency of nutrient reduction and control measures
implementation phase.
(2) Schedule for implementation
An implementation period of 2-3 years is anticipated. However, a common agreement between
the main players (the two ministries) is needed in order to ensure an effective nutrient
reduction and an efficient nutrient control.
6.5
Main country-specific features and conclusions
Slovenia believes that - in spite of a certain lack of administrative and institutional capabilities - one must
recognize the already existing large administration in a relatively small country. Thus, a very special
program of professional education of key ministerial personnel will be of utmost importance.
Slovenia hopes for more flexibility on the policy makers' side to facilitate the implementation of new water
pollution measures, including those related to nutrient reduction.
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7
CROATIA
7.1
Description of the relevant national inter-ministerial mechanisms with
responsibilities for nutrient control and reduction
Croatia has identified two coordination bodies subordinated to the government: Governmental Coordination
for Environment and Governmental Coordination for the Economy, which usually deal with water issues.
In accordance with the provisions of the Water Act, another officially created mechanism is in existence, i.e.
the National Water Council, established for carrying out water management activities, coordination of
various needs and interests, and proposing measures for the development and improvement of the water
system in the Republic of Croatia.
There are two main organizations with responsibilities in relation to nutrient control and reduction:
! The State Water Directorate is responsible for the protection of water and sea from land-based
sources, for planning and harmonizing the development and construction of water supply and waste
water systems of national importance and for water management inspection. The State Water
Directorate is established as the leading body in all nutrient control and reduction issues
! "Hrvatske vode" Croatian Waters is an institution dealing with water resources management and
operates under the supervision of the State Water Directorate.
Other responsible ministries are: Ministry of the Environment and Physical Planning, Ministry of Agriculture
and Forestry, Ministry of Health, Ministry for Public Works, Reconstruction and Construction.
However, in any debate related to nutrient control and reduction, the Ministry of Economics, Ministry of
Tourism and the Finance Ministry can make important contributions to the nutrient issue dialogue.
Cooperation between the government and local communities/ non-governmental organizations in relation to
the nutrient reduction concerns usually takes place at the rule-making stage.
However, there are limitations associated with the identified mechanisms, including: limited time allocated,
reduced financial resources, inadequate legal framework and low priority placed on nutrient reduction
concern against other water quality or environment-related problems.
7.2
Guidelines for the improvement / creation of national inter-ministerial
nutrient control and reduction mechanisms
(1) Recommendations for improvements of the existing national inter-ministerial structures to
respond to nutrient reduction concerns
Croatia's first recommendation is that the National Water Council, as an already existing
body, should become fully operational. This mechanism can play an important role in
promoting environmental protection, integrated water management and nutrient control and
reduction. The second recommendation is related to the need to improve cooperation between
the ministries and state directorates not only during the design but also during the rule
implementation stage.
There is currently ongoing cooperation between the State Water Directorate and the Ministry
of Agriculture and Forestry on problems related to nutrient pollution from diffuse sources.
(2) Suggestions for the creation of new mechanisms for nutrient control and reduction
One suggestion for the creation of new mechanisms is linked to the proposal of establishing a
coordinating body for the implementation of measures for nutrient control and reduction
within the National Water Pollution Control Plan. This coordinating body would be
responsible for the implementation of the National Water Pollution Control Plan, especially
for nutrient control and reduction measures. The responsible bodies for the implementation
according to the mentioned plan would be the State Water Directorate, Hrvatske vode,
industries, municipalities, and other potential water pollution. Effective harmonization and
Existing and Planned Inter-ministerial Coordination Mechanisms Relating to Nutrient Control and Reduction
33
close collaboration between the responsible bodies would be necessary to facilitate the
implementation of this plan under the coordination of the State Water Directorate.
The government of the Republic of Croatia has already been informed about the preparation of
this project and the future need for national inter-ministerial mechanism. Strong emphasis is
placed on full participation of other responsible ministries and institutions and their possible
financial support. Information about the specific implementation schedule cannot yet be
provided at this stage.
7.3
Main barriers to the creation of the national inter-ministerial
mechanisms
(1) Legal and institutional barriers
Croatia believes that once the design of the National Water Pollution Control Plan has been
finalized and its main implementing bodies have been nominated, the success of the performed
nutrient reduction and control tasks will depend only on the current institutional capabilities of
the main involved stakeholders.
(2) Financial barriers
The creation of a new mechanism (coordinating body, working group, etc) would require
some funding. This can be considered as a serious constraint towards a smooth
implementation of the nutrient reduction measures.
7.4
Proposed national inter-ministerial mechanism
(1) Institutional and legal framework
Croatia's proposal refers to the creation of a new mechanism closely related to the new
structure within the National Water Pollution Control Plan, i.e. the Coordination Body for the
Implementation of Measures for Nutrient Control and Reduction. The State Water Directorate
shall ensure its coordination. The preparation of a National Nutrient Reduction Action Plan
represents the main initial task of this inter-ministerial mechanism.
(2) Schedule for implementation
The National Water Pollution Control Plan has incorporated deadlines for its implementation
schedule based on long periods of time: short-2005, medium-2010 and long terms-2025.
7.5
Main country-specific features and conclusions
Croatia is one of the few Danube countries that has the privilege to initially benefit from both institutional
and legal capabilities to perform water pollution control, and nutrient reduction tasks in particular. This is
facilitated by the existing structures that include the State Water Directorate and the Croatian Waters,
institutions dealing mainly with issues related to the management of water resources. Moreover, the
development of the National Water Pollution Control Plan ensures an initial legal background for carrying
out these activities.
The proposed structure, i.e. the Coordination Body for the Implementation of Measures for Nutrient Control
and Reduction within the National Water Pollution Control Plan" under direct supervision of the State Water
Directorate, may perform tasks such as those related to the preparation of National Nutrient Reduction
Action Plan.
However, financial constraints might impede the progress of the proposed structure.
Finally, the country is willing to promote any necessary measure to implement nutrient reduction actions
within its share of the Danube basin.
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Summary Report
8
BOSNIA HERZEGOVINA
8.1
Description of the relevant national inter-ministerial mechanisms with
responsibilities for nutrient control and reduction
According to the provisions of the Dayton Peace Accord, environmental issues represent a common concern
for both The Federation of B&H and Republic of Srpska.
F B&H and RS have a separate system of organisation of the environmental sector. The Federal Ministry of
Physical Planning and the Environment is the relevant ministry in the F B&H, while the relevant ministry in
RS is Ministry of Urbanism, Physical Planning, Construction and the Environment. In both F B&H and RS,
the Ministry of Agriculture, Water Management and Forestry (MoAWF of F B&H and MoAWF of RS)
plays the main role in the water sector. The ministries are responsible for water strategy and policy, including
the setting of standards and regulations as well as the enforcement of laws and regulations through licensing
and inspections.
At present, national inter-ministerial mechanisms for water quality and particularly for nutrient control and
reduction do not exist. Control of nutrients is included in water quality control that is organized by Public
Companies for the Watershed Area of the Sava river (in F B&H) and by Hydrometeorological Institute of RS
(in RS). There is no harmonized monitoring and control of surface and ground waters of B&H. In addition,
the Water Law does not contain sufficient provisions on permitting procedures, legal procedures,
international standards or conditions for rational water use.
However, during the last few years, international programs have supported the development of new
legislative and institutional structures dealing with environmental protection and water quality control.
Another very important issue has been the improvement and strengthening of co-operation between the two
entities, F B&H and RS, in dealing with environmental protection issues.
In spite of the currently large number of citizens associations and professional organizations engaged in
environmental protection actions, there is a lack of co-operation between governments and non-
governmental communities. Vertical co-ordination in F B&H is weak (at all levels: local, cantonal, federal),
with responsibilities overlapping between different government levels and departments. Inter-entity
institutional co-ordination is also poor.
Moreover, there is a lack of encouragement to improve environmental practices while in some cases experts
are independently employed in developing projects aimed at improving agricultural practices or raising
public awareness.
The main problems of the current mechanisms are linked to (i) institutional and human resources problems
and, (ii) water quality issues.
First, a lack of adequate co-operation on the national level and inappropriate institutional capacity building to
implement the legislation represent the main constraints which impede a satisfactory performance of
environmental and water quality tasks.
Second, the absence of sufficient and coordinated environmental databases, together with a lack of
monitoring, restrain the enforcement of and compliance with environmental legislation. In extension, there is
ineffective co-ordination between the various sectors at both local and national levels in performing water
management tasks; low priority is awarded to nutrient reduction issues at the government level and limited
funds are consequently earmarked for the purpose.
Existing and Planned Inter-ministerial Coordination Mechanisms Relating to Nutrient Control and Reduction
35
8.2
Guidelines for the improvement / creation of national inter-ministerial
nutrient control and reduction mechanisms
(1) Recommendations for improvements of the existing national inter/ministerial mechanisms to
respond to nutrient reduction concerns
B&H believes that the implementation of integrated approach to the management of water
resources on the river basin level, with strong horizontal and vertical co-operation, is the most
appropriate recommendation for improving the existing environmental and water quality
mechanisms to perform water pollution reduction tasks. The other recommendation is related
to the urgent need to facilitate the implementation of the EU Directive on nitrates, i.e. the
Framework Water Directive.
(2) Suggestions for the creation of new mechanisms for nutrient control and reduction
There are proposals directed to the creation of new structures able to carry out tasks related to
nutrient control and reduction measures, including: (i) the establishment of a surface and
ground water quality data base within an adequate water quality control (including nitrates,
phosphorus), (ii) the creation of mechanisms providing access to relevant data on groundwater
quality, monitored by public water supply companies, according to the provisions of the Water
Law, and (iii) the establishment of a register of point sources of pollution.
8.3
Main barriers to the creation of national inter-ministerial mechanisms
(1) Legal and institutional barriers include:
! Fragmentation of responsibilities as the principle of integrated water resources
management on river basin level has not yet been implemented
! Environmental legislation and policy has not yet been harmonized with the EU legislation
! Water management issues are not integrated in environmental management concerns.
(2) The current financial barriers are related to the following deficiencies:
! Poor social and economic conditions hampering an adequate development of
environmental policy
! Economic instruments are not yet introduced
! Reduced financial resources as the reconstruction of the country and ongoing process of
privatization consumed most of the government's financial funds.
8.4
Proposed national inter-ministerial mechanisms
(1) Institutional and legal framework
A key institutional proposal - also suggested in a previous EU-developed project - refers to the
need of integration of environmental and water administrations in a new structure called the
Ministry of Environment and Water Management (MoEWM) for F B&H and RS.
This body would be responsible for (i) developing water policies and environmental strategies,
(ii) drafting legislation and, (iii) issuing regulations. The Ministry would apply its policy
through a network of seven new River Basin Steering Committees (RBSC) in the respective
River Basin Bodies, in both FB&H and RS.
In addition, working groups need to be established, with members drawn from all involved
ministries, to deal with nutrient control and reduction issues. These working groups should be
co-ordinated by the Environmental Steering Committee (on both levels - river basin and
national) on items related to nutrient control and reduction, particularly on actions that
include: (i) participation in the implementation of water-management plans for catchment
basins, (ii) developing codes of good agricultural practice for the training of farmers, (iii)
establishing and implementing action programs for vulnerable zones, and (iv) periodically
reviewing designations and effectiveness of the action programs.
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Summary Report
(2) Schedule for implementation
1st September 2000 represents the date for the implementation of Terms of Reference for the
preparation of environmental legislation in Bosnia-Herzegovina, within the EU Environmental
Program for B&H as well as the date for the implementation of the Water Sector Institutional
Strengthening in both F B&H and RS.
8.5
Main country-specific features and conclusions
One significant particularity of B&H is related to the actual institutional framework dealing with water and
environmental issues, which is fragmented between the two entities F B&H and RS.
Recognizing the need to (i) strengthen the institutional system, (ii) develop and implement EU-harmonized
legislation, (iii) incorporate market-based instruments in water and environmental policies, and (iv) enhance
the understanding of both government and local communities on the necessity to urgently consolidate the
link between them, the country embarked on an ambitious program of legal and institutional reform. This
action will also include tasks related to the improvement of water quality, pollution abatement and the
implementation of nutrient control and reduction measures.
Recommendations for the improvement of the existing inter-ministerial mechanisms to respond to nutrient
reduction concerns include (i) the application of water resources integrated man integrated approach to the
management of water resources on the river basin level, with effective horizontal and vertical co-operation
and (ii) the implementation of the Directive on Nitrates, i.e. the Framework Water Directive.
Existing and Planned Inter-ministerial Coordination Mechanisms Relating to Nutrient Control and Reduction
37
9
YUGOSLAVIA
9.1
Description of the relevant national inter-ministerial mechanisms with
responsibilities for nutrient control and reduction
There is no specific inter-ministerial mechanism responsible for nutrient control and reduction. However,
Yugoslavia believes that such a structure could operate through the Federal Government as well as through
the Republican Governments Ministries responsible for environmental and water protection the
implementation of any proposal concerning nutrient control and reduction.
Those responsible for water-related issues directly or indirectly connected with nutrient control and reduction
include (i) at the Federal Level the Federal Ministry for Development, Science and the Environment, the
Federal Ministry of Agriculture, the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Affairs and the Federal Ministry of
Economics, and (ii) at the Republican Level the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Resources
Management, the Ministry for the Protection of the Environment, the Ministry of Civil Works, the Ministry
of Health, the Ministry of Economics.
All departments of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Resources Management are directly or
indirectly responsible for nutrient control and reduction.
Cooperation between the governments and local communities/non-governmental organizations in relation to
nutrient reduction concerns can not be judged properly as there has not been any important request by local
communities/NGOs in that direction. Nevertheless, the government(s) are open for cooperation and support
various activities of NGOs. Representatives of NGOs participate in meetings organized by ministries while
the ministries responsible for environmental and water protection disseminate relevant information and
support the organizing of workshops, conferences and other appropriate activities of NGOs, particularly
those dealing with the presentation of research results.
9.2
Guidelines for the improvement / creation of national inter-ministerial
nutrient control and reduction mechanisms
(1) Develop recommendations for improvement of the existing national inter-ministerial
structures with the revision of their responsibilities to answer to the nutrient reduction
concerns
Yugoslavia believes that the existing environmental legal and institutional framework needs to
be revised. In addition, it is necessary to strengthen the enforcement of and compliance with
the environmental requirements.
(2) Suggestions for the new mechanisms for nutrient control and reduction
Since it is recognized that there is a certain lack of knowledge concerning nutrient control and
removal, it has been suggested that the country would benefit from a timely and serious
deployment of national scientific and research potentials in order to improve knowledge about
nutrient control and removal, through cooperation with the relevant international research and
consulting centers.
Other suggestions refer to the necessity to construct new wastewater treatment plants for
municipalities and industries in Yugoslavia as measures to reduce and control pollution.
9.3
Main barriers to the creation of national inter-ministerial mechanisms
(1) Legal and institutional barriers
There are no legal or institutional barriers to the creation of national inter-ministerial
mechanisms. The Government(s) allow(s) enough room for inter-ministerial cooperation for
any initiative coming from the ministries responsible for environmental issues.
Lack of adequate legislation related to nutrient reduction is one of the main constraints
recognized by Yugoslavia.
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Summary Report
(2) Financial barriers
Financing is the driving force behind any improvement in the field of water pollution control
and in nutrient control and reduction. The economy of FR of Yugoslavia is weak in this
moment and is, therefore, not able to provide funds for serious investment in water pollution
control. Yugoslavia needs financial support to be able to carry out specific tasks related to
nutrient reduction issues.
9.4
Proposed national inter-ministerial mechanisms
(1) Institutional and legal framework
There is no special proposal for national inter-ministerial mechanism. It may be created at any
when and if the need arises.
(2) Schedule for implementation
Yugoslavia will provide this information during project development stage.
9.5
Main country-specific features and conclusions
Yugoslavia is as willing to create an inter-ministerial mechanism dealing with nutrient reduction issues as its
neighboring Danube countries.
Besides, the country already possesses the conditions necessary for the creation and operation of such a
structure. The main constraint is related to the limited financial resources to translate into practice any water
pollution abatement measure.
Existing and Planned Inter-ministerial Coordination Mechanisms Relating to Nutrient Control and Reduction
39
10
BULGARIA
10.1 Description of the relevant national inter-ministerial mechanisms with
responsibilities for nutrient control and reduction
Bulgaria has identified several relevant national inter-ministerial mechanisms with responsibilities for water
pollution abatement and environmental protection. Most of these structures also deal with diffuse-source
pollution, implementing pollution reduction measures or approving new investments in the water sector.
Among them, the Supreme Environmental Experts Council (within the Ministry of the Environment and
Water), the Supreme Technical Experts Council (within the Ministry of Regional Development and Public
Works) or the existing Expert Working Groups within the Ministry of the Environment and Water are
viewed as the existing structures that can easily incorporate tasks related to nutrient control and reduction.
To exemplify, the Supreme Environmental Experts Council is a current inter-ministerial body, established on
a national level, with representatives of different ministries, such as the MRDPW, MoAF, MoH, MoE, MT,
MoF, National Electrical Company and representatives of BAS and other experts. The SEEC is chaired by
the Deputy Minister of Environment and Water. The main duties of the Council are to discuss EIA Reports
and to decide on issuing permits for the construction/rehabilitation of WWTP's. This would also reflect the
reduction of nutrient pollution load from the municipalities and from the industry by the introduction of best
environment- friendly technologies.
Bulgaria believes that the future adoption and enforcement of (i) the Regulation on the Protection of Water
from Pollution with Nitrates of Agricultural Origin, (ii) the Regulation on the Emission Norms for
Admissible Content of Harmful and Dangerous Substances in Wastewater Discharged into Natural
Receivers, (iii) the Regulation on Issuing Permits for Wastewater Discharges in Water Bodies and, (iv) the
setting of individual emission limits on point sources of pollution should have a significant positive impact
on nutrient reduction.
In order to facilitate water management at the national level (according to Article (9) of the Water Law), a
Supreme Consultative Water Council will be established within the MOEW. The SCWC will include
representatives of the MOEW, MRDPW, MoAF, MoE, MoT, MoH, MoF, Civil Defense, the State Agency
for Energy and Energy Resources, the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, the municipalities, non-governmental
organizations directly related with waters etc. The Minister of the Environment and Waters will issue a
Regulation defining the structure and activities of the Supreme Consultative Water Council.
The management at basin level within one or several watersheds will be implemented by basin water
management bodies, such as the Basin Directorates under MOEW and Basin Councils (according to Art. 153
of the Water Law). The Basin Council will be a state public consultative commission responsible for
supporting the activities of the Basin Directorate. The Basin Council will include representatives of the state
administration, municipal administration, water users and environmental organizations within the range of
the basin as well as representatives of the scientific organizations connected with water-related issues.
An analysis of the relevant, existing national inter-ministerial mechanisms shows that these councils, expert
working groups and commissions have, to a certain level, duties and responsibilities in relation to nutrient
reduction and control or other similar tasks related to fertilizers, nitrates and/or phosphorus use and control.
However, none of these structures has direct duties or responsibilities in relation to nutrient reduction and
control.
Bulgaria believes that cooperation between governments and local communities/ non-governmental
organizations in relation to nutrient reduction is very important. Nutrient reduction is included - directly or
indirectly - in the duties and responsibilities of several ministries, local authorities, farmers, new owners of
industrial plants, environmental NGOs and researchers.
One very good example of cooperation between the governments, inter-ministerial mechanisms and the local
communities and NGOs is the establishment of the pilot Yantra River Basin Council. The main purpose in
establishing the Council was to experiment with the implementation of integrated water resources
management in Bulgaria and was to some extent related to nutrient reduction. Another example of ongoing
cooperation between the governments, inter-ministerial mechanisms and local communities/NGOs in relation
to general pollution reduction concerns is provided by the public discussions of EIA reports. Yet another
40
Summary Report
example is to some extent - the existing Group 22. Finally, the preparation of the project for wetland
rehabilitation in Kalimok and Belene in relation to nutrient reduction and biodiversity preservation is also
worth mentioning in this context.
Even now, some of the inter-ministerial structures could be used for co-ordination of the development of a
National Nutrients Reduction Strategy and the co-ordination of the implementation of the NNRAP.
However, the main problems are due to the limitations of the duties and responsibilities of the already
identified structures.
10.2 Guidelines for the improvement / creation of national inter-ministerial
nutrient control and reduction mechanisms
(1) Recommendations for improvements of the existing national inter-ministerial mechanisms to
respond to the nutrient reduction concerns
The recommendations are not oriented to the improvements of the existing national inter-
ministerial mechanisms to respond to nutrient reduction concerns because of their status duties
and responsibilities. Nevertheless, at this stage a revision of the responsibilities of the SEEC at
the MOEW to answer to the nutrient reduction concerns as a temporary measure could be
considered as the most appropriate recommendation.
(2) Suggestions for the creation of new mechanisms for nutrient control and reduction
Bulgaria has proposed the creation of a new mechanism for nutrient control and reduction.
First, there are two possibilities on the national level: the creation of a separate inter-
ministerial body or the creation of a commission in the future Supreme Consultative Water
Council. Second, on the basin level it will be possible to use the future Basin Council.
10.3 Main barriers to the creation of national inter-ministerial mechanisms
(1) Legal and institutional barriers
Inter-ministerial co-ordination and co-operation for the implementation of nutrient reduction
and control measures depends to a great extent on the need to enhance the understanding of
policy makers. The main barriers are related to the (i) limited number of staff at the ministries
(ii) lack of a clear division of duties and responsibilities between different ministries, and (iii)
absence of adequate legislation. However, new legislation is in the process of being
developed.
(2) Financial barriers
Effective nutrient control and reduction requires a huge amount of investment. Absence of
financial support could be one of the main barriers.
10.4 Proposed national inter-ministerial mechanisms
(1) Institutional and legal framework
Bulgaria has proposed the establishment of a new national, interim inter-ministerial
commission on an expert level, within the MOEW, with full commitment of the other
interested ministries. Based on the rule of procedures proposed by the Minister of the
Environment and Waters, the commission will initially have a limited mandate until an
adequate commission is created under the future Supreme Consultative Water Council. The
main duties of the Commission should be (i) to provide support to the MOEW for the
development of a National Nutrient Pollution Reduction Strategy and the implementation of
the Action Plan and, (ii) to coordinate the activities of the different institutions for better
nutrient control and reduction actions.
Existing and Planned Inter-ministerial Coordination Mechanisms Relating to Nutrient Control and Reduction
41
(2) Schedule for implementation
Such an inter-ministerial structure is currently being established in order to support the
preparation of the 5-year draft Nutrient Reduction Action Plan for the Black Sea catchment
area. Under the new Water law, Bulgaria will have four Expert Groups (EG) for its four river
basin regions. Therefore, four national commissions can be established where each EG will be
responsible for coordinating the activities in one of the four basin regions. The proposed
schedule for implementation of a new inter-ministerial mechanism able to carry out the tasks
related to nutrient reduction and control starts in May 2000 and will last for the next 5 years.
The new Four River Basin Councils could be created within this period of time.
10.5 Main country-specific features and conclusions
Bulgaria is one of the few countries of the Danube River Basin which benefits from the results of many
identified national inter-ministerial mechanisms with responsibilities for water pollution abatement and
environmental protection. Most of these structures are also dealing with diffuse pollution, implementing
pollution reduction measures or approving new investments in the water sector.
The Supreme Environmental Experts Council is a current inter-ministerial body, established on a national
level, with representatives of different ministries, such as the MRDPW, MoAF, MoH, MoE, MT, MoF,
National Electrical Company and representatives of BAS and other experts. The SEEC is chaired by the
Deputy Minister of Environment and Water. The main duties of the Council are to discuss EIA Reports and
to decide on issuing permits for construction/rehabilitation of WWTP's. This would also reflect on the
reduction of nutrient pollution load from the municipalities and from the industry by the introduction of best
environment-friendly technologies.
Bulgaria believes that the future adoption and enforcement of the (i) Regulation on the Protection of Water
from Pollution with Nitrates of Agricultural Origin, (ii) Regulation on Emission Norms for Admissible
Content of Harmful and Dangerous Substances in Wastewater Discharged into Natural Receivers, (iii)
Regulation on Issuing Permits for Wastewater Discharges in Water Bodies and, (iv) determination of
individual emission limitations of point sources of pollution should have a significant positive impact on
nutrient reduction.
Within the MOEW, a Supreme Consultative Water Council will be created.
Bulgaria believes that cooperation between governments and local communities/ non-governmental
organizations in relation to nutrient reduction concerns is very important. Nutrient reduction issues are
included, directly or indirectly, in the duties and responsibilities of several ministries, local authorities,
farmers, new owners of industrial plants, environmental NGOs and researchers.
A very good example of cooperation between the governments, the inter-ministerial mechanisms and the
local communities and NGOs is the establishment of the pilot Yantra River Basin Council.
Some inter-ministerial structures could be charged with coordinating the development of a National
Nutrients Reduction Strategy and the implementation of the NNRAP. However, the main problems are due
to the too narrowly defined scope of the duties and responsibilities of the already identified structures.
Bulgaria has proposed the creation of a new mechanism for nutrient control and reduction. First, there are
two possibilities on the national level: the creation of a separate inter-ministerial body or the creation of a
commission in the future Supreme Consultative Water Council. Second, on the basin level it will be possible
to use the future Basin Council.
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Summary Report
11
ROMANIA
11.1 Description of the relevant national inter-ministerial mechanisms with
responsibilities for nutrient control and reduction
Inter-ministerial co-ordination mechanisms for environmental problems, particularly relating to nutrient
control and reduction, are in Romania based on a special Committee which is mainly responsible for (i)
providing a general framework for the development of environmental strategy taking into consideration
sectoral strategies, (ii) creating an operational frame for the implementation of a National Environmental
Action Plan (NAEP), and (iii) improving public participation in the sense of access to information and
involvement.
There is no special committee for nutrient control and reduction but there is an inter-ministerial working
group for environmental development. In the case of water-related problems, including nutrients, the most
relevant institutions involved include: the Ministry of Waters, Forests and Environmental Protection,
Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Industry, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Public Works and Land
Planning, National Water Company Apele Romane, Consumer Protection Office, NGOs and some donor
organizations.
The specific tasks related to nutrients include (1) implementation of nutrient-related legislation based on EU
Directives and International Conventions ratified by Romania, (2) carrying out international programmes in
which Romania is involved, (3) periodical assessment of the PSIR cycle (pressure/ stress/ impact/ reaction)
and control of relationships functions between priority pollutants/ target group/ environmental functions/
environmental themes, (4) assessment of national nutrient balance, (5) development of instruments for
diffuse pollution characterization and control (risk assessment and management).
Apart from some general barriers (lack of legislation, management tools, and infrastructure), there are other
specific constrains related to the agricultural sector in particular (lack of logical framework Approach Matrix
(LFA), absence of clear objectives, etc).
11.2 Guidelines for the improvement of national inter-ministerial nutrient
control and reduction mechanisms
(1) Recommendations for improvements of the existing national inter-ministerial structures to
answer nutrient reduction concerns
Romania has developed several recommendations aimed at improving cooperation between
various representatives within the existing inter-ministerial mechanism.
(2) Suggestions for the creation of new mechanisms for nutrient control and reduction
A special Working Group for Nutrient Control and Reduction Action Plan (NCRAP) should
be created in the ICIM. Based on the already started process of approximation to the EU
legislation, the Working Group will focus on nutrient-related topics addressed by: EWFD
(COM 98/76), IPPC Directive (96/161/EEC), Urban Waste Directive (91/271/EEC,
98/15/EEC), Nitrate Directive (91/679/EEC) etc. In addition, one of the Group's main tasks
would be the establishment of mechanism to control nutrient application.
11.3 Main barriers to the creation of national inter-ministerial mechanism
(1) Legal and institutional barriers
There are not any major legal or institutional barriers to be considered in the operation of the
inter-ministerial structure on nutrient reduction issues. The current legal framework facilitates
the creation and functioning of such a mechanism while its host, ICIM, could provide the
institutional arrangements.
(2) Financial barriers
Romania believes the current limited financial resources to represent one of the most relevant
constraints.
Existing and Planned Inter-ministerial Coordination Mechanisms Relating to Nutrient Control and Reduction
43
11.4 Proposed national inter-ministerial mechanisms
(1) Institutional and legal framework
The proposed specific WG dealing with nutrient reduction and control problems needs to be
created within the ICIM. This WG will take measures to facilitate the development and
implementation of the Nutrient Reduction and Control Action Plan.
(2) Schedule for implementation
As Romania is already committed to the implementation of nutrient reduction measures, the
time schedule is very tight and the WG is due to be set up during this year.
11.5 Main country-specific features and conclusions
Romania is one of the Danube countries for which nutrient reduction and control represents a main concern.
This is why the country has already created an inter-ministerial mechanism to address broader environmental
topics, but with environmental and agricultural authorities already involved. Moreover, Romania is willing to
improve this structure with an additional WG, designated only for nutrient reduction and control issues.
Another specific characteristic of Romania is related to the continuos support the government provides to
environmental authorities for their institutional strengthening and capacity building, for reinforcing
environmental research, improving exchange of information and public involvement, and for intensifying
regional cooperation on the implementing nutrient reduction measures.
44
Summary Report
12
MOLDOVA
12.1 Description of the relevant national inter-ministerial mechanisms with
responsibilities for nutrient control and reduction
In Moldova, there is a National Committee established in 1996 and responsible for supervising the
implementation of the provisions of a number of international agreements, including those related to
pollution control and reduction. Several relevant sub-committees and inter-ministerial committees were
established, charged with environment-related responsibilities. However, cooperation between these entities
is weak.
There is no example of nutrient-related cooperation between governmental organizations and local
communities and non-governmental organizations. This is due to two reasons. Firstly, there is a reduced
interest in nutrient reduction issues on the part of policy makers. Secondly, there is a general absence of good
cooperation in relation to environmental issues.
However, Moldova believes that - for the time being - there is no need to establish specific committees
dealing with nutrient control and reduction issues since this problem is not on the country's priority list given
that it is faced with more acute problems affecting its economy.
The division of responsibilities between the Ministry of the Environment and Territorial Development and
the Ministry of Health, set out in a 1992 agreement between the two entities, provides for a clear division of
tasks in relation to water. The Department of Environmental Protection is responsible for water quality and
pollution control, rational use, restoration and protection of water, promotion of best available technologies
for water use and treatment, etc. The same agreement clarified the allocation of tasks between the Ministry
of Environment and Territorial Development and the former Ministry of Agriculture and Alimentation on the
promoting the strict regime of water resources in Moldova.
The role of local communities in the decision-making process is very small, mainly due to a lack of public
access to environmental information and in the participation process failure to recognize their
importance.
12.2 Guidelines for the improvement / creation of national inter-ministerial
nutrient control and reduction mechanisms
(1) Recommendations for improvement of the existing national inter-ministerial structures to
answer nutrient reduction concerns
Moldova has made several recommendations aimed at (i) improving the current structure of
the Ministry of the Environment and Territorial Development, (ii) strengthening the inter-
ministerial mechanism in order to incorporate environmental considerations into the economic
development programme, (iii) decentralizing tasks and, (iv) raising public awareness and
public participation in the decision-making process.
(2) Suggestions for the creation of new mechanisms for nutrient control and reduction
Moldova has not yet considered the option of creating a new inter-ministerial mechanism.
Existing and Planned Inter-ministerial Coordination Mechanisms Relating to Nutrient Control and Reduction
45
12.3 Main barriers to the creation of national inter-ministerial mechanisms
(1) Legal and institutional barriers
Moldova sees the following barriers:
! Inadequate legal framework dealing with issues related to water quality management,
including pollution control in Moldova
! Lack of qualified staff dealing with water quality issues within the Ministry of the
Environment and Territorial Development
! Insufficient cooperation between organizations, including government and NGOs
! Lack of adequate staff training programs
(2) Financial barriers
! Lack of financial support to facilitate the creation of a possible inter-ministerial
mechanism.
12.4 Proposed national inter-ministerial mechanisms
(1) Institutional and legal framework
Moldova has suggested various mechanisms, which are mainly geared towards pollution
control.
This list includes (i) revision of the National Economic Development Program to meet the
integration requirements with a view to incorporating environmental impacts of macro and
sectoral policies into the economic development programmes, (ii) development of interim
emissions limits and a compliance schedule, (iii) creation of an effective permitting systems,
and (iv) implementing charge schemes.
(2) Schedule for implementation
Moldova has not yet proposed any deadlines for the implementation of the suggested
measures.
12.5 Main country-specific features and conclusions
Moldova has several authorities involved in water and environmental protection activities. In addition, the
existing National Committee has the task to supervise the implementation of the provisions of the different
international agreements, including those related to pollution control and reduction. Several relevant sub-
committees and inter-ministerial committees were established with environment-related responsibilities.
However, cooperation between these entities is weak.
There is no example of cooperation between governmental organizations and local communities and non-
governmental organizations in relation to nutrient reduction problems. One particularity of Moldova is
related to the reduced interest in nutrient reduction issues on the part of policy makers. In addition, Moldova
considers that - for the time being - there is no need to establish specific committees dealing with nutrient
control and reduction issues since this problem is not on the country's priority list given that it is faced with
more acute problems affecting its economy.
46
Summary Report
13
UKRAINE
13.1 Description of the relevant national inter-ministerial mechanisms with
responsibilities for nutrient control and reduction
The establishment of inter-sectoral committees and working groups for co-operation between different
sectors of the economy and social groups is a common practice in Ukraine.
Legislation on nutrient reduction is part of a broader body of legislation on pollution control and protection
against pollution. Ukraine believes that the future development of legislative measures in this field will
depend on progress made in economic reform.
The legislative acts provide some tools for decision making in the rational use of natural resources and
environmental protection, but do not address nutrient reduction in particular.
The Ministry of the Environment and Natural Resources of Ukraine performs functions related to the
management and control of water use and protection and renewal of water resources.
Based on these responsibilities, the Ministry of the Environment and Natural Resources co-ordinates
environmentally important issues related to different sectors.
A typical example of an inter-ministerial Committee is the Council on Environmental Problems of the
Dnipro River Basin and Drinking Water Quality, established to facilitate the implementation of the State
Program on Rehabilitation of the Environment and Improvement of Drinking Water Quality in the Dnipro
River Basin. Co-ordination of the environmental policy for the use of nature and environmental protection in
the Dnipro river basin was set forth by a 1999 Resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers.
13.2 Guidelines for the improvement / creation of national inter-ministerial
nutrient control and reduction mechanisms
(1) Develop recommendations for improvement of the existing national inter-ministerial
structures with the revision of their responsibilities to answer to the nutrient reduction
concerns
Ukraine believes that a reorganization of the Ministry of the Environment and Natural
Resources would contribute towards strengthening inter-sectoral co-ordination.
The improvement of economic conditions and the introduction of economic incentives for
involved institutions and organizations in Ukraine will result in improved inter-sectoral co-
operation and more efficient work of the inter sectoral bodies.
(2) Suggestions for new mechanisms for nutrient control and reduction
Ukraine believes that the Cabinet of Ministers may create inter-ministerial mechanism charged
with nutrient reduction tasks. Currently, the Ministry of the Environment and Natural
Resources is drafting ministerial orders for the establishment of the Black Sea and the Danube
Committees, whose agenda may involve tasks related to nutrient reduction in the Black Sea
basin.
A typical arrangement would be to establish working groups within the inter-ministerial
mechanism to address the more specific issues within the scope of its general objectives.
13.3 Main barriers to the creation of national inter-ministerial mechanisms
(1) Legal and institutional barriers
Although the current legislative framework and the previous experience with inter-sectoral co-
operation seem to be successful, there are some important limitations affecting the work of
inter-sectoral committees.
The decision to develop nutrient reduction program will depend on the legal approval by the
Cabinet of Ministers.
Existing and Planned Inter-ministerial Coordination Mechanisms Relating to Nutrient Control and Reduction
47
(2) Financial barriers
The most important barrier concerns the lack of financial resources to cover operational costs
for members of inter-sectoral committees, secretarial work, office equipment and/or office
space for the important programs. Insufficient funding and human resources impair the
efficiency of the Inter-sectoral Committee. Within the ongoing administrative reform
designed among other things to downsize the ministries, many tasks assigned to inter-
ministerial committees will create an additional burden for the ministerial personnel.
Since inter-sectoral committees and working groups operate on a non-paid basis, the
members' motivation is very low and participation becomes very formal. Moreover, due to
very limited financial resources for implementing the programs, projects, proposals, the
agency that initiates the activities tends to dominate and control the financial resources with all
resulting drawbacks such as poor information exchange, lack of ideas sharing, etc.
13.4 Proposed national inter-ministerial mechanisms
(1) Institutional and legal framework
Ukraine has proposed several measures leading to the creation of a national inter-ministerial
mechanism to address nutrient reduction concerns, including (i) strengthening river basin
management, (ii) creating river basin authorities, (iii) developing environmental protection
programmes. Once these programmes have been approved, inter-sectoral bodies will be
created. Part of these bodies will be working groups charged with nutrient reduction and
control tasks.
(2) Schedule for implementation
In the 2001-2015 period, several significant programs will be implemented in Ukraine. Firstly,
the protection and rehabilitation of the Azov Sea and the Black Sea are the objectives of the
main program to be implemented between 2001 and 2010. Secondly, the development and
approval of the state program for environmental protection of the Danube River Basin is also
scheduled for the 2002-2012 period.
13.5 Main country-specific features and conclusions
Like many other countries in the Danube River Basin, Ukraine is committed to performing nutrient reduction
tasks within the existing committee or through a new mechanism.
A particularity of Ukraine is the fact that the country's legislation does not yet contain any specific
provisions on nutrient reduction and control issues. Moreover, even the notion of nutrient as a pollutant is
incorporated into the broad definition of a pollutant.
However, Ukraine has incorporated modern principles in environmental and water management, including
integrated water resources management approach, the use of economic instruments and the polluter pays
principle.
Like other countries, Ukraine is facing severe budgetary constraints that might obstruct a good performance
of the prospective inter-ministerial mechanisms.
STRENGTHENING THE IMPLEMENTATION OF NUTRIENT
REDUCTION MEASURES AND TRANSBOUNDARY
COOPERATION IN THE DANUBE RIVER BASIN
EXISTING AND PLANNED POLICIES AND
LEGISLATION RELATING TO POLLUTION
CONTROL AND NUTRIENT REDUCTION
SUMMARY REPORT IN SUPPORT OF THE PROJECT BRIEF
AUGUST 2000
International Commission for
the Protection of the Danube River
UNDP/GEF Assistance
Existing and Planned Policies and Legislation on Nutrient Control / Reduction Summary Report
3
TABLE OF CONTENTS
LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS
1
INTRODUCTION.....................................................................................................................5
2
ASSESSMENT OF RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS.........................................................6
2.1
Policy Objectives, Priorities and General Principles for Nutrient Control /
Reduction ...................................................................................................................................6
2.2
Status of Legislation Dealing with Nutrient Control and Reduction ...................................7
2.3
Main Barriers to Policy and Legal Reforms...........................................................................9
2.4
Envisaged Changes of Nutrient-Related Legislation ...........................................................11
2.5
Schedule for Approximation of National Legislation to EU Legislation ...........................14
ANNEX
COUNTRY REPORTS
1
GERMANY .............................................................................................................................19
2
AUSTRIA.................................................................................................................................21
3
CZECH REPUBLIC...............................................................................................................24
4
SLOVAKIA..............................................................................................................................27
5
HUNGARY ..............................................................................................................................31
6
SLOVENIA..............................................................................................................................36
7
CROATIA................................................................................................................................40
8
BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA ...................................................................................................43
9
YUGOSLAVIA........................................................................................................................46
10
BULGARIA .............................................................................................................................49
11
ROMANIA...............................................................................................................................52
12
MOLDOVA..............................................................................................................................57
13
UKRAINE................................................................................................................................60
4
Summary Report
LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS
AHEG
Ad-Hoc Expert Group
B&H
Bosnia-Herzegovina
BOD5
Biochemical Oxygen Demand in 5 days
CNC
Czech National Council
COD
Chemical Oxygen Demand
CPC
Country Program Coordinator
DPRP
Danube Pollution Reduction Programme
DRB
Danube River Basin
DRBPRP
Danube River Basin Pollution Reduction Programme
DWFD
(Draft) Water Framework Directive
DWQM
Danube Water-Quality Model
EC
European Commission
EIA
Environmental Impact Assessment
EMIS/EG
Emission Expert Group
EPA
Environmental Protection Act
EU
European Union
GFE
Global Environment Facility
ICPDR
International Commission for the Protection of the Danube River
IPPC
Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control
ISO
International Organization for Standardization
ISPA
Instrument for Structural Policies for Pre-Accession
MAFF
Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Food
ME
Ministry of the Environment
MESP
Ministry of Environment and Spatial Planning
MI
Ministry of the Interior
MOE
Ministry of Environment
MOEW
Ministry of Environment and Waters
N
Nitrogen (all forms)
N/A
Not Available (i.e. missing data)
NEAP
National Environmental Action Programme
NEPP
National Environmental Protection Program
NFP
National Focal Point
NGO
Non-Governmental Organisation
NIS
Newly Independent States
OHR
Office of High Representative
P
Phosphorus (all forms)
PCU
Programme Coordination Unit
PE
Population Equivalent = load of one person into waste water
PHARE
European Union Programme for Development
PWCA
Public Company for Watershed Areas
RBM
River Basin Management
SEP
State Environmental Policy
SIA
Significant Impact Areas
UNDP
United Nations Development Programme
UWWTD
Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive
WWTP
Waste Water Treatment Plant
Existing and Planned Policies and Legislation on Nutrient Control / Reduction
5
1
INTRODUCTION
This Summary Report is an integral component for the preparation of the GEF/UNDP funded project entitled
"Strengthening Implementation of Nutrient Reduction Measures and Transboundary Cooperation in the
Danube River Basin". The basic task of this preparatory work is to prepare a qualified material basis for the
elaboration of a complete "Danube Regional Project" to be submitted to the GEF Council.
The purpose of this Summary Report is to provide an assessment for all DRB countries, respectively
particular categories of DRB countries and the country presentations on of the existing and planned national
policies and the status and reform requirements of legislation related to pollution reduction with particular
attention to nutrient control and reduction in the Danube River Basin countries.
The structure of the Country Report follows the structure of the "national reports", and provides a "country
profile" for each of the Danube River Basin countries. The "county profiles" are structured as follows:
(1)
Policy objectives, priorities and principles for nutrient control / reduction
! General policy objectives, priorities, principles
! Policy objectives and programmes by sectors
! Policy objectives and programmes by short, medium, long term
! Status of nutrient related international conventions, declarations, etc.
(2)
Status of legislation dealing with nutrient control / reduction
! Relevant laws and regulations currently in force
! Relevant laws and regulations in the pipeline
! Present status regarding out-phasing of phosphate-containing detergents
! Main deficiencies
(3)
Main barriers to policy and legal reforms
(4)
Proposed / envisaged changes of nutrient-related legislation
! Out-phasing of phosphate-containing detergents
(5)
Approximation of national legislation to EU legislation in terms of pollution control, particularly
nutrient control / reduction / removal
6
Summary Report
2
ASSESSMENT OF RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS
2.1 Policy Objectives, Priorities and General Principles for Nutrient Control /
Reduction
All DRB countries currently have a more or less comprehensive system of environmental and water sector-
related policies and strategies, which usually reflects:
! the capability of the country to contribute to the solution of transboundary problems;
! the significance and evidence of country-specific environmental problems;
! the significance and evidence of environment-related health hazards;
! the economic development and potential of the country.
In this context, all countries have developed a hierarchic system of short, medium and long-term objectives
and principles which usually reflect the key environmental problems and sector priorities on national and
regional level.
Long-term objectives are usually very general and often not related to any time frame for implementation or
solution. In addition, there is usually no assessment of the overall long-term funding requirements. In the
DRB countries, long-term objectives of environmental policy mainly focus on:
! Protection of climate and ozone layers;
! Preservation of a sound environment for the future generations;
! Protection of biological diversity;
! Protection of drinking water resources.
Objectives for water pollution and especially nutrient reduction are usually incorporated as sub-components
of higher objectives. However, most countries have established a system of priorities for nutrient reduction,
usually defining the sequence of construction, extension, or improvement of treatment standards for
WWTPs, which are usually
! differentiated by sector (municipal / industrial);
! classified by plant capacity (small / medium / large) and treatment standards;
! differentiated by sensitivity of area (vulnerable areas / significant impact areas).
Despite the diversity of problems, interests and priorities across the DRB, the Danube countries share certain
values and principles relating to the environment and the conservation of natural resources. The most
essential principles, also relevant for water pollution, respectively nutrient reduction, include:
! The precautionary principle: under certain circumstances it is better to be on the safe side, even
if firm evidence is lacking, than to be actually wrong;
! Best available technology (BAT) - best environmental practice (BEP);
! Control of pollution at the source: it is usually less expensive to prevent the creation of harmful
wastes or pollution through cleaner technologies and processes than to cure and repair the
damage to the environment afterwards;
! The polluter pays principle and the related user pays principle.
! The principle of integrated approach;
! The principle of shared responsibilities, respectively the principle of subsidiarity.
In the meantime, all DRB countries have - at least theoretically - recognized that the adoption of these
principles is indispensable for appropriate prioritization and implementation of environment-related
measures.
None of the DRB countries presently disposes of an explicitly formulated nutrient reduction programme.
Measures and activities with relevance to nutrient reduction are usually sub-components of or to a large
extent incorporated in other programmes.
Existing and Planned Policies and Legislation on Nutrient Control / Reduction
7
In all DRB countries, the main ongoing programmes regarding nutrient reduction are investment
programmes for new construction, extension, rehabilitation or improvement of effluent standards (biological
treatment, N+P elimination) of municipal WWTPs. Involved are occasionally the provision of guidelines for
selection of priority projects, country-specific effluent standards depending on plant capacity, and technical
and operational standards.
The status of nutrient-related policy and programmes in the particular DRB countries can be assessed in
general terms as follows:
Table 2.1-1: Status of Nutrient-Related Policy and Programmes in the DRB Countries
Country
Explicitly formulated policy objectives
Programmes especially dealing with nutrient control /
for nutrient control / reduction
reduction
GER
Appropriate system of policy objectives
Programme for the implementation of buffer zones to surface
waters
A
Appropriate system of policy objectives
Programme of environment-friendly agriculture;
CZ
Appropriate system of policy objectives
Programme for adequate implementation of municipal
WWTPs
SK
Satisfactory system of policy objectives
Codex of Good Agricultural Practices
HUN
Appropriate system of policy objectives
National waste water collection and treatment programme;
National agro-environmental protection programme;
Other programmes (lake, oxbow lake, low land, etc.);
SLO
Satisfactory system of policy objectives
No explicit programmes
CRO
Satisfactory system of policy objectives
No explicit programmes
B&H
No explicit policy objectives
No explicit programmes
YUG
Satisfactory system of policy objectives
No explicit programmes
BUL
Satisfactory system of policy objectives
Programme for construction of municipal WWTPs
RO
Satisfactory system of policy objectives
A series of nutrient-related programmes to be carried out
during the forthcoming period 2000-2010
MOL
No explicit policy objectives regarding
No explicit programmes
nutrient emissions or loads
UA
Satisfactory system of policy objectives
No explicit programmes
2.2 Status of Legislation Dealing with Nutrient Control and Reduction
Except for Germany and Austria, the adequacy of the legal
framework for sound environmental management of water
The environmental efforts in the
resources has to be viewed against the background of
Danube countries will be dominated
political, economic, administrative and social changes
by the need to confirm to European
which have taken place in the particular DRB countries
standards, less by domestic priorities
during the previous years of transition.
and not decisively by agreements
In all DRB countries the legal framework for environmental
within the framework of the DRPC.
management of water resources and ecosystems consists of
The EU member countries are
a hierarchic system of decrees, laws, directives, ordinances,
obliged to adopt the EU directives
regulations and standards on different administrative levels.
and transform them into national
The international agreements and conventions signed or
legislation. The EU candidates are in
ratified by the particular countries constitute a kind of
process of adoption to insure the
orientation framework for the national environmental
obligations of harmonization. Other
policies and legislation of the member countries.
Danube countries follow the same
In a number of countries, numerous laws and regulations
line and transform their national
were adopted a long time ago, have been frequently
regulations according to EU
amended during the previous years of transition and need a
directives
fundamental revision.
8
Summary Report
Indeed, inmost DRB countries, the relevant legislation is currently in the phase of substantial reform and
modernization. Due to the complexity of this task it can be anticipated that the completion of the ongoing
reform process will take several years before the relevant legislation has reached an acceptable level of
compliance with international requirements.
Countries in which the legal framework for environmental management of water resources and ecosystems
has to be considered as fully adequate and in consistence with international requirements are Germany and
Austria.
Countries in which the legal framework for environmental management of water resources and ecosystems
has to be considered as generally appropriate, respectively satisfactory, are Hungary, Czech Republic,
Slovenia and Slovakia.
In the other countries, the current environmental and water-related legislation cannot be considered as
adequate regarding sound and sustainable environmental management of water resources and ecosystems;
there are still essential deficits and problems that can be summarized as follows:
! in some countries the environmental and water-related legislation is still based to a certain
extent on historical structures, with the consequence that the various changes, adjustments and
modifications have led to critical inconsistencies;
! some countries are currently in the process of establishing new environmental and water- related
legislation, whose practical applicability and effectiveness has not yet been proven;
! some countries have developed relatively sophisticated systems of environmental and water-
related legislation, which can at present not really be enforced due to critical social and
economic issues in the country.
Common deficiencies and needs for improvement regarding the water sector-related legislation in the DRB
countries can be summarized as follows:
! restructuring and adjustment of relevant legislation to the requirements of modern environment-
oriented market economy;
! streamlining, simplification and elimination of inconsistent components, basically resulting
from ad-hoc changes during the previous transition period;
! ensuring utmost compatibility of interacting legislation on the various administrative levels;
! specification of efficient implementing regulations and enforcement mechanisms; elimination of
all kinds of unjustified exemptions;
! further harmonization of national legislation with EU regulations and standards.
The status of nutrient-related legislation (and standards of nutrient control and reduction) in the particular
DRB countries can be assessed in general terms as follows:
Table 2.2-1: Status of Nutrient-Related Legislation in the DRB Countries
Country
Explicitly formulated legal provisions for
Explicitly defined standards regarding nutrient
nutrient control / reduction
control / reduction
GER
Fully appropriate legislation
Appropriate system of standards
A
Fully appropriate legislation
Appropriate system of standards
CZ
In general appropriate legislation
In general satisfactory system of standards
SK
In general appropriate legislation
In general satisfactory system of standards
HUN
In general appropriate legislation
In general satisfactory system of standards
SLO
In general appropriate legislation
In general satisfactory system of standards
CRO
Legislation not fully satisfactory
No fully satisfactory system of standards:
(mainly focusing on point sources);
- Water quality standards by water classes;
- Standards on hazardous substances;
- Effluent standards: maximum allowed concentration
of hazardous substances in waste water;
B&H
No explicit legal provisions
No satisfactory system of standards
YUG
Legislation not fully satisfactory
No fully satisfactory system of standards:
- no effluent standards
BUL
Legislation not fully satisfactory
No fully satisfactory system of standards:
Existing and Planned Policies and Legislation on Nutrient Control / Reduction
9
Country
Explicitly formulated legal provisions for
Explicitly defined standards regarding nutrient
nutrient control / reduction
control / reduction
- ambient water quality permissible limits;
- Black Sea water quality permissible limits;
- State standard for drinking water quality;
RO
Legislation not fully satisfactory
No fully satisfactory system of standards
(no specific nutrient-related regulations);
MOL
No explicit legal provisions
No fully satisfactory system of standards: Ambient
water quality standards, emission standards, and
effluent standards are incorporated in overall
pollution control standards
UA
Legislation not fully satisfactory
No fully satisfactory system of standards
In summary, it can be concluded that in none of the DRB countries (except for Germany and Austria)
nutrient-related legislation is presently on a fully adequate level from the international point of view. This
indicates that the improvement of the respective legislation is an essential prerequisite and constitutes a
substantial potential for future nutrient reduction in the majority of the DRB countries.
2.3 Main Barriers to Policy and Legal Reforms
Based on the information provided by the national contributions, the main barriers to policy and legal reform
can be categorized as outlined below.
The assessment for the particular DRB countries (OOO = "high relevance"; O = "low relevance) has to be
considered as provisional and should in the first place serve for a formalized identification of country-
specific areas for improvement.
(1)
Historical issues
! Outdated legal structures
! Outdated administrative structures
! Outdated business structures / methods
! Inappropriate agricultural structures and practices
! Inappropriate industrial structures / production / production methods
! Unsolved ownership situation - public sector
! Unsolved ownership situation - private sector
! Inappropriate attitude of population (wastage of water, etc)
Provisional assessment of the relevance of historical issues for the particular DRB county:
A
B&H BUL
CRO
CZ
GER HUN MOL
RO
SK
SLO
UA
YUG
**
**
**
*
*
***
**
*
*
***
***
* low priority; ** medium priority; *** high priority
(2)
Economic issues
! Deteriorated economic capacities
! Decreased industrial production
! Decreased agricultural production
! Decreased export opportunities
! Decreased international tourism
! Decreased livestock farming
! Inadequate status of privatization
! Inappropriate public infrastructure (waste water collection systems, WWTP)
10
Summary Report
Provisional assessment of the relevance of economic issues in the particular DRB country:
A
B&H BUL
CRO
CZ
GER HUN MOL
RO
SK
SLO
UA
YUG
***
**
**
*
*
***
**
*
*
***
***
(3)
Socio-economic issues
! Low private (per capita) income
! Low living standard
! High portion of low-income population
! High unemployment
Provisional assessment of the relevance of socio-economic issues in the DRB countries:
A
B&H BUL
CRO
CZ
GER HUN MOL
RO
SK
SLO
UA
YUG
***
***
**
*
*
***
***
*
*
***
***
(1)
Financial issues
! Lack of domestic public funds for environmental issues
! Lack of international funds at favorable terms
! Lack of adequate funding mechanisms
! Lack of adequate funding tools (incentives, charges)
! Low purchasing power of the population
Provisional assessment of the relevance of financial issues in the particular DRB county:
A
B&H BUL
CRO
CZ
GER HUN MOL
RO
SK
SLO
UA
YUG
***
***
*
*
*
***
**
*
*
***
***
(2)
Institutional / administrative issues
! Inadequate personnel capability
! Inadequate personnel qualification
! Inadequate technical equipment
! Inadequate structure of administration
! Inadequate allocation of responsibilities (gaps, overlaps, not defined)
! Lack of adequate vertical and horizontal coordination
! Lack of adequate cooperation within public administration
! Lack of adequate cooperation between public administration and private sector
! Lack of adequate tools for enforcement of legislation
! Lack of adequate data basis
! Lack of adequate monitoring systems and methods
! Lack of scientific knowledge
! Lack of private sector participation (investment, management)
Provisional assessment of the relevance of institutional issues in the particular DRB county:
A
B&H BUL
CRO
CZ
GER HUN MOL
RO
SK
SLO
UA
YUG
**
*
*
*
*
**
*
*
*
**
**
Existing and Planned Policies and Legislation on Nutrient Control / Reduction
11
(3)
Participatory issues
! Lack of public awareness (regarding environmental issues)
! Lack of adequate awareness of decision makers (regarding environmental issues)
! Lack of public interest in solving environmental deficiencies / problems
! Lack of organizational capability (inadequate representation of NGOs)
! Lack of information / knowledge
! Lack of private sector participation (investment, management)
Provisional assessment of the relevance of participatory issues in the particular DRB county:
A
B&H BUL
CRO
CZ
GER HUN MOL
RO
SK
SLO
UA
YUG
**
**
**
*
*
**
**
*
*
**
**
(4)
Natural / environmental issues
! Degradation of ecosystem
! Loss of adequate biodiversity
! Inadequately high concentration of nutrients in agricultural areas
! Uncontrolled flood risk
! Inadequate utilization of water resources
! Uncontrolled discharge of waste water (in the past / ongoing)
! Unsanitary disposal of solid wastes and hazardous wastes (in the past / ongoing)
! Inadequate agricultural practices (in the past / ongoing)
! Inadequate utilization of fertilizers, pesticides, etc. (in the past / ongoing)
Provisional assessment of the relevance of natural issues in the particular DRB county:
A
B&H BUL
CRO
CZ
GER HUN MOL
RO
SK
SLO
UA
YUG
**
**
**
*
*
**
**
*
*
**
**
2.4 Envisaged Changes of Nutrient-Related Legislation
Most DRB countries do not envisage any substantial changes of nutrient-related legislation besides the
changes they will carry out within the process of harmonization of national legislation with EU legislation.
These changes are dealt with in Section 14.5.
The EU regulations with respect
Only some countries are currently in the process of updating
to nutrient emissions require a
and adjusting particular laws or regulations that are directly
great effort in introducing new
or indirectly related to nutrient-related issues.
measures, new technologies, and
The need for improvement of nutrient-related legislation in
upgrade existing facilities.
the particular DRB countries can be assessed in general terms
as follows:
12
Summary Report
Table 2.4-1: Needs for Improvement of Nutrient Related Legislation in the DRB Countries
Country
Needs for improvement of legislation
Needs for improvement / adjustment of
nutrient related standards
GER
No need for new legislation
No requirements
A
No need for new legislation
No requirements
CZ
Need for adjustment of legislation in line with
Need for adjustment of standards
established schedule for approximation of
national legislation to EU legislation
SK
Need for adjustment of legislation in line with
Need for adjustment of standards
established schedule for approximation of
national legislation to EU legislation
HUN
Need for adjustment of legislation in line with
Need for adjustment of standards
established schedule for approximation of
national legislation to EU legislation
SLO
Need for adjustment of legislation in line with
Need for adjustment of standards
established schedule for approximation of
national legislation to EU legislation
CRO
Need for improvement of legislation
Need for completion and adjustment of standards
B&H
Substantial need for improvement of legislation Substantial need for completion and adjustment of
standards
YUG
Need for improvement of legislation
Need for completion and adjustment of standards
BUL
Need for adjustment of legislation in line with
Need for completion and adjustment of standards
established schedule for approximation of
national legislation to EU legislation
RO
Need for adjustment of legislation in line with
Need for completion and adjustment of standards
established schedule for approximation of
national legislation to EU legislation
MOL
Substantial need for improvement of legislation Need for completion and adjustment of standards
UA
Need for adjustment of legislation in line with
Need for completion and adjustment of standards
established schedule for approximation of
national legislation to EU legislation
Regarding the particular issue of control, respectively out-phasing of Phosphate-containing detergents, the
situation in the particular DRB countries is compiled in Table 14.4-2,
Existing and Planned Policies and Legislation on Nutrient Control / Reduction
13
Table 2.4-2: Present Status and Proposed Actions Regarding Phosphate-containing Detergents
Country
Present Situation
Planned / Proposed Actions
GER
Satisfactorily regulated by respective law and
No requirements for changes in national
ordinances
legislation
A
Issues of detergents in washing powders are regulated
No requirements for changes in national
by the Act on Chemicals and the Ordinance on the
legislation
Degradability of Certain Detergents, which are in
compliance with the respective EU Directives
73/404/ECC, 73/405/ECC and 82/243/ECC
CZ
Voluntary agreement between the MOE and the
New arrangement envisaged,
Association of Soup and Detergents Producers on
form currently in discussion
reduction of environmental impact of their products
SK
No explicit legal provision or regulation
There are plans to prepare by the end of 2000 a
proposal on methods of control of biological
degradability of active substance detergents
HUN
State standard: Pulverous synthetic detergents (MSZ
No plan or schedule for changes
14604-86)
SLO
No explicit legal provision or regulation;
No explicit plan or schedule for control or out-
phasing of P-containing detergents
EU-market conditions forced industry to abandon use
of phosphate;
Less than 1/3 of all detergents sold is supposed to still
have phosphate contents;
CRO
No explicit legal provision or regulation
No explicit plan or schedule for control or out-
phasing of P-containing detergents
B&H
No explicit legal provision or regulation,
No explicit plan or schedule for control or out-
phasing of P-containing detergents
Present production on zeolite basis
YUG
No explicit legal provision or regulation;
No explicit plan or schedule for control or out-
phasing of P-containing detergents
It is left to the producers to decide what kind of
detergents they produce
BUL
No explicit legal provision or regulation
Plan regarding P-containing detergents currently
under preparation
RO
No explicit legal provision or regulation
Introduction of P-free detergents in discussion,
estimated cost ~ EUR 50 million
MOL
No explicit legal provision or regulation;
No explicit plan or schedule for control or out-
phasing of P-containing detergents
Problem not relevant;
UA
No explicit legal provision or regulation
No explicit plan or schedule for control or out-
phasing of P-containing detergents
The information provided by the national reports indicates
that there is a substantial potential for Phosphorus reduction
The replacement of phosphates in
in the majority of the DRB countries. Therefore, this issue
detergents is cost-effective strategy
should be followed up.
leading to pollution reduction.
14
Summary Report
2.5 Schedule for Approximation of National Legislation to EU Legislation
With the exception of Germany and Austria, all other DRB countries consider the harmonization of national
environment and water-related legislation with the EU legislation as the most essential prerequisite for long-
term sustainable nutrient control and reduction in their countries.
In the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary and Bulgaria this harmonization is incorporated in an ongoing
programme and considered as a short-term task.
Romania, Slovenia (and Ukraine) plan to reach a harmonization of particular national laws with EU
legislation or standards in the short, respectively mid-term (2001 to 2005).
For both categories of countries, the final implementation of the Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive
will require relatively long adjustment periods of at least 10 to 20 years.
For the other countries, Moldova and the war-impacted countries Croatia, B&H and Yugoslavia, the time
frame for the approximation of national legislation to EU legislation is determined by the currently not fully
satisfactory status of water sector legislation and the economic capability and potential of the particular
country. For these countries the approximation process has to be considered as a medium to long-term task.
Table 14.5-1 shows a schedule for the envisaged approximation of the national legislation to the EU
legislation (regarding selected EU Directives which are directly or indirectly related to the issue of pollution
control, in particular to nutrient control / reduction).
Existing and Planned Policies and Legislation on Nutrient Control / Reduction
15
Table 2.5-1: Planned Schedule for Approximation of National Legislation to EU Legislation
Country EC COM 97(49)
EC 91/271/EEC on EC 91/676/EEC on EC 80/68/EEC on EC 98/83/EEC
EC 76/464/EEC
EC 73/404/EEC
EC 78/659/EEC
Draft Water
urban waste water
the protection of
the protection of
on the quality of
on dangerous
on biodegradability on the quality of fresh
Framework
treatment
waters against
ground water
water for human
substances
of detergents
water needing
Directive
pollution caused by
consumption and
protection or
nitrates from
household needs
improvement in order
agricultural sources
to support fish life
GER
Full compliance
Full compliance
Full compliance
Full compliance
Full compliance
Full compliance
Full compliance
A
Full compliance
Full compliance
Full compliance
Full compliance
Full compliance
Full compliance
Full compliance
CZ
01.01.2003 /
01.01.2003/2010
01.01.2003/2006
01.01.2003 /
01.01.2003 /
01.01.2003/2008
01.01.2003 /
01.01.2003 /
SK
2002 / 2009-2015
2003 / 2008
2001 / 2005
2002 / 2008
2002 / 2006
2000
2002 / 2004
HUN
31.12.2002 /
31.12.2002 /
31.12.2002 /
07.06.2000 /
31.12.2002 /
SLO
2000 / 2001
1996 / 2015
2001 /
1997 /
CRO
--
--
--
--
--
--
--
--
B&H
--
--
--
--
--
--
--
--
YUG
--
--
--
--
--
--
--
--
BUL
31.12.2000 / (*)
31.12.2000 / (*)
31.12.2000 / (*)
31.12.2000 / (*)
31.12.2000 / (*)
31.12.2000 / (*)
RO
2005 / 2010
2001 / 2010
2001 / 2010
2006 / >2010
MOL
--
--
--
--
--
--
--
--
UA
2003 /
2003 /
2003 /
2003 /
2005 /
2003 /
2002 /
Note:
First date = proposed year of transposition / second date = anticipated year of full implementation
(*)
Full compliance after the envisaged transition periods of 2 to 6 years
Existing and Planned Policies and Legislation on Nutrient Control / Reduction
17
ANNEX
COUNTRY REPORTS
1. GERMANY
2. AUSTRIA
3. CZECH REPUBLIC
4. SLOVAKIA
5. HUNGARY
6. SLOVENIA
7. CROATIA
8. BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA
9. YUGOSLAVIA
10. BULGARIA
11. ROMANIA
12. MOLDOVA
13. UKRAINE
Existing and Planned Policies and Legislation on Nutrient Control / Reduction
19
1
GERMANY
1.1 Policy Objectives, Priorities and Principles for Nutrient Control /
Reduction
During the previous decades, Germany has established a comprehensive hierarchic system of objectives,
principles and priorities for pollution reduction both on the national level and - due to the distinct federal
structure of the country supplementary ones on the state level. Regarding pollution reduction, the policy
objectives and principles are fully in compliance with international standards.
Nutrients in surface waters result from point sources and diffuse sources (mainly nutrient emissions from the
agricultural sector and nitrogenous substances from the transport and industrial sector).
(1)
Control of point sources
Regarding point sources, the basic principle is that nutrient load of waste water discharged from treatment
plants is to be kept as low as possible according to the "best available techniques". The particular minimum
requirements regarding nutrient elimination have been laid down in the waste water emission ordinances and
their annexes.
Through a strict application of the emission principle, a significant nutrient elimination could be achieved in
the surface waters.
For discharge of waste water, a waste water charge is to be paid, also in the case the legal requirements are
fulfilled. This waste water charge can be set off against investment cost for reduction of nutrient load; thus
this regulation fulfills an essential incentive function.
The legal prescriptions regarding content of phosphorus components in washing powders and detergents
have to be considered as satisfactory and have contributed to a significant reduction of phosphorus levels in
surface waters.
(2)
Control of non-point sources
In Germany, the impact of nutrients on both surface and ground waters has been increasingly coming from
diffuse rather than point sources. The essential diffuse sources are agricultural animal keeping and land use
(utilization of fertilizers) as well as nitrogenous substances from the air (e.g. from traffic, industry and
agriculture).
From these diffuse sources, both soil and surface and ground water are still significantly impacted by
nutrients. Attempts have been made to counteract this development by legal regulations (Water Act,
Fertilizer Act, Fertilizer Ordinance, etc). A reduction is, for example, expected to be achieved by a restriction
of nutrient content in fertilizers as well as by provisions regulating the utilization of fertilizers (e.g.
appropriate buffer zones to surface waters, restrictions on the periods when manure may be spread, etc.).
Germany currently spends about one million EUR per annum for measures and actions aimed at nutrient
reduction from diffuse sources in the DRB area of Germany.
1.2 Status of Legislation Dealing with Nutrient Control and Reduction
Legislation related to pollution, respectively nutrient reduction, is in full compliance with the requirements
of EU legislation and the relevant international conventions signed by Germany.
The national legislation is composed of a comprehensive set of laws, regulations and ordinances on the
national level and a relatively high number of laws and regulations on state level. The Water Resources
Policy Act provides sets framework conditions for water management and water control on the national
level; the federal states have their own water acts.
20
Summary Report
In fulfilling the requirements of the relevant EU Directives and the requirements of the national legislation, a
multitude of projects, measures and activities related to nutrient reduction have been implemented over a
long period of time and have actually led to exceptionally high standards of the relevant infrastructure and
administrative and institutional framework by international comparison.
Pollution originating from non-point sources, mainly from agriculture remains a matter of concern.
1.3 Main Barriers to Policy and Legal Reforms
In Germany, the crucial problem is currently not the status of legislation, but the difficulties with the
appropriate transposition of the legal regulations.
Non-point source emissions result from a variety of emitters that are partly outside the direct influence
sphere of the relevant water sector authorities, which hampers protection measures.
As diffuse emissions can often not be remedied by technical measures, the nutrient emissions have to be
controlled or reduced at the source. The solution to these problems requires strategies which both support
awareness raising of and provide incentives for the main target groups of emitters.
However, another prerequisite is that adequate legal provisions be established and necessary technical means
provided.
1.4 Proposed / Envisaged Changes of Nutrient-Related Legislation
The emission into the air of nitrogenous substances from the transport sector and the agricultural sector calls
for particular measures since conventional water protection measures and regulations are in this case not
efficient. Essential measures to be considered include:
! development and introduction of emission reducing technologies and techniques;
! intensification of public awareness raising and consultation;
! reduction of emissions into the air as an integral component of an overall environment protection
strategy (as laid down in respective international conventions);
! environment-friendly utilization of resources (materials, energy);
! environment-friendly forms of land use;
! systematic survey of emission development,
! exchange of pertinent knowledge and experience;
! environmental impact assessment.
Reduction of phosphorous does not need to be additionally regulated in Germany.
1.5 Approximation of National Legislation to EU Legislation
Being an EU Member State implies the obligatory compliance with nutrient and waste water- relevant EU
Directives.
As EU legislation provisions have been incorporated in the national laws, regulations and ordinances, the
national legislation is basically in line with the requirements of the relevant EU Directives and will - where
required be gradually adjusted with regard to nutrient control and reduction.
Existing and Planned Policies and Legislation on Nutrient Control / Reduction
21
2
AUSTRIA
2.1 Policy Objectives, Priorities and Principles for Nutrient
Control / Reduction
In the course of the past decades the Austrian Government has undertaken ambitious efforts to reduce
pressures arising from households, industry and agriculture in order to protect and maintain the water
resources and their sustainable use. The present water quality monitoring results, which are published on a
regular basis, prove that those efforts have been very efficient and successful.
The main principles of the Austrian Water Protection Policy with regard to nutrient control are enshrined in
the Austrian Water Act in order:
! to safeguard sustainable use of water for all different purposes (households, industry,
agriculture, recreation, fish life, etc);
! to protect resources against pollution that can be harmful to human health and animals;
! to safeguard water as drinking water resource;
! to maintain the natural physical, chemical and biological status of all water bodies.
The key elements for nutrient control and reduction in Austria are:
! Control of point sources via a combined approach;
! Reduction of impacts from diffuse sources.
The progressive combined approach is also enshrined in the future EU Water Framework Directive, which
will come into force in the second half of the year 2000. Within this approach both the quality objectives of
the receiving waters and the stringent limit values set for discharges have to be respected. Those limit values
are set for all major sectors and are based on best available techniques.
The legislation in Austria is harmonised with the requirements of EU legislation for discharges and does not
- in general differentiate between short, medium or long-term measures.
2.2 Status of Legislation Dealing with Nutrient Control / Reduction
(a)
Control of point sources
Under the Austrian Water Act, every impact on water (abstractions as well as discharges) that is above the
level of insignificance has to be licensed by governmental water authorities. The license is granted for a
limited period only. Adaptations due to changing circumstances can be requested by the authorities.
Violations of the licenses are fined and in severe cases lead to loss of the permit. The licenses for waste
water discharges are based on the combined approach.
Based on the Austrian 1990 Water Act, stringent requirements have been set for waste water discharges,
based on best available techniques. 53 sector-specific waste water emission ordinances are currently in force.
They determine the relevant sectors and specific parameters and limit concentrations or set maximum loads
according to the best available techniques. These standards are part of the license issued by the authority. For
waste water producers or for parameters not found in the sector-specific ordinances, the General Ordinance
on Waste Water Emission with basic principles and provisions, last amended in 1996, has to be observed.
(b)
Phosphorous containing detergents
There are a few legal restrictions in Austria specifically addressing the reduction of detergents in washing
powders. The basic act is the Austrian Act on Chemicals BGBl. 53/1997, which requires according to §§ 32
and 33 that the ingredients of washing powder fulfil certain degradability criteria and that harmful substances
be replaced by those less harmful to the environment on the basis of best available technique. Further
requirements dealing with degradability are fixed in the Ordinance on the Degradability of Certain
Detergents BGBl. Nr. 639/1989 as well as in the EU Directives 73/404/EEC, 73/405/EEC and 82/243/EEC.
22
Summary Report
These three EU directives are currently being reworked with a view to stipulating more ambitious levels of
degradability.
Since 1987 phosphorous-containing detergents in washing powders have been reduced to a minimum, in line
with the provisions of the Washing Powder Act BGBl. 300/1984, amendment in Annex 1, 1987.
Input of phosphorous in urban waste water has been reduced by more than 50% resulting in significantly
reduced P-concentrations in surface waters.
(c)
Control of diffuse sources
The main legal instrument to control diffuse sources is based on the EU Nitrates Directive 91/676/EEC
(Council Directive covering the protection of waters against pollution caused by nitrates from agricultural
sources). A new Austrian Action Programme based on §55b of the Austrian Water Act and in line with the
provisions of this directive was launched in September 1999.
The core parts of this Action Programme include:
! restrictions on the period when manure may be spread;
! restrictions in the amount of manure (210 kg nitrogen per hectare at the moment, 170 kg
nitrogen per hectare and year after 2002) allowed to be spread;
! provisions for minimum capacities for storage of manure;
! further restrictions on spreading manure along rivers, on slopes etc.
Application of nitrogen (sum of mineral fertiliser and manure) exceeding 210 kg nitrogen per hectare on
grassland and 175 kg nitrogen per hectare arable land requires a license according to the provisions of the
Austrian Water Act amended in 1990.
In order to avoid an excessive intensification of agriculture "ÖPUL" (Austrian Programme of Environmental
Friendly Agriculture) was initiated. This national programme, co-financed by the EC on the basis of
regulation agri-environment 2078/91, provides financial incentives for e.g.:
! renunciation of certain fertilisers and pesticides;
! stabilisation of crop rotation;
! bio-farming and integrative production;
! extensification of production;
! maintaining cultivation of extensive grassland (e.g. alpine meadows) and other ecological
important areas;
! protection against erosion.
2.3 Main Barriers to Policy and Legal Reforms
In fulfilling the requirements of the relevant EU Directives and the requirements of the national legislation a
multitude of projects, measures and activities related to nutrient reduction have been implemented and have
led to a high standard in the relevant infrastructure and the administrative and institutional framework in
international comparison. Thus, there are currently no relevant barriers to policy and legal reforms.
2.4 Envisaged Changes of Nutrient-Related Legislation
In summary, it can be stated that the objective to reduce nutrient input is laid down in various types and
sectors of both national and EU legislation. At present, there seems to be no further need for new legislation
or special nutrient reduction programme to be designed to address that specific issue.
Existing and Planned Policies and Legislation on Nutrient Control / Reduction
23
2.5 Approximation of National Legislation to EU Legislation
Austria disposes of a broad set of legally binding, stringent regulations for point sources as well as for
diffuse sources and detergents.
Being an EU Member State implies obligatory compliance with the waste water-relevant EU directives such
as the Dangerous Substance Directive (76/464/EEC), the Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive
(91/271/EEC) and the Integrated Prevention and Pollution Control IPPC Directive (96/91/EEC) which lays
down an integrated pollution prevention and control approach for industrial plants.
Provisions of the EU legislation have been incorporated in the national ordinances, so that Austrian legal
norms are completely in line with the requirements of the relevant EU Directives.
24
Summary Report
3
CZECH REPUBLIC
3.1 Policy Objectives, Priorities and Principles for Nutrient Control /
Reduction
The State Environmental Policy of the Czech Republic, approved in 1995 and up-dated 1999, is focused on
the strict implementation of sustainable development principles in all sectors and harmonization of the Czech
legislation with EU legislation.
In approving the updated SEP, government accepts a number of principles set out in accepted documents of
the international community, such as the: (i) precautionary principle, (ii) principle of prevention, (iii)
principle of reducing risks at the source, (iv) polluter pays principle, (v) the principle of shared
responsibilities, (vi) principle of subsidiarity, (vii) principle of integration, (viii) principle of best available
technology, and (ix) principle of substitution.
The acceptance of these internationally approved principles is reflected in the general environmental policy
objectives and measures and objectives concerning the hydrosphere as follows:
! Ensure the meeting of international commitments of the Czech Republic in relation to the
protection of the watersheds of the Elbe, Morava-Danube and Odra and to co-operation with
neighboring countries where waters form the border;
! gradually restore natural water cycles, protect ground waters, increase the retentive ability of the
land and ensure the renewable nature of water resources;
! continue with the watercourse rehabilitation programme, renewal of riverbank vegetation and
natural meanders and the creation of protective riverbank zones along watercourses and
reservoirs;
! for municipal pollution sources, achieve the objective of mechanical and biological treatment of
waste water for all settlements with more than 2,000 population equivalents by the year 2005;
! support the application of sludge from wastewater treatment plants in agriculture, especially
through limitation of discharges of hazardous substances from industry into public sewers;
! extend monitoring of the quality and quantity of ground and surface waters, including
monitoring of the ecological state of waters according to EU requirements, and unify monitoring
of rivers and small watercourses;
! prepare and implement action plans for achieving the environmental quality standards set by
individual EU Directives in the area of water protection.
The new strategy aims at gradually shifting from normative tools to economic and voluntary ones. Highest
priority is given to the protection of surface and ground waters for human consumption, protected areas and
wetlands; second priority is given to stretches of watercourses that are classified as heavily polluted.
3.2 Status of Legislation Dealing with Nutrient Control / Reduction
The most essential laws and regulations dealing with nutrient pollution control and prevention are as follows:
! Act No 138/1973 Coll. (Water Act) and its Amendment No 14/1998 Coll., according to which
all waters used for human consumption are protected by ,,protection areas,, where agricultural
activities are restricted;
! Act No. 130/1974 Coll. of CNC on State Administration and Water Management, amended by
CNC Act No. 49/1982 Coll., Act No. 425/1990 Coll. and Act No. 23/1992 Coll.; (The full text
of Act of CNC No. 458/1992 Coll., Amended by Act of CNC No. 114/1995 Coll.);
! Government Decree No 82/1999 Coll., establishing parameters and limits of acceptable degree
of water pollution (differentiated for municipal, industrial and agricultural waste water
discharge) and also immission limits for two categories of surface waters: (i) surface waters for
the abstraction of drinking water and (ii) other waters;
! Act No 58/1998 Coll. on charges for waste water discharge to water bodies;
Existing and Planned Policies and Legislation on Nutrient Control / Reduction
25
! Intimation of the Ministry of Environment No 137/1999 Coll. to the Water Act establishing
the list of water reservoirs designated for drinking water production and principles for
specification of protected areas of water resources.
3.3 Main Barriers to Policy and Legal Reforms
The new political orientation launched in 1990 has brought significant changes to all domains of public life.
A lot of them have had a favorable impact, especially relating to the environment, and have also influenced
organizational and legislative structure of water management.
The main institutional barriers to policy and legal reform include:
! Organizational arrangement of state administration did not include regional arrangement and did
not satisfy all present needs.
! Due to the privatization and removal of the centralized water management, access to needed
data has partially been restricted; Law No 123/1998 Coll. regulates access to information on
impact on the environment; the prepared law on water supply and sewage will enable access to
information on treated and discharged waste water.
! Under the Act on Municipalities, the responsibility for drinking water supply, sewerage system
and waste water treatment was assigned to municipalities. Their attitude to the solution of water
management problems is weakened by the necessity to solve other problems and low
accessibility of financial sources for the construction of sewer systems.
! The transformation of the legal system of the Czech Republic has not yet been accomplished.
With the new act, a clear declaration of jurisdiction and responsibilities at all levels of water
administration is expected.
! Changes in the structure of the public service and self-government decentralization has not yet
been accomplished. The dossier of new laws specifying the responsibilities and cognizance of
regions, districts and municipalities is under preparation.
! There are conflicts between environmental protection and economic concerns; lack of finances
does not allow sufficient attention to be paid to water-related problems and their solution.
3.4 Envisaged Changes of Nutrient-Related Legislation
Regarding nutrient-related legislation, only one directive of minor relevance - the EU Directive 78/659/EEC
on the quality of fresh waters needing protection or improvement in order to support fish life - is totally
missing in the actual legislation of the Czech Republic.
The most essential laws and regulations currently in the preparation stage include:
! The New Water Act corresponding to EU regulations is still on the "legislative schedule" for the
year 2000;
! A set of four laws concerning new organizational structure of state administration;
! The adjustment of all laws and regulations required for reaching full compatibility with EU
legislation.
26
Summary Report
3.5 Schedule for Approximation of National Legislation to EU Legislation
The approximation process is based on the Position Document, the National Programme of the Preparation
of the Czech Republic for the EU Membership, and on new Implementation Plans prepared for the individual
directives.
The preparation period for the envisaged EU accession has been designated by the Czech Government until
January 1, 2003. By this reference date, the EU-condition requiring incorporation of the Acquis
Communautaire into the Czech legislature should be fulfilled and relating requirements of its practical
application fully implemented.
According to the provided data, the Czech republic requests a transition period for the following issues:
! For the implementation of the Directive 91/676/ECC in connection with implementation of
required measures in agriculture (2006);
! For meeting the requirements established by Directive 91/271/EEC for agglomerations between
2000 -10000 PE (construction or up-grading of WWTPs) and for more stringent level of
treatment required for WWTPs in sensitive areas (2010);
! For the implementation of Directive 76/464/EEC and its daughter directives regarding some
heavy metals and organic compounds from industry (2008);
! For attainment limits for the content of some organic compounds and metals in drinking water
(2006)
Taking into account the significant improvements achieved during the previous few years, it is expected that
the Czech Republic - one of the priority candidates for joining the EU before the year 2005 - can successfully
achieve the required harmonization of national environmental legislation with the EU legislation in time;
especially if this ambitious task is further supported by international co-funding.
Existing and Planned Policies and Legislation on Nutrient Control / Reduction
27
4
SLOVAKIA
4.1 Policy Objectives, Priorities and Principles for Nutrient Control /
Reduction
The most recent document in which objectives, priorities and principles of the national environmental policy
are defined is the National Environmental Action Plan II (December 1999).
The priorities of the national environmental policy of the Slovak Republic related to the water sector are
defined in NEAP II as follows:
! to ensure sufficient amount and quality of drinking water and reduction of pollution of other
waters to acceptable level;
! to ensure biological diversity, protection and rational use of natural resources.
The general principles of the national environmental policy are:
! solving environmental problems within the context of the economic development in the society;
! a preference for preventive measures over corrective ones;
! enforcement of environmental policy on all levels and in all sectors, responsible for taking care
of the environment, including municipalities, etc;
! solving environmental problems in a synergetic way;
! considering healthy environment as a basic requirement for public health;
! implementing the polluter pays principle;
! assessing the impact of interference related to the environment.
Particular objectives for the water sector are formulated in the NEAP II as follows:
! transposition of EU legislation;
! reduction of polluting substances in waste water discharges to acceptable level by construction
of WWTP; use of treatment methods with high efficiency and fulfillment of requirements of EU
Directive 91/271;
! realization of measures to support water retention, especially in areas suffering on water
deficiency, alleviation of negative effects of flood events;
! introduction of measures to decrease drinking water consumption mainly by reducing losses in
waterworks, more reasonable handling by consumers, stricter control of and preventive
measures for potential accidents;
! introduction of measures to reduce pollution of watercourses and creation of suitable conditions
for their revitalization;
! stricter control and reasonable utilization of water sources;
! protection and rational use of water resources;
! reduction of amount of carcinogenic, teratogenic, mutagenic and other harmful substances in
waters below defined acceptable level
! enforcement of a complex monitoring and information system.
28
Summary Report
4.2 Status of Legislation Dealing with Nutrient Control / Reduction
The water sector, respectively nutrient-related legislation is formed by the following acts:
Table 4.2-1: Main Laws and Regulations Dealing with Nutrient Control / Reduction
(Actually in Force)
(1) Law on Water 138/1973
(2) Governmental Decree 242/1993
(3) Regulation 117/1976 on Slovak Water Management Inspection
(4) Governmental Decree 31/1975 on fines for violation of obligation in the water management area
(5) Governmental Decree 35/1979 on charges in water management area
(6) Law 595/1990 on State Administration for Environment
(7) Ministerial Order 23/1977 on the protection of surface and ground water quality
(8) Ministerial Order 5000/1982 on the protection of water against pollution from agriculture
(9) Ministerial Order 5001/1982 on handling and use of manure
(10) Law 136/2000 on fertilizers
Governmental decree 242/1993 has to be used by water management authorities when issuing permits for
discharge of waste water; Annex 1, respectively Annex 2 to this decree provide indicators for:
! Maximum permissible pollution level of discharged municipal and industrial waste water;
! Permissible pollution levels in receiving surface water.
Ambient water quality is dealt with in the Slovak Technical Standard STN 757221 Classification of surface
water quality, used exclusively for evaluation from the ecological point of view (not for determination of
suitability of water for different water uses).
Water sector-related laws currently in progress are:
(1) Law on Water (including transposition of EU directives 75/440/EEC, 76/464/EEC, 80/68/EEC, 91/271/EEC)
(2) Governmental Decree on maximum permissible pollution of waters
Current environmental legislation, especially regarding effective public participation, has not yet recognized
the principles already incorporated in the legislation of western democracies.
4.3 Main Barriers to Policy and Legal Reforms
The main barriers fall into two groups: a) those concerning the process of transposition and implementation
of the European Union legislation and b) those concerning the implementation and enforcement of the new
legislation and regulations.
The first priority is to make a clear definition of the future competencies of the Ministry of the Environment
and the Ministry of Soil Management for the water sector. This is the basic prerequisite for the preparation of
a new Water Law, which will constitute the basic legal document in the water sector to be accompanied by
other laws and regulations.
Existing and Planned Policies and Legislation on Nutrient Control / Reduction
29
(1)
In order to overcome the deficiencies in institutional and administrative capabilities, the following
steps are required:
! Personnel strengthening in the Ministry of the Environment; increase of language capabilities
and expertise of personnel to enable adequate transposition of EU Directives into national
legislation;
! Personnel strengthening in state administration on regional and district level to support an
adequate enforcement of the new legislation;
! Harmonization of monitoring, state statistics and preparation of reporting to the EU
Commission;
! Personnel strengthening in the Slovak Environmental Inspection to support adequate
enforcement of the existing and new legislation in the environmental sector;
! Personnel strengthening and strengthening of technical capabilities in the Slovak Hydro-
meteorological Institute and in the Slovak Environmental Agency.
(2)
A very critical issue, it seems, involves the weak enforcement of legislation by the concerned
authorities on the national, regional and district level, where the number of employees decreased by
32 % in comparison to year 1996. It is envisaged to reach at least again the level of year 1995. The
updated Law on State Administration (planned to be in force by the year 2000) will be very
important in this context.
(3)
A further critical issue involves the huge financial means required to adjust the national legislation to
the EU-Legislation and to secure its implementation. It is estimated that approximately EUR 3,3 -
3,4 billion will be needed in the water sector only, mainly for the implementation of the Urban Waste
Water Treatment Directive 91/271/EEC.
4.4 Envisaged Changes of Nutrient-Related Legislation
One of the basic priorities of the Government of the Slovak Republic is accession to the EU. In this context,
the highest priority regarding nutrient-related legislation is the transposition and implementation of the
relevant EU-legislation. Table 10.4-1 contains a list of the planned activities.
Table 4.4-1: List of planned activities in the process of transposition and implementation of EU
legislation related to nutrient control and reduction
Activity
Deadline
Resp.authority
Draft Law on sewage
2002
MSM SR
Draft Law on water and related documents by which transposition of EU directives
2001
MOE SR
75/440/EEC, 76/464/EEC, 80/68/EEC, 91/271/EEC will be ensured
Draft Governmental Decree setting maximum permissible pollution
2001
MOE SR
Assessment and implementation of requirements of Water Framework Directive from
2001
MOE SR
the point of view of legislative and organizational competencies and duties of water
management authorities/institutions
Preparation of a time schedule of UWWT Directive in relation to investments needed
2001-2002
MOE SR
Identification of investment needed to implement UWWT Directive
2001-2002
MOE SR
Identification of technical and investment projects necessary for implementation of
2002
MOE SR
measures ensuring good water quality status and their monitoring in accordance with
Water Framework Directive
Identification and evaluation of areas sensitive to eutrophication processes in
2002
MOE SR
accordance with UWWT Directive
Preparation and implementation of the Code of good agricultural practice with the
2002
MSM SR
purpose to reduce pollution caused by nitrates
Definition of criteria for identification of water pollution by nitrates from agricultural
2002
MOE SR
sources (in relation to Nitrates Directive)
Identification of vulnerable areas regarding the Nitrates Directive
2002
MoE SR
Development of Action Programmes in vulnerable areas to ensure protection of waters 2004
MSM SR
against pollution from agriculture (in relation to Nitrates Directive)
Implementation of IPPC Directive in water sector (study)
2003
MOE SR
30
Summary Report
Regarding the issue of detergents, a proposal on methods of control of biological degradability of active
substances detergents is planned to be prepared by the end of 2000. The Ministry of Economics is
responsible for the preparation of this proposal.
4.5 Schedule for Approximation of National Legislation to EU Legislation
The National Programme for Transposition of Acquis Communautaire constitutes the basis for the definition
of the envisaged time schedule as outlined in the table below and the financial requirements for the
transposition of the EU legislation.
Table 4.5-1: Schedule for Approximation of National Legislation to EU Legislation
Name of National Law,
Related EU Directive /
Proposed Period of Proposed Date of coming In Force
Regulation
Adjustment
Standard
(1) Law on Water
75/440/EEC,
2002
91/271/EEC will fully be implemented
by 2015
76/464/EEC,
80/68/EEC,
91/271/EEC
(2) Nitrates Directive
91/676/EEC
2003
Full implementation by 2008
(Exact name not known)
(3) IPPC Directive
96/61/EEC
Full implementation by 2008
Existing and Planned Policies and Legislation on Nutrient Control / Reduction
31
5
HUNGARY
5.1 Policy Objectives, Priorities and Principles for Nutrient Control /
Reduction
According to the National Environmental Programme (1997-2002) it is an issue of high priority to decrease
nitrate and phosphorous load of protected water resources sensitive to nutrients; these areas are priority areas
for WWTP with improved (third degree) treatment standards.
According to the EU guidelines wastewater treatment should adequately be solved in settlements with more
than 15,000 inhabitants by the year 2000 and in settlements of more than 2,000 inhabitants by the year 2005.
The Hungarian national programme of waste water treatment is designed to fulfill these tasks by the year
2010 (due to financing problems).
The long-term objective of the waste water treatment programme is to achieve 67% of sewage collection and
treatment all over the country, with a special emphasis on nutrient reduction at vulnerable water resources.
As approximately half of N and P pollution in the country comes from non-point sources, this is clearly
recognized as the main area of concern, requiring substantial improvement.
Due to a lack of public subsidies, nutrient pollution from agriculture has dropped substantially and is
currently responsible for not more than 15% of total nutrient pollution in the country. Recently, the use of
pesticides and artificial fertilizers has became so low that a further reduction seems very difficult; therefore,
the basic objective is to maintain the current levels and to prevent an increase in the future.
In October 1999 the Hungarian Government approved the National Agro-Environmental Protection
Programme that was elaborated in accordance with Council Regulation 2078/92/EEC on implementation and
support of agricultural practices serving protection of environment and safeguarding of landscape values.
The programme contains measures planned for the 2000-2006 period, such as:
! Rationally reduced utilization of fertilizers and pesticides;
! Bio-production;
! Extensification;
! Reduction of density;
! Reinforcement of environmentally friendly methods;
! Conservation of landscape;
! Educational programmes and projects.
There is currently no programme on the national scale specifically related to nutrient removal or reduction.
The MoE is, however, responsible for programmes that are closely linked to nutrient removal and reduction
either for the whole country or for particular regions. The most important programmes are:
! National waste water collection and treatment programme, aimed at he development of adequate
waste water treatment capacities of large cities and settlements according to the requirements of
EU legislation between 1997 and 2010;
! Programme to improve the water quality and ecological status of Lake Balaton, including the
implementation of Phase II of the Kis-Balaton project;
! Programme on Velence Lake;
! A governmental programme is being designed for the implementation of EU nitrate directive.
! Programme on Great Lowland;
! Programme on water supplement of Mid-Danube-Tisza Region;
! Programme on rehabilitation of oxbow lakes.
Hungary has with all its neighbors bilateral, trans-boundary cooperation agreements that also contain nutrient
reduction related issues.
32
Summary Report
5.2 Status of Legislation Dealing with Nutrient Control / Reduction
The most essential acts currently dealing with nutrient pollution reduction and prevention are compiled in the
following table.
Table 5.2-1: Main Laws and Regulations Dealing with Nutrient Control / Reduction
(Actually in Force)
Name of Law, Regulation
Main Subjects
Effective since
(1)Act no. LIII on General Rules of
Concept, principles and responsibilities in relation to the 22 06 1995
Environmental Protection
environment. Functions and activities of the state and
the self-governments. Protection of ground and surface
waters.
(2)Act no LVII on water management
Basic rules, functions and principles of water
23 06 1995
management. Obligations to water and water facilities.
Provision on sewer fine. Obligations for the operating of
public utilities.
(3)83/1997 Decision of Parliament on
Major targets of environmental protection by
26 09 1997
National Environmental Programme
environmental elements. Tasks to reach the targets
planned and proposed programmes.
(4) 2126/1999 Decision of Government
Tasks and programmes of year 1999.
on Action Programme to National
Environmental Programme
(5) 2207/1996 (VII.24.) Government
24 07 1996
Decision on Waste water disposal and
treatment programme for Hungarian
settlements
(6) 3/1984 Decree of President of
Method of calculation of waste water fines. Definition
00 00 1984
National Water Authority on waste
of damaging pollution and the procedure of imposing
water fines
and utilization of waste water fines.
(7) 4/1984 Decree of President of
Prohibits emission of harmful waste water. Regulation
National Water Authority on sewerage
of sampling. Method for calculating and paying the
fines
charge.
(8) MSZ12749 Hungarian Standard on
quality of surface water; quality
characteristics and classification
(9)33/2000 Government decree on
Protection of ground waters in full accordance with EC
07.06.2000
ground water protection
80/68/EEC directive
(10) Decree of Minister of Transport,
Regulation of the tasks, contents and field of activity of
00 00 1998.
Communication and Water Management WM Councils
on Water management council
The following eight items, expected to regulate nutrient emissions, are currently in the process of
preparation, under the co-ordination of the MoE.
Existing and Planned Policies and Legislation on Nutrient Control / Reduction
33
Table 5.2-2: Main Laws and Regulations Dealing with Nutrient Control / Reduction
(Currently in Progress)
Name of Law, Regulation
Main Subjects
Date of Coming
in Force
(1) Decree of government on surface
EU-harmonized regulation; subject outlined in the
2001
water pollution control
name of the law.
(2) Ministerial Decree on waste water
EU-harmonized regulation; subject outlined in the
2001
emission permits
name of the law.
(3)Ministerial Decree on sensitivity of
EU-harmonized regulation; subject outlined in the
2001
surface waters
name of the law.
(4)Ministerial Decree on water quality
EU-harmonized regulation; subject outlined in the
2002
classification on ecological basis
name of the law.
(5) Ministerial Decree on surface water
EU-harmonized regulation; subject outlined in the
2002
quality objectives
name of the law.
(6) Ministerial Decree on good
EU-harmonized regulation; subject outlined in the
2002
agricultural practice
name of the law.
(7) Ministerial Decree on identification of EU-harmonized regulation; subject outlined in the
2002
zones, vulnerable to nitrate pollution, for
name of the law.
the protection of ground water
(8)Governmental Decree on protection of
EU-harmonized regulation; subject outlined in the
2002
waters against N-pollution from
name of the law.
agricultural sources
If these decrees should come in force as scheduled, Hungary would dispose of a relatively complete and
satisfying legal framework for water management and water pollution control.
5.3 Main Barriers to Policy and Legal Reforms
The main barrier to policy and legal reforms in Hungary is the slow lawmaking process, which is mainly
caused by inappropriate structure of the administrative system. The nutrient issue including detergents is
dealt with in the following ministries:
! Ministry of the Environment,
! Ministry of Transport and Water Management,
! Ministry of Health,
! Ministry of Agriculture and Regional Development,
! Ministry of Economics.
5.4 Envisaged Changes of Nutrient-Related Legislation
(1)
Enforcement of the existing and future legislation concerning N and P removal in waste water
treatment in the catchments of sensitive surface and subsurface waters.
(2)
Phosphate-free detergents
In 1996, a PHARE programme was completed on phosphorous subject. The Project no: EU/AR/205/97;
Contract no. 95-0036.00 Title: Removal of Phosphate from detergents in the Danube basin.
34
Summary Report
Experts from 12 DRB countries were involved in this project. According to the findings of this project,
criteria for the selection of environmentally friendly detergent products should focus on:
! reduction of the load and impact of detergents to the necessary extent (e.g. criteria on dosage,
soluble/insoluble inorganic, aerobic/anaerobic biodegradable ingredients);
! preference for those ingredients undergoing quick and ultimate biodegradation and with aquatic
impairments as low as possible, which is considered under the criterion: critical dilution
volume;
! non-use of ingredients which are known to have adverse effects on the aquatic environment;
! restriction on ingredients having high figures on acute toxicity and on combinations with low
biodegradability and/or accumulation potential:
! consumer should be better informed on the environmental impacts of the products."
According to the above listed issues, Hungary has not introduced the simplified approach of "phosphate free
detergents", but a more careful classification of detergents with State Standard: pulverous synthetic
detergents (MSZ 14604-86).
According to this Standard, detergents fall into the following categories:
! pre-wash: loosen the dirt even in cold water, making washing easier
! hand-wash: neutral, or lightly alkaline chemical reaction, suitable for sensitive to heat, alkaline
and easy-to-handle textile materials, gentle hand or machine washing at the temperature of up to
60 C.
! regular: produced in the largest volume, light or medium alkaline products, suitable for washing
at the temperature of 30-40 C as well as over 60 C.
Classification of detergents on the basis of phosphorus content by Standards:
Category
Description
P2O5 - Content (%)
A
Environment friendly
less than 7%
B
Within safe limit
between 7-15%
C
Maximal allowed quantity
maximal 20%
D
Prohibited
over 20%
Zeolite A is most commonly used for replacing the water softening property of phosphates in P- free
detergents The average Zeolite A content is about 20%.
(3)
Introduction of good agricultural practice including reduced use of fertilizers in sensitive areas.
5.5 Schedule for Approximation of National Legislation to EU Legislation
With decision No. 2280/1999. (XI.30.) and amendment No. 2140/2000 (VI.23) the Hungarian government
has established a binding schedule for approximation of the national legislation to the EU-legislation, with
the end of 2002 set as the deadline for completing the approximation.
Regarding nitrate/phosphorous reduction, the national legislation will be completed with new laws fully in
line with the requirements of the respective EU-Directives:
Existing and Planned Policies and Legislation on Nutrient Control / Reduction
35
Table 5.5-2: Schedule for Approximation of National Legislation to EU Legislation
Name of National
Related EU Directive / Standard
Period of
Date of coming In
Law, Regulation
Adjustment
Force
(1) New regulation
EC 91/676/EEC concerning the protection of waters
2000-2002
2003
against pollution caused by nitrates from agricultural
sources
(2) New regulation
EC 73/404/EEC on biodegradability of detergents
2000-2002
2003
(3) New regulation
EC 73/405/EEC on establishing monitoring methods
2000-2002
2003
for anionic surfacants
(4) New regulation
EC 82/242/EEC on establishing monitoring methods
2000-2002
2003
for non-anionic surfacants
(5) New regulation +
Water Framework Directive
2000-2002
2003
amendments
(6) New regulation +
EC 91/271/EEC on urban waste water treatment
2000-2002
2003
amendments
(7) 33/2000.(III.17.)
EC 80/68/EEC on protection of ground water
1998-2000
07.06. 2000
Gov. Decree on
protection of quality
of ground water
Taking into account the significant improvements achieved during the previous few years, it is expected that
Hungary - one of the priority candidates to join the EU before the year 2005 - can successfully achieve the
required harmonization of the national environmental legislation with the EU legislation in time, especially if
this ambitious task is further supported by international co-funding.
36
Summary Report
6
SLOVENIA
6.1 Policy Objectives, Priorities and Principles for Nutrient Control /
Reduction
The most recent document in which objectives, priorities and principles of the state environmental policy are
defined is the National Environmental Action Plan, and a more detailed action plan, i.e. the National ISPA
Strategy of the Republic of Slovenia: Environmental Sector (1999).
From the NEAP, the following main policy principles can be summarized:
! Slovenia has to adapt its environmental protection system to meet the EU requirements;
! The adoption of the EU legal issues regarding the environment is not only an obligation but also
an opportunity to solve the environmental problems faster;
! The alignment with EU environmental policy is an opportunity to introduce changes to the
production and consumption patterns;
! The expected negative effects of Slovenia's approximation to the EU have to be controlled;
! Transitional periods and additional funds have to be ensured for certain sectors or tasks, e.g.
UWWTD, IPPC, etc.
The main objectives as formulated by the National Water Programme are as follows:
! Formulation of principles for sustainable water management;
! Implementation of integrated water management;
! Creation of regional institutions and enterprises to manage water quality and quantity;
! Development of a financial system to support the water management strategy;
! Development of inspection and control systems;
! Development of an information system on water economy.
6.2 Status of Legislation Dealing with Nutrient Control / Reduction
(1)
Relevant laws and regulations currently in force
In the field of pollution reduction, MESP in 1993 drafted the Environmental Protection Act (EPA) which
played a major role in the modernization of the perception of the environment by all stakeholders.
Nowadays, it needs some amendments that will be passed together with the Water Act (Water Law) which is
expected to come into force in summer/autumn this year. Along with these two umbrella laws, a list of
subordinated regulation has been made since. The most important ones are: (i) the Slovenian Urban Waste
Water Treatment Directive with accompanying sub-directives regarding different types of industries and
wastewater, and (ii) the Slovenian Nitrates Directive.
Existing and Planned Policies and Legislation on Nutrient Control / Reduction
37
Table 6.2-1: Main Laws and Regulations Dealing with Nutrient Control / Reduction
(Currently in Force)
Name of Law,
Authority
Main Subjects
Effective since
Main Deficiencies
Regulation
Responsible
(1) Environmental
MESP
umbrella law for the
(OJ RS, 32/93). needs to be reviewed due to
Protection Act, EPA
environment
EU WFD and SI Water Act
(2) National
MESP
concrete measures up to
September
not specific enough
Environmental Action
2003, programme up to 2008
1999
Programme, NEAP
(3) Emission regulations
MESP
limit emissions in terms of
Subsequently
OK, in compliance with
concentration and mass load
from 1996
Annex III of EU UWWTD
for WWTP's and diverse
91/271/EEC
industries
(4) Nitrates Directive
MESP
limit loads of nutrients and
(OJ RS 68/96)
as in EU difficult to follow
dangerous substances into
November
compatible to EU Nitrates
soil
1996
Directive 91/676/EEC
(5) Water taxation
MESP
taxation for pollution,
Start in 1995
money goes to the state
increases tax each year
budget rather than to water
sector
(6) EIA
MESP
Environmental impact
2000
OK
assessment
(2)
Relevant laws and regulations in progress
The most urgent regulation is the Water Act, which was supposed to come into force already two years ago.
It is now finally being debated in the Parliament and is expected tol come into force in summer/autumn 2000.
Similarly, the Slovenian Integrated Pollution Prevention Directive is being prepared; due to the great
economic impact on the industry it will probably need an implementation period until the year 2011.
The Decree On Water Pollution Tax is amended each year raising the unit price for pollution. Its
progressive rise is an incentive for polluters to take care of their pollution either to reduce it by
change of technology or to remove it from waste-water by WWTP.
In agriculture, there is a need to systematically review the agricultural practices in order to reduce
nutrients release/washout into the environment.
Table 6.2-2: Main Laws and Regulations Dealing with Nutrient Control / Reduction
(Currently in Progress)
Name of Law,
Authority
Main Subjects
Date of coming
Main Deficiencies
Regulation
Responsible
In Force
(1) Water Act
MESP
Umbrella law for water,
Summer 2000
not totally compatible with
corresponding to EU WFD
EU WFD
(2) Water Act
MESP
Definition of
Summer 2000
OK
vulnerable zones
(3) Sensitive zones MESP
Definition of eutrophic zones Autumn 2000
weak definition in EU
(4) Urban
MESP
Defines urban agglomerations Autumn 2000
weak definition in EU
agglomerations
for UWWTD
(5) IPPC
MESP
Integrated pollution
2000
prevention
(6) WFD
MESP
Covers issues from EU WFD 2000, or 2001
regional government is not
established yet, no provision
for RBM
38
Summary Report
(3)
Main deficiencies
There are certainly no substantial deficiencies in the newly accepted regulations, although some of them are
not fully compatible with the existing or future EU legislation. However, it is to be expected that given its
restricted financial resources Slovenia will not be able to fulfill all the requirements of the new legislation by
the time of the envisaged accession to the EU.
6.3 Main Barriers to Policy and Legal Reforms
Main barriers are listed in the National Environmental Action Programme (NEAP) of 1999.
(1)
Main barriers to policy reform:
! Lack of adequately trained personnel at governmental level;
! Slow planning and decision making processes;
! Insufficient binding;
! Apparent lack of consistency;
! Excessive administrative apparatus.
(2)
Main barriers to legal reform:
! Lack of adequately trained personnel at governmental level;
! Slow response to necessary changes;
! Legal provisions based on threats rather than rewards.
6.4 Envisaged Changes of Nutrient Related Legislation
(1)
Proposed changes of relevant laws and regulations
The most urgent changes have basically been done. The UWWTD and the Nitrates Directive were
introduced in 1996; the Water Act and amendments to the EPA are now expected to come into force. No
explicit changes to nutrient control or reduction are expected, as the decrees already satisfactorily reflect the
corresponding EU legislation. Only the agricultural sector has still to provide guidelines and regulations for
sustainable agriculture.
(2)
Proposed schedule for out-phasing of P-containing detergents
Slovenia is in the favorable position that the EU market has already forced industry to abandon P-containing
detergents. The detergents Slovenia imports are also P- free.
6.5 Schedule for Approximation of National Legislation to EU Legislation
Due to the enormous costs associated with complying with the UWWTD (approximately 50% of all
environmental costs!), Slovenia is not able to fulfill the requirements in a short time. As part of integrated
water management policy, the Operational Programme for Urban Wastewater Collection and Treatment With
the Water Supply Projects Programme (Ur. l. RS, 94/99) has been adopted. It determines the schedule for the
implementation of measures (programmes and investments) included in the National Environmental Action
Programme. The register of agglomerations - areas where the population and/or economic activities are
sufficiently concentrated for urban wastewater to be collected and conducted to a public wastewater
treatment plant - has been drawn up, and data on industrial waste water have been collected, as laid down in
Annex III to the Directive. The final date for compliance with the EU UWWTD is scheduled for the end of
2015.
Existing and Planned Policies and Legislation on Nutrient Control / Reduction
39
Table 6.5-1: Schedule for Approximation of National Legislation to EU Legislation
Name of National Law,
Related EU Directive / Proposed Period of Date of Coming in Final Status of
Regulation
Standard
Adjustment
Force
Compliance
(1) Urban Wastewater
Urban Wastewater
until 2015
1996 stepwise
until 31.12.2015
Treatment Directive,
Treatment Directive,
UWWTD
UWWTD
(2) Nitrates Directive
Nitrates Directive
until 2001
1996 stepwise
until 2001
(3) Agricultural practices
2078/92 and the
Unknown
Unknown
unknown
Nitrates Directive
(4) IPPC
MESP
Integrated pollution 2000
30.09.2011
prevention
40
Summary Report
7
CROATIA
7.1 Policy Objectives, Priorities and Principles for Nutrient Control /
Reduction
According to the National Water Pollution Control Plan of January 1999, the overall objective for water
pollution control is to protect the environment and life and health of people by providing adequate water for
different purposes of utilization.
The priorities regarding water pollution control and water management are ranked as follows:
! Preservation of water resources which are still clean (i.e. upstream river stretches of quality
class I and groundwater) as future drinking water resources;
! Avoidance of further degradation of the current water quality;
! Restoration or removal of sources of pollution concerning existing or planned drinking water
resources, as well as other resources where water is used for different human and economic
purposes (usually water resources of class II or III);
! Strengthening the monitoring of sources of water pollution or potential accidental emergencies.
The objective of the National Water Pollution Control Plan is that water shall be managed in accordance with
the principle of integrity of the river system and the principle of sustainable development.
The National Water Pollution Control Plan includes the following principles: (i) precautionary principle, (ii)
the use of BAT, (iii) control of the pollution at source, (iv) the polluter pays principle, and (v) commitment
to regional cooperation and shared information among the neighboring countries.
Regarding municipal WWTPs, the priorities are defined as follows:
! WWTPs > 50000 PE: in this category there are 29 WWTPs to be newly constructed or extended
for improved treatment standards (biological treatment, N+P elimination);
! WWTPs > 10000 PE in sensitive areas (to be implemented by the year 2005);
! WWTPs > 15000 PE (to be implemented by the year 2010);
! WWTPs between 2000 and 15000 PE (to be implemented by the year 2025).
7.2 Status of Legislation Dealing with Nutrient Control / Reduction
Due to the fact that Croatia has been an independent state only since 1990, its legal and institutional
structures are still in the process of transformation, which also applies to the fields of water management and
environmental protection. The most essential laws and regulations dealing with nutrient reduction are:
! The Water Act, which provides a framework for new regulations in the fields of water pollution
control and water quality control in compliance with the EU regulations and the relevant
international conventions;
! Water Management Financing Act (No 10795);
! Ordinance on Water Classification (No 77/98);
! Ordinance on Hazardous Substances in Water (No 78/98);
! Regulations on the issuing of water management consents and permits (No 28/96);
! National Water Pollution Control Plan (8/99);
! Regulation on the discharge of hazardous and other substances into water (No 44/99).
Ordinance No 77/98 on water classification defines: (i) water quality related to maximum allowed values of
specific groups of water quality indicators, (ii) methods of sampling and analyzing and methods of defining
and presenting water classification, (iii) ambient quality standards.
Existing and Planned Policies and Legislation on Nutrient Control / Reduction
41
Ordinance 78/98 on water-related hazardous substances defines, beside others, two groups of substances:
! Group A - substances that are forbidden to be discharged into waters;
! Group B substances that can be discharged into waters but only at maximum permissible
levels; regarding nutrient reduction in group B are regulated: (i) biological non suspended
detergents and other surface active substances; (ii) inorganic phosphorus compounds and
elementary phosphorus, and (iii) inorganic nitrogen compounds and elementary nitrogen.
Regulation on maximum allowed concentrations of hazardous substances in waste waters defines effluent
standards as follows:
! For total phosphorus, ortho-phosphates, ammonia, nitrites, nitrates, total nitrogen for
discharging of waste water in categories II, III. IV, V of planned water classes (discharging of
waste water to category I is forbidden);
! For waste water quality from municipal sources (SS, BOD, COD total P, total N) dependent on
size of WWTP (PE), and water categorization (planned class), respectively sensitivity of the
recipient.
The main deficiency underlying all legislation regarding nutrient control and reduction is that legislation is
primarily oriented to point-sources pollution. The issues of diffuse pollution are regulated very generally
(only basic principles).
Particular deficiencies in comparison to EU-legislation and standards exist in relation to EU Nitrates
Directive. Related to Water Framework Directive and Urban Waste Water Directive, the national legislation
complies with more elements than in the case of the Nitrates Directive.
Regarding the out-phasing of P-containing detergents there is no existing or planned regulation. But
according to the regulations of the Water Act, water management permits have to be issued for chemicals
and their derivatives which get into water after use. That is the only existing mechanism that can be directly
used regarding P-containing detergents. The existing mechanisms which can indirectly be used regarding P-
containing detergents are ambient quality standards and effluent standards which are regulated in the
following ordinances and regulations: (i) Ordinance on water classification, (ii) Ordinance on water related
hazardous substances, (iii) Regulation on maximum allowed concentrations of hazardous substances in waste
water.
Mechanisms for the implementation of the egislation (especial financial mechanisms) are not completely
developed. Regulations for calculation of water pollution charges and definition of charging levels are
currently in the status of preparation and are expected to become effective in 2000.
7.3 Main Barriers to Policy and Legal Reforms
The main barriers to policy and legal reforms can be summarized as follows:
! Environmental protection, respectively water protection is not considered as a top priority in
Croatia. As in the past, this issue continues to be neglected and mechanisms for environmental
protection are not developed.
! Due to the bad economical situation and due to the basically improved environmental conditions
(mainly resulting from decreased industrial and agricultural production) it is difficult to
convince the responsible officials about the necessity to spend for environmental protection the
money that is urgently needed for other developmental tasks.
! There is a significant lack of administrative and institutional capabilities; particularly regarding
local community authorities and particularly in the less developed rural areas. In other words, a
task assigned to the authorities of a local community can only be executed with assistance from
the state administration.
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Summary Report
7.4 Envisaged Changes of Nutrient-related Legislation
Since the Republic of Croatia became an independent country, legislation related to water
management/pollution control has been changed. These changes are in the final phase on the state level; the
coming task for the state administration will be to assist the local authorities by establishing necessary
legislation/regulations on the local level and to improve and develop the mechanisms for the implementation
of the legislation.
The main changes that have to be considered in the near future are supposed to result from the
approximations of the national legislation to the EU legislation.
There are currently no explicit plans for nutrient-related changes in the legislation. The existing legislation
requires particular tasks to be fulfilled which will definitely need changes, respectively the development of
new nutrient-related legislation; these tasks are: (i) Revision of the monitoring system, (ii) Water
Management Master Plan for Croatia and County Master Plans, (iii) County Water Pollution Control Plans,
etc.
There is currently no concrete programme or schedule for control, respectively out-phasing of P-containing
detergents.
7.5 Approximation of National Legislation to EU Legislation
Until now the Government of the Republic of Croatia has not yet established a National Programme for EU-
accession. In January 1999, the government officially addressed the responsible ministries and state
directorates asking them to research the possibilities for approximation of the national legislation to the EU
legislation, including water management and control issues. Partial approximation has already been accepted,
but there are no systematic plans for fulfilling this crucial task. The actual status can be outlined as follows:
! Water Framework Directive
The approach of this Directive seems basically accepted for incorporation into national
legislation (river basin approach, river basin districts, river basin management plans, public
information and consultations, programme of measures).
! Nitrate Directive
This Directive is only accepted as "issue" which has to be taken into consideration, but not in
a systematic way.
Regulation on the protection of agricultural land against pollution from hazardous substances
defines (i) substances that have to be considered as hazardous for agricultural land, (ii)
maximum allowed quantities of these substances in the soil, (iii) measures for soil protection
in order to protect agricultural land for the production of healthy food.
! Urban Waste Water Directive
This Directive is basically accepted; what currently still remains to be fully accepted is a
binding time schedule for implementation, strict obligations related to tertiary treatment
(only in sensitive areas), and strict standards regarding waste water control (frequency of
sampling, methods of analyzing, water quality indicators); issues related to sludge treatment
have basically been accepted but not regulated in detail.
The national effluent standards take into account the standards of the Urban Waste Water
Directive.
There are no explicit plans for a full approximation of nutrient-related national legislation to the respective
EU Directives. At the same time, it is obvious that these plans will have to defined within a very short time,
but more detailed information can not be provided at this point.
Existing and Planned Policies and Legislation on Nutrient Control / Reduction
43
8
BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA
8.1 Policy Objectives, Priorities and Principles for Nutrient Control /
Reduction
Since the Dayton Peace Agreement of 1995, the Republic of Bosnia-Herzegovina has consisted of two
entities: the Federation of B&H and the Republic Srpska. Both entities have their own policies and
legislation regarding the management and protection of water resources, but they share some common
principles, i.e.:
! water is a public good;
! water is a limited natural resource which has to be used rationally within the limits of
recoverability, both in quantity and quality;
! water management and protection is a joint task of all institutions, companies and individuals
dealing with water.
Generally, B&H is faced with big economic and social constraints. In such a situation it is very difficult for
policy-makers to develop long-term objectives with priority to environmental protection and management.
Lack of coordination and cooperation between the ministries and authorities responsible for environmental
issues constitutes the main obstacle to efficient and fast legislative preparation and adoption.
Until now, there have been no explicitly formulated policy objectives, priorities or programmes on water
protection in general and on nutrient control / reduction in particular.
8.2 Status of Legislation Dealing with Nutrient Control / Reduction
Since the declaration of the new constitution in 1994, environmental legislation is still in the constitutional
phase.
Responsible ministries in both Entities have prepared draft Environmental Laws; as it was recognized that
the draft laws were not in accordance with the principles of the EU legislation. OHR terminated their
adoption.
Laws on Physical Planing that are currently enforced in both Entities of B&H, address the issues of urban
planning, environment protection and land, water and air protection, while the Water Laws, different for both
Entities, deal with water management issues.
The Federal Water Law seems to be mainly focused on the establishment and financing of Public
Companies for Watershed Areas (PWCAs) for the Sava River and the Adriatic Sea catchment areas. The
Water Law does not contain sufficient provisions on permits, legal procedures, international standards and
conditions for water use. In consequence, it fails to provide an effective basis for water regulation. The main
deficiencies include a strong concentration of the PWCAs and insufficient alignment to EU principles,
particularly those relating to an integrated environmental approach to river basin management.
Besides the Regulation on Harmful Substances not to be Discharged into Waters, there are no explicit legal
provisions or standards within the current legislative directly or indirectly dealing with nutrient control and
reduction.
The existing legislation does not contain any binding provisions on out-phasing P-containing detergents. The
only detergent producing factory in B&H is currently using both zeolite and phosphorus components in its
products. It is left to the producers to use the ingredients they prefer, but they are advised to use
environment-friendly ingredients such as zeolite.
44
Summary Report
Table 8.2-1: Main Laws and Regulations Dealing with Nutrient Control / Reduction
Name of Law, Regulation
Main Subjects
Effective since
(A) Currently in force
(1) Law on Physical Planing
Urban planning, environmental protection
April, 1987
and land, water and air protection
(2) Water Law
Water management
May, 1998
(3) Regulation on Hygienic Accuracy of Drinking
Drinking water standards
May 1987, rev.
Water
1991
(4) Regulation on Harmful Substances not to be
Threshold values for harmful substances not
January, 1966
Discharged into Waters
to be discharged
(5) Regulation on Types, Manner and Scope of
Wastewater quality standards, method for
December 1998
Measurement, Investigation of Used and
analysis and taxation mechanisms
Discharged Polluted Water
(B) Currently in progress
(1) Regulation on Threshold Concentrations of
In progress
Harmful and Dangerous Materials that May be
Found in Process Waters
(2) Regulation on Threshold Concentrations of
In progress
Harmful and Dangerous Materials that may be
Discharged to the Recipient after Treatment
(3) Regulation on Threshold Concentrations of
In progress
Harmful and Dangerous Materials that may be
Discharged onto Agricultural Land
8.3 Main Barriers to Policy and Legal Reforms
During the previous decade of dramatic changes, no progress was made in the development of the national
legal system in general or the legal system for environmental protection in particular. Lack of efficient
coordination and cooperation between the two entities' environmental authorities and poor cooperation
between provincial and local authorities responsible for environmental development and planing are
considered to be the major barrier to policy and legal reforms. The issue of establishing better cooperation
among environmental authorities in B&H has for some time been on the political agenda of B&H and the
European Commission representatives in B&H.
The main problems and deficiencies can be summarized as follows:
(1)
Regulatory and institutional deficiencies/problems
! environmental legislation and policy is not harmonized and integrated at the country level;
! framework environmental laws at entity level do not exist;
! bodies/agencies for integrated coastal and river basin management do not exist;
! weak vertical co-ordination in the Federation of B&H;
! weak inter-entities institutional co-operation;
! shortage of qualified expert staff and education;
! shortage of basic data on human activities and human resources;
! inadequate monitoring of water quality and quantity;
! weak public participation in decision making process.
Existing and Planned Policies and Legislation on Nutrient Control / Reduction
45
(2)
Environmental deficiencies/problems
! uncontrolled discharging of municipal and industrial waste water into surface waters;
! shortage of waste water treatment plants;
! uncontrolled disposal of solid waste - unsanitary damping sites and illegal landfills;
! uncontrolled flood risks;
! ecosystem degradation;
! loss of biological diversity, endangered species and habitats;
! shortage of modern intensive agricultural production;
! inadequate use of available water resources.
(3)
Social/economical problems
! unemployment and low living standard of the population;
! significant decrease in national and especially international tourism;
! destroyed industrial facilities,
! significantly reduced agricultural production and livestock farming.
(4)
Public participation
! public participation in environmental matters is the key to successful implementation of an
appropriate environmental strategy;
! public awareness of environmental problems and interest in solving these problems do not
currently exist;
! active public participation in environmental policies has to be encouraged; non-governmental
environmental organizations have to be supported; environmental information and its
dissemination trough the mass media have to be improved.
8.4 Envisaged Changes of Nutrient-Related Legislation
For the time being, there are no explicit plans for nutrient-related changes in legislation; but the adoption of
the new environmental law is urgently awaited.
Since the envisaged harmonization of the national legislation with EU legislation will automatically lead to
the elaboration and adoption of laws and regulations on nutrient control and reduction, this procedure is
considered as a high priority for the current year.
There are currently no explicit plans for control, respectively out-phasing of P-containing detergents.
8.5 Approximation of National Legislation to EU Legislation
The country as a whole is deeply committed to approaching EU standards, but in order to do so it must first
fulfill at least the minimum preconditions required for an appropriate management and monitoring of the
environment at the national level.
Drawing up and adopting the Framework Environmental Law is a prerequisite for B&H to establish an
efficient environmental management and protection system and to become a member of the EU and other
international organizations. During 1999, the Terms of Reference were prepared and the finalization of this
Law is expected within the current year.
It is clearly recognized that the existing laws are not harmonized with the EU principles and should therefore
be modified. Within the current reforms in the water and environment sector in B&H, the EC will through
the EC Environmental Programme for B&H provide technical and financial assistance for the elaboration of
Laws on Water Protection, Laws on Solid Waste, Laws on Nature Protection, Laws on Air Protection, and
Laws providing a comprehensive framework for environment licensing for both Entities. The drawing up of
sector laws will be based on the Framework Environmental Law guidelines and is planned to start within the
current year.
A concrete time schedule for approximation of national legislation to EU legislation in terms of pollution
control / reduction has not yet been established.
46
Summary Report
9
YUGOSLAVIA
9.1 Policy Objectives, Priorities and Principles for Nutrient Control /
Reduction
The general policy objectives, priorities, and principles for nutrient control and reduction are laid down in
the Resolution on the Environment Protection Policy adopted by the Federal Government, and can be
summarized as follows:
! Creation of a basis for the development of a humane society in the Federal Republic of
Yugoslavia which will continue to develop on a permanent basis in conformity with nature,
bearing in mind the right of the future generations to satisfy their needs on the same or a higher
level;
! Creation of conditions for the preservation and rational use of natural resources and prevention
of their degradation; prevention of uncontrolled pollution and further degradation of the
environment, and elimination of the consequences of earlier pollution and degradation of the
environment;
! Management of the environment in a manner conducive to the protection and improvement of
human health;
! Development of an integral system of protection and improvement of the environment and
quality of life, improvement of the existing system of protection of the environment and
provision of an institutional frame for effective operation of that system;
! Gradual enforcement of the polluter pays principle on the basis of regulations applicable to the
country as a whole;
! Creation of conditions for the development of pollution control methods suited to the
peculiarities of the country and its attained level of development;
! Preservation of a "satisfactory" ecological balance in the country and participation in the
protection of the biosphere;
! Prevention of the import and transfer of hazardous matters and so-called "dirty" technologies.
Most of these objectives and principles indirectly relate to nutrient control and reduction.
Concerning water pollution control, the above mentioned objectives are to be reached by the following
means:
! further development of integral River Basin Management;
! further development of "polluter pays" principle and strict implementation in the practice;
! further development of market mechanisms in Water Sector;
! implementation of strict regulations;
! construction of new WWTPs;
! renovation of industrial capacities and replacement of old facilities and technologies by
environment-friendly ones;
! strengthening of monitoring system and inspection;
! strengthening of research, education and training.
All these measures will not only improve the water quality of recipients in general but also reduce nutrient
emission. With the construction of the planned municipal WWTPs based on biological treatment and proper
operation, an average removal of Nitrogen and Phosphorous of 15%, respectively 25% can be anticipated.
International cooperation in the field of environmental protection was very intensive and rather successful
before sanctions were imposed on the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. FR YU has ratified 51 international
treaties relating to the issues of the environment thus showing its readiness to cooperate.
Existing and Planned Policies and Legislation on Nutrient Control / Reduction
47
9.2 Status of Legislation Dealing with Nutrient Control / Reduction
The legal framework for environmental protection and the protection of water resources and aquatic eco-
systems is created by federal and republican regulations. The Federal and Republican constitutions stipulate
the responsibilities of the Federal level and the Republican level for environmental protection issues.
The general characteristic of the legal system of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, which also exerts
influence on environmental protection, is a maladjustment of its elements, i.e. a discrepancy between the
republican constitutions and the federal constitution. The system does provide mechanisms for the removal
of these discrepancies, but they have not been sufficiently used so far. Therefore, it is reasonable to expect
that these discrepancies in the system will be regulated in the near future. This calls for coordinated activities
between the republics, which fully-developed systems of environmental protection, and the federation, which
is authorized to lay down the fundaments of the system of environmental protection. In addition, the federal
state, as a legal entity in international law, has the right to sign and ratify international treaties and
agreements.
It should be pointed out that numerous regulations relating to water management (especially by-laws) were
adopted a long time ago, that they were frequently amended and that it is necessary to revise them.
There are at present no laws or regulations explicitly related to nutrient control and reduction, but there are
some appropriate mechanism in use (issuing of Water Consent, approval of Environmental Impact
Assessment Studies).
Regarding nitrogen and phosphorus emissions, there is a system of use-related criteria, regulations and
standards for recipients. Effluent standards have not yet been established.
Maximum permissible levels for nitrogen (ammonia, nitrates, nitrites) concentration in the recipients are
related to different water classes as in other countries and are relatively strict.
Maximum permissible levels for Phosphorous are not regulated in the federal legislation but are indirectly
defined by oxygen saturation indicators for the different water classes.
Although the maximum permissible levels for Phosphorous in recipients are not prescribed by regulations,
the State Service has been monitoring the concentration of Phosphorous in the rivers for a long period so that
it was possible to compute the P-mass balance and changes of P-mass flow in the rivers within the Danube
Basin in FR Yugoslavia.
9.3 Main Barriers to Policy and Legal Reforms
The main barriers to sector policy reform are:
! unstable economic and political situation;
! lack of funds.
The main barriers to legal reform are in addition:
! Lack of sectoral and regional consensus on the environmental issue;
! Lack of finance to support the urgently required revision of the existing legal framework.
9.4 Proposed Changes of Nutrient-Related Legislation
(1)
Proposed changes of relevant laws and regulations
There is currently no new legal document dealing with the issue of water pollution control in general or with
nutrient control/reduction in particular.
There is a substantial need to revise the legal framework related to environmental protection in general and
to water protection, respectively nutrient control and reduction, in particular, in order to achieve an utmost
approximation to the requirements of the EU-Legislation.
48
Summary Report
A thorough proposal for the required changes of relevant regulations could only be done on the basis of a
serious study of this issue.
(2)
Out-phasing of P-containing detergents
The consumption of detergents in FR of Yugoslavia is about 52 000 t/y. There is no production of P-free
detergents in FR YU. In the past, the main producers have tried to establish a production of detergents based
on zeolites (instead of polyphosphates) but no serious improvement was made.
For the time being, there is neither a plan nor a schedule for the out-phasing of P-containing detergents. It is
left to the producers to decide what kind of detergents they will produce depending on their capabilities and
availability of raw materials under the current circumstances. Therefore, there is also no analyses or estimate
of the cost of introduction of P-free detergents.
9.5 Schedule for Approximation of National Legislation to EU Legislation
Although FR Yugoslavia is not seen as a candidate to access EU in the next decade, there is a general
statement of the Federal Government that each new legal document has to be approximated as much as
possible to the EU regulations.
Under the current political circumstances there is no real motivation for serious and urgent work for
harmonization of the national legislation with EU legislation, which means that this will probably be done
case by case under pressure from the need for new regulations.
For the time being, there is no schedule for approximation of the national legislation to the EU-legislation.
Existing and Planned Policies and Legislation on Nutrient Control / Reduction
49
10 BULGARIA
10.1 Policy Objectives, Priorities and Principles for Nutrient Control /
Reduction
The MOEW carries out the government policy for integrated water management and sustainable water use
aimed at meeting the demand and preserving the water resources for future users.
The environmental policy currently implemented by the Ministry of Environment and Waters, includes
reduction and prevention of nutrient pollution. It is designated to:
! EC Accession Partnership and Implementation of the National Programme for the Adoption of
the Acquis (NPAA);
! Government Programme 2001;
! Environmental Strategy for ISPA;
! National environmental sector strategies and programmes;
! National sector strategies and programmes; and
! fulfilling obligations under the Conventions for the Protection of the Danube River and the
Black Sea.
There are several policy documents, but no one especially for nutrient reduction.
The recently developed national programme for Priority Construction of Urban WWTPs in Bulgaria was
adopted by the Council of Ministers in 1999.
The objective of this programme is to establish priorities by river basin for the construction of urban WWTPs
for all settlement areas in the country with over 10,000 equivalent inhabitants, as well as national short-term
priorities until 2002. It includes completion, construction, reconstruction, extension and modernization of the
existing urban WWTP, as well as the design and construction of new urban WWTPs. All proposed projects
are within the scope and correspond to the requirements of EC Directive 91/271/EEC.
10.2 Status of Legislation Dealing with Nutrient Control / Reduction
The harmonization of the national legislation regarding water and solid waste management, ecology, health
and the procedures for environmental impact assessment with international regulations and standards was
started in 1990 and is an ongoing process. Up to now, the complex system of environment and water-related
legislation has obviously not been made fully compatible and suitable for adequate control and management
of the serious environmental problems faced by the country.
As the existing legislation in the water sector does not sufficiently correspond to the requirements of the EU
legislation, a specific programme for a harmonization of the national legislation with the EU legislation has
been launched.
In July 1999, a new water act was adopted by the parliament and put in force on 28 January, 2000. This
water act introduces the guiding requirements of the EU Water Framework Directive and provides the
framework for introducing sub-ordinate directives. It provides the basis for an integrated water resources
management and sustainable use, including the protection of water from pollution. The Law regulates
property rights over waters, water-economic systems, equipment and works. The water management is
realized: (i) on the national level by the Council of Ministers and the MOEW, (ii) on the basin level by the
River Basin Directorate.
It is expected that - with the introduction of particular laws and regulations a complete approximation to
the relevant EU directives will be achieved in the short term.
50
Summary Report
Table 10.2-1: Main Laws and Regulations Dealing with Nutrient Control / Reduction
Name of Law,
Main Subjects
Effective since
Regulation
(A) Currently in force
(1) Environmental
Environmental management
1991
Protection Law
(2) Regulation No 4
This Regulation sets certain conditions, procedures and requirements for
7 July, 1998
Environmental Impact Assessments as provided for in the Environment
Protection Act
(3) Water Law
This Law provides the activities for integrated water resources
28 January, 2000
management and their sustainable use, including the protection of water
from pollution. The Law regulates property rights over waters, water-
economic systems, equipment and works. The water management is
realized: (i) on the national level by the Council of Ministers and MOEW,
(ii) on the basin level by the River Basin Directorate.
(B) In progress
(1) Draft Law for
It will regulate the establishment and competence of these associations.
Not yet adopted
Water Users
The law will set the rules for the exploitation of water and the use of
Associations
drainage systems by the Water Users Association.
The currently adopted standards with respect to nutrient control / reduction are laid down in the following
regulations:
! Regulation No 7 for the ambient water quality permissible limits;
! Regulation No 8 for the Black Sea water quality permissible limits;
! BDS 2585 - Bulgarian State Standard for drinking water quality.
A particular problem in this context is that the currently adopted ambient water quality permissible limits,
which are even stronger than the EU standards, are not achievable.
10.3 Main Barriers to Policy and Legal Reforms
The main barriers to policy and legal reforms can be summarized as follows:
! Continuos transition period from planned to market-oriented economy;
! Low economic capabilities and high investment needs for further economic development;
! Lack of adequate funds;
! Social problems, especially in rural areas;
! Lack of a particular National Nutrient Pollution Reduction Strategy;
! Lack of administrative and institutional capabilities for the enforcement of EU principles and
implementation of the integrated water management approach;
! Weak enforcement due to insufficient resources (staff numbers, motivation, training,
equipment);
! Lack of a concept for tertiary treatment of municipal wastewater as ,,sensitive areas" in the
sense of the Urban Wastewater Directive have not yet been defined; according to the experts of
the MOEW at least the Black Sea WWTPs require tertiary treatment (nutrient removal);
! Good agricultural practices are not pursued due to lack of knowledge, continuos agrarian reform
and lack of investment means;
! Lack of control of the use of livestock waste (manure/slurry);
! Lack of public awareness, and support for necessary nutrient control initiatives.
Existing and Planned Policies and Legislation on Nutrient Control / Reduction
51
10.4 Envisaged Changes of Nutrient-Related Legislation
Beside the ongoing process of harmonization of the national legislation with the EU legislation, there are
currently no concrete plans for changes in nutrient-related legislation.
There is currently no explicit programme or schedule for the control, respectively out-phasing of P-
containing detergents; plans are currently in the stage of preparation.
10.5 Approximation of National Legislation to EU Legislation
The proposed schedule for the approximation of the national legislation to the EU legislation in terms of
pollution control is in accordance with the state institutions schedule in all sectors. According to the
proposed schedule, national nutrient-related legislation is expected to comply by the end of the year 2000
with the following EU Directives: (i) Draft Water Framework Directive, (ii) Nitrates Directive, (iii) Urban
Waste Water Treatment Directive, (iv) other directives which are not so relevant with respect to N and P
control / reduction. The national laws and regulations are envisaged to be in full compliance with the
requirements of the EU Directives after an envisaged transition period of two to six years.
Table 10.5-1: Schedule for Approximation of National Legislation to EU Legislation
Name of National Law, Regulation
Related EU Directive / Standard
Period and
status of
adjustment
(1) Regulation on survey, use and protection of
Directive EC 80/68/EEC concerning the
31.12.2000
ground water
protection of ground water and
full
Directive EC 76/464/EEC concerning
dangerous substances
(2) Regulation on the quality of water intended
Directive EC 98/83/EEC on the quality of
31.12.2000
for human consumption and household purposes
water for human consumption and household
full
needs
(3) Regulation on the quality requirements for
Directive EC 75/440/EEC
31.12.2000
the surface water intended for human
full
consumption and household purposes
(4) Regulation on protection of water from
Directive EC 91/676/EEC on protection of
31.12.2000
pollution with nitrates from agricultural origin
water from pollution with nitrates from
full
agricultural origin
(5) Regulation on the quality of fish and
31.12.2000
shellfish waters
full
(6) Regulation on the categorization of the
Draft Framework Directive EC COM 97(49),
31.12.2000
waters
Directive EC 76/464/EEC,
full
Directive EC 91/271/EEC concerning urban
waste water
(7) Regulation on the quality of the coastal
Directive EC 79/923/EEC,
31.12.2000
waters
Directive EC 91/271/EEC
full
(8) Regulation on the emission norms for
Draft Framework Directive EC COM 97(49),
31.12.2000
admissible content of harmful and dangerous
Directive EC 76/464/EEC and daughter
full
substances in waste waters discharged into water
directives;
objects
Directive EC 91/271/EEC
(9) Regulation on issuing permissions for waste
31.12.2000
water discharges in water objects and
full
determination of individual emission limitations
in the point sources of pollution
52
Summary Report
11 ROMANIA
11.1 Policy Objectives, Priorities and Principles for Nutrient Control /
Reduction
In Romania, the Ministry of Waters, Forests and Environmental Protection (1990) plays the leading role in
water management. A National Company called Romanian Waters, established in 1999, is responsible for the
national strategy of water management implementation. The drinking water supply, waste water treatment,
waste disposal and sewerage network are the responsibility of municipalities.
The most relevant objectives for water pollution reduction can be summarized as follows:
! Reducing nitrates, organic substances and pesticides;
! Decreasing the amounts of heavy metals and highly degradable organic compounds in
sediments;
! Reducing BOD5, N and P emissions from WWTPs;
! Controlling diffuse pollution.
The strategic directions, which are to be followed up by structural and nonstructural projects and measures
proposed for pollution reduction, include:
! Gradual development of municipal waste water treatment capacities;
! Gradual development of waste water treatment in the agricultural sector;
! Gradual development of waste water treatment in the industrial sector;
! Integrated management of water resources;
! Abatement of risks related to accidental pollution and natural calamities;
! Ecological reconstruction.
In the transboundary context, Romania ratified a series of international conventions and declarations, such
as: Bucharest Declaration (1985), Protection of the Transboundary Waters Convention (1995), Black Sea
Convention (1992), Danube River Protection Convention (1995) and others.
11.2 Status of Legislation Dealing with Nutrient Control / Reduction
Environmental and water-related legislation is currently undergoing a process of transformation. The
reorganization of the legislation framework reflects the need to manage all the natural resources as part of an
integrated system and strategy, which involves cooperation between all relevant authorities and institutions
on the different administrative levels.
The Frame Water Law (107/1966), which provides a framework of technical regulations for water pollution
reduction and water management, and the Law on Environmental Protection (137/1995), which comprises
special provisions for water protection, are in the process of being upgraded and revised. The same applies to
a series of norms and standards.
Existing and Planned Policies and Legislation on Nutrient Control / Reduction
53
Table 11.2-1: Main Laws and Regulations Dealing with Nutrient Control / Reduction
(Currently in Force)
Name/ No.
Responsible
Main subject
Effective since
Type
authority
Government decision
GD 1001/1990
MWFEP
Unitary system for water management services tarifs
1990
GD 101/ 1997
MWFEP/MH
Norms for sanitary protection areas
1997
GD 730/ 1997
MWFEP
Norms for waste water discharges in receivers NTPA 001
1997
GD 172/ 1997
MWFEP/MH
(concentration)
1997
MWSP
National Register of Potentially Toxic Chemicals
MWFEP orders
NTPA 002
Conditions for discharging waste water into sewerage
1998
699
Procedure and competences for issuing water management
1999
permit/ authorisation
251
Procedure, competences in the case of special monitoring
1997
regime in the case of non-compliance with water permit
Guidelines and norms for producing technical
documentations for the obtaining of water permit
277
1997
Notification procedure
Acces mechanism for water management information
280
1997
281
Water users and public participation in the consulting
1997
activity
282
Water Register Establishment
1997
166
1999
Table 11.2-2: Main Laws and Regulations Dealing with Nutrient Control / Reduction
(Currently in Progress)
Type
Authority
Main subjects
Date of coming in
responsible
force
Law
MWFEP
Law on the Modification of Environmental Protection Law
2001
(137/95)
Law
MWFEP
Law on the Modification of Water Law (107/96)
2001
MWFEP
Law on the Establishment and Operation of National
2001
Council for Environment and Sustain. Development
Law
Law on the approval of National Plan for land planning
Law
MWFEP
2001
sec.III protected areas
Law on Integrated Management of Coastal Areas
Law
MWFEP
2001
GD
MWFEP
Hydrographic Basin Committee Establishment
2001
GD
MWFEP
Upgrading of NTPA 001/97
2001
GD
MWFEP
Approval of frame schemes for management and planning
2001
of hydrographic basins
GD
MWFEP+
Approval of the Action Plan dor water protection against
2001
nitrate pollution from agricultural sources
MAF
54
Summary Report
The most relevant deficiencies concerning the water legislation, particularly related to nutrient control, are
the following:
! The N,P emissions limits are related to concentration only; there are not any provisions for
discharged load except the water permit;
! there are not (yet) any national water quality objectives/ targets;
! in the case of the actual STAS 4706/88 surface waters quality technical conditions:
the limits cover only the water column compartment without considering sediment
associated pollution;
for some specific pollutants (heavy metals, organic micro-pollutants) the limits are higher in
comparison with EU legislation;
! there are (STAS 4706/88) not any provisions concerning nutrient concentration in the Black
Sea;
! in the case of total nitrogen and total phosphorous, the current STAS 4706/88 refers to total
inorganic N, P concentrations without considering the organic forms;
! there are no laws, regulations or proposals regarding phosphorous-free detergents.
11.3 Main Barriers to Policy and Legal Reforms
As regards nutrient-related issues, there are:
! general barriers (lack of adequate legislation, management mechanisms, infrastructure, etc.);
! specific constrains generated by natural resources (surface waters, ground waters, Black Sea,
etc.);
! socio-economic system conflict areas (especially related to the agriculture target group).
In this respect, two interrelated issues in particular should be analyzed and followed up:
! promotion of the new legislation; and
! stipulation of specific implementation processes.
11.4 Envisaged Changes of Nutrient-Related Legislation
The proposed new legislation should provide:
! a regulatory framework for dealing efficiently with a variety of environmental problems,
particularly nutrient-related ones; and
! a balance between conflicting interests in using the water, as well as between environmental
issues and other issues (e.g. economic, employment and social issues).
The required actions are:
! Stepped improvement of standards:
integrated approach to immission / emission (point/ diffuse) standards, particularly for
nutrient reduction;
ambient quality standards;
effluent standards;
! Introducing an efficient framework for water management;
! Establishing adequate institutional and regulatory framework;
! Introducing Phosphorus-free detergents:
improvement of detergent legislation/standards; besides biodegradability, the P content
should be decreased and limited in accordance with the EU coming legislation;
P-free detergent plan implementation, starting with the technological issues (MIT);
marketing study;
it is anticipated that the cost of introducing P-free detergent could reach EUR 50 million
(provision with new technology).
Existing and Planned Policies and Legislation on Nutrient Control / Reduction
55
Explicit proposals for changes of respective legislation are:
! The effluent standards (NTPA 001) will be revised in 2001. There are not any river quality
standards (immissions) at the level of the EU, including the ICPDR. In this respect, it is
envisaged by order of MWFEP to promote in October 2000 "Water Quality Targets" based on
the five classes agreed by the ICPDR which is (more or less) in the light of EWFD.
! EWFD is already in force; the promotion in Romania is expected in 2001 (implementation
might take 30-35 years).
! Urban Waste Water Directive, Nitrates Directive and other water-related directives are in the
transposition process (2000-2001).
11.5 Schedule for Approximation of National Legislation to EU Legislation
In accordance with the National Environmental Action Plan, the following schedule is designed for the
approximation process:
! Short term:
transposition of the Urban Waste Water Directive (91/271/EEC);
transposition of the Nitrate Directive (91/676/EEC).
! Medium and long term:
Water Framework Directive (COM 97/49 97/614, 98/76).
Table 11.5-1: Actions for the approximation of national legislation to EU nutrient
legislation
Year
EU Directive
Actions
2000
Urban Waste
1. Identification of communities which need WWTP
Water Directive 2. Project for the Water Law (107/96) revision
91/271/EEC
3. Revision of the GD 730/97 concerning effluent discharging by introducing new
definitions such as equivalent population
4. Water classification: (i) vulnerable, (ii) normal, (iii) less vulnerable
5. Generation of Priority Action Programme for implementation
6. Development of strategies for municipal WWTP sludge use
2000
Nitrates
1. Evaluation of the existing information concerning the identification of vulnerable zones
Directive
2. Identification of specific waters and notification of vulnerable zones
2001
91/675/EEC
3. Action Programme development for the vulnerable zones
2000
Framework
1. Norms for surface and ground water classification; basic conditions for the establishment
Directive
of protected zones
(98/76/EEC)
2. Analysis and implementation of a penalties system in accordance with WFD
3. Ecological status monitoring and chemical status monitoring surface waters and chemical
monitoring for ground waters
2001
4. Water management planning (hydrographic basins)
5. Updating of the EIA of human activities at the HB level
6. Approval of the HB Water Management Plans
2002
7. Plans implementation, recovery of cost for urban waste water treatment.
2004
2010
56
Summary Report
Table 11.5-2: Schedule for Approximation of National Legislation to EU Legislation
Name of National Law,
Related EU
Proposed period of
Proposed date of
Final status of
Regulations
Directive
adjustment
coming in force
compliance
1. Urban Waste GD
91/271/EEC
2000 - 2001
2001
2010
2. Nitrate GD
91/676/EEC
2000 2001
2001
2010
3. Water Framework GD
98/76/EEC
2000 2004
2005
2010
4. Fish waters standard
78/659/EEC
2000 2005
2006
>2010
5. Shellfish waters
79/923/EEC
2000 2005
2006
>2010
standard
6. Bathing water standard
76/160/EEC
2000 - 2005
2006
>2010
Existing and Planned Policies and Legislation on Nutrient Control / Reduction
57
12 MOLDOVA
12.1 Policy Objectives, Priorities and Principles for Nutrient Control /
Reduction
The most important documents in which the policy objectives on environmental protection are formulated
include:
! National Strategic Action Plan for Environmental Protection
! National Environmental Action Plan for the Environment
! The Comprehensive Long-Term Programme for Environmental Protection
The new priorities of environmental protection policy under the new economic situation are:
! The former environmental protection policy, focusing on end-of-pipe technologies for pollution
abatement, is becoming unacceptable from the environmental and economic point of view;
! The new economic order calls for the development of market-oriented environmental policy and
instruments that support the adoption of low-waste technologies and rational exploitation and
use of natural resources.
The national objectives regarding reduction of water pollution are:
! to maintain human health and to eliminate health risk in water resources;
! to provide sources of nutrition and to maintain and restore biodiversity.
This would require the performance of the following tasks:
! Comprehensive evaluation of water resources conditions and elaboration of a concept of
protection and rational use of water resources and water balanced systems based on sustainable
development approach;
! Elaboration of a scheme for river basins use;
! Development of ecological criteria for assessment of permissible loads into surface waters;
! Development of integrated parameters and criteria for maintaining ecological balance in water
bodies;
! Preparation of a profound basis for rehabilitation and maintenance of proper ecological
conditions in water bodies for different uses.
There are currenntly no explicitly formulated policy objectives regarding nutrient emissions or loads; these
issues are considered as integral parts of environmental management, waste water treatment programmes,
etc.
The Foreign Policy Concept of the Republic of Moldova, approved by Parliament in February 1995,
confirms the principles of international law that are of special importance both for Moldova's foreign
relations and for its environmental protection.
12.2 Status of Legislation Dealing with Nutrient Control / Reduction
According to the constitution of the Republic of Moldova, the President of the Republic is responsible to the
world community for the state of the environment and represents, at the international level, the interests of
Moldova related to environmental protection.
Although there is a complex system of environmental legislation (with a high number of decrees, laws and
regulations elaborated and amended since 1990), there remains the problem of enforcement due to the
problematic economic situation and a lack of professional capability.
The existing legislation, while providing a number of starting points for the implementation of sustainability,
pollution and waste reduction, and cleaner technology, is considered to be insufficient for the future.
58
Summary Report
Currently, there are no laws and regulations in force or in progress, directly dealing with nutrient control and
reduction; the existing legal provisions on emission standards, effluent standards and ambient water quality
are usually incorporated in overall pollution control and reduction regulations.
12.3 Main Barriers to Policy and Legal Reforms
In spite of the fact that there are clearly-determined policy objectives, legal and policy reforms are hampered
due to:
! a continuous crisis of the national economy (particularly regarding industry and agricultural
production);
! a lack of domestic financial resources;
! improper administrative and institutional cooperation and coordination; and
! lack of professional capability.
12.4 Envisaged Changes of Nutrient-Related Legislation
According to the provisions of the 1995 National Environmental Action Plan, changes of legislation should
aim at the introduction of feasible environmental management strategies, and particularly contribute to:
! the revision of the water quality standards (within three years);
! the development and adoption of long-term environmental programme (within one year);
! the provision of a framework to restore and sustain legal reference service (within one year);
! the development of a policy toward harmonization Environmental Standards with those of the
EU (within two years);
! the passage of water pollution quality law with new standards (within two years);
! the preparation of a new draft law on self-monitoring by major pollutants (within two years).
For the time being, however, these issues are not being elaborated.
There is currently no legal provision regarding control or out-phasing of P-containing detergents since this
problem is not a topical issue in Moldova.
12.5 Schedule for Approximation of National Legislation to EU Legislation
In June 1998, Moldova ratified the Agreement on Partnership and Cooperation between the EU and
Moldova, according to which Moldova is committed to making its legislation gradually compatible with that
of the EU in a number of sectors including the environment.
The Agreement calls for a strengthening of environmental cooperation between Moldova and the EU, and
states that cooperation programmes shall continue to contribute to strengthening environmental institutions
and public awareness. It also states that cooperation shall aim to combat the deterioration of the environment
including in particular local, regional and transboundary water pollution and water quality.
Currently, Moldovan legislation does not contain provisions equal or similar to those required by the two
nutrient related EU Directives on "Urban Waste Water Treatment" and "Dangerous Substances in the
Aquatic Environment".
There is a general understanding of the necessity to approximate national pollution-related legislation
(including nutrient issues) to the respective EU Directives; but at present the statements have mostly
declarative character, partly due to lack of appropriate knowledge of the directives themselves and the
complexity of appropriate application.
Existing and Planned Policies and Legislation on Nutrient Control / Reduction
59
Approximation to EU-legislation would also require new conceptual approaches, which currently do not
have any equivalent in the Moldovan legal framework, e.g.:
! Integrated river basin management approach;
! Combined approach for setting standards, which involves setting both discharge limits and
quality standards in an integrated way;
! Licensing on the basis of:
best technical means available;
best available techniques;
all technical precautions.
Taking into account the current discrepancies between the national legislation and the EU-requirements and
the critical economic situation in the country, it cannot be expected that the harmonization of national and
EU-legislation can be achieved in the short or medium term.
60
Summary Report
13 UKRAINE
13.1 Policy Objectives, Priorities and Principles for Nutrient Control /
Reduction
In Ukraine, policy objectives and principles for nutrient reduction are included as sub-components in the
overall environmental protection strategy formulated in the Main Directions of State Policy on the
Environmental Protection, Utilization of Natural Resource and Environmental Safety (1998). This document
clearly defines the key priorities of Environmental Policy and Practical Actions including international
obligations of Ukraine to nutrient pollution reduction as follows:
! Improvement of the environment status in the Dniper Basin and potable water quality;
! Prevention of pollution and improvement of the environmental status of Black Sea;
! Improvement of the environmental status in the Donetsko-Prydniprovsky Industrial Regions;
! Construction and reconstruction of municipal waste water systems.
These defined priorities are directly related to sustainable water management and clearly stipulate the
necessity of consolidation of national (inter-sectoral) and international efforts for practical actions in
pollution reduction.
The main objectives with relevance to nutrient reduction are:
! Reduction of nutrients load (N, P, BOD), oil products, pesticides, heavy metals ions,
radionucleides and other harmful substances in the water bodies;
! Pollution reduction from WWTPs, including pollution from municipal waste water;
! Pollution reduction from diffuse sources, particularly from agriculture;
! Improvement of regulatory, legislative, environmental and economic bases for quality of water
bodies;
! Improvement of registration, monitoring, and control systems of surface and ground water
pollution; development and setting up of a system for identification and analytical control of all
surface water pollution sources;
! Conservation of biological and landscape diversity; expansion of the network of national parks
and reserves and restoration of wetlands.
The integration in the European Union, identified as an objective of international policy of Ukraine, implies
a sustainable use of natural resources, improvement of environmental health and a restoration of the
ecosystems. Heavy environmental problems inherited from the Former Soviet Union due to extensive style
of resource utilization and mismanagement, are on the top of the national priority list for actions.
13.2 Status of Legislation Dealing with Nutrient Control / Reduction
The basic principles for the protection of the environment in the Ukraine are regulated by the Law on the
Protection of the Environment (1996), and the Law on Sanitary and Epidemiological Security of the
Population (1994). The main water related issues are regulated by The Water Code of Ukraine (1995).
In addition, there are a number of regulations, rules norms, etc., regulating particular issues in detail.
Altogether, it is recognized that an improvement of the unsatisfactory environmental situation can only be
achieved by more effective control and enforcement of gradually improved environmental legislation.
Ukraine does not currently have any direct legislative norms or standards regulating the content of nutrient
discharges into surface waters and related eutrophication; instead, there are norms for N and P discharges in
terms of maximum permitted concentrations which can serve as an indirect tool for controlling nutrients
loads.
Existing and Planned Policies and Legislation on Nutrient Control / Reduction
61
13.3 Main Barriers to Policy and Legal Reforms
When Ukraine became an independent country in 1991, it had to revise the former Soviet environmental
legislation and develop a new, market-oriented environmental legislation.
This process was and still is hampered by:
! historical issues (structures of administration and public enterprises, ownership of public
infrastructure, process of privatization, social attitudes, etc);
! critical situation of the national economy (industry, agricultural production);
! critical social situation and the low living standard of a significant portion of the population;
! typical deficiencies in institutional and administrative capabilities;
! lack of modern control tools (e.g. environmental audit);
! enforcement of new economic tools to address environmental issues and prevent environmental
pollution (e.g. payments for use of natural resources and release of pollutants in the
environment.
13.4 Envisaged Changes of Nutrient-Related Legislation
In order to address nutrient reduction, Ukraine plans to:
! Improve regulations on the application of N and P fertilizers;
! Develop regulations for P-free detergents;
! Develop and introduce techniques for the assessment of diffuse pollution loads.
The ultimate goal is the harmonization of Ukrainian legislation on nutrients with the existing EU Directives
and future Framework Water Directive.
13.5 Schedule for Approximation of National Legislation to EU Legislation
Water-related legislation in Ukraine and the EC are substantially different in their structures. Therefore, the
harmonization of the Ukrainian legislation with the EU legislation is a long-term objective (for a period until
2015).
The envisaged harmonization of Ukrainian legislation with the relevant EU Directive should take into
account the following sequence of priorities:
! measures with low financial requirements including amendments and additions to the acting
legislation, regulations, standards, etc.
! measures with affordable financial requirements including improvement of control system, and
optimization of monitoring that satisfy the information needs of environmental management; an
enforcement system for improved environmental legislation for water users and polluters of
water resources, etc.
! measures that will require significant financial investments (including international
investments): reconstruction and improvement of the existing manufacturing and waste water
treatment technologies; construction of new urban waste water treatment facilities (in
compliance with the respective EU Directives), etc.
The identification of the financial needs for the harmonization of environmental legislation of Ukraine and
EU Directives requires a separate study.
Unlike other Central European Countries, Ukraine's integration into European Union is not a matter of the
near future. Nevertheless, the harmonization of Ukrainian environmental legislation with the EU Directives,
including the EU Water Framework Directive, is an important component for the development of the
national legislation process.
STRENGTHENING THE IMPLEMENTATION OF NUTRIENT
REDUCTION MEASURES AND TRANSBOUNDARY
COOPERATION IN THE DANUBE RIVER BASIN
FIVE YEAR NUTRIENT REDUCTION
ACTION PLAN
SUMMARY REPORT IN SUPPORT OF THE PROJECT BRIEF
AUGUST 2000
International Commission for
the Protection of the Danube River
UNDP/GEF Assistance
Five Years Nutrient Reduction Action Plan
3
TABLE OF CONTENTS
LIST OF ABBREVIATION
1
INTRODUCTION
5
2
SUMMARIZING CONCLUSIONS
6
2.1
Verification of Data and Information on Nutrient Emissions / Loads
6
2.2
Identification of Measures for Nutrient Reduction from Diffuse Sources
7
2.3
Assessment of the Anticipated Nutrient Reduction from Diffuse Sources
8
2.4
Identification and Assessment of Proposed Priority Projects
8
ANNEX I
COUNTRY REPORTS
1
GERMANY
19
2
AUSTRIA
22
3
CZECH REPUBLIC
26
4
SLOVAKIA
30
5
HUNGARY
35
6
SLOVENIA
39
7
CROATIA
43
8
BOSNIA - HERCEGOVINA
46
9
YUGOSLAVIA
50
10 BULGARIA
54
11 ROMANIA
61
12 MOLDOVA
66
13 UKRAINE
71
ANNEX II
COUNTRY LISTS OF PRIORITY PROJECTS PROPOSED FOR
"FIVE YEAR NATIONAL NUTRIENT REDUCTION ACTION PLANS"
Five Years Nutrient Reduction Action Plan
5
1 INTRODUCTION
The Summary Report is an integral component for the preparation of the GEF/UNDP funded project entitled
"Strengthening Implementation of Nutrient Reduction Measures and Transboundary Co-operation in the
Danube River Basin". The basic task of this preparatory work is to prepare a qualified material basis for the
elaboration of a complete Danube Regional Project for submission to the GEF Council.
The purpose of this summary report is to provide an overview and assessment of the basic materials, data
and information available for the elaboration of comprehensive "Five Years National Nutrient Reduction
Action Plans" on national level for all DRB countries.
The Country Reports, based on contributions from national consultants follows the structure of the "national
reports" and provides country specific data and information for each of the Danube River Basin. The
"country specific information" is structured as follows:
(1)
Verification of Data and Information on Nutrient Emissions / Loads
(2)
Identification of Measures for Nutrient Reduction from Diffuse Sources
(3)
Assessment of the Anticipated Nutrient Reduction from Diffuse Sources
(4)
Identification of Projects Ready for Implementation
(5)
Assessment of the Anticipated Nutrient Reduction from Point-Sources
(6)
Summary of Main Country Specific Particularities
6
Summary Report
2 SUMMARIZING CONCLUSIONS
2.1 Verification of Data and Information on Nutrient Emissions / Loads
Most of the data and information required to be reviewed and verified have been identified in official
reports, updated statistical documents and previously developed projects. However, at this stage of the
project development, data on nutrients loads/emissions are not yet available in some areas. The revision of
data and information on nutrient emissions/ loads performed by the Danube countries has taken into
consideration nutrient mass balance, with main emphasis on diffuse pollution, nutrient transport, wetlands
and losses of nutrients in water systems.
Generally, the countries considered that diffuse pollution sources include direct discharges of private
households (not connected to sewers), storm water overflow, direct discharge of manure, base flow
(percolation of human waste, agriculture land), erosion run-off from forests, air depositions and ground
water flow. However, agricultural production and livestock farming represent the main diffuse sources of
pollution.
The present farming system, known as
The agricultural diffuse pollution contribution is
"conventional farming", has produced
large and can be controlled best by regulatory
progressively negative social and
measures. The range of measures necessary can be
economic results and serious
environmental damages upon its vital
seen in the regulations on the "Prevention of
resources, i.e. water and soil, and,
Pollution from Agriculture adopted by Helsinki
consequently, upon bio-diversity as a
Commission" (1998).
genetic basis as well as on human health.
Moreover, if we consider the potential
synergetic effects, about which little is known at this point (we must note also the fact that in several sectors,
agriculture is both polluted and polluting),
The negative effects of fertilization are a long term
we shall begin to understand the severity
problem. Danube countries cannot afford to delay
of the situation.
implementation of nutrient reduction measures.
The first conclusion is that there have
been no significant changes in the diffuse
pollution loads on the territory of the
Danube River Basin since 1998. In many parts of the region, industry and agriculture are still in recession
while the first signs of improvement have became visible only since 1999.
Second, the data show that fertilizers were used on a small scale. The unbalanced fertilization and the deficit
in the main nutrients have been detrimental to both crop production and soil fertility, which adversely
influenced the basin's environmental situation.
Five Years Nutrient Reduction Action Plan
7
2.2 Identification of Measures for Nutrient Reduction from Diffuse Sources
The urgent measures proposed by the countries of the Danube River Basin to be implemented with a view to
nutrient reduction refer to the
improvement of both legal and
Proposed Measures for Nutrient
institutional framework.
Reduction from Diffuse Sources
Moreover, public awareness
raising and strengthening
D
A
CZ SK
H SLO HR BiH YU BG RO MD UA
public participation in nutrient
creation /
harmonization of
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
reduction initiatives are both
legislation
seen as priorities.
delimitation of
"sensitive water
x
x
x
x
x
x
In order to achieve maximum
areas"
nutrient load reduction within
watershed
x
x
x
their share of the Danube River
management
Basin, the countries have
P-free detergents
x
x
x
x
x
x
identified measures for nutrient
soil conservation
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
control and reduction from
good agricultural
x
x
x
x
x
x
diffuse sources that mainly
practice
address policy and legislation-
wetland
x
x
x
x
x
x
restoration
related actions, institutional
strengthening and capacity
building.
There is a growing consensus among policy makers of the Danube
Animal production and
countries that command and control environmental regulations stifle the
manure application to
efficiency and innovation by heterogeneous plants to adopt a uniform
fields are important for
abatement strategy. Plants are allowed to develop pollution control
strategies that replace or modify specific regulatory requirements on the
the economies of many
condition that these strategies improve their environmental
Danube countries, but
performance. Germany is an example of a Danube country where
they are also the biggest
voluntary, site-specific performance standards exist which can give the
contributors to diffuse
plants regulatory flexibility to meet the standards in unconventional
sources of water pollution.
ways.
Further, it appears that watershed management is an attractive concept
for Danube countries with economies in transition. For some countries, such as Romania and Bulgaria, the
implemented watershed approach, which basically relies on stakeholder involvement, could in principle
improve coordination between agencies and jurisdictions with water quality responsibilities, help set
priorities for action on a systematic basis, promote cost-effective control policies and targeting of funds,
further public participation and public-private partnerships. The latter may be particularly important in the
Danube transition economies, where funds for environmental programs are severely limited and the
involvement of affected stakeholders
essential for identifying critical
Developing a culture of enforcement, compliance, and
problems and building support for
cooperation that supports implementation is considered
program activities.
by the Danube transition countries likely to be critical
Some Danube countries (Germany,
when pollution control is involved.
the Czech Republic, Slovakia,
Slovenia, Yugoslavia, Bulgaria and
Moldova) have already initiated
Protecting the environment, safeguarding human health
actions leading to nutrient reduction
and promoting effective agricultural practices go hand-
that are based on the need to
in-hand.
implement soil conservation
measures.
The introduction of P-free detergents has been already taken into consideration by most of the countries. In
addition, the need to develop a code of good practice, covering matters such as periods when land
8
Summary Report
application of fertilizers is inappropriate and the conditions for land application of fertilizers near
watercourses have been taken into consideration by the policy makers of the whole basin. Examples of such
countries include: Austria, Slovakia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Yugoslavia, Bulgaria and Romania.
Finally, the identification of vulnerable areas regarding the Nitrates Directive and the new proposal on the
methods of control of biological degradability of active substance detergents will soon bring the countries of
Danube River Basin in line with EU standards.
2.3 Assessment of the Anticipated Nutrient Reduction from Diffuse Sources
Most countries have found it difficult to make estimates, but it is assumed that noticeable nutrient reduction
from diffuse sources might be recorded once the required measures and actions have been implemented. As
a consequence of the recent economic development of the countries in the region, mainly through the
extension of cultivated agricultural areas and the intensification of farming, a future increase in nutrient
emission can be expected.
However, if the proposed urgent measures are introduced during the year 2001, visible effects in terms of
nutrient content reduction can be
expected in the year 2005.
Anticipated Nutrient Reduction from
The anticipated nutrient
Diffuse Sources
reduction from diffuse sources is
estimated to reach high values in
N reduction
P reduction
countries such as Yugoslavia
(%)
[kt N]
(%)
[kt P]
D
n.a.
n.a.
n.a.
n.a.
(25% for N and P) or average
A
n.a.
n.a.
n.a.
n.a.
values as 10% of N for countries
CZ
10
n.a.
3
n.a.
such as the Czech Republic, Slo-
SK
10
n.a.
10
n.a.
vakia, Romania and Ukraine.
H
20
n.a.
20
n.a.
SLO
n.a.
n.a.
n.a.
n.a.
A designation of vulnerable
HR
n.a.
n.a.
n.a.
0,239
BiH
n.a.
n.a.
n.a.
n.a.
areas and the implementation of
YU
25
n.a.
25
n.a.
the required forms of farming in
BG
n.a.
n.a.
n.a.
n.a.
these areas will bring the
RO
13,3
13,4
15,5
1,7
countries of the basin in line
MD
n.a.
50
n.a.
5
UA
10
n.a.
10
n.a.
with EU requirements. The
nutrient pollution reduction in
n.a. - not available
waters will mostly be of local
character. Programs aimed at
revitalizing landscape, streams, small wetlands constructing etc. will also contribute to improving the
environmental situation in the Danube River Basin.
2.4 Identification and Assessment of Proposed Priority Projects
(1)
Quality of provided data
At this stage, all the thirteen DRB countries have provided "draft national lists of priority projects" which
are supposed to be ready for implementation in the coming 5-year period and can be considered as a
reasonable basis for the elaboration of comprehensive "Five Year National Nutrient Reduction Action
Plans".
The "draft lists of priority projects" have been prepared by the national consultants usually in close co-
ordination and co-operation with the concerned national ministries and authorities.
The "lists of priority projects" are mainly based on and derived from the list of projects compiled in the
"Danube Action Pollution Reduction Programme", developed within the framework of the DRPRP in June
1999 and updated within the framework of this project.
Five Years Nutrient Reduction Action Plan
9
According to the requirements of the TOR, the national consultants had explicitly to take into account the
projects included in the EMIS/EG - Joint Action Programme, which is currently under preparation.
As a first conclusion it can be stated that both (i) the structure and completeness of the "lists of priority
projects", and (ii) the quality, completeness, accuracy and reliability of the particular project data are
significantly different from country to country.
Countries that provided relatively complete project lists, respectively relatively complete project data for the
identified priority projects include Austria, the Czech Republic; Hungary; Germany, Moldova; Romania;
Slovenia and Yugoslavia.
The "national lists of priority projects" of these countries can be considered as a profound basis for further
elaboration of comprehensive "Five Year National Nutrient Reduction Action Plans".
The "project lists" provided by the other countries show significant gaps which can be summarized as
follows:
Incomplete data on expected nutrient reduction - particularly Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia,
Ukraine, (partly Hungary regarding BOD and COD);
Inadequate data on project specific investment requirements - all DRB countries have eventually
provided investment cost figures for more or less all proposed priority projects; in the majority of
the counties it is obvious that the cost estimates need partial, respectively substantial up-date;
Incomplete data regarding differentiation by baseline and incremental cost (as required for GEF
co-financing) - particularly Bulgaria, Slovakia, Slovenia, Yugoslavia;
Incomplete data regarding adequate project funding schemes - particularly Bosnia- Herzegovina,
Bulgaria, Croatia, Slovakia, Ukraine.
For these countries, the list of identified projects itself or the particular project data need partially
substantial improvement. Especially as long as a clearly defined project sponsor and an appropriate funding
scheme is not available, a project cannot really be considered in the short-term as a candidate project for a
"National Nutrient Reduction Action Plan".
(2)
Summarized Results
The composition of the "national project lists" and the details of the identified priority projects can be seen
from the annexed county tables (Annex II).
An overall summary with full information on the priority projects, as identified by the national consultants
in the framework of this study, is compiled in Table 2.4-1.
A summary of the structure of the priority projects by country is compiled in Table 2.4-2.
A summary of the structure of the priority projects by sector is compiled in Table 2.4-3
(a)
Investment Requirements
According to the available data provided by the national reports, the total investment requirements for the 13
DRB countries amount to about EUR 4100 million.
The structure of the identified investment requirements by sector is as follows:
Municipal Sector
Industrial Sector
Agricultural Sector Wetlands
Total
No of Projects
156
44
21
22
243
Million EUR
3416
267
113
318
4113
(%)-Structure
83%
6%
3%
8%
100
10
Summary Report
The structure of the identified investment requirements by country is as follows:
GER A
CZ
SK
HU
SLO
CRO B&H
YU
BUL RO
MOL UA
TOT
G
No of Proj.
11
4
11
20
24
24
11
12
40
21
24
31
10
243
Mill. EUR
231
264
144
118
687
384
433
176
783
125
204
493
67
4111
(%)
6
6
4
3
17
9
10
4
19
3
5
12
2
100
Countries with the highest identified investment requirements of more than EUR 500 million include
Yugoslavia and Hungary.
Countries with the
Investment cost for Proposed Projects of Five Years National
lowest identified
Nutrient Reduction Plan (by Sectors)
investment requirements
of less than EUR 200
800
million include Ukraine,
700
Slovakia, the Czech
600
R
Republic (small DRB
U 500
area), Bulgaria and
400
ion E
ill
B&H.
M 300
200
The most of the
100
countries have basically
0
derived their "national
GER
A
CZ
SK
HUN SLO CRO B&H YUG
BUL ROM MOL
UA
project list" from the list
Municipal
Industrial
Agricultural
Wetlands
of projects already
identified in the "Action
Pollution Reduction Programme" (elaborated within the framework of the DRPRP, 1999).
Taking into account the reduced number of projects compiled in the "draft national project lists" the
identified investment requirements of about EUR 4.1 billion seem rather reasonable in comparison to the
investment requirements of about EUR 5.6 billion as identified in the framework of the "Danube Action
Pollution Reduction Programme" in 1999.
(b)
Project Funding
According to the data provided by the national reports, the anticipated composition of project funding for all
DRB countries is as follows:
Funding component:
Million EUR
(%) Structure
National funding contribution
1659
40
International loans:
1016
25
International grants:
575
14
Not secured funding components:
861
21
Total
4111
100
The country-specific composition of project funding can be seen from Table 2.4-2.
!
The following seven countries could provide a more or less complete funding scheme for the
proposed priority projects to be completed within the coming 5-year period: Austria,
Germany, Hungary, Moldova, Romania, Slovenia and Yugoslavia.
!
Countries in which funding is not secured for the majority of the proposed priority projects
include B-H, Croatia, Ukraine.
!
In the other countries (Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Slovakia) portions between 30% and
70% of the identified investment requirements are at the present stage of knowledge supposed
to be secured; the rest remains to be raised.
Five Years Nutrient Reduction Action Plan
11
(c)
Assessment of the Anticipated Nutrient Reduction from Point Sources
According to the available data provided by the national reports, the total nutrient reduction anticipated with
the implementation of the proposed priority point source projects should be in the range of:
! N:
57 000 tons/year;
! P:
12 000 tons/year;
! BOD:
236 000 tons/year;
! COD:
477 000 tons/ year
The composition of the anticipated nutrient reduction by sector is approximately as follows:
Nutrient
Municipal
Industrial Sector
Agricultural
Wetlands
Total
Reduction
Sector
Sector
No of Projects
156
44
21
22
243
N (t/y)
31 500
3 400
6 700
16 600
57 200
P (t/y)
5 000
3 700
1 100
1 800
11 600
BOD (t/y)
181 000
39 700
9 500
5 900
236 000
COD (t/y)
351 000
78 700
15 000
32 400
477 000
The composition of the anticipated nutrient reduction by countries is compiled in Table 2.4-2.
It has to be mentioned at
Anticipated Reduction of Nitrogen from Proposed Projects of Five
this point that the BOD
Years National Nutrient Reduction Plan (by Sectors)
and COD data in
10500
particular are still
10000
9500
preliminary, because in
9000
8500
some countries they have
8000
7500
7000
not yet been determined
6500
6000
completely or correctly
5500
/
y
ear
5000
4500
for some or even the
t
ons
4000
3500
majority of the identified
3000
2500
projects.
2000
1500
1000
5000
GER
A
CZ
SK
HUN
SLO
CRO
B&H YUG
BUL
ROM MOL
UA
Municipal
Industrial
Agricultural
Wetlands
Anticipated Reduction of Phosphorus from Proposed Projects of
Five Years National Nutrient Reduction Plan (by Sectors)
5000
4500
4000
3500
3000
ear
/y 2500
2000
tons
1500
1000
500
0
GER
A
CZ
SK
HUN
SLO
CRO
B&H
YUG
BUL
ROM
MOL
UA
Municipal
Industrial
Agricultural
Wetlands
Five Years Nutrient Reduction Action Plan
13
Tab 2.-14
Five Years Nutrient Reduction Action Plan
15
fig 2.4-2/3
Five Years Nutrient Reduction Action Plan
17
ANNEX I
COUNTRY REPORTS
1.
GERMANY
2.
AUSTRIA
3.
CZECH REPUBLIC
4.
SLOVAKIA
5.
HUNGARY
6.
SLOVENIA
7.
CROATIA
8.
BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA
9.
YUGOSLAVIA
10. BULGARIA
11. ROMANIA
12. MOLDOVA
13. UKRAINE
Five Years Nutrient Reduction Action Plan
19
1 GERMANY
1.1 Verification of Data and Information on Nutrient Emissions / Loads
The analysis of the existing data shows that immission loads for nutrients in the German part of the river
Danube, calculated from regularly monitored water quality data, reach a level of around 85 000 t N and
4000-6000 t P per year. Especially phosphorus loads have been decreased very dramatically for the last
twenty years but also nitrogen loads show a decreasing trend for the last years. Emission values vary
according to the method applied for their evaluation. An investigation of Behrendt (1999) mention about
130 000 t N and 5300 t P for the years 1993 to 1997. The major part of the nutrient input derives from
diffuse sources. For nitrogen, the diffuse input reaches 80 % with 60 % stemming from groundwater and
around 10 % from drainage. For phosphorus, 70% of the input is provided by diffuse sources with 35%
stemming from erosion, 15% from surface flow and 10 % from groundwater. Concerning point sources, the
major part origins from municipal wastewater, industrial input can be neglected.
For the year 1996, the use of mineral fertilizers amounts about 220 000 tN/a and 70 000 tP/a. Generally, the
application of mineral fertilizers decreased, for the Bavarian part of the Danube River Basin while the use of
nitrogen dropped since 1989 from 119 kg/ha to 80 kg/ha (1997). The organic fertilizer application declined
for the last 5 years, too.
Most of the 9 135 000 inhabitants are connected to sewage system (Bavaria part: 91%, 1998). The
wastewater treatment plants show a high degree of elimination for nutrients (Bavarian part: 75% for P and
45% for N (1998)).
1.2 Identification of Measures for Nutrient Reduction from Diffuse Sources
Measures for nutrient reduction are based on legislation given by EU-guidelines and water acts of the
German Republic (framework conditions) and the German Federal States.
In order to reduce nutrient input to the Danube basin, a number of measures have been already taken and
some important targets have been achieved. The input of nutrients has been decreased e.g. by elimination of
these substances on wastewater treatment plants and by imposing legal restrictions for phosphates in
detergents.
Further targets are (i) the consequent applying of legal instruments for nutrient input reduction, (ii) the
maintenance and upgrading of wastewater sewage systems to reduce nutrients from point sources and, (iii)
the stimulation of new approaches for reducing nutrients from diffuse sources.
Some approaches concerning diffuse sources are to reduce nutrient input by (1) applying extensive and
ecological farming, (2) using modern technologies to determine fertilizers needed and to minimize the losses
by fertilizing, (3) identifying and defining protection areas e.g. river banks, sensible regions where
restrictions for agricultural activities have to be required, and (4) protecting landscape from erosion. In
addition, the capability of ecosystems to keep and transform nutrients can be strengthened by river and
wetland renaturation.
Germany is introducing flexibility in implementation of these measures, within the frame of a close
cooperation between water managers, farmers and researches. First, a common consensus on the importance
of nutrient reduction must be funded. Methods have to be developed on how to reduce nutrients in a
efficient and cost-effective way e.g. by pilot studies and through permanent training and consulting on the
state of art.
Instruments to initiate and continue this process include the (1) promotion of methods for nutrient reduction,
and (2) financial support for farmers and for research, education and consulting. In the German part of the
Danube River Basin, different action programs make use of these instruments e.g. the "Bayerische
Kulturlandschaftsprogramm".
Besides these programs aiming mostly at agricultural methods, measures that are oriented at rivers and
wetlands are also undertaken. River management plans lead to a development in a sustainable way e.g. by
20
Summary Report
river renaturation or riverbank protection. These measures have also to be applied in a cooperative way and
to be agreed by all groups of interest.
In general, measures for nutrient reduction of diffuse sources have to be an integrated part of the overall
plans for land use and development.
1.3 Assessment of the Anticipated Nutrient Reduction from Diffuse Sources
The measures just undertaken and planned in the future for nutrient reduction of diffuse source will lead to a
decrease of nutrient input. However, the complex nature of processes makes difficult to quantify this
nutrient reduction. It is anticipated that the whole process will last over 10 to 20 years and only long-term
changes are to be expected.
1.4 Identification of Projects Ready for Implementation
The identified projects which are currently under implementation or supposed to be ready for
implementation in the coming 3 years are compiled and characterized in Annex 6.4.
The total investment requirements of the 11 identified priority projects is EUR 231 million; their
composition by sectors is as follows:
! 8 municipal projects with investment requirements of EUR 98.3 million,
! 2 industrial projects with investment requirements of EUR 6.3 million;
! no agricultural point-source project;
! 2 wetland projects with investment requirements of EUR 126.7 million;
In addition to these 11 point-source projects Germany is going to spent about EUR 1.0 million per year in
the DRB area of Germany for measures related to reduction of nutrient emissions in the agricultural / land
use sector (buffer zone program, etc).
Regarding project funding it is assumed that the required funds will fully be covered by national sources.
1.5 Assessment of the Anticipated Nutrient Reduction from Point-Sources
For the 12 identified projects the anticipated nutrient reduction is stated in detail in Annex II-1 and can be
summarized as follows:
!
N:
4091 tons/year;
!
P:
74 tons/year;
!
BOD:
75 tons/year;
!
COD:
1291 tons/year;
The composition of the anticipated nutrient reduction by sectors is compiled in Section 1.6(2).
1.6 Summary of Main Country Specific Particularities and Conclusions
(1)
Main particularities regarding "non point source" issues
The verification of data shows that especially phosphorus loads have been decreased very dramatically for
the last twenty years but also nitrogen loads show a decreasing trend for the last years.
Generally, the application of mineral fertilizers decreased, for the Bavarian part of the Danube River Basin
while the use of nitrogen dropped since 1989 from 119 kg/ha to 80 kg/ha (1997). The organic fertilizer
application declined for the last 5 years, too.
Five Years Nutrient Reduction Action Plan
21
It is obvious that the efforts undertaken by Germany in reducing nutrient emissions from diffuse sources of
pollution are mainly based on a flexible approach which allow the polluters to voluntarily agree with the
suggested measures. It is considered that the major part of the nutrient input derives from diffuse sources.
Germany suggests measures to reduce nutrient input from diffuse sources which include the use of (1)
extensive and ecological farming, (2) modern technologies to determine fertilizers amounts, (3) protection
areas e.g. river banks, sensible regions where restrictions for agricultural activities have to be required, and
(4) protecting measures against soil erosion.
(2)
Main particularities regarding "point source" projects
Germany is one of the countries which provided a complete project list and a complete set of project data
regarding investment requirements and funding schemes for the priority projects to be implemented in the
coming five year period.
The primary characteristics of the identified priority projects can be summarized as follows:
Table 1.6-1: Primary Characteristics of the Identified Priority Projects
Sector
No of
Expected Nutrient Reduction
Investment Cost
Projects
(tons/year)
(Million EUR)
N
P
BOD
COD
Municipal point sources
7
3620
13
75
511
98.3
Industrial point sources
2
635
40
0
780
6.3
Agricultural point sources
0
0
0
0
0
0
Wetlands
2
211
21
0
0
126.7
Total
12
4091
74
75
1291
231.3
It is assumed that the required funds of about EUR 231 million will fully be covered by national sources.
In addition to the 11 point-source projects Germany is going to spent about EUR 1.0 million per year in the
DRB area of Germany for measures related to reduction of nutrient emissions in the agricultural / land use
sector (buffer zone program, etc).
22
Summary Report
2 AUSTRIA
2.1 Verification of Data and Information on Nutrient Emissions / Loads
In Austria requirements for urban wastewater treatment (i.e. all plants > 50 p.e.) are fixed in the First
Emission Ordinance BGBl. In this ordinance quality standards for wastewater treatment plants for e.g.
phosphorous or nitrogen are fixed. The treatment of industrial wastewater is performed by internal industrial
wastewater treatment plants or together with urban wastewater in urban wastewater treatment plants. The
requirements for the indirect discharge are as well laid down in the sector specific emission ordinances and
in the Ordinance for Indirect industrial WasteWater Emissions BGBl.
The following tables provide relevant statistical figures on wastewater treatment in Austria.
Table 2. 1-1: Population
Country
Emission coefficient
Population not
Population connected to sewerage*
total popul.
connected to
sewerage (1)
kg N/
kg P/
Without
Mech. Step
Biolog. Step* Tertiary step
inh/y (2)
inh/y (2)
treatment
8,038,200
3.4
0.37
1,486,059 (1)
11,500
41,500
6,499,141
n.a.
Source: Federal Ministry of Agriculture Forestry Environment and Water management: BMLFUW:
,,Gewässerschutzbericht 1999", Table 4.8, p.92
Note: (1) This figure means not connected to public sewers, these inhabitants are connected to smaller waste
water treatment plants, cess pools or other facilities.
(2) values also include N and P discharges of small and medium served enterprises, served by urban waste
water treatment plants, as emission coefficient has been calculated by dividing loads from the waste water
treatment plants through number of inhabitants served by those facilities.
The following table presents the loads (t/a) of urban wastewater treatment plants into receiving
waters in Austria 1998.
Austria 1998
BOD5-Load
COD-Load
N-Load
P-Load
Urban waste water treatment plants
t/a
t/a
t/a
t/a
Plants with biological treatment
17,206
62,848
21,804
2,412
Plants with mechanical treatment
919
1,944
242
43
Total
18,125
64,792
22,046
2,455
Source: Federal Ministry of Agriculture Forestry Environment and Water management: BMLFUW: ,,Gewässerschutzbericht 1999"
Finally, the next table presents the comparison for the years 1981, 1991, 1995, 1998 in terms of
wastewater treatment plants in Austria.
Austria
1981
1991
1995
1998
Urban waste water
Pers.
%
Pers.
%
Pers.
%
Pers.
%
Connected to sewer system
4,374,547
57.9
5,544,833
71.0
5,987,105
75.7
6,552,141
81.5
Small sewer systems
1,219,321
16.1
762,732
9.8
659,768
8.3
519,961
6.5
Cess pools
1,530,610
20.3
1,386,894
17.8
1,192,459
15.1
917,730
11.4
Others
428,567
5.7
113,638
1.5
68,564
0.9
48,368
0.6
Without sewer system, sum 3,178,498
42.1
2,263,264
29.0
1,920,791
24.3
1,486,059
18.5
Total
7,533,045
100
7,808,097
100
7,907,896
100
8,038,200
100
Source: Federal Ministry of Agriculture Forestry Environment and Water management: BMLFUW: ,,Gewässerschutzbericht 1999"
Five Years Nutrient Reduction Action Plan
23
In 1998 in Austria 6,552,141 inhabitants were connected to sewers. Among them 6,540,641 were connected
to a wastewater treatment plant (WWTP), 11,500 were connected to the sewerage system but without
WWTP. The total population in Austria is 8,038,200 from them 1,486,059 Austrian inhabitants were not
connected to a public sewer system which equals to a percentage of 18.5 %. This percentage of 18.5%
comprises 6.5% who are connected to a small waste water treatment plants, 11.4 % to cess pools and 0.6 %
to other facilities.
The following table shows the agricultural area in Austria and types of crops, (chemical fertilisers in kg N or
P/ha/year).
Table 2.1-2: Agricultural land
Surface ha 1997
Culture
Culture
Culture
Runoff coefficient
ha
Type of crop
Kg N/y
Kg P /ha/y
259,800
Wheat
*
++
57,800
Rye
*
++
260,600
Barley
*
++
40,100
Oats
*
++
188,300
Maize
*
++
23,500
Potatoes
*
++
51,600
Sugar beet
*
++
3,422,449
Sum of agricultural land
42
7.3
Total of agricultural land (including grassland): 3,422,449 mio. ha (1997)
Without extensive grassland (e.g. alpine meadows): 2,417,324 mio. ha (1997)
(Source: Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, Environment and Water Management, Report ,,Austria's Agriculture, Forestry and Water
Management 1998")
Note: * N-chemical fertiliser: 143,818 tons (1997)
++ P chemical fertiliser: 24,942 tons (1997)
(Source: Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, Environment and Water Management, Report ,,Grüner Bericht", Table 4.9, 1998")
Recommendations for fertilising of crops exist, statistical figures on actual fertilisation per crop are not
available. The average application of chemical fertiliser per ha of agricultural land in 1997 was in terms of
N 42 kg/ha and in terms of P 7.3 kg/ha of the total agricultural land.
Finally, the emission coefficients and the number of animals in Austria are presented in the next table.
Table 2. 1-3: Livestock units
Inventory of Number (1998)
Number of animal in Emission
Emission coefficient
animals 1997
GVE (1 GVE = livestock coefficient
unit with 500 kg alive
Kg N/head/y
Kg P/head/y
1. pigs
3,810,310
2. cows
882,994
3.cattle total
2,171,681
4.horses
75,347
5.sheep
360,812
6.poultry*
13,539,693
7. others
Source: Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, Environment and Water Mangement, Report ,,Güner Bericht 1998", Tables 3.15
* Number of chicken
24
Summary Report
Sum of manure N of all livestock:
169,750,000 kg (1995)
Sum of manure P:
37,755,000 kg (1995)
Sum of agricultural land (1995):
3,470,570 ha
Manure N/year and ha: 48.9 kg/y/ha (1995)
Manure P/year and ha: 10.9 kg/y/ha (1995)
Source: "Bodenschutz in Österreich, Edit: A. Köchl, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry 1997, p. 189 and the Report Grüner Bericht 1998.
The manure application is comparatively low in Austria with other EU countries.
2.2 Identification of Measures for Nutrient Reduction from Diffuse Sources
Austria is very actively involved in restoring wetland and floodplain areas where feasible and possible.
The (1995) "Austrian Programme for the promotion of a sound environmental friendly and extensive natural
resources protecting agriculture" (ÖPUL) shall be substituted by the further advanced programme "ÖPUL
2000".
2.3 Assessment of the Anticipated Nutrient Reduction from Diffuse Sources
Due to the measures already imposed in wastewater purification and by encouraging environmentally
friendly agriculture and due to the comparatively very low figures in nutrient application and livestock
density, in Austria, no really considerable further reductions of nutrient input in Austrian waters will be
achievable.
Significant efforts to quantify the effects of the measures introduced in agriculture and also, most important,
of the natural and non-avoidable existing background-loads shall be undertaken in the near future.
2.4 Identification of Projects Ready for Implementation
The identified point-source projects that are supposed to be ready for implementation in the coming 5 years
are compiled and characterized in Annex 2.4.
The total investment requirements of the 4 identified projects are EUR 264 million; the composition by
sectors is as follows:
!
3 municipal projects with investment requirements of EUR 231 million;
WWTP Vienna (extension and upgrade of N / P removal);
WWTP Linz-Asten (extension and upgrade of N / P removal);
WWTP Graz (extension and upgrade of N / P removal);
!
1 industrial project with investment requirements of EUR 33 million;
!
no agricultural point-source projects;
!
no wetland point-source projects.
Regarding project funding it is assumed that the required funds will fully be covered by national sources.
Five Years Nutrient Reduction Action Plan
25
2.5 Assessment of the Anticipated Nutrient Reduction from Point-Sources
For the four identified point-source projects in the municipal and industrial sectors the anticipated annual
nutrient reduction is stated in detail in Annex II-2 and can be summarized as follows:
!
N:
3950 tons/year;
!
P:
404 tons/year;
!
BOD: 11240
tons/year;
!
COD:
16528 tons/ year;
The composition of the anticipated nutrient reduction by sectors is compiled in Section 2.6(2).
2.6 Summary of Main Country Specific Particularities
(1)
Main particularities regarding "diffuse" projects
Austria is one of the few Danube countries, which is already taken measures leading to nutrient reduction
and control through various programs on promotion of a sound environmental friendly and extensive natural
resources protecting agriculture". In addition, Austria is very active in restoring and conserving wetlands
and vulnerable areas.
(2)
Main particularities regarding "point source" projects
Austria is one of the countries which provided a complete project list and a complete set of project data
regarding investment requirements and funding schemes for the priority projects to be implemented in the
coming five year period.
The primary characteristics of the identified priority projects can be summarized as follows:
Table 2.6-1: Primary Characteristics of the Identified Priority Projects
Sector
No of
Expected Nutrient Reduction
Investment Cost
Projects
(tons/year)
(Million EUR)
N
P
BOD
COD
Municipal point sources
3
3950
404
5740
12028
231.0
Industrial point sources
1
0
0
5500
4500
33.0
Agricultural point sources
0
0
0
0
0
0
Wetlands
0
0
0
0
0
0
Total
4
3950
404
11240
16528
264.0
It is assumed that the required funds of about EUR 264 million will fully be covered by national sources.
26
Summary Report
3 CZECH REPUBLIC
3.1 Verification of Data and Information on Nutrient Emissions / Loads
Analysis of data information on nutrient loads is based on available data in 1999, from official sources of
information as the Statistical yearbooks, WRI databases prepared in National water protection project and
other sources used by WRI.
The data presented in the tables 1-3 are based on estimation of the real nutrient run-off into surface and
ground waters. Total N and P production calculated from specific production and number of inhabitants has
a decreasing tendency, in accordance with the assumed wastewater treatment plants efficiency.
The expected nutrient discharge from both large municipal point sources and small diffuse municipal
sources is 13,735 t/y of N and 1,587 t/y of P.
Czech Republic considers that farmland nutrient balances are influenced by many factors apart of the basic
inputs and outputs, which can include hydrology, climate and geographic conditions, as well as weather in
particular years.
Within the Morava River basin it is assumed that about 30-50 % of N and 2-5 % P balance surplus,
calculated for the representative year 1996, will represent run-offs into waters.
Table 3.1-1: Population
Total population of Emissions
Population not
Population connected to sewerage
Morava river basin Coefficients
connected to
in CZ
sewerage
Kg
Kg P/inh/y Inh.
mechanical
biological tertiary step
N/inh/y
step
step
N
P
2 700 000
6,2
0,73
710 000
1 990 000
1850 000
300 000
50 000
Table 3.1-2: Loads-Agricultural Land
Surface ha
Culture
Consumption of fertilisers
Runoff coefficient
Type of crop
kg N/ha/y
kg P/ha/y
909500
Arable land
64,5
14,6
15000
Vineyards
110000
Meadows
78000
Pasture land
Table 3.1-3: Number of Livestock
Inventory of animals
Number
Specific Emission
kg N/head/y
kg P/head/y
1. pigs
1382500 9,4
2,2
2. cows
165000 41,5
1,1
3. cattle
273000 41,5
1,1
4. horses
6000 48
1,3
5. sheep
19500 8,9
1,8
6. poultry
8627500 0,9
0,3
Five Years Nutrient Reduction Action Plan
27
3.2 Identification of Measures for Nutrient Reduction from Diffuse Sources
According to the Statistical Yearbook, application of industrial fertilizers is decreased from 98,8 kg N/ha/y
(1988) to 64,5 kg N/ha/y (1998), and from 68,4 kg P/ha/y (1988) to 14,4 kg P/ha/y (1998). In the same
period, the number of breeding farm animals has been significantly reduced and the quantity of applied
farmyard manure diminished as well. An additional decrease of these inputs is not expected. On contrary,
favorable economic situation could have been resulting in a slight increase of applied fertilizers. It is
obvious that the response of fertilization decrease is a long-term process that may have been outlasting for a
few tens of years.
A favorable impact on the nutrient run-off reduction is expected after the designation of vulnerable areas
and implementation of the required forms of farming in these areas. The nutrient pollution reduction in
waters will mostly be of local character. The revitalization programs of landscape, streams, small wetlands
constructing etc. will help to improve mainly the ecological situation in their neighborhood.
One of the problems still pertaining in some areas is water erosion, transporting into streams, together with
soils, high concentrations of nitrates and partly of phosphorus as well.
A schedule of the intended extent of anti-erosion measures for the following 5 years as well as calculation of
nutrient reduction due to these measures is difficult to elaborate, without detailed research and investigation.
Presently, the amount of P in detergents is regulated by the "Voluntary agreement on gradual decrease of
impact of detergents on the environment" (1995) which has been concluded between the Ministry of the
Environment of the Czech Republic and the Czech corporation of producers of soaps, detergents and
cleaning agents. Further decrease of P emissions from detergents depends on negotiations between the
involved partners.
3.3 Assessment of the Anticipated Nutrient Reduction from Diffuse Sources
The total reduction of nutrient out flow from agricultural land is assumed as 10% of N and 3% of P. As the
main focus of both Czech State Environmental Policy and the EU directives are on large localities, for the
next five years period, from the category of diffuse sources of pollution from small municipalities and
scattered farms it cannot be expected any nutrient reduction.
3.4 Identification of Projects Ready for Implementation
The identified priority projects that are supposed to be ready for implementation in the coming 5 years are
compiled and characterized in Annex 3.4.
The total investment requirements of the 11 identified projects (including not further specified "small scale
municipal projects") are EUR 144 million; their composition by sectors is as follows:
!
6 municipal projects with investment requirements of EUR 92 million,
(other "small scale municipal projects with investment requirements of EUR 42 million);
!
4 industrial projects with investment requirements of EUR 5,1 million,
!
1 agricultural project with investment requirements of EUR 5,3 million,
!
no wetland projects.
Wetland projects are not included because there are no wetlands of point source type in the Morava River
basin. Czech Republic has identified a number of 24 actions concerning wetland restoration or similar
activities together for about EUR 3.4 million as an integral part of the five year Joint Action Programme.
Details on nutrient reduction effects after the implementation of these projects are subject of further studies.
Regarding project funding it is expected that national funds, 16% by international loans and about 11% by
international grants will cover about 44%; the funding of the residual 30% is not yet secured.
28
Summary Report
3.5 Assessment of the Anticipated Nutrient Reduction from Point-Sources
For the identified priority projects the anticipated nutrient reduction is stated in detail in Annex II-3 and can
be summarized as follows:
!
N:
1091 tons/year;
!
P:
62 tons/year;
!
BOD: 1246
tons/year;
!
COD:
120 tons/year;
The composition of the anticipated nutrient reduction by sectors is compiled in Section 3.6(2).
In addition, significant nutrient reduction is expected in the future from the application of the EU Directive
standards, which require wastewater treatment for all municipalities with more than 2000 PE.
Further nutrient reduction is expected from the requirements of the UWWD Directive 91/271/EEC regarding
increased treatment efficiencies for emission sources in "designated sensitive areas". As the designation of
sensitive areas is only in the stage of preparation, the expected effects will probably not become evident
before 2005.
3.6 Summary of Main Country Specific Particularities
(1)
Main particularities regarding "non-point source" issues
Analysis of data information on nutrient loads has been performed based on available data in 1999, using
official sources of information and documents. As other Danube countries, total N and P production
calculated from specific production and number of inhabitants has also recorded a decreasing tendency
during last years.
Czech Republic considers that farmland nutrient balances are influenced by many factors, which can include
hydrology, climate and geographic conditions, as well as weather in particular years.
A specific characteristic of this country is related to the effect of the possible favorable economic situation,
which can be resulting in a slight increase of applied fertilizers. Therefore, the response of fertilization
decrease is a long-term process that may have been outlasting for a few tens of years.
Czech Republic proposes various methods aiming to nutrient reduction. Designation of vulnerable areas and
implementation of the required forms of farming in these areas will bring the country in line with EU
requirements. The nutrient pollution reduction in waters will mostly be of local character. The revitalization
programs of landscape, streams, small wetlands constructing etc. will help to improve mainly the ecological
situation in their neighborhood.
Other particularities is given by the effects of water erosion, transporting into streams, together with soils,
high concentrations of nitrates and partly of phosphorus as well.
A schedule of the intended extent of anti-erosion measures for the following 5 years as well as calculation of
nutrient reduction due to these measures is difficult to elaborate without detailed research and investigation.
(2)
Main particularities regarding "point source" projects
Czech Republic is one of the countries which provided a more or less complete project list and set of project
data regarding investment requirements, implementation schedule and funding scheme for the priority
projects to be implemented in the coming five year period.
The primary characteristics of the 11 identified priority projects can be summarized as follows:
Five Years Nutrient Reduction Action Plan
29
Table 3.6-1: Primary Characteristics of the Identified Priority Projects
Sector
No of
Expected Nutrient Reduction
Investment Cost
Projects
(tons/year)
(Million EUR)
N
P
BOD
COD
Municipal point sources
6
1010
58
1228
93
133,7
Industrial point sources
4
61
1
18
26
5,1
Agricultural point sources
1
20
3
0
0
5,3
Wetlands
0
0
0
0
0
0,0
Total
11
1091
62
1246
120
144,1
The development of the anticipated nutrient reduction can be summarised as follows:
Table 3.6-2: Development of anticipated Nutrient Reduction
Sector
Nutrient load 1998
Nutrient load 2005
Reduction 1998-2005
N (t/y)
P(t/y)
N (t/y)
P(t/y)
N (%)
P(%)
Municipal point sources
13735
1587
12725
1530
8
4
Industrial point sources
215
35
154
34
28
3
Agricultural point sources
159
16
139
13
14
3
Sub-total
14109
1638
13018
1577
8
4
Agricultural non-point sources
22900
150
20600
145
10
3
Total
37009
1788
33618
1722
10
4
30
Summary Report
4
SLOVAKIA
4.1 Verification of Data and Information on Nutrient Emissions / Loads
Emissions from diffuse sources of pollution in Slovakia can be divided as emissions coming from
population not connected to sewerage system, from agricultural land (by erosion) and from livestock. Table
4.1-1 contains information on population and emissions coefficients for N and P coming out from
inhabitants not connected to sewage system. Different coefficients are given for inhabitants connected to
water works, but not to sewerage system (emission coefficients are supposed to be higher) than those for
inhabitants not connected neither to water works nor to sewerage system).
Table 4.1-1: Population
Country total Emissions
Population not connected to Population connected to sewerage
population
coefficients
sewerage
kg N /inh/y
kg P/inh/y*
without
Mechanical bological
tertiary
treatment
step
step
step
5 398 657
96030
29100
2784870
2,19
0,69
1 550 000 inh. (Inhabitants
connected to water works but
not to sewage system)
0,44
0,13
938 657 inh. (inhabitants
connected neither to water
works or sewage system)
* - Phosphorus from detergents included
Table 4.1-2 presents data on main type of crops cultivated in Slovakia with corresponding areas and amount
of nitrogen and phosphorus applied on particular lands. The values of nutrients from both organic and
artificial fertilizers applied have been considered. Runoff coefficients have been estimated as 20 % of
applied nitrogen and 2 % of applied phosphorus. The average amount of nutrients applied on agricultural
land in Slovak Republic is 48,74 kg of nitrogen and 8,0 kg of phosphorus (for period 1998-99).
Table 4.1-2: Agricultural Land
Surface (ha)
Culture
Runoff coefficient
Type of crop
kg N/ha/y
kg P/ha/y
kg N/ha/y
kg P/ha/y
870 449
Cereals in total, of which:
415 708
- Wheat
77,61
8,0
15,5
0,16
34 369
- Rye
43,13
3,6
8,6
0,07
252 885
- Barley
53,55
5,8
10,7
0,12
19 641
- Oats
32,79
3,8
6,6
0,08
118 230
- Grain maize
88,06
5,0
17,6
0,10
34 657
Legume in total
13,59
5,6
2,7
0,11
29 332
Potatoes in total
117,22
19,4
23,4
0,39
37 667
Sugar beet
95,79
14,8
19,2
0,30
142 351
OIL - PLANTS IN TOTAL,
OF WHICH:
61 155
- Rape
95,64
9,0
19,1
0,18
67 126
- Sunflower
52,4
4,9
10,5
0,10
3 556
- Soya
52,4
4,9
10,5
0,10
2 450
- Poppy seeds
37,09
7,4
7,4
0,15
1 455
Flax
29,64
3,8
5,9
0,08
1 019
Tobacco
14,45
13,3
2,9
0,27
40 516
Market vegetables
76,19
3
15,2
0,06
6 173
Feeding root - crops
54,00
3,5
10,8
0,07
Five Years Nutrient Reduction Action Plan
31
Surface (ha)
Culture
Runoff coefficient
Type of crop
kg N/ha/y
kg P/ha/y
kg N/ha/y
kg P/ha/y
162 009
FODDER ON ARABLE LAND
ANNUAL, OF WHICH
119 318
Unripe and ensilage maize
74,42
5,1
14,9
0,10
152 011
Lasting more years
15,98
1,7
3,2
0,03
28 377
Vineyards
22,33
4,0
4,5
0,08
19 017
Orchards
21,07
7,7
4,2
0,15
1 031
Hop-gardens
107,3
28,7
21,5
0,57
Runoff coefficients are 20 % of applied N and 2 % of applied P to be in line with methodology used in National
Reviews 1998, Part C: Water Quality
One important information is that in the last years, the amounts of nitrogen and phosphorus applied on
agricultural land are lower than their real need for cultivation of crops. The study performed by Central
Control and Testing Institute of Agriculture (CCTIA) shows the need of an additional 23-kg N/ha nitrogen
application and 6-kg P/ha. The difference of required nutrient for crops were provided by the soil.
Table 4.1-3 contains information on number of animals that are breeding in Slovakia with their
corresponding emission coefficients for Nitrogen and Phosphorus.
Table 4.1-3: Number of Livestock
Inventory of animals*
Number (1998)
Emission Coefficient
kg N/head/y
Kg P/head/y
1. pigs
1 593 000
0,094
0,022
2. cows
284 000
1)
1)
3. cattle
421 000
0,415
0,083
4. horses
10 000
no emission coefficient
no emission coefficient available
available
5. sheep
326 000
0,089
0,018
6. poultry
13 117 000
0,009
0,003
7. others
* no waste water treatment plant provided
1) No emission coefficient especially for cows, only for cattle in general
The estimated total amount of nitrogen and phosphorus coming from diffuse sources of pollution is
presented in the table below.
N
P
Note
1000 t/y 1000 t/y]
Erosion
6,1
0,24
Emission coefficients for released N and P by erosion
given by Bedrna (1985) were used. From the given range
0,5 15 kg N/ha and 0,01 0,20 kg P/ha the following
data were used, taking into account low amount of
fertilisers used in the last decade:
N : 2,5 kg /ha
P : 0,1 kg /ha
Washing-out
24,0
0,39
It was assumed that 20 % of applied N and 2 % of P on
agricultural land is washing out.
In the figures given for N and P, the release from
animals is already included as in the data from CCTIA
total amounts of N and P applied on agricultural land
from both organic and artificial fertilisers are included.
Population connected to water works, 3,4
1,07
but not connected to sewerage system
Population connected neither to 0,4
1,82
water works, or sewerage system
Total
33,8
1,82
32
Summary Report
4.2 Identification of Measures for Nutrient Reduction from Diffuse Sources
The most important measures for nutrient reduction from diffuse sources of pollution are prepared mainly in
accordance with transposition and implementation of European Union legislation. The basic document in the
field of approximation process is the ,,National Programme for transposition of Aquis Communautaire". In
addition, requirements resulting from the governmental priority related to the EU accession process has also
been transformed as ,,National Environmental Action Plan II" (1999), with particular tasks to transpose and
implement EU legislation.
In addition to the recent approved Law on fertilizers, Slovakia proposes the following measures that are
supposed to become effective in the forthcoming period of five years, with the purpose to reduce nutrient
emissions from diffuse sources:
(1)
Preparation of Governmental Decree on protection of water resources against pollution from
agriculture
(2)
Development and implementation of the Code of good agricultural practices with purpose to reduce
pollution caused by nitrates
(3)
Defining criteria for identification of water pollution by nitrates from agricultural sources (in relation
to Nitrates Directive)
(4)
Identification of vulnerable areas regarding the Nitrates Directive
(5)
Development of Action Programme in vulnerable areas to ensure protection of waters against
pollution from agriculture (in relation to Nitrates Directive)
(6)
Establishment of a ,,Soil Service" which should serve as advisory unit in the field of utilization and
protection of soils. It should cooperate with relevant institutions with purpose to protect environment
(7)
Establishment of ,,State Inspection for Soil Protection" as a new institution under MSM SR to control
legislative measures for soil protection enforcement.
Moreover, Slovakia, through the Ministry of Economy is preparing a new proposal on the methods of
control of biological degradability of active substance detergents.
4.3 Assessment of the Anticipated Nutrient Reduction from Diffuse Sources
The assessment of the nutrient reduction from non-point sources of pollution is considered difficult to be
carried out during the period of economic transformation as it is recognized the influence of reduced
financial means on the implementation of the necessary measures to decrease nutrient release.
There is a large need of investments to ensure the increase of share of the population connected to sewerage
system (now, only 54 % of total population is connected).
In the last decade, the consumption of artificial fertilizers decreased rapidly (app. 38,3 kg N/ha and 9,6 kg
P/ha of agricultural land), but on long-term is expecting an increase of this amount up to 90 kg N/ha. The
amount of applied artificial fertilizers in the future is also strongly dependent on financial situation of
agricultural enterprises.
Slovakia encourages the beneficial application of the code of good agricultural practices in relation to the
release of nutrients from agricultural land.
With all these measures being implemented in the forthcoming five years, the amount of nutrients from
diffuse sources of pollution can be lowered by 10 %. More significant effects can be observed after longer
periods of time, as most of the planned activities are due to the year 2002 and full implementation needs
some additional time.
Five Years Nutrient Reduction Action Plan
33
4.4 Identification of Projects Ready for Implementation
The list of priority projects supposed to be ready for implementation in the coming five years is presented in
Annex 4.4. The elaboration of this list is based on:
!
Projects included in the Joint Action Programme, which is under preparation under EMIS/EG
at this time
!
Final draft of Up-dated National Action Plan for Danube River Basin, containing priorities of
both Ministry of Environment and Ministry of Soil Management regarding projects of
construction/reconstruction/expansion of sewer systems and waste water treatment plants
!
The National Environmental Action Plan, approved in December 1999, containing the list of
particular measures to achieve objectives set up for the water management sector in SR
Regarding data on investments and funding status it is expected that the partly existing information gaps can
be filled through information directly provided by the authorities or companies, responsible for project
realisation.
The total investment requirements of the 20 identified projects are EUR 118 million; their composition by
sectors is as follows:
!
13 municipal projects with investment requirements of EUR 103 million,
!
4 industrial projects with investment requirements of EUR 14 million,
!
no agricultural project;
!
3 wetland projects with investment requirements of EUR 0,9 million,
(of which two projects "Integrated Management in Olsavica River Basin" and "Floodplain
Meadow Restoration in the Lower Morava River" are already implemented and the third
project "Wetland Restoration in Laborec River Basin" is prepared, but financial sources not
yet secured).
Regarding project funding it is expected that about 38% will be covered by national funds, 4% by
international loans and about 3% by international grants; the funding of the residual 55% is not yet secured.
4.5 Assessment of the Anticipated Nutrient Reduction from Point-Sources
Regarding municipal sector, the nutrient emissions have either been known from wastewater quality
monitoring data, which are stored in Slovak Hydro-meteorological Institute or have been estimated by a
standardized method, based on per capita emission coefficients.
In discharged wastewater from industrial sources, nitrogen and phosphorus is measured only in case of
significant emissions. This is the reason why the total amount of discharged N and P from industry is not
given in Annex II-4.
The expected reduction of BOD, COD, nitrogen and phosphorus has been estimated on the basis of planned
measures in the particular source of pollution. If estimation of expected reduction is higher than the present
discharge, the reason is primarily that the expansion of the sewer system is usually planned for a higher
number of people connected to the wastewater treatment plant.
he anticipated nutrient reduction from the identified point source projects and the composition by sectors is
compiled in Section 4.6 (2) and can be summarized as follows:
!
N:
2574 tons/year;
!
P:
147 tons/year;
!
BOD: 13609
tons/year;
!
COD:
27148 tons/ year;
34
Summary Report
4.6 Summary of Main Country Specific Particularities
(1)
Main particularities regarding "non-point source" issues
Emissions from diffuse sources of pollution are considered in Slovakia as emissions coming from population
not connected to sewerage system, from agricultural land (by erosion and washing up) and from livestock.
Two important particularities of the country are related to the amounts of nitrogen and phosphorus applied
on agricultural land that are lower than their real need for cultivation of crops and the initiative to implement
soil conservation measures.
The most important measures for nutrient reduction from diffuse sources of pollution are prepared mainly in
accordance with transposition and implementation of European Union legislation.
Slovakia is so far the only one country of the Danube river basin that has a recent approved Law on
fertilizers. In addition, development and implementation of the Code of good agricultural practices with
purpose to reduce pollution caused by nitrates is having a high priority.
Finally, the identification of vulnerable areas regarding the Nitrates Directive and the new proposal on the
methods of control of biological degradability of active substance detergents bring Slovakia in line with EU
standards.
With all these measures being implemented in the forthcoming five years, the amount of nutrients from
diffuse sources of pollution can be lowered by 10 %.
(2)
Main particularities regarding "point source" projects
Altogether Slovak Republic could provide a relatively complete set of project data regarding investment
requirements, implementation schedules (and partly funding schemes) for the identified priority projects to
be implemented in the coming five year period. It is expected that the existing data gaps can be filled
through information directly provided by the authorities or companies, responsible for project realisation.
The primary characteristics of the identified priority projects, which are envisaged to be implemented within
the coming period of five years in Slovakia, can be summarized as follows:
Table 4.6-1: Primary Characteristics of the Identified Priority Projects
Sector
No of
Expected Nutrient Reduction
Investment Cost
Projects
(tons/year)
(Million EUR)
N
P
BOD
COD
Municipal point sources
13
2001
125
12968
25458
103.4
Industrial point sources
4
348
0
641
1690
14.2
Ag
ricultural point sources
0
0
0
0
0
0.0
Wetlands
3
226
23
0
0
0.9
Total
20
2574
147
13609
27148
118.4
Five Years Nutrient Reduction Action Plan
35
5 HUNGARY
5.1 Verification of Data and Information on Nutrient Emissions / Loads
The revision of data and information on nutrient emissions/ loads performed by Hungary has been
accomplished taking into consideration (i) the nutrient mass balance with main accent on diffuse pollution,
nutrient transport, wetlands and losses of nutrients in water systems, along the Danube and, (ii) the
functioning of the Black See ecosystems, with regard to the nutrient discharges.
The updated data and information are presented in table 5.1-1, 5.1-2 and 5.1-3.
Table 5.1-1. Population
Country total Emissions
Population not
Population connected to sewerage *
population
connected to
coefficients
sewerage
1998
Inh
Kg
Kg
inh
without
Mechanical
Biological
Tertiary step
treatment
step
step
N/inh/y
P/inh/y
10,135,000
4,358,000
81,833,000 231,634,000
245,386,000
11,762,000
Source: Housing Statistics and Public Utilities 1998, Central Statistical Office
* Data refer to waste water discharge expressed in m3
Table 5.1-2: Agricultural Land
Surface
Culture
Runoff
coefficient
Ha
Type of crop
kg N/ha/y
kg P/ ha/y
1,183,000
Wheat
1,023,000
Maize
370,000
Barley
67,000
Rye
194,000
Others
2,837,000
Total
1,766,000
Of which fertilized area
133
Source: Statistical Yearbook of Agriculture 1998, Central Statistical Office
Table 5.1-3: Number of Livestock
Inventory of animals*
Number
Emission Coefficient
Type
Heads
Kg N /head/y
kg P/ head /y
1. pigs
5,479,000
2. cows
407,000
3. cattle
873,000
4. horses
70,000
5. sheep
909,000
6. poultry
30,557,000
7. others
Source: Statistical Yearbook of Agriculture 1998, Central Statistical Office
* no wastewater treatment plant provided
36
Summary Report
The evolution of the of total fertilizer usage per hectare of arable land, garden, orchard and vineyard
at the world scale and Hungary is presented in the table below:
Country
1992
1993
1994
1995
1996
World total
87
84
85
89
89
Austria
177
175
168
158
152
Germany
239
224
242
234
234
Hungary
38
41
56
49
54
The assessment of amount of fertilizers used in Hungary between 1992-1996 is presented in the next
table:
Fertilizer use
1992
1993
1994
1995
1996
Total quantity in 1000 t
189
207
280
247
270
Use on arable land, for 1 38
41
56
49
54
ha kg/ha
Out of which:
N kg/ha
30
32
45
38
40
P kg/ha
4
5
5
6
7
K kg/ha
4
4
6
5
7
5.2 Identification of Measures for Nutrient Reduction from Diffuse Sources
The identified measures for nutrient reduction from diffuse sources by Hungary, which are supposed to
become effective within the forthcoming period of 5 years are based on the following concerns:
!
introduction of P-free detergents;
!
improvement of national policies and legislation regarding utilization of fertilizers and
livestock waste;
!
approximation of national legislation to relevant EU legislation and standards.
The National Environmental Programme of Hungary in relation to the nutrient reduction from diffuse
sources defines two major measures:
(1)
The wastewater treatment in the region of nutrient sensitive waters should be at least 3rd degree.
(2)
The nutrient emission into surface waters should be reduced below 20% in comparison with the recent
level.
Introduction of P-free detergents measure is not yet included in the National Environmental Programme of
1997-2006 neither in environmental, nor in the economic chapters.
5.3 Assessment of the Anticipated Nutrient Reduction from Diffuse Sources
The assessment of the anticipated annual potentials of nutrient reduction has been difficult to be carried out
by Hungary due to the lack of data.
However, the implementation of the following projects in the agricultural sector will lead at a reduction of
minimum 2,000-t/year N provided by non point sources of pollution:
!
Introduction of EU-conform and environmentally protective pig fattening technology, in
Mosonmagyarovar region;
!
Agriculture originated pollution minimization in the floodplain of Tisza river;
!
Establishment of agro- and nature-conservation training centers in the Koros-Maros National
Park;
Five Years Nutrient Reduction Action Plan
37
!
Central-Danube Valley organic farming, nutrient control, wetland rehabilitation;
!
Babocsa Organic farming in the Drava floodplain.
5.4 Identification of Projects Ready for Implementation
The identified priority projects that are supposed to be ready for implementation in the coming 5 years are
compiled and characterized in Annex II-5.
The total investment requirements of the 24 identified priority projects are EUR 687 million; their
composition by sectors is as follows:
!
16 municipal projects with investment requirements of EUR 658 million,
!
1 industrial project with investment requirements of EUR 5.9 million,
!
5 agricultural project with investment requirements of EUR 7.2 million,
!
2 wetland projects with investment requirements of EUR 15.4 million.
Regarding project funding it is expected that about 39% will be covered by national funds, 27% by
international loans and about 34% by international grants.
5.5 Assessment of the Anticipated Nutrient Reduction from Point-Sources
The anticipated nutrient reduction for the 24 identified priority projects is stated in detail in Annex 5.4 and
can be summarized as follows:
!
N:
6708 tons/year;
!
P:
1522 tons/year;
!
BOD:
- (figures not available);
!
COD:
- (figures not available);
The composition of the anticipated nutrient reduction by sectors is compiled in Section 5.6(2).
5.6 Summary of Main Country Specific Particularities
(1)
Main particularities regarding "non-point source" issues
The revision of data and information on nutrient emissions/ loads performed by Hungary has taking into
consideration the nutrient mass balance, with main accent on diffuse pollution, nutrient transport, wetlands
and losses of nutrients in water systems.
Specific for Hungary is the increase of the fertiliser usage per hectare of arable land, garden, orchard and
vineyard for the last eight years.
The identified measures for nutrient reduction from diffuse sources by Hungary, which are supposed to
become effective within the forthcoming period of 5 years include the introduction of P-free detergents and
improvements of national policies and legislation regarding utilisation of fertilisers and livestock waste.
An another particularity of Hungary is given by the measure to introduce wastewater treatment in the region
of nutrient sensitive waters.
It is expected that the implementation of the nutrient reduction measures in the agricultural sector will lead
to a reduction of minimum 2,000-t/year N.
(2)
Main particularities regarding "point source" projects
38
Summary Report
Hungary is one of the countries which provided a complete project list and set of project data regarding
investment requirements, implementation schedule and funding scheme for the identified priority projects to
be implemented in the coming five year period.
The primary characteristics of the identified priority projects which are envisaged to be implemented within
the coming period of five years in Hungary can be summarized as follows:
Table 5.6-1: Primary Characteristics of the Identified Priority Projects
Sector
No of
Expected Nutrient Reduction
Investment Cost
Projects
(tons/year)
(Million EUR)
N
P
BOD
COD
Municipal point sources
16
3455
1153
-
-
658.2
Industrial point sources
1
420
6
-
-
5.9
Agricultural point sources
5
2600
340
-
-
7.2
Wetlands
2
233
23
-
-
13.3
Total
23
6708
1522
-
-
686.7
At the time being there are no figures on anticipated reduction of BOD and COD.
Five Years Nutrient Reduction Action Plan
39
6 SLOVENIA
6.1 Verification of Data and Information on Nutrient Emissions / Loads
The verification of data and information were performed based on the estimates of the ad-hoc expert group
of Slovenia. Although some measurements exist, the current monitoring procedures do not contain rules to
allow measurements of Nitrogen and Phosphorus.
To facilitate the interpretation, Slovakia used the same values for one pollution equivalent (PE) as it is
reported elsewhere in the literature, e.g. the Haskoning report of 1999 as indicated below:
1 PE (of municipality origin) is:
!
60 g BOD5/day => 25 kg BOD5/year
!
150 g COD/day => 50 kg COD/year
!
g N/day
=> 5 kg N/year
!
2.5 g P/day
=> 1 kg P/year
It is also considered necessary to implement a new regulation on the responsibilities of large polluters to
measure apart of BOD and COD content, also N and P.
For situations when part of data on BOD and COD were not reliable, the calculations were based on the
population of the localities, adding measured or estimated values of the industrial load. An asterisk denotes
such values (*).
The data are presented in the Tables 6.1-1, 6.1-2, 6.1-3 below.
Table 6.1-1: Population
Country
Emissions
Population
Population connected to sewerage
Total
Coefficients
not connected
population in
to sewerage
the DRB
Kg N/nh/y Kg P/inh/y
without
Mechanical biological
tertiary step
treatment
step
step
87.7% of
5
1
56% =
13 % =
16% =
15% =
0% =
total
1,754 000
982 240
228 020
280 640
263 100
0
Table 6.1-2: Agricultural Land
Surface (ha)
Culture
Runoff coefficient
in the DRB
Type of crop
kg N /ha/y
kg P/ ha / y
Total Outflow / Total Precipit.
234 230
Fields
N/A
N/A
estimate 0.55 whole DRB
15 500
Vineyards
N/A
N/A
estimate 0.55 whole DRB
37 220
Orchards
N/A
N/A
estimate 0.55 whole DRB
310 430
Meadows
N/A
N/A
estimate 0.55 whole DRB
154 230
Pastures
N/A
N/A
estimate 0.55 whole DRB
868 980
Forests
N/A
N/A
estimate 0.55 whole DRB
130 210
Other
N/A
N/A
estimate 0.55 whole DRB
1 750 810
Total
estimate 0.55 whole DRB
40
Summary Report
Table 6.1-3: Number of Livestock
Inventory of animals*
Number in the Republic of Slovenia
Emission Coefficient
(factor 0.90 for DRB)
kg N /head/y
kg P/ head / y
1. pigs
116 658
N/A
N/A
2. cows
381 846
N/A
N/A
3. cattle
N/A
N/A
N/A
4. horses
10 312
N/A
N/A
5. sheep
22 972
N/A
N/A
6. poultry
1 419 884
N/A
N/A
7. others
* no waste water treatment plant provided
6.2 Identification of Measures for Nutrient Reduction from Diffuse Sources
As a consequence of EU accession process, Slovenia is already introducing EU market rules in terms of P-
free detergent use.
Slovenia proposes measures to improve the national policies and legislation regarding utilization of
fertilizers and livestock waste.
The Slovenian transposition of the EU Nitrates Directive states that total Nitrogen application on 1 ha of
land could be less than 210 kg N/year. This maximum allowable value is further limited on water protection
zones according to the type of the crop, e.g. maize 170 down to 80 kg N/year for 1 ha of land for wheat.
These lower limits shall also be taken into consideration on the country level once the forthcoming Water
Act will come into force.
Slovenia already initiated actions to elaborate the code of proper best agricultural practices for achieving a
sustainable agriculture.
It is expected that the national legislation shall be harmonized with the EU legislation within 2-3 years,
while the full compliance time for some directives will be extended up to the year 2011 (IPPC) or even 2015
(UWWTD).
6.3 Assessment of the Anticipated Nutrient Reduction from Diffuse Sources
The assessment of the nutrient reduction measures has been performed with the view that EU approximation
will bring positive changes but with long waiting periods to be able to properly valuing them.
As it has been already presented in some earlier studies (e.g. Haskoning, 1992 and 1993) Slovenia
considered that there would be extremely difficult to reduce the present diffuse loads.
One reason is given by the fact that 50% of Slovenia's population live in settlements below 2000 PE, and
almost 70 % below 10 000 PE. As the Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive calls for centralized
treatment, the number of PE connected to WWTP's will be much higher, which will, in turn, negligibly
reduce diffuse pollution, but, significantly, increase point-sources pollution. Any attempt in agriculture to
compensate for this increase in point-source pollution will mean great financial, logistic and management
burden for Slovenia.
Five Years Nutrient Reduction Action Plan
41
6.4 Identification of Projects Ready for Implementation
The list of projects that are supposed to be ready for implementation in the coming 5 years is presented in
Annex II-6. The elaboration of this list of projects is mainly based on the up-dated Action Pollution
Reduction Programme of the DDPRP and a selection of the most feasible and best-prepared projects (with
complete project files, adequate funding schedules, and ready for implementation) been considered:
The total investment requirements of the 24 identified projects are EUR 384 million; their composition by
sectors is as follows:
!
23 municipal projects with investment requirements of EUR 383 million,
!
no industrial project;
!
1 agricultural project with investment requirements of EUR 1,7 million;
!
no wetland project.
Regarding project funding it is expected that about 85% will be covered by national funds, 12% by
international loans and about 3% by international grants.
6.5 Assessment of the Anticipated Nutrient Reduction from Point-Sources
The overall anticipated nutrient reduction from the identified point source projects and the composition by
sectors is stated in the compilation presented in section 6.6 (2) and can be summarized as follows:
!
N:
5233 tons/year;
!
P:
814 tons/year;
!
BOD: 28816
tons/year;
!
COD:
47040 tons/ year;
6.6 Main Country Specific Particularities
(1)
Main particularities regarding "non-point source" issues
The verification of data and information were performed based on the estimates of the ad-hoc expert group
of Slovenia, with some constraints related to the current monitoring procedures which do not contain rules
to allow measurements of Nitrogen and Phosphorus.
As a consequence of EU accession process, Slovenia is already introducing EU market rules in terms of P-
free detergent use.
Slovenia proposes also measures to improve the national policies and legislation regarding utilisation of
fertilisers and livestock waste. Moreover, Slovenia already initiated actions to elaborate the code of proper
best agricultural practices for achieving a sustainable agriculture.
The assessment of the nutrient reduction measures has been performed with the view that EU approximation
will bring positive changes but with long waiting periods to be able to properly valuing them.
(2)
Main particularities regarding "point source" projects
Altogether Slovenia provided a complete project list and set of project data regarding investment
requirements, implementation schedules and funding schemes for the identified priority projects to be
implemented in the coming five year period.
The primary characteristics of the identified priority projects which are envisaged to be implemented within
the coming period of five years in Slovenia can be summarized as follows:
42
Summary Report
Table 6.6-1: Primary Characteristics of the Identified Priority Projects
Sector
No of
Expected Nutrient Reduction
Investment Cost
Projects
(tons/year)
(Million EUR)
N
P
BOD
COD
Municipal point sources
23
5 053
786
27 836
45 440
382,5
Industrial point sources
0
0
0
0
0
0.0
Agricultural point sources
1
180
28
980
1 600
1,7
Wetlands
0
0
0
0
0
0.0
Total
24
5 233
814
28 816
47 040
384.2
Five Years Nutrient Reduction Action Plan
43
7
CROATIA
7.1 Verification of Data and Information on Nutrient Emissions / Loads
Croatia was not the part of the Nutrient Mass Balance Project within the Danube Program.
The analysis/verifications of the data and the information on nutrient emissions/loads has been performed
for population and livestock unit, as most of the necessary data for agricultural land do not yet exist.
Moreover, data about emissions of Phosphorus and Nitrogen need to be collected which it will take some
time and supplementary investigations.
However, it was possible that some data that refer to the type of crop production, by specific crop
production, in tons in 1997, to be reviewed. Tables 1 and 3 contain some information that were collected
and reviewed.
Table 7.1-1: Population
Country total Emissions
Population
Population connected to sewerage
population
Coefficients
not connected
to sewerage
Kg
Kg
without
mechanical
biological step tertiary step
N/inh/y
P/inh/y
treatment
step
3 250 000
4,0
0,9
1 583 100
1 475 600
45 700
145 600
-
Table 7.1-2: Agricultural Land
Surface ha
Culture
Runoff Coefficient
Type of crop
kg N/ha/y
kg P/ha/y
n.a
n.a
n.a.
Table 7.1-3: Number of Livestock
Inventory of animals*
Number (1998)
Emission Coefficient
kg N/head/y
kg P/head/y
1. pigs
1 333 449
8,0
2. cows
232 694
3. cattle
377 307
4. horses
10 075
5. sheep
157 287
8,0
6. poultry
8 736 791
0.7
7. others
-
· total with and without treatment
7.2 Identification of Measures for Nutrient Reduction from Diffuse Sources
In accordance with the National Pollution Control Plan of Croatia, the proposed measures include:
!
Preservation of the water resources quality
!
Reduction of the pollution sources
!
Strengthening of the monitoring system inclusively for accidental pollution.
44
Summary Report
For the next five years, Croatia proposes the necessary measures for nutrient reduction that include (i)
introduction of P-free detergents, (ii) improvement of national policies and legislation regarding utilization
of fertilizers and livestock waste, and (iii) approximation of national legislation to relevant EU legislation,
respectively EU-standards.
7.3 Assessment of the Anticipated Nutrient Reduction from Diffuse Sources
During the last decade, the use of plant protection agents has decreased, not due to ecological reasons, but
exclusively because of the economic constraints.
It seems that visible nutrient reduction from diffuse sources might take place only once the required
measures and actions will be implemented.
7.4 Identification of Projects Ready for Implementation
The identified priority projects, which are supposed to be ready for implementation in the coming 5 years,
are compiled and characterized in Annex II-7.
The total investment requirements of the 11 identified priority projects are EUR 433 million; their
composition by sectors is as follows:
!
11 municipal projects with investment requirements of EUR 421 million (including EUR 256
million for implementation of biological treatment in Zagreb, 1500000 PE):
Cakovec (extension of WWTP for tertiary treatment;
Varazdin (reconstruction works and sludge treatment);
Koprivnica (secondary and tertiary treatment for 90000 PE);
Zagreb (biological treatment for 1500000 PE);
Sisak, Karlovac (preparatory works);
5 other smaller WWTPs
!
no industrial projects;
!
no agricultural projects;
!
no wetland projects.
Industrial, agricultural and wetland projects could not yet be identified because these projects need
commitment from other authorities which is not to be obtained in the short term.
Regarding project funding the figures presented in Annex 7.4 are just for ongoing projects, respectively
contracted values. For the majority of the projects there are no adequate funding schemes available.
7.5 Assessment of the Anticipated Nutrient Reduction from Point-Sources
The anticipated nutrient reduction for the identified priority projects is stated in detail in Annex 7.4 and
summarized in Section 7.6(2).
As nutrient reduction figures are not available for all of the identified priority projects, the provided figures
do not fully represent the actual nutrient reduction.
Five Years Nutrient Reduction Action Plan
45
7.6 Summary of Main Country Specific Particularities
(1)
Main particularities regarding "non-point source" issues
Specific for Croatia is the fact that it has not been part of the Nutrient Mass Balance Project within the
Danube Program. Most of data are not available and the analysis/verifications of the data and the
information on nutrient emissions/loads has been performed only for population and livestock units.
In accordance with the National Pollution Control Plan of Croatia, the proposed measures include:
!
Preservation of the water resources quality
!
Reduction of the pollution sources
!
Strengthening of the monitoring system, inclusively for accidental pollution.
For the next five years, Croatia proposes the necessary measures for nutrient reduction that include (i)
introduction of P-free detergents, (ii) improvement of national policies and legislation regarding utilization
of fertilizers and livestock waste, and (iii) approximation of national legislation to relevant EU legislation,
respectively EU-standards.
It has been difficult to make estimates, but it is assumed that noticeable nutrient reduction from diffuse
sources might be recorded once the required measures and actions will be implemented.
(2) Main particularities regarding "point source" projects
Up to now, there is no formalized, respectively officially agreed program or plan for nutrient reduction
projects in Croatia.
There is a relatively clear priority schedule and implementation program for WWTP in the municipal sector;
(but not for the industrial and the agricultural sector, and not for wetlands).
The primary characteristics of the identified priority projects which are envisaged to be implemented within
the coming period of five years in Croatia can be summarized as follows:
Table 7.6-1: Primary Characteristics of the Identified Priority Projects
Sector
No of Expected Nutrient Reduction
Investment Cost
Projects
(tons/year)
(Million EUR)
N
P
BOD
COD
Municipal point sources
11
1509
239
15310
34424
433.4
Industrial point sources
0
0
0
0
0
0
Agricultural point sources
0
0
0
0
0
0
Wetlands
0
0
0
0
0
0
Total
11
1509
239
15310
34424
433.4
Even these priority projects in the municipal waste water sector cannot be considered as really committed,
as there are no committed funding schemes for the majority of the identified projects.
According to the provided data there are no figures for the anticipated nutrient reduction for the majority of
the identified projects.
46
Summary Report
8
BOSNIA - HERCEGOVINA
8.1 Verification of Data and Information on Nutrient Emissions / Loads
In comparison with similar previous revisions of data on emissions and loads, for this project, Bosnia -
Herzegovina presented a full picture of all rivers belonging to the Danube river basin on its territory.
However, since the system of monitoring and assessment has not been yet re-established and therefore the
up-dated values are not yet available, the data and information on nutrient emissions/loads represent
estimations from the pre-war period.
Moreover, Bosnia - Herzegovina included recorded data on nutrient content at the mouths of main rivers
into Sava river to be considered for transboundary pollution analysis within the framework of this present
project.
The data on total nitrogen and phosphorus content measured in monitoring stations that are not up-dated are
presented in the following table:
No
River
COD (t/y)
BOD5 (t/y)
Total N (t/y)
Ortho P (t/y)
1.
Una
32.777
14,000
-
600
2.
Vrbas
52.305
22,500
2,600
95
3.
Bosna
29.601
14,200
6,540
270
4.
Drina downstream of Visegrad
33.726
9,500
-
135
At present about 88.61 % or 3,348 734 inhabitants of the total B&H population lives in the Danube river
basin. Data for the share of Danube river basin related to pre-war and present population are summarized in
the Table 8.1-1, with emissions coefficient calculated per capita and year.
Table 8.1-1: Population
The population Emissions
Population not Population connected to sewerage system
in the DRB
Coefficients
connected to
sewerage system
Kg
Kg
without
Mechanical biological
Tertiary step
(65 %)
N/inh/y
P/inh/y
treatment
step
step
4,010 467*
0.78
0.23
2,606 804
933,663
-
470,000
0
3,348 734**
N/a
n/a
2,176 677
896,881
-
15,500
0
* population in 1991, within Danube River Basin
** population from post-war period (assessment)
Most of the data required to fill up the Tables 8.1-2 and 8.1-3 were not yet available. Data given
(agricultural areas and number of livestock) refers to the entire territory of B&H.
Table 8.1-2: Agricultural Land
Surface (ha)
Culture
RunoffCoefficient
Type of crop
kg N/ha/y
kg P/ha/y
1,055,000
Ploughed fields and gardens
n/a
n/a
n/a
100,000
Orchards
n/a
n/a
n/a
4,000
Vineyards
n/a
n/a
n/a
383,000
Meadows
n/a
n/a
n/a
1,542,000
Total arable land
n/a
n/a
n/a
866,000
Pastures
n/a
n/a
n/a
7,000
Fish ponds, pools and reeds
n/a
n/a
n/a
873,000
Total uncultivable land
n/a
n/a
n/a
2,415,000
Total agricultural area
n/a
n/a
n/a
Source: Unpublished data of the two entity statistic institutes
Five Years Nutrient Reduction Action Plan
47
Table 8.1-3: Number of Livestock
Inventory of
Number
Emission coefficient
Animals*
(B&H , 31.12.1997)
kg N/head/y
Kg P/head/y
1. pigs
372,654
n/a
n/a
2. cows
574,102
n/a
n/a
3. cattle
417,704
n/a
n/a
4. horses
56,807
n/a
n/a
5. sheep
580,493
n/a
n/a
6. poultry
3,362 488
n/a
n/a
7. others
n/a
n/a
n/a
* no waste water treatment plant provided
Only a very small number of inhabitants are served by sewerage system (up to 35 %), mostly located in
larger municipalities. All other settlements do not have any sewerage system or connection to wastewater
treatment plants. The increase of number of settlements having access to sewerage and treatment facilities is
considered as being a priority by the government. As an example, two newly constructed wastewater
treatment plants are already in operation. Also, the rehabilitation of those wastewater treatment plants that
were damaged in the past represents a concern for the policy makers.
8.2 Identification of Measures for Nutrient Reduction from Diffuse Sources
The nutrient content of waters of B&H provided by the diffused sources of nutrient emissions is mainly
from the agricultural production and livestock farming.
As a consequence of recent economic development of the country mainly through both the extension of
cultivated agricultural areas and intensification of farming, a future increase of nutrient emission can be
expected.
The current legal framework related to water and environmental concerns, which can be considered as the
most appropriate measure to control and reduce nutrient is mainly out-dated and does not allow the
harmonization to the relevant EU legislation.
Although, at the state level, new pieces of legislation are in the process of preparation, there are still no
instruments available to both control and enforce the necessary measures in reducing nutrient emissions.
One example can be given by the existence of the only one recorded Detergent Production Factory DITA
located in Tuzla which produces P-free detergents, in spite of the fact that there are may other producers
which are not yet part of the evidence in the water and environmental registers.
The urgent measures proposed by Bosnia - Herzegovina to be implemented include:
!
Creation of various relevant legal regulations and rules in accordance to EU legislation
referred to the use of various chemical products in agriculture;
!
Introduction and use of relevant standards for production/use of various chemical products in
agriculture;
!
Introduction and use of relevant standards for production/use of various chemical products in
agriculture;
!
Setting up of relevant institutions to be responsible for enforcement of legal instruments and
standards;
!
Establishment of an inspection system to enforce the legal requirements;
!
Promotion of sanitation measures of all centralized farms and construction of wastewater
treatment plants on farms in parallel;
!
Development and implementation of relevant regulations related to the production of
phosphorus-free detergents.
48
Summary Report
8.3 Assessment of the Anticipated Nutrient Reduction from Diffuse Sources
Taking into consideration the necessity of development of the required legal framework, which can allow
the introduction of nutrient control and reduction measures, it is understandable that the first results
concerning the reduction of emissions/loads pollutants will be visible after the implementation period of the
proposed urgent measures.
Under these conditions, if the predicted urgent measures shall be introduced during the year 2001, one can
expect reduction of nutrient emissions in the after-coming period. If it is assumed that the adoption and
implementation of regulations and standards will be within the next two years, then visible effects of
nutrient content reduction can be expected in the year 2005.
However, improvement of the economic situation of the country can already be seen especially in the field
of agriculture and stock farming. As the activities in the field of agriculture and livestock farming are
recently intensified, the nutrient content will record higher levels. This concern is going to be taking into
consideration and included in the proposed urgent measures of B&H.
Generally, it can be assumed that the condition of transboundary rivers, considering pollution impacts in
general, is better than the assessed conditions in the previous period. However, figures showing the expected
nutrient reduction are not available at the moment.
8.4 Identification of Projects Ready for Implementation
The Long Term Protection Program finalized in 1991 (just before the war started) proposed different
activities that were supposed to be implemented within a period of 18 years. At that time, the expected
investment cost for the defined priority projects to be implemented within the next five years period was as
following:
River basin
Investment cost (Million EUR)
Una-Sana
210
Vrbas
460
Bosna
480
Sava
105
Up to now, there is no formalized, respectively officially agreed investment programme or action plan for
nutrient control/reduction projects in B&H.
The most urgent priority projects which should be implemented within the coming period of five years are
compiled in Annex II-8.
The total investment requirements of the 12 identified priority projects is EUR 176 million; the composition
by sectors is as follows:
!
5 municipal projects with investment requirements of EUR 147.0 million;
!
6 industrial projects with investment requirements of EUR 27.1 million;
!
1 agricultural project with investment requirements of EUR 2.3 million;
!
no wetland project.
Even these projects with total investment requirements of about EUR 156 million cannot be considered as
really committed, as for most of the projects, adequate implementation and funding schedules are not yet
available.
8.5 Assessment of the Anticipated Nutrient Reduction from Point-Sources
Since data on current nutrient emissions are not really known for most of the discharge points, and since
available data are mainly based on pre-war measurements, it is actually not possible to assess the anticipated
nutrient reduction correctly.
Five Years Nutrient Reduction Action Plan
49
The anticipated nutrient reduction from the implementation of the identified priority projects (which can due
to the incomplete data actually not be considered as the total nutrient reduction) is compiled in detail in
Annex 8.4 and summarized in section 8.6(2).
8.6 Summary of Main Country Specific Particularities
(1)
Main particularities regarding "non-point source" issues
Bosnia - Herzegovina reviewed recorded data on nutrient content for all main rivers located within the
Danube basin share. However, at this stage of the project development, most of the data required are not yet
available.
Agricultural production and livestock farming represent the main diffuse sources of pollution. However, the
large diffuse pollution provided by the lack of treatment facilities for 65% of the population living in the
country imposed new priorities fr the policy makers, in relation to the constructed of new wastewater
treatment plants or the rehabilitation of those plants that were damaged in the past.
The current legal framework related to water and environmental concerns is mainly out-dated and does not
allow the harmonization to the relevant EU legislation.
The introduction of P-free detergents has been already taken into consideration.
The urgent measures proposed by Bosnia - Herzegovina to be implemented in relation to the nutrient
reduction concern refer to improvements of both legal and institutional framework.
As a consequence of recent economic development of the country mainly through both the extension of
cultivated agricultural areas and intensification of farming a future increase of nutrient emission can be
expected. However, if the predicted urgent measures shall be introduced during the year 2001, visible effects
of nutrient content reduction can be expected in the year 2005.
(2)
Main particularities regarding "point source" projects
Up to now, there is no formalized, respectively officially agreed investment programme or action plan for
nutrient control/reduction projects in B&H.
The primary characteristics of the identified priority projects which are envisaged to be implemented within
the coming period of five years in B&H can be summarized as follows:
Table 8.6-1: Primary Characteristics of the Identified Priority Projects
Sector
No of
Expected Nutrient Reduction
Investment Cost
Projects
(tons/year)
(Million EUR)
N
P
BOD
COD
Municipal point sources
5
3005
450
7689
14802
147.0
Industrial point sources
6
125
63
963
2159
27.1
Agricultural point sources
0
1570
350
0
0
2.3
Wetlands
1
0
0
0
0
0
Total
12
4700
863
8652
16961
176.4
Even these most urgent priority projects, with total investment requirements of about EUR 176 million,
cannot be considered as committed, as even for these projects, adequate implementation schedules and
funding schemes are not yet available.
At the time being, there are no reliable data on the existing situation of nutrient emissions, respectively the
anticipated nutrient reduction from the implementation of proposed "point source" projects. Thus the above
stated figures do due to missing data actually not represent the total nutrient reduction of the proposed
priority projects
50
Summary Report
9
YUGOSLAVIA
9.1 Verification of Data and Information on Nutrient Emissions / Loads
Yugoslavia verified the data and information on nutrient emissions/loads that were collected before the year
1992. This is justified by the fact that the data collected after this period present a particular character of
uncertainty. In addition, it is considered that the data from the period up to 1992 reflect more realistically
the situation for the planning period covered by Phase II of the Strategic Action Plan for the Danube River.
Table 9.1-1: Population
Country total Emissions
Population
Population connected to sewerage
population
coefficients
not connected in the DRB
living in DRB
to sewerage
Kg
Kg
Inh.
without
mechanical
biological tertiary step
N/inh/y
P/inh/y
treatment
step
step
9 016 000
4.0
0.95
6 039 000
2 400 000
80 000
447 000
50 000
Note:
The consumption of detergents in the FR YU DRB is 52 000 t/y or about 6 kg/cap/y.
The production of P-free detergents is not practiced yet. It is estimated that 1 400 t/y of Phosphorous emission comes
from detergents.
This amount is included in the data of municipal wastewater emission.
Table 9.1-2: Agricultural Land
Surface
Type of crop
Applied fertilizers (kg/ha/y)
Runoff Coefficient
(see remarks)
Mineral
Manure
mineral
manure
kg/ha/y
kg/ha/y
(ha)
Nitrogen
N
P
P
N
P
850 000
Wheat
25
25
12.0
10.0
1 350 000
Maize
30
25
14.0
10.0
160 000
Sunflower
15
15
7.0
6.5
55 000
Sugar beat
90
15
30.0
6.5
17 000
Rye
20
10
4.0
4.0
200 000
Vegetables
25
15
7.5
6.5
100 000
Grapes, Fruits
20
15
7.5
6.5
Remarks:
(1)
In the YU Part of DRB there are: Arable land 4 680 000 ha (60% cultivated for the crop);
(2)
Natural pastures 1 011 900 ha; Forested land 2 707 000; Water bodies 137 000 ha; Unspecified land 348
900 ha;
(3)
About 2 600 000 ha of arable land lye in the flat area where vertical component of runoff dominates;
(4)
Due to low consumption of fertilizers there is 25-30 % deficit of Nitrogen in the soil. The largest portion of
Phosphorous is adsorbed by unsaturated soil;
(5)
There is no data on the runoff (export) coefficients for specified crop, but the average export coefficients for N
and P estimated on the basis of N and P mass flow for several rivers (exactly defined watersheds) are: 1 - 1.5 (kg
N/ha/y) and 0.15 - 0.25 (kg P/ha/y) respectively;
(6)
The emission of Nitrogen and Phosphorous from diffuse pollution sources in the YU Part of DRB is about 15
000 tons N/y and 2000 tons P/y respectively.
Five Years Nutrient Reduction Action Plan
51
Table 9.1-3: Number of Livestock
Inventory of animals
Number Emission Coefficient
(no waste water treatment plant provided)
(average)
Kg N/head/y
Kg P/head/y
Pigs (breeding in the larger farms)
1 200 000 7.15
2.68
Pigs (small private livestock, individual households)
3 000 000 5.36
2.05
Cows (breeding in the larger farms)
150 000 26.60
11.6
Cows (small private livestock, individual households)
500 000 20.00
8.62
Cattle (breeding in the larger farms)
150 000 38.40
38.00
Cattle (small private livestock, individual households)
1 120 000 28.10
28.70
Horses
90 000 No data
No data
Sheep (small private livestock, individual households)
2 500 000 No data
No data
Poultry (breeding in the larger farms)
12 000 000 0.42
0.22
Poultry (small private livestock, individual households)
15 000 000 0.32
0.15
Remarks :
(1)
The emission coefficient for animals breeding in small private livestock and individual households is lower due
to the different feeding practice
(2)
Manure is usually discharged into lagoons and after enough period of maturation is used for application on the
land
(3)
A neglecting portion of manure directly reaches watercourses.
9.2 Identification of Measures for Nutrient Reduction from Diffuse Sources
The nutrient emissions from diffuse sources do not present significant values to justify the implementation
of severe measures. As estimated, the total emission of nitrogen and phosphorous from diffuse sources are
about 14 -15 000 t/y and 1600 2000 t/y, respectively.
The reduced emissions are due to the effects of using, on most of the arable land (85%), of the good
agricultural practices (soil care, using of manure rather than mineral fertilizers, adjusting of the periods of
soil application manure, etc.). As the consequence, nutrients run off from the largest part of arable land is
minimized to the lowest level.
However, in the plain region, the run-off is low and nutrients are transformed or adsorbed by the soil. The
small part of it reaches the recipients.
The consumption of fertilizers in FR of Yugoslavia in the last then years has severely decreased. In this
period it is just one third of what it was before the year 1990. As estimated, the uptake of nutrients by plants
overcomes the consumption by 25%.
The proposed measures for nutrient reduction from diffuse sources include:
(1)
Continuation of the use of good agricultural practices
(2)
Controlling of the use of mineral fertilizers, particularly in the slope areas
(3)
Forestation in order to decrease erosion
52
Summary Report
9.3 Assessment of the Anticipated Nutrient Reduction from Diffuse Sources
The effects of measures for nutrient reduction from diffuse sources could be observed on the long-term
basis. Comparing with nutrient emission data, an improvement could be recorded by decreasing erosion i.e.
by afforesting measures implemented in the areas of excessive erosion. It is estimated that the current
emission could be decreased for about 25%.
9.4 Identification of Projects Ready for Implementation
Yugoslavia provided a complete project list and set of project data regarding investment requirements,
implementation schedule and funding schemes for the identified priority projects to be implemented in the
coming five year period.
The identified priority projects that are supposed to be ready for implementation in the coming 5 years are
compiled and characterized in Annex II-9.
The total investment requirements of the 40 identified priority projects are EUR 783 million; the
composition by sectors is a s follows:
!
21 municipal projects with investment requirements of EUR 646 million,
!
7 industrial projects with investment requirements of EUR 68.5 million,
!
7 agricultural project with investment requirements of EUR 65.8 million,
!
5 wetland projects with investment requirements of EUR 2.5 million.
Regarding project funding it is expected that about 22% will be covered by national funds, 65% by
international loans and about 13% by international grants.
9.5 Assessment of the Anticipated Nutrient Reduction from Point-Sources
The overall anticipated nutrient reduction from the identified point source projects and the composition by
sectors is stated in the compilation presented in Section 9.6 (2) and can be summarized as follows:
!
N:
6793 tons/year;
!
P:
4863 tons/year;
!
BOD: 115358
tons/year;
!
COD:
277196 tons/ year.
9.6 Summary of Main Country Specific Particularities
(1)
Main particularities regarding "non-point source" issues
Yugoslavia considered that the data and information on nutrient emissions/loads recorded before the year
1992 reflect more realistically the situation for the planning period subject to the Strategic Action Plan for
the Danube River.
One significant particularity of Yugoslavia is related to the current reduced nutrient emissions from diffuse
sources with values of about 14 -15 000 t N/y and 1600 2000 t P/y, respectively.
The reduced emissions are due to the effects of using, on most of the arable land (85%), of the good
agricultural practices (soil care, using of manure rather than mineral fertilizers, adjusting of the periods of
soil application manure, etc.). As the consequence, nutrients run off from the largest part of arable land is
minimized to the lowest level.
Five Years Nutrient Reduction Action Plan
53
As in other countries, the consumption of fertilizers, in the last ten years, has severely decreased. In this
period it is just one third of what it was before the year 1990.
The proposed measures for nutrient reduction from diffuse sources include:
(1)
Continuation of the use of good agricultural practices
(2)
Controlling of the use of mineral fertilizers, particularly in the slope areas
(3)
Forestation in order to decrease erosion
The effects of measures for nutrient reduction from diffuse sources could be observed on the long-term
basis. Comparing with nutrient emission data, an improvement could be recorded by decreasing erosion i.e.
by afforesting measures implemented in the areas of excessive erosion. It is estimated that the current
emission could be decreased for about 25%.
(2)
Main particularities regarding "point source" projects
Yugoslavia provided a complete project list and set of project data regarding investment requirements,
implementation schedule and funding schemes for the identified priority projects to be implemented in the
coming five year period.
The primary characteristics of the identified priority projects can be summarized as follows:
Table 9.6-1: Primary Characteristics of the Identified Priority Projects
Sector
No of
Expected Nutrient Reduction
Investment Cost
Projects
(tons/year)
(Million EUR)
N
P
BOD
COD
Municipal point sources
21
2 486
3 147
76 280
169 212
646.0
Industrial point sources
7
1 347
3 571
29 345
64 710
68.5
Agricultural point sources
7
640
242
5 133
11 074
65.8
Wetlands
5
2 320
350
4 600
32 200
2.5
Total
40
6 793
7 310
115 358
277 196
782.8
If these extraordinary high anticipated nutrient reduction figures could really be realized the implementation
of the proposed point source projects in Yugoslavia would lead to a significant reduction of nutrient
emissions and nutrient loads in the DRB.
54
Summary Report
10 BULGARIA
10.1 Verification of Data and Information on Nutrient Emissions / Loads
The verification of the data and information on nutrient emissions in Bulgaria implied initially the
organization of data and information provided by various specific institutions on the river basin basis. This
exercise made possible the separation, with some kind of uncertainty, at this time of the development of the
project, of the independent contributions of both diffuse and point sources of pollution. However, the
precise correction of nutrient mass balance with main accent on diffuse pollution, nutrient transport,
wetlands and losses of nutrients in water systems along the Danube on the Bulgarian territory was not
possible at this stage.
Therefore, the data and information relating to agricultural and municipal sectors were updated for the year
1998. The evaluation of nutrient emissions/loads is presented in the tables 10.1-1, 10.1-2 and 10.1-3.
The updated data on the total number of the population in the Danube river basin on the Bulgarian territory,
the emissions coefficients, the number of the population connected and not connected to sewerage are given
in Table 10.1-1.
Table 10.1-1: Population
Country total Emissions
Population not Population connected to sewerage
population-Danube RB Coefficients
connected to
sewerage
Inhabitants
Kg
Kg
inhabitants
Without
Mechanical Biological
Tertiary step
N/inh/y
P/inh/y
treatment
step
step
Zone A 137 744
71 214
66 530
-
-
-
Zone B 408 795
236 868
159 276
-
77 592
-
Zone C 1545 417
426 484
53 427
26 608
1 016 218
22 680*
Zone D 411 029
204 750
86 229
-
120 050
-
Zone E 560 047
272 372
209 020
13 655
65 000
-
Zone F 189 277
132 015
15 338
-
41 924
-
Zone G 645 911
350 371
198 964
-
96 576
-
Total 3 898 220
4,015
0,913
1 694 074
788 784
40 263
1 417 360
22 680*
100%
43,47%
35,11% **
1,79%**
63,09%**
1,0%**
Source: NSI,
MRDPW
*
WWTP- Samokov, not yet under operation
**
35,11% of the population connected to sewerage; the share of the population connected to sewerage is 66,53% of
the total population in the Danube catchment
The percentage of the population, which is not connected to sewerage, is 43,47% within the Danube river
catchment area. The amount of wastewater of 35,11% of the population connected to sewerage is discharged
without treatment while 1,79% is treated using only mechanical step and 63,09% is biologically treated.
There is a small portion of only 1% of the total wastewater that is treated using tertiary stage.
The expressed data for the population, which refer to nitrogen and phosphorus emissions are as
follows:
Average parameters ,,pollution BOD5
Total N
Total P
production" of one person in g/inh/day
kg/inh/year
g/inh/day
kg/inh/year
g/inh/day
kg/inh/year
one day or one year
Adopted in Bulgaria
54
19,71
11
4,015
1,44
0,526
European (often used)
60
21,90
11
4,015
2,50
0,913
Five Years Nutrient Reduction Action Plan
55
The structure of the agricultural sector by type of activity and production in 1997 and 1998 is considered to
be almost the same. On a national level, the crop production has the biggest share 63,9%. Next to this is the
livestock production with 16,2% and mixed (crop and livestock) with 6,1%.
The updated information, concerning the agricultural land use and the types of crops are presented in Table
10.1-2.
Table 10.1-2: Agricultural Land
Surface (ha)
Culture
Runoff coefficient
Type of crop
kg N/ha/y
kg P/ha/y
584 203,6
Wheat
105 547,3
Barley
353 846,0
Maize
325 292,9
Sunflower
104,1
field tomatoes
35 821,9
Grapes
Source: NSI,
MoAF
In Bulgaria there are several regions with well-developed agriculture, such as Dobrich, Pleven, Silistra,
Russe, Veliko Tarnovo, Vratza, Razgrad, Montana.
Therefore, the fertilization of the cultivated land is of great importance for the agricultural output and the
nutrient balance. The imbalance fertilization and deficit of the main nutrients have been detrimental to both
crop production and soil fertility, that adversely influenced the country's environmental situation (see the
table below).
Average Use of Mineral Fertilizers (in tons) Country Bulgaria:
Year
NPK- total
Kg/ha
N
kg/ha
P205
kg/ha
1981
1056369
226,98
511761
109,94
419688
90,16
1995
142127
30,69
129545
27,60
12426
2,68
1996
164894
35,61
151883
32,36
12824
2,76
1997
163922
36,47
145773
32,49
16275
3,58
1998
113146
24,11
97497
20,77
8900
1,89
30.06.1999
111972
107662
3328
Source: Ministry of Agriculture, Annual report 1999.
The high cost of chemical treatment of soil impeded improvements or amelioration work during past 6 years.
According to MoAF data, before 1998, only some 7.7% of the areas under crops was treated with
phosphorous fertilizers, 5.9% with nitrogen fertilizers and a bare surface of 0.2% experienced potassium
treatment.
The Nutrients Balance shows the values indicated in the table below:
56
Summary Report
Years
Balance Elements
N
P205
(in 1000 t)
(in 1000 t)
1986-1990
Exported with crop exports
272
104
Imported with fertilizer imports
441
230
Balance
+ 169
+ 126
1991-1995
Exported with crop exports
205
102
Imported with fertilizer imports
165
23
Balance
- 40
- 79
1996
Exported with crop exports
120
70
Imported with fertilizer imports
152
13
Balance
- 32
- 57
1998
Exported with crop exports
184
92
Imported with fertilizer imports
97
9
Balance
- 77
- 83
Source: Ministry of Agriculture, Annual report 1999.
Regarding the livestock production in 1998, both animal numbers and production were increased (sheep and
buffalo numbers being an exception to the trend) against 1997, but comparing with 1989/1990 the numbers
show several fold decrease.
The number of animals bred in small family farms has been increasing in recent years. The number of
livestock ranges - 1 to 3 cows, and 5 to 10 sheep.
Based on the research work carried out by the Soil & Science Institute ,,N. Pushkarov" it is shown that the
solid and liquid wastes from cattle (cows, calves, and buffaloes) constitute 8% of the animal weight and they
are at rate of 1,66:1. Presuming that the average weight of a cow is 500 kg, one cow should deliver daily 25
kg solid and 15-kg liquid wastes. The solid and liquid wastes from a pig constitute 7% of its weight i.e. for a
100 kg pig the wastes will be 7 kg/day in relation 0,62:1, etc. The average annual load per an animal (N & P)
is given in the table below.
Type of animal
Quantity of manure
Total Nitrogen (TN)
Total Phosphorous (TP)
(tons/year)
(kg/head/year)
(kg/head/year)
Cow
14,6
66,3
17,83
Pig
2,5
16,0
6,45
Sheep
1,0
5,0
0,87
Hens
0,054
0,6
0,32
Source: Research publication of Soil Science Institute ,,N. Pushkarov"
The updated information, concerning inventory of animals, their number and emission coefficient is
presented as Table 10.1-3.
Table 10.1-3: Number of Livestock
Inventory of animals*
Number
Emission Coefficient
(*no WWTP provided)
kg N/head/y
kg P/head/y
1. pigs
610 049
16,0
6,45
2. cows
220 960
66,3
17,83
3. sheep
1 045 736
5,0
0,87
4. poultry
7 101 697
0,6
0,32
Source: NSI,
MoAF
Five Years Nutrient Reduction Action Plan
57
10.2 Identification of Measures for Nutrient Reduction from Diffuse Sources
To achieve the largest nutrient loads reduction within the border of its Danube share, Bulgaria identified
measures for nutrient control and reduction from diffuse sources that mainly address (i) the policy and
legislation related actions, (ii) institutional strengthening and capacity building, and (iii) public awareness
raising and strengthening public participation in nutrient reduction initiatives.
The identified preventive measures that are supposed to be implemented during the next 5 years include:
(1)
Improvement of national policies and legislation regarding utilization of fertilizers and livestock
waste and approximation of national legislation to relevant EU legislation and standards through the
following measures:
!
Development and enforcement of the effluent limits/emission standards;
!
Adoption and enforcement of the Regulation on the protection of water from pollution with
nitrates from agricultural origin;
!
Improvement of soil conservation measures;
!
Improvement of water and soil monitoring systems on non point sources of pollution;
!
Establishment of necessary data bases for assessment of nutrients related parameters and
indicators with the MOEW Water Directorate;
!
Development of a river bank erosion monitoring system and analysis of the causes of erosion
(mainly related to river-bank deforestation);
!
Adaptation of the EU methodology for assessment of non point sources of pollution for the
Bulgarian conditions;
!
Implementation of the National Plan for the development of agriculture and rural areas;
!
Development of the Geographic Information System, aimed to support and to facilitate the
management process;
(2)
Institutional strengthening and capacity building through the following measures:
!
Training of the experts from the different stakeholders groups on topics such as river basin
management and nutrients control and reduction, and establishment of the training center in
Veliko Tarnovo;
!
Development and enforcement of guidance for the application of the agro-environmental
schemes (including: guidelines on fertilizer (organic & inorganic) application rates to
individual crops; guidelines on crop rotation; guide-lines/rules on preventive application of
manure/slurry; guidelines on proper on-farm manure storage/composting, etc.);
!
Development and enforcement of guidelines for river basin management;
!
Development and implementation of guidelines for the measurement and calculation of total
emission of nutrients by source;
(3)
Public awareness raising and strengthening public participation in nutrient reduction through the
following measures:
!
Organization of a targeted public awareness campaigns;
!
Development of a regional agri-environmental scheme for sustainable development and
efficient management of agricultural activities (including organic agriculture, manure storage,
erosion control etc.);
!
Development of a pilot projects for implementation of alternative methods (construction of
artificial wetlands) for households wastewater treatment in the small towns and villages;
!
Development of a pilot project for wetlands restoration;
!
Development of a pilot project for changes of the consumer practices (including introduction
and use of phosphate free detergents).
58
Summary Report
10.3 Assessment of the Anticipated Nutrient Reduction from Diffuse Sources
At this stage, it is very difficult to evaluate the nutrient loads and their expected reduction. However, the
anticipations for improvement of the arable land fertilization in the coming 5 years are not very optimistic.
Therefore, on the Bulgarian territory of the Danube river basin, only insignificant changes are expected in
the coming 5 years.
The most important beneficial expected changes are related to those obtained as a result of the creation and
implementation of new legislation harmonized with EU legislation. Moreover, the institutional strengthening
will also contribute to positive changes concerning the nutrient reduction measures.
10.4 Identification of Projects Ready for Implementation
The elaboration of the ,,list of projects, which are supposed to be ready for implementation in the coming 5
years" was made in close co-operation with EMIS/EG and in full compliance with the national program for
priority construction of urban WWTP's with more than 10 000-population equivalent. The identified
projects are compiled in Annex II-10.
The national priority ranking for completion, rehabilitation, upgrade, update and construction of new urban
WWTPs, is based on a "point score method" with scores calculated according to the set up criteria, and the
adoption of respective weighing factors.
The investment cost for construction of priority WWTP's is determined by the chief designers of the sites (if
a detailed design exists) and updated bills of quantities. For sites, which do not have detailed designs, the
costs were based on parameters, following the methodology of the Institute on Water Quality and Waste
Management at the Technical University in Vienna, published in the "Guide on strategies for waste water
management" from 1996.
The total investment cost is extracted from the National Programme for Priority Construction of Urban
Wastewater Treatment Plants.
The investment cost of the 21 identified priority projects which are envisaged to be implemented within the
coming period of five years is about EUR 125 million; their composition by sectors is as follows:
!
17 municipal projects with investment requirements of EUR 112 million;
!
1 industrial projects with not yet identified investment requirements;
!
no agricultural projects;
!
3 wetland projects with investment requirements of EUR 13.5 million;
(the rehabilitation of two priority wetlands will be done under the Danube Partnership
Programme with the financial support of World Bank/GEF).
Data on project funding (regarding national and international composition) have not been provided, because
adequate information is not available at the time being.
The anticipated funding components from international funding sources are mainly addressed to EU/ISPA.
The national contributions will mainly be covered by the National Environmental Protection Fund and by
the State Budget.
10.5 Assessment of the Anticipated Nutrient Reduction from Point-Sources
The expected results in terms of pollution/nutrient reduction (BOD, COD, N and P) are based on the
information provided by the EMIS/EG.
If the identified projects will be implemented according to the designs and will be operated and maintained
properly within the next 5 years, the anticipated reduction of the N and P total loads is about 30% and of the
BOD5 load about 50-60%.
Five Years Nutrient Reduction Action Plan
59
The anticipated nutrient reduction for the identified projects is stated in detail in Annex 10.4 and can be
summarized as follows:
!
N:
2683 tons/year;
!
P:
599 tons/year;
!
BOD: 19747
tons/year;
!
COD:
35373
tons/year;
The composition of the anticipated nutrient reduction by sectors is compiled in Section 3.6(2).
10.6 Summary of Main Country Specific Particularities
(1)
Main particularities regarding "non-point source" issues
The verification of the data and information on nutrient emissions in Bulgaria performed for the year 1998
shows that the structure of the agricultural sector by type of activity and production in 1997 and 1998 is
considered to be almost the same. On a national level, the crop production has the biggest share 63,9%. Next
to this is the livestock production with 16,2% and mixed (crop and livestock) with 6,1%.
The use of fertilizers was very small. The imbalance fertilization and deficit of the main nutrients have been
detrimental to both crop production and soil fertility, which adversely influenced the country's
environmental situation. In addition, the high cost of chemical treatment of soil impeded improvements or
amelioration work during past 6 years.
Regarding the livestock production in 1998, both animal numbers and production were increased against
1997, but comparing with 1989/1990, the numbers show several fold decreases.
To achieve the largest nutrient loads reduction within the border of its Danube share, Bulgaria identified
measures for nutrient control and reduction from diffuse sources that mainly address policy and legislation
related actions, institutional strengthening and capacity building. Moreover, public awareness raising and
strengthening public participation in nutrient reduction initiatives are both seen as priorities. A specific
particularity for Bulgaria, concerning nutrient reduction actions is given by the need to implement soil
conservation measures.
On the Bulgarian territory of the Danube river basin, only insignificant changes are expected in the coming
5 years. The most important beneficial expected changes are related to those obtained as a result of the
creation and implementation of new legislation harmonized with EU legislation.
(2)
Main particularities regarding "point source" projects
Up to now, there is no formalized, respectively officially agreed investment program or action plan for
nutrient reduction projects in Bulgaria.
There is, however, a relatively clear priority schedule and implementation program for WWTP in the
municipal sector; (but not for the industrial and the agricultural sector, and not for wetlands).
The primary characteristics of the identified priority projects that are envisaged to be implemented within
the coming period of five years can be summarized as follows:
Table 10.6-1: Primary Characteristics of the Identified Priority Projects
60
Summary Report
Sector
No of
Expected Nutrient Reduction
Investment Cost
Projects
(tons/year)
(Million EUR)
N
P
BOD
COD
Municipal point sources
17 2308
562
19448
34718
111.9
Industrial point sources
1
0
0
299
655
0
Agricultural point sources
0
0
0
0
0
0
Wetlands
3
376
37
0
0
13.5
Total
21
2683
599
19747
35373
125.4
Even these priority projects with total investment requirements of about EUR 125 million cannot be
considered as really committed, as there are no committed funding schemes for the identified projects.
Five Years Nutrient Reduction Action Plan
61
11 ROMANIA
11.1 Verification of Data and Information on Nutrient Emissions / Loads
According to the Romanian legislation, the contribution of the diffuse sources to the pollution in the nutrient
balance is provided by (i) direct discharges of private households (not connected to sewers), (ii) storm water
overflow, (iii) direct discharge of manure, (iv) base flow (percolation of human waste, agriculture land), (v)
erosion run-off from forests and others, (vi) air depositions and, (vii) ground water flow.
The diffuse pollution is derived from the population not connected to the sewerage network (60.1%) which
represents 13.7 mill inh. Using the emission factors and taking into consideration that 10% of the diffuse
emissions reach the water receiver, the population related diffuse nutrient pollution is 4.93 thou tons
Nitrogen per year and 0.89 thou. tons Phosphorus per year.
Table 11.1-1: Population
Country total Emissions
Population
Population connected to sewerage
population in coefficients
not connected 9.1 mil.
D.R.B.
Kg
Kg
to sewerage
Without
Mechanical
Biological Tertiary step
N/inh/yr P/inh/yr
treatment
step
step
22.8 mil.
3.6
0.65
13.7 mil.
2.3713
1.2312
5.4948
-
The weight of diffuse pollution in the total emissions from the population target is represented in the
next table:
Population
Total
Point discharges
Diffuse pollution
1000 tons/yr %
1000 tons/yr.
%
1000 tons/yr.
%
Nitrogen
30.83
100
25.9
83.9
4.93
16.1
Phosphorous
5.3
100
4.41
83.2
0.89
16.8
The diffuse pollution for the industry is considered to be quite small (5%) as the most relevant food
processing industry is connected to the municipal wastewater treatment plant.
Source
N 1000 tons/year
P 1000 tons/year
% of total
N
P
Agricultural land diffuse pollution 5.9
2.5
11.7
59.6
(inorganic fertilizers)
Manure application and waste from 44.68
1.68
88.3
40.4
agriculture
Total
50.6
4.2
The total nutrient emissions are about 100 Thou. tons Nitrogen per year and 11 Thou. tons Phosphorus per
year. The weight of the nitrogen diffuse pollution is about 56% while in the case of phosphorous 46%.
Table 11.1-2: Agricultural Land
Surface
Culture nutrient application (1993-1997)
Run-off coefficient
ha (mil.) Type of crop
N
N
P
P
Total
Kg/ha
Total
Kg/ha
Nitrogen 0.02
Phosphorous 0.05
17.9
Maize, wheat, rye, 293 KT
26.9
50.2 KT
5.4
barley etc.
62
Summary Report
Table 11.1-3: Number of Livestock
Inventory of animals* Number (mil.)
Emission coefficient
(mil.)
Kg N/head/yr
Kg P/head/ yr
1. pigs
7.8
6.57
1.4
2. cows
-
-
-
3. cattle
3.5
44.2
7.65
4. horses
-
-
-
5. sheep
10.0
6
1.5
6. poultry
70.0
0.2
0.1
7. others
-
-
-
* no waste water treatment plant provided
In the total emissions of Nitrogen, agriculture represents 57%, population 30.9% and industry 12.1%. For
Phosphorous, the weight of target groups in the total emission is as follows: agriculture 51%, population
48.3% and industry 0.7%.
The table below presents the overview of the total nutrient emissions in Romania:
Sector
Nitrogen
Phosphorus
Point
Diffuse
Total
Point
Diffuse
Total
Population
25.9
4.93
30.83
4.41
0.89
5.3
Industry
11.4
0.60
12.0
0.076
0.004
0.08
Agriculture
6.2
50.6
56.8
1.4
4.2
5.6
Total
43.5
56.13
99.63
5.89
5.09
10.98
Taking into consideration the relevance of the diffuse pollution attention should be paid to the agriculture
that has a weight of 90% in the case of Nitrogen and 82% in the case of Phosphorous.
In spite of the drastic reduction in the use of fertilizers in Romania, the positive effects on the Danube Delta
are not yet evident. It is considered that the reduction on the measured Nitrogen loads on the delta is not yet
very evident. One assumption is related to the potential reservoir role played by the ground water in the
whole basin. In addition, the large number of inhabitants, which are not adequately connected to the
treatment facilities, is considered as the main cause of pollution.
Based on the DWQM, the difference between immission and emission values is considered in the case of
nitrogen to be primarily caused by denitrification, and to a much lesser extend by a similar retention as with
phosphorous. Phosphorous retention is believed to be related to sedimentation and temporal storage in the
sediments of the P absorbed by suspended solids. It is considered, with some risk of uncertainties, that the
floodplains in the Romanian Danube basin are capable of retaining an average of the amount of
Phosphorous that is of the same order of magnitude as the current yearly emissions. This value corresponds
with the difference between the total P load at the border between Yugoslavia and Romania (33 thou. tons
per year) and the entrance of the Danube Delta (22 thou. tons per year).
Romania considers the role of Iron Gate reservoir to be significant in relation to the retention of Phosphorus
content and increase of Nitrogen load. This would mean a retention of 27% or about 6 thou. P per year and
an increase of Nitrogen concentration with about 0.5 mgN/l, which would mean that 80 thou.N per year, is
added. The undecided justification of this phenomenon is currently based on the Nitrogen fixation by blue/
green algae.
Among the processes that influences the nutrient reduction, the role of wetlands play a significant position
during both summer and winter seasons.
In a WWTP study ,,Evaluation of wetlands and flood plains areas in the Danube river basin" (1999) the
capacity for removal is estimated at 100 kg N/ha/yr and 10 kg P/ha/yr. For Romania this would mean a
removal of 80 thou. tons N/year and 8 thou. tons P/year.
Five Years Nutrient Reduction Action Plan
63
11.2 Identification of Measures for Nutrient Reduction from Diffuse Sources
Romania proposes a substantial programme of associated measured related to (a) the improvement of
national legislation, and (b) insurance of its approximation with the EU legislation and standards.
(a)
First, the improvement of national policies and legislation regarding utilization of fertilizers and
livestock waste takes into consideration three main areas: (i) legislation, (ii) institutional development and,
(iii) investments promotion.
(i)
The legal framework will be improved with regulations related to (1) waste management and
control, (2) norms for maximum allowable number of capita in the livestock's farms, and (3) norms
for manure application.
(ii)
The improvements of the institutional framework will take into consideration the strengthening
of the institutional capabilities to facilitate (1) the implementation of the water management
multipurpose approach in order to ensure an integrated water and land management, in order to
protect the sensitive areas and to ensure the conditions for BAT/BEP implementation, and (2)
establishment of a framework for control and limiting the inorganic fertilizer application.
(iii) On the investment encouragement side, the necessary ingredients include (1) development and
implementation of the agricultural run-off source pollution reduction plan as part of a Programme
concerning the introduction and development of an environmental sound and sustainable agricultural
products and practices, (2) programs for individual environmentally sound wastewater management
for rural areas, (3) environmentally friendly landfills with phosphorous salts, and (4) pilot/ demo
projects of Best Environmental Practice (BEP) implementation in the agriculture.
(b)
Second, the approximation of national legislation to relevant EU legislation and standards will include
(1) on short term, transposition of the Urban Waste Water Directive (91/271/EEC) and of Nitrate Directive
(91/676/EEC), and (2) on medium term, the implementation of the European Water Framework Directive
(COM 97/49-97/614, 98/76).
11.3 Assessment of the Anticipated Nutrient Reduction from Diffuse Sources
As a very rough estimation, a reduction of at least 10% for the nitrogen total diffuse (agriculture) reduction
could be anticipated and for phosphorous which is related more with the erosion a decrease of around 20%.
That means 5 thou tons N/year and 0.84 thou. tons P/year a supplementary reduction by buffer zones.
Beside of the wetland/flood plain restoration measures, one of the most important action aiming to decrease
the run-off from the agricultural lands is to set-up buffer zones for erosion/ run-off limitation (this buffer
zones could include the forestation zones, too).
In total, taking into account the effects of wetlands, flood plains, buffer zones, control of the nutrient
application, etc. the following diffuse pollution reduction from agriculture could be anticipated:
!
N: 13.4 thousand tons /year
!
P: 1.7 thousand tons /year
This reduction represents a decrease by 13.4% N and 15.5% P from the total actual emissions.
Romania considers that it might take several years before the effects of reduced fertilizer use become
effective in the river load, mainly due to the changes of the ground water base flow and the role of the
ground water as a large stock of nitrates. If the yearly flow of Danube divided over the surface area of the
whole basin represents 200 mm, the amount of ground water stocked may represent several meters
(hydraulic residence in ground water reservoirs is estimated between 10-30 years).
In addition, the erosion run-off may have caused dramatically changes because many hectares of arable
land are overgrown by weeds due to the economical crisis in agriculture. The cumulative effect of
64
Summary Report
elimination of fertilizer use and the weed growth could significantly reduce the erosion run-off almost by
95%.
11.4 Identification of Projects Ready for Implementation
For the elaboration of a draft list of projects supposed to be ready for implementation in the coming 5 years
the following criteria have been considered:
(i)
financial viability;
(ii)
environmental effectiveness (based on Environmental Impact Assessment);
(iii)
preparedness/readiness (availability of feasibility study, quality of project documents)
The projects identified on this basis are compiled and characterized in Annex II-11.
The total investment requirements of the 24 identified priority projects are EUR 204 million; their
composition by sectors is a s follows:
!
9 municipal projects with investment requirements of EUR 104 million,
!
7 industrial projects with investment requirements of EUR 22 million,
!
3 agricultural project with investment requirements of EUR 3.7,
!
5 wetland projects with investment requirements of EUR 74 million.
Regarding project funding it is expected that about 60% will be covered by national funds, 32% by
international loans and about 8% by international grants.
11.5 Assessment of the Anticipated Nutrient Reduction from Point-Sources
Excluding the wetland projects, the anticipated nutrient reduction from the identified point source projects
can be summarized as follows:
!
N:
3866 tons/year;
!
P:
475 tons/year;
!
BOD: 19811
tons/year;
!
COD:
19470 tons/ year;
From the implementation of the proposed wetland projects an additional reduction of about 6000 tons/a of N
and about 600 tons/a of P is anticipated.
Excluding wetland projects the dominating improvements are expected from the municipal sector (80%);
followed by the industrial sector (17%) and the agricultural sector (3%).
In terms of cost efficiency, the relatively small investment in the agricultural sector has to be considered as
very rational.
The composition of the anticipated nutrient reduction by sectors is compiled in Section 11.6(2).
Five Years Nutrient Reduction Action Plan
65
11.6 Summary of Main Country Specific Particularities
(1)
Main particularities regarding "non-point source" issues
The first particularity of Romania is related to the approach of considering the diffuse pollution sources as
being provided by diversified causes which include: direct discharges of private households (not connected
to sewers), storm water overflow, direct discharge of manure, base flow (percolation of human waste,
agriculture land), erosion run-off from forests and others, air depositions and, ground water flow.
In the total emissions of Nitrogen, agriculture represents 57%, population 30.9% and industry 12.1%. For
Phosphorous, the weight of target groups in the total emission is as follows: agriculture 51%, population
48.3% and industry 0.7%.
As other countries, Romania also recorded a drastic reduction in the use of fertilisers.
In addition, Romania considers that among the nutrient reduction measures, Iron Gate reservoir and the
existence of wetlands can play a significant role in relation to the retention or increase of Nitrogen and
Phosphorus contents.
Romania proposes a substantial programme of associated measured related to the improvement of national
legislation, and insurance of its approximation with the EU legislation and standards. One important
initiative is considered to be the proposal to develop the code of good agricultural practices.
A reduction of at least 10% for the nitrogen and around 20% for phosphorous is anticipated by Romania,
which in total can lead to 13.4 thousand tons N /year and 1.7 thousand tons P/yr.
(2)
Main particularities regarding "point source" projects
Romania is on of the countries which provided a more or less complete set of project data regarding
investment requirements, implementation schedules and funding schemes for the identified priority projects
to be implemented in the coming five year period.
The primary characteristics of the identified priority projects which are envisaged to be implemented within
the coming period of five years in Romania can be summarized as follows:
Table 11.6-1: Primary Characteristics of the Identified Priority Projects
Sector
No of
Expected Nutrient Reduction
Investment Cost
Projects
(tons/year)
(Million EUR)
N
P
BOD
COD
Municipal point sources
9
1 804
323
13 521
13 154
104.4
Industrial point sources
7
688
3
2 947
4 110
22.0
Agricultural point sources
3
1 374
150
3 343
2 208
3.7
Wetlands
5
6 154
615
0
0
73.9
Total
24
10 020
1 091
19 811
19 470
204.0
Regarding project funding it is expected that about 60% will be covered by national funds, 32% by
international loans and about 8% by international grants.
66
Summary Report
12 MOLDOVA
12.1 Verification of Data and Information on Nutrient Emissions / Loads
In 1998, the total number of population not connected to the sewerage in the Moldovan part of the Danube
River basin was quite large: 938,802 inh. (85.55%).
The total emission of nutrients resulted from population has been estimated based on the population
statistics, N and P emission coefficient (9 kgN/day or 3.3 kgN/year per inhabitant for Nitrogen and 2.4
gP/day or 0.9 kgP/year per inhabitant for Phosphorus) and characteristics of sewerage system and
wastewater treatment.
Therefore, the nutrient load from population on the Moldovan part of the Danube River basin could be
estimated as follows:
!
Nitrogen - as 3.3 kg/N x 1096464 inhabitants =3. 62 thousand tons;
!
Phosphorus - as 0.9 kg/P x 1096464 inhabitants =0.99 tons.
Table 12.1-1: Population
Population
Total
Population not connected to Population connected to
sewerage
sewerage
Urban
306863
159876
146987
Rural
78900601
778152
11449
Total ( urban and rural)
1096464
938028
158436
Share (%)
85.55
14.45
Source: National Review. Moldova. Technical Report. Social and Economic Analysis.
Danube Pollution Reduction Programme. PCU. UNDP/GEF. 1998
The input nutrients from population into surface water is assessed as being for Nitrogen - 0.5 thousand tons
and for Phosphorus - 0.1 thousand tons while into groundwater is assessed as being for Nitrogen - 3.1
thousand tons and for Phosphorus - 0.8 thousand tons.
Most of the industrial and agro-industrial enterprises are still not operated. Therefore, the nutrients load
from industrial wastewater treatment plants at wineries, diaries, sugar refinery plants and some others is
estimated as being not significant- 47.4 tons of Nitrogen and 8.5 tons of Phosphorus.
Moldova is mainly an area with very active erosion processes, due to intensive agricultural practices,
combined with specific natural features that provoke a massive loss of fertile soil (5 mln tons per year
agricultural land on the Danube river basin share) and nutrients. In general, for Moldova, the average losses
of nutrients with eroded soil are estimated at 34 kgN/ha and 18 kgP2O5/ha per year.
According to the results of the Nutrient Balance Study (1996), on average, 7.5 tons of soil are washed away
from one hectare of arable land and perennial plantations, and 1.5 tons/ha from grassland.
In 1998, the nutrient loads due to soil erosion constituted about 7 thousand tons Nitrogen and 3 thousand
tons Phosphorus.
The nutrient load from main crops on arable lands constituted 26,1 thousand tons of Nitrogen and 4,7
thousand tons of Phosphorus in 1998 as it presented in the Table 12.1-2.
Five Years Nutrient Reduction Action Plan
67
Table 12.1-2: Agricultural Land (1988)
Type of crop
Harvest,
N Content,
P Content,
N load
P load
tons
%
%
tons
tons
Sugar-beet
710000
0.33
0.07
2 343
497
Cereals
650000
3
0,5
19500
3 250
Vegetables
240000
0,2
0,025
480
60
Grapes
220000
0,25
0,025
550
55
Fruits
150000
0,25
0,025
375
37,5
Potatoes
85000
0,2
0,025
170
21,3
Sunflower
65000
4
1,1
2 600
715
Soybean
2200
3
0,8
66
17,6
Total
2122200
26084
4653
The application of mineral fertilizers decreased drastically within the last years. According to the data
presented in Statistical Guide Agriculture, in 1998 in Moldova 2,76 thousand tons (active component) of
mineral fertilizers have been applied. Out of this amount 2,71 thousand tons were nitric fertilizers and 0,05
tons of phosphate fertilizers.
According to assessment made in Nutrient Balance Study (1996), on average 17,5 % of the nitrogen and 1,5
% of phosphorus from the amounts applied as mineral fertilizers end up in the surface waters. Considering
gaseous losses of N-compounds from mineral fertilizers applied on arable lands is on average 7,5 %, in 1998
the nutrient loads into surface waters originating from mineral fertilizer application was for Nitrogen - 0,4
thousand tons and for Phosphorus - 0,0007 tons.
Considering that (1) nutrient input on agricultural land from manure (in 1998 estimated at 86,2 thousand
tons) constitutes 0.45% N and 0.13% P, (2) 20% of nitrogen is lost in gaseous form and, (3) applying the
runoff coefficients of 30% for N and 20% for P, the nutrient load on surface waters originating from organic
fertilizer could be assessed as for Nitrogen - 0,29 thousand tons and for Phosphorus - 0,09 thousand tons.
Currently, in Moldova exist very few cattle-breeding farms, pig farms and poultry at the public sector. Most
of domestic animals (65%) belong to the private sector.
In 1998 from animal husbandry, Nitrogen load constituted 18.8 thousand tons, including 6.6 thousand tons
from public sector and Phosphorus load - 4.8 thousand tons, including 1.7 thousand tons from public sector
(livestock indexes in the Moldovan part of the Danube River basin are presented in Table 12.1-3).
Table 12.1-3: Number of Livestock
Index
Cattle
Pigs
Horses
Sheep
Domestic
goats
Birds
Total
250000
430000
25600
520000
4320500
Number
Excrement rate
* 9
* 1.6
* 9
* 0.7
* 0.02
t/head/year
Amount of manure, 2250
688
230,4
364
86,41
k/t
C
ontent in manure
N
P
N
P
N
P
N
P
N
P
%
* 0.39 * 0.12 * 0.57 * 0.15 * 0.35 * 0.08 * 0.92
* 0.16 * 2.22 * 0.40
Nutrient Load,k/t
8.78
2.7
3.92
1.03
0.81
0.18
3.35
0.58
1.92
035
Total N (k/tons) 18.78
Total P (k/tons) 4.84
Source: Nutrient Balance for Danube River Countries. Draft Report from Moldova. 1996
68
Summary Report
12.2 Identification of Measures for Nutrient Reduction from Diffuse Sources
The existing legal framework in Moldova does not impose yet the identification of areas vulnerable to water
pollution from agricultural sources of nitrates. However, nitrate pollution of groundwater is a serious
problem in Moldova while the agricultural run-off is not considered to be a significant factor.
In addition, the need to develop a code of good practice, covering matters such as periods when land
application of fertilizers is inappropriate and the conditions for land application of fertilizers near
watercourses, has not been yet taken into consideration by the policy makers.
The sources of water pollution due to agricultural practice include mainly the following causes:
!
Lack of adequate water treatment and manure storage facilities;
!
Absence of regulation imposing the maximum permissible number of animals per hectare.
Cattle, goats and sheep often graze in forests;
!
Reduced proportion (35%) of scientifically grounded crop rotation to be implemented;
!
Deficit of separation zones between forests and agricultural lands which impede the proper
management of both, i.e. natural afforestation actions;
!
The often use of contaminated water (dry saline residue) for irrigation.
Moldova proposed agricultural pollution reduction measures aiming at the water protection objectives in (i)
the designation of agricultural lands (e.g. riverbanks), (ii) the suitability of water used for irrigation and, (iii)
handling and application of agro-chemicals. In addition, soil conservation represents a special concern.
The proposed measures include:
!
Constructing storage and treatment facilities for manure;
!
Establishing sewerage systems of appropriate type in rural area;
!
Implementing wetland conservation and restoration programmes;
!
Introducing a specific program on lands that serve as buffer strips and buffer zones for
protection of water resources;
!
Introducing land use restriction on highly eroded lands;
!
Completing the afforestation programme and permanent vegetable cover;
!
Sustainable fertilizers application;
!
Developing the organic farming methods;
!
Introducing soil conservation measures to reduce agricultural run-off.
12.3 Assessment of the Anticipated Nutrient Reduction from Diffuse Sources
The anticipated nutrient reduction from diffuse sources is estimated to reach a value of 320 tons for
Nitrogen and 20 tons for Phosphorus taking into consideration the effects of the national pollution reduction
projects review.
Second, as a result of implementation of Afforestation Programme (planting trees that would serve as buffer
strips and buffer zones in the selected areas on the lower Prut) will contribute to a reduction of 195 tons of
Nitrogen and 20 tons of Phosphorus.
Finally, as a consequence of the application of Soil Conservation Programme (land use restrictions on highly
eroded lands and appropriate crop rotation on upper Prut), the anticipated nutrient reduction is assessed to
be 80 tons of Nitrogen and 5 tons of Phosphorus.
12.4 Identification of Projects Ready for Implementation
The identified priority projects that are supposed to be ready for implementation in the coming 5 years are
compiled and characterised in Annex II-12.
Five Years Nutrient Reduction Action Plan
69
The total investment requirements of the 31 identified projects are EUR 492.9 million; their composition by
sectors is as follows:
!
15 municipal projects with investment requirements of EUR 247 million,
!
(other small scale municipal projects with investment requirements of EUR 50 million);
!
11 industrial projects (plus not further specified small scale projects) with investment
requirements of EUR 84.7 million,
!
3 agricultural projects (plus not further specified small scale projects) with investment
requirements of EUR 26.6 million;
!
2 wetland projects (plus not further specified small scale projects) with investment
requirements of EUR 85.0 million.
Regarding project funding it is expected that about 31% will be covered by national funds, 36% by
international loans and about 34% by international grants.
12.5 Assessment of the Anticipated Nutrient Reduction from Point-Sources
The anticipated nutrient reduction for the 31 identified point source projects (and the not further specified
small scale projects) is stated in detail in Annex II and can be summarized as follows:
!
N:
6901 tons/year;
!
P:
891 tons/year;
!
BOD: 1595
tons/year;
!
COD:
832 tons/ year;
The composition of the anticipated nutrient reduction by sectors is compiled in Section 12.6(2).
12.6 Summary of Main Country Specific Particularities
(1)
Main particularities regarding "non-point source" issues
Moldova is mainly an area with very active erosion processes due to intensive agricultural practices,
combined with specific natural features that provoke a massive loss of fertile soil (5 million tons per year
agricultural land on the Danube river basin share) and nutrients.
The application of mineral fertilizers decreased drastically within the last years.
The existing legal framework in Moldova does not impose yet the identification of areas vulnerable to water
pollution from agricultural sources of nitrates. However, nitrate pollution of groundwater is a serious
problem in Moldova while the agricultural run-off is not considered to be a significant factor.
In addition, the need to develop a code of good practice, covering matters such as periods when land
application of fertilisers is inappropriate and the conditions for land application of fertilisers near
watercourses, has not been yet taken into consideration by the policy makers.
Moldova proposed agricultural pollution reduction measures aiming at the water protection objectives in the
designation of agricultural lands, constructing storage and treatment facilities for manure, establishing
sewerage systems of appropriate type in rural area and implementing wetland conservation and restoration
programmes.
The anticipated nutrient reduction from diffuse sources is estimated to reach the highest values within the
whole Danube river basin, taking into consideration (i) the effects of the national pollution reduction
projects, (ii) implementation of Afforestation Programme, and (iii) the application of Soil Conservation
Programme.
70
Summary Report
The anticipated nutrient reduction is assessed to be 50,000 tons of Nitrogen and 5,000 tons of Phosphorus.
(2)
Main particularities regarding "point source" projects
Moldova provided a more or less complete project list and set of project data regarding investment
requirements, implementation schedule and funding scheme for the identified priority projects to be
implemented in the coming five year period.
The primary characteristics of the 31 identified priority projects can be summarized as follows:
Table 12.6-1: Primary Characteristics of the Identified Priority Projects
Sector
No of
Expected Nutrient Reduction
Investment Cost
Projects
(tons/year)
(Million EUR)
N
P
BOD
COD
Municipal point sources
15
784
119
248
458
296.7
Industrial point sources
11
167
36
27
74
84.7
Agriculture
3
350
25
20
70
26.6
Wetlands
2
7100
725
1300
230
85.0
Total
31
8401
905
1595
832
492.9
Regarding project funding it is expected that about 31% will be covered by national funds, 36% by
international loans and about 34% by international grants.
Five Years Nutrient Reduction Action Plan
71
13 UKRAINE
13.1 Verification of Data and Information on Nutrient Emissions / Loads
The most important sources of diffuse pollution in Ukrainian part of the Danube river basin include crop
production, animal farming and households unconnected to sewer systems.
The revision of data and information was facilitated by the assessment carried out in previous studies
(Monitoring and Assessment of Water Quality of Latorytsia/Uzh river basins, Selected Measures in the
Danube river basin).
As a conclusion, updated statistical data shows that there are not significant changes in the diffuse pollution
loads on the territory of Ukraine since 1996. The industry and agriculture in Ukraine are still in recession
while the first signs of improvement became visible only since few months due to the Decree of President on
Land privatization.
The approximations for pollution loads are made with assumption that the share of the Danube river basin is
5.4% of total territory of Ukraine. The Latorytsia and Uzh river basin occupies 0,81 % of territory of
Ukraine.
Diffuse pollution from arable lands was estimated with emission factors considering soil type, area, slopes,
etc. The emissions factors in the Latorytsia/Uzh River Basins are presented below:
River basin
Year
Emission
Emission
N Kg/ha/year
P, Kg/ha/year
Latorytsia, total
1992
0.59
0.19
Latorytsia, total
1996
0.56
0.19
Latorytsia, total
1997
0.58
0.19
Latorytsia, total
1998
0.59
0.19
Uzh,total
1992
0.19
0.07
Uzh,total
1996
0.20
0.07
Uzh,total
1997
0.20
0.07
Uzh,total
1998
0.21
0.07
Ukraine made estimates for 1992 and 1998 for Nitrogen and phosphorus loads from arable land in the
Latorytsia and Uzh river basin as a whole and its tributaries as presented in the next table:
River basin
N, kg per year
P, kg per year
1992
1998
1992
1998
Uzh
31186
33963
10569
10502
Latorytsia
188609
189244
59740
59910
total
219795
223207
70309
70412
Danube basin
1450647
1486558.62
464039.4
468943.92
The updated data on the total number of the population in the Danube river basin on the Ukrainian territory
are given in the next table.
Table No. 13.1-1: Population connected to the sewer system in the Ukrainian Part of the Danube
River Basin
Country
Emissions coefficients
Population
not
Population connected to sewerage
total
connected to
population
sewerage
kg N /inh/y
kg
without
mechanical
biological
tertiary
P/inh/y
treatment
step
step
step
3010000
1,8
0,4
55%
45
55%
55%
none
72
Summary Report
The updated information concerning the agricultural land use and the types of crops are presented in table
13.1-2.
Table 13.1-2: Agricultural land
Surface ha
Culture
Type of crop
kg N /ha/y
kg P/ ha / y
894850
Arable lands
138734
Perennial plants
262004
Hayfields
446766
Pastures
1742354
Total agricultural lands
0.45
1.21
The updated information, concerning inventory of animals, their number and emission coefficient is
presented as table 13.1-3.
Table 13.1-3.
Number of Livestock
Heads of animals, total * (1999)
Number
Emission Coefficient
kg N /head/y
kg P/ head / y
1. pigs
536.05
10.01
1.94
2. cows
316.49
3.75
2.70
3. cattle
372.02
3.75
2.70
4. sheep
108.86
13.44
14.44
5. poultry
6957.41
0.81
1.02
* no waste water treatment plant provided
13.2 Identification of Measures for Nutrient Reduction from Diffuse Sources
Ukraine considers that reduction of nutrient pollution from diffuse pollution should be addressed through
various measures including (i) the strengthening of institutional capacity of controlling and regulating
bodies, dealing with environmental issues, (ii) introduction of environmentally sound agricultural practices,
(iii) establishing the buffer zones of streams and tributaries of the Danube rivers, (iv) assessment and
implementation measures for solid waste management and wastewater treatment in rural settlements, and (v)
education of general public.
The following measures are proposed:
!
Inventory of diffuse pollution sources in the Ukrainian part of the Danube river basin
!
Strengthening the institutional capacity of environmental, municipal and agricultural entities
!
Establishing the Farmer Training Centers in Uzhgorod, Chernisvtsi, Ivano-Frankivsk and
Izmail to introduce principles of organic farming.
!
Implementation of Buffer Zones along Rivers of the Danube River Basin
!
Public Awareness on Nutrient Reduction and Reduction of Domestic Wastes
!
Wetland Conservation in Lower Danube
13.3 Assessment of the Anticipated Nutrient Reduction from Diffuse Sources
Ukraine assumes that implementation of proposed measures will result in anticipated reduction of diffuse
nutrient load by 10% during five years, and will prevent pollution when economy will start recovering from
recession.
Five Years Nutrient Reduction Action Plan
73
13.4 Identification of Projects Ready for Implementation
The identified priority projects that are supposed to be ready for implementation in the coming 5 years are
compiled and characterized in Annex II-13.
The total investment requirements of the 10 identified projects are EUR 67 million; their composition by
sectors is as follows:
!
10 municipal projects with investment requirements of EUR 67 million;
!
no industrial projects;
!
no agricultural projects;
!
no wetland projects;
Even these priority projects cannot be considered as really committed, as project funding is not yet secured.
13.5 Assessment of the Anticipated Nutrient Reduction from Point-Sources
The anticipated nutrient reduction for the 10 identified municipal point-source projects is stated in detail in
Annex II - 13 and can be summarized as follows:
!
N:
486 tons/year;
!
P:
65 tons/year;
!
BOD:
677 tons/year;
!
COD:
621 tons/ year;
13.6 Summary of Main Country Specific Particularities
(1)
Main particularities regarding "non-point source" issues
The most important sources of diffuse pollution in Ukrainian part of the Danube river basin include crop
production, animal farming and households unconnected to sewer systems.
The revision of data and information was facilitated by the assessment carried out in previous studies and
the updated statistical data shows that there are not significant changes in the diffuse pollution loads on the
territory of Ukraine since 1996. The industry and agriculture in Ukraine are still in recession while the first
signs of improvement became visible only since few months due to the Decree of President on Land
privatization.
Ukraine considers that reduction of nutrient pollution from diffuse pollution should be addressed through
various measures including the strengthening of institutional capacity of controlling and regulating bodies,
introduction of environmentally sound agricultural practices, establishing the buffer zones of streams and
tributaries of the Danube rivers, assessment and implementation measures for solid waste management and
wastewater treatment in rural settlements, and education of general public.
One particularity of Ukraine is related to the emphasis on the wetland conservation measures proposed in
Lower Danube.
Ukraine assumes that implementation of proposed measures will result in anticipated reduction of diffuse
nutrient load by 10% during five years, and will prevent pollution when economy will start recovering from
recession.
74
Summary Report
(2)
Main particularities regarding "point source" projects
The 10 municipal point-source projects supposed to be ready for implementation within the coming 5 year
period have investment requirements of about EUR 67 million.
Even these priority projects cannot be considered as really committed, as project funding is not yet secured.
The primary characteristics of the identified priority projects can be summarized as follows:
Table 13.6-1: Primary Characteristics of the Identified Priority Projects
Sector
No of
Expected Nutrient Reduction
Investment Cost
Projects
(tons/year)
(Million EUR)
N
P
BOD
COD
Municipal point sources
10
486
65
677
621
67.2
Industrial point sources
0
0
0
0
0
0.0
Ag
ricultural point sources
0
0
0
0
0
0.0
Wetlands
0
0
0
0
0
0.0
Total
10
486
65
677
621
67.2
Five Years Nutrient Reduction Action Plan
75
ANNEX II
COUNTRY LISTS OF PRIORITY PROJECTS PROPOSED
FOR FIVE YEAR NATIONAL NUTRIENT REDUCTION
ACTION PLANS
1. GERMANY
2. AUSTRIA
3. CZECH REPUBLIC
4. SLOVAKIA
5. HUNGARY
6. SLOVENIA
7. CROATIA
8. BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA
9. YUGOSLAVIA
10. BULGARIA
11. ROMANIA
12. MOLDOVA
13. UKRAINE
76
Summary Report
62
Summary Report
Table 13.5-1: Schedule for Approximation of Ukraine's Legislation to EU Legislation
Name of National Law,
Related EU Directive
Proposed
Proposed Date
Regulations
Period of
of Coming in
Adjustment
Force
(years)
Water Code of Ukraine
Principles of the EC Water Policy (draft,
10
2010
4/12/96)
On Reduction of Waste of Nitrates in On Protection of Waters from Pollution by
3
2003
Agriculture
Nitrates from Agricultural Sources
(91/676/EEC)
On Integrated Pollution Prevention
On Pollution Caused by Certain Dangerous
5
2005
and Control
Substances, Discharged into Water Bodies
(76/464/EEC)
On Municipal Wastewater Treatment On Urban Wastewater Treatment
3
2003
(91/271/EEC)
On Water for Human Consumption
On Water Quality for Human Consumption
3
2003
(80/778/EEC, COM(94), 612 final
95/10(SYN))
On Amendments to the List of
On Surface Water Quality Necessary to
2
2002
Industrial Parts of Fishery Water
Support Fish Life (78/659/EEC)
Bodies (Parts Thereof), approved by
the Resolution of the CMU # 552 of
May 22, 1996;
Regulations on Detergents
Directive on Detergents (73/404/EEC,
3
2003
73/405/EEC)
STRENGTHENING THE IMPLEMENTATION OF NUTRIENT
REDUCTION MEASURES AND TRANSBOUNDARY
COOPERATION IN THE DANUBE RIVER BASIN
REINFORCEMENT OF NGO ACTIVITIES
IN PROJECT IMPLEMENTATION AND
AWARENESS RAISING
SUMMARY REPORT IN SUPPORT OF THE PROJECT BRIEF
AUGUST 2000
International Commission for
the Protection of the Danube River
UNDP/GEF Assistance
Reinforcement of NGO Activities in Project Implementation and Awareness Raising
3
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1
INTRODUCTION.....................................................................................................................5
2
EVALUATION OF THE SMALL GRANTS PROGRAMME ............................................6
2.1
General Results .........................................................................................................................6
2.2
Results from Slovenia ...............................................................................................................7
2.3
Results from Romania ..............................................................................................................8
2.4
Results from Moldova...............................................................................................................8
2.5
Evaluation..................................................................................................................................9
3
EVALUATION OF NGO STRUCTURES UNDER THE DANUBE
ENVIRONMENT FORUM (DEF)........................................................................................10
3.1
Background .............................................................................................................................10
3.2
Reinforcement of NGO Cooperation in the DRB ................................................................10
3.3
Situation of the DEF today.....................................................................................................11
3.4
Other NGO Involvement........................................................................................................12
3.5
Conclusion ...............................................................................................................................12
4
EVALUATION OF PUBLIC AWARENESS RAISING ....................................................14
4.1
Background .............................................................................................................................14
4.2
Evaluation of previous Public Awareness Raising Activities..............................................14
4.2.1 Danube Watch ..................................................................................................................................... 14
4.2.2 Homepage............................................................................................................................................. 16
4.2.3 Other Public Awareness Activities..................................................................................................... 17
5
CONCEPT PAPER FOR NGO ACTIVITIES, SMALL GRANTS
PROGRAMME AND PUBLIC AWARENESS...................................................................18
5.1
Concept for Small Grants Programme .................................................................................18
5.2
Concept for DEF Activities ....................................................................................................20
5.3
Concept for Public Awareness...............................................................................................21
6
PROGRAMME COMPONENTS FOR THE GEF DANUBE REGIONAL
PROJECT................................................................................................................................23
6.1
Component Small Grants Programme (SGP)......................................................................23
6.2
Component DEF Structure Development.............................................................................24
6.3
Component Public Awareness ...............................................................................................24
6.3.1 Danube Watch magazine .................................................................................................................... 24
6.3.2 ICPDR homepage with DEF/NGO page............................................................................................ 25
6.3.3 New ICPDR information Folder ........................................................................................................ 25
6.3.4 DEF public awareness campaign ....................................................................................................... 25
6.4
Overview of Programme Components..................................................................................25
4
ABBREVIATIONS
DEF
Danube Environmental Forum
DRB
Danube River Basin
DRPC
Convention for the Protection and Sustainable Use of the Danube River
DW
Danube Watch - Magazine
GEF
Global Environment Facility
ICPDR
International Commission for the Protection of the Danube River
NGO
(environmental) non-governmental organisation
NIS
New Independent States of the former Soviet Union (here: Moldova, Ukraine)
PMTF
Programme Management Task Force (part of the ICPDR)
PRP
(Danube) Pollution Reduction Programme of UNDP/GEF
REC
Regional Environmental Centre, Szentendre (H)
SGP
Small Grants Programme
TF
(Danube) Task Force of the Environmental Programme for the Danube River Basin
UNDP
United Nations Development Programme
WWF
World Wide Fund for Nature
Reinforcement of NGO Activities in Project Implementation and Awareness Raising
5
1
INTRODUCTION
Since 1992, the European Community has - through its Phare and Tacis programmes (Strategic Action Plan
Implementation Programme), and the UNDP/GEF, in particular through its Danube Pollution Reduction
Programme (1997-1999) - supported and facilitated the development and implementation of pollution
abatement and environment rehabilitation projects in the Danube River Basin as well as of the Danube River
Protection Convention.
A change came with the entering into force of the Convention in October 1998 and the installation of its
Permanent Secretariat on the one hand, and the end of the UNDP/GEF PRP Programme and the EU-Phare
and Tacis supports (October 2000) on the other. In order to ensure an efficient implementation of the Danube
Strategic Action Plan and the Pollution Reduction Programme, a new GEF assistance is under preparation
for the 2001-2005 period; a second part of this assistance will support similar activities in the Black Sea
region.
This document is part of the preparation of a Danube Regional Project, which in turn forms part of the
Black Sea Basin Programmatic Strategy aimed at sustainable human development in the Danube River Basin
by reinforcing the capacities of the participating countries for effective regional co-operation, protection of
international waters and sustainable management of natural resources and bio-diversity. This Danube
Regional Project serves to strengthen the capacities of the ICPDR Secretariat in providing a regional
approach for nutrient pollution reduction.
One of the immediate objectives of the Danube Regional Project has been defined as "awareness raising
and reinforcement of NGO participation" in water management, trans-boundary pollution control and
environmental protection.
In close communication with the ICPDR Secretariat and the Focal Points, as well as with the Country
Programme Co-ordinators, public participation has been assessed in three of its aspects:
· The existing NGO structures (especially the Danube Environment Forum)
· Small Grants Programme
· Public awareness activities, including the magazine "Danube Watch" and the homepages of Danube
PCU and ICPDR
For all three aspects, the objective of this project was to:
! evaluate previous GEF-funded activities
! prepare a concept for future public participation with the specification of the three themes'
components.
During the assessment, available documents (reports, concepts) on past and present projects and programmes
were evaluated. Further, various meetings were held with the ICPDR Permanent Secretariat and the Danube
PCU in Vienna, with the Regional Environmental Center for Central and Eastern Europe in Szentendre (H)
and its local offices in Ljubljana (Slovenia) and Bucharest (Romania), as well as with the Speakers of the
Danube Environmental Forum (DEF) and WWF International - Danube Carpathian Programme. During field
visits in Slovenia and Romania, NGO projects financed under the UNDP/GEF Danube PRP-Small Grants
Programme were visited. The present report was prepared by Zinke Environment Consulting for Central and
Eastern Europe, Vienna. Overall project guidance and support was provided by the ICPDR Permanent
Secretariat.
6
2
EVALUATION OF THE SMALL GRANTS PROGRAMME
2.1 General Results
Within the UNDP/GEF Danube Pollution Reduction Programme, a Small Grants Programme (SGP) was
implemented by the "Regional Environmental Centre for Central and Eastern Europe" in Szentendre (H).
Increasing public awareness and public participation was one of the main objectives of the PRP, and the
provision of small grants to the NGO/Private sector was considered an efficient way to reach this goal.
The REC is a special institution initiated by the US government and established in 1991 to facilitate the
institutional development of the NGO community in Central and Eastern Europe. The REC receives various
(mostly governmental) grants and distributes them through competitive calls to NGOs, usually via its
national offices located in all CEE countries. Over the years, the REC has built up comprehensive expertise
in managing NGO support projects, both as a well-known and appreciated NGO partner and a reliable
partner for donors. Through its national offices, the REC is able to have close and direct contact with NGOs
during the entire project cycle. The REC often translates special donor requests into NGO language and vice-
versa - NGO reports into donor language (e.g. from Hungarian into English).
The main goal of the UNDP/GEF PRP 1998-99 Small Grants Programme was to reinforce NGO
participation on community-based pollution reduction measures and awareness-raising projects. The SGP
should also strengthen small local NGOs and community initiatives.
Out of the 11 eligible countries, eight were chosen by the Danube PRP for this SGP (i.e. no SGP projects
were awarded to CZ, SK and H, apart from D and A). UNDP/GEF provided a total of $ 200,000, i.e. up to $
25,000 per country: For the NIS countries Moldova and Ukraine, UNDP/GEF funds were directly given to
the UNDP offices. For the six CEE countries, namely Slovenia, Croatia, Bulgaria, Romania, Bosnia-
Herzegovina and FR Yugoslavia, the REC ran the programme. Maximum available grant per NGO project
was $ 5,000.
The REC provided comprehensive reports about the results of its UNDP/GEF SGP. The consultant visited
both the REC headquarter as well as the country offices in Slovenia and Romania where a detailed look and
personal visit to various project sites could be accomplished. Both countries were chosen as examples (one
small and rich country from the upper Danube basin; one large, poor country from the lower basin), and
within both countries, detailed project information was gained and two field projects were visited in each.
Grant proposals were invited by the REC and guidelines were issued with May 15, 1998 set as the deadline
for submission. Local Advisory Boards in each of the 6 countries received and evaluated 98 project
proposals, out of which - due to limited funds - only 55 projects (approx. nine per country, varying form $
800 to $ 5,000) were selected on the basis of general NGO criteria and specific PRP criteria, as prepared by
the REC. The funded activities can be connected to the following environmental fields:
! Environmental education and awareness raising to develop sensitive and active local people
! Integration of biological and landscape diversity objectives into water management
! Integration of biodiversity objectives into agriculture
! Monitoring of environmental quality
! Restoration, maintenance and conservation of key ecosystems (mainly wetlands) and species
! Promotion of sustainable rural development (eco-farming and -tourism)
Out of the 55 funded projects, the REC lists:
! 24 projects on awareness raising and education (mostly in BG and SLO)
! 17 projects on nature protection in the Danube watershed (mostly in HR)
! 8 projects on water quality research (mostly in B-H)
! 3 projects on water quality monitoring
! 3 projects on policy making (in SLO and YU).
Reinforcement of NGO Activities in Project Implementation and Awareness Raising
7
Number of awarded projects by sector and country:
Sector
Slovenia
Croatia
Bosnia-
Yugoslavia
Bulgaria
Romania
Herz.
Awareness Raising
7
3
2
3
4
5
Nature protection
2
4
4
1
2
4
Research
5
2
1
Policy Making
1
1
1
Monitoring
2
1
Total
10
7
11
9
9
9
The projects started in summer/fall 1998 and ended by fall 1999.
2.2 Results from Slovenia
This was the first country visited by the public participation consultant. Ten projects proposed by Slovenia
received from the REC grants from UNDP/GEF funds, with seven focusing on public awareness, two on
nature protection and one on policy making.
The NGO community in Slovenia is well developed but suffers from major financial constraints (key donor
organisations have suspended their support), which has forced the vast majority of NGOs to be rather
passive. In addition, transboundary issues and co-operation are not yet a major concern. Therefore,
institutional development of the NGO community on transboundary environment issues is critically needed.
During the trip, four projects were reviewed off site and another two were visited on site.
Project D08029 Revitalisation of the Krupa River Area: This is located in a karst mountain area
in south-eastern Slovenia where a big river source had for decades been polluted by PCBs stemming
from a condensator plant. This news was shocking for the local people relying on good water quality.
However, no direct health impact could apparently be verified. After the site had been cleaned some
years ago, the SGP project ($ 2,000 for the NGO "Tourist Society Semic") aimed at improving local
public awareness about the uniqueness of the nature area and the sensitive karst water system (multi-
lingual info brochure with 3,000 copies; 18 tables built to illustrate a new learning pathway along the
river), but also included the cleaning of the Krupa river banks. This helped to change the image of
the area from a contaminated site to an attraction for tourists and a nice area to live in. The project
helped to establish a new NGO "Ecological Society Semic" and to further improve cooperation of
local people on water protection (e.g. accelerated construction of a sewage collector system).
Project D08035 What kind of tourism do we want on Kolpa river: Kolpa river forms the border
between Slovenia and Croatia and is largely still intact (national park project on Slovenian side), but
subject to illegal sewage disposal and intensive recreational activities. The NGO "Fishing Society
Crnomelj" used the $ 2,500 from SGP to increase the local awareness: From June to September
1998, seven littered areas along rivers banks were cleaned and a public awareness campaign was
started to prevent further degradation (via national TV, local radio and newspaper). 200 posters and
2,000 info brochures were spread. A list of illegal sewage spots was given to the environment
inspectorate, which resulted both in stopping a few of them and in contacts with the local industry.
Yet, no complete improvement can be reported.
Four other projects reviewed during individual meetings at the REC office: The "Water
Detective" project is a most remarkable initiative which invites primary school kids (6-14 years) to
make simple research and art on water and to report about it in papers, drawings and poems
(published in local media). About 10,000 pupils from 140 schools (= 1/3 of Slovenia!!) have already
participated. SGP helped with $ 3,000 to publish a booklet for teachers (100 pages, colour print,
2,000 copies), which was delivered to all primary schools in Slovenia.
The "Building Wetlands for Waste Water Treatment" project promotes constructed wetlands in rural
areas. For $ 1,000 SGP support, two workshops informed over 100 people about this technology and
8
construction projects were initiated in four villages. However, only one village is currently ready to
build a constructed wetland because there is yet no governmental incentive for this kind of waste
water treatment.
The "Four Seasons" project was supported with $ 3,000 to organise training workshops for 100
teachers and agricultural students on water management, which were held at a perma-culture farm.
Topics included river revitalisation, water on a perma-culture farm, water quality monitoring etc.
The project "Internal Inspection and Certification of Organic Farms" financed with $ 5,000 the
introduction of an independent organic farms certification (IFOAM control system) in Slovenia. In
1998, 12 inspectors were trained and 25 farms applied, out of which 13 received the status of organic
farms and 8 became farms in conversion. Today, the control system is fully operating. By the
summer of 2000, 600 farms had already been certified and the first markets opened in Ljubljana and
Maribor with products from those farms certified in 1998. In this case, the benefit for nutrient
reduction is most evident and sustainable.
2.3 Results from Romania
Romania was the second country visited. It has much more wide-spread and prominent environment
pollution problems. Nine SGP projects were financed, five of them dealing with public awareness and four
with nature protection. Due to the big travel distances, only two projects could be visited:
Project D05039 "Children and the Danube": The "Al. Borza Naturalist Foundation" in Braila in
eastern Romania works for the protection and revitalisation of the Lower Danube floodplains (little
Braila island). For the SGP support of $ 4,000, this group organised various ecological camps
(including training of students to do environment education with children), a seminar "Hope for
Danube" (where 300 kids hold a trial for the Danube) and water quality monitoring of the Danube
and Braila city. Further, funds were used to produce small info bulletins (1,000 copies distributed to
kids) and a book entitled "Only one Danube" (220 pages; 1,000 copies distributed to schools). As
project effects, seven "Eco Clubs" were founded involving up to 500 children and teachers from
various schools, and the NGO became the city's resource center for environmental education.
Project D05022 "Involvement of Civil Society in Developing a Wetland Protection Plan for
north-west Dobrogea": With $ 3,060 received, the ECOS Youth Organisation from Tulcea
(entrance of the Danube delta) could launch new co-operation between the local authorities and
people, aimed at reducing local pollution and at better protecting several large Danube wetlands
upstream of the delta (part of the Green Danube Ecological Corridor). Altogether 40 actions were
organised, including education programmes with young students from local villages, the printing and
distribution of a wetland booklet (1,000 copies - 800 distributed), various local meetings, field trips,
press releases etc. The SGP support also helped to raise other matching funds.
2.4 Results from Moldova
The short evaluation report indicates that the SGP started in September 1998 and that 28 project proposals
were submitted to UNDP Moldova, where a Local Advisory Board of knowledgeable experts made
recommendations to the UNDP Resident Representative. Five projects were eventually accepted (awards
were 4 x $ 4,600 and one $ 4,050) which started in December 1998 and ended in July 1999.
The five projects were focusing on awareness raising among the local people (e.g. via map, video film, photo
exhibition, brochures, pupil competition; educational CD-ROM for schools on the local fauna,
TV/Radio/newspaper reporting; opinion polls, round-table discussions, an Environmental Guide promoting
eco-tourism) but also on some concrete work (cleaning of the Prut river springs, tree planting, water quality
monitoring). Local environment and health authorities as well as the Ministry for Environment were closely
involved but the projects also helped to establish new links to business and research institutions. The existing
NGOs were strengthened, and even new NGOs were established. In spring 1999, each granted NGO planted
400 trees in its project area, and in a NGO meeting on 8 November 1999, the NGO community was informed
about the achievements, problems and experiences of this SGP.
Reinforcement of NGO Activities in Project Implementation and Awareness Raising
9
2.5 Evaluation
The brief survey and intensive visits helped to identify the various strengths and weaknesses of the SGP
programme. It is possible although not very correct - to extrapolate the experiences of these example SGP
projects to the entire list of projects supported by the UNDP/GEF SGP:
Strengths
· It seems that UNDP/GEF funds were used most efficiently: The amount of activities and outputs is
very impressive for the very small amount of money received. This can be explained by the
voluntary work that most NGO do and by their efforts to make the most out of the available support.
· Environmental education programmes, especially the training of teachers, have multiplying and
lasting effects.
· Co-operation with the local media also increased public information/awareness and supported the
credibility/strength/standing of the NGO in the eyes of the local public.
· All projects have some kind of environmental awareness objective, which secures a dissemination of
environmental information and more sustainable impacts (e.g. change of behaviour).
· A number of projects were in fact co-funded, which made a bigger and/or more complex project
feasible.
Weaknesses
· Too little funds per project were directed to concrete "pollution reduction" activities.
· Criteria to produce concrete pollution reduction were not strongly advocated in the call phase.
· There are limits on NGOs' capacity and competence in implementing concrete action (e.g. activities
which require legal permits, large funds, long negotiation processes, complex technical problems).
· The available time for this SPG was sometimes too short to achieve more comprehensive results.
· The PR for the actual donor (UNDP/GEF) was very weak.
· It was diplomatically unfortunate that three Danube basin countries were not eligible for this SGP.
Conclusion
· This SGP can be considered very successful; the available funds were in most cases spent in a very
efficient way, with sustainable benefits.
· In terms of direct nutrient reduction, only a few projects could be listed (e.g. conversion of farms,
cleaning of river banks) but all projects have indirect effects built in in terms of awareness raising,
education and initiation of nutrient reduction projects. Regrettably, none of the projects produced a
quantitative figure of such success.
· There is a need and opportunity in various projects to build up on the work done before in order to
materialise and extend the beneficial outputs.
· Investing in NGO activities is in most cases very cost-efficient, since NGOs work close to the
problem and to the target audience, their office costs and fees are very small; they have all possibility
for flexible contacts. The failure rate is small and so are the potential financial losses.
· NGOs need to be better informed in advance about the background and objectives of the SGP.
· Selection criteria should be further developed (specified) and communicated when issuing the call
for submission and should then become part of the contract and reporting.
· While many projects were already designed and executed with good PR work, future projects need
to have special media components to better spread information about the environmental action.
· All Danube Basin countries are in need of such NGO projects; a future SGP should involve both the
countries in transition as well as Germany and Austria where a complementing SGP should be
established via domestic or "western" sources (GEF is not eligible).
10
3
EVALUATION OF NGO STRUCTURES UNDER THE
DANUBE ENVIRONMENT FORUM (DEF)
3.1 Background
The involvement of NGOs in environmental policies in the Danube Basin dates back to the governmental
conference in Sofia in September 1991 when Danube governments, donor organisations and NGOs met to
discuss and launch the "Environmental Programme for the Danube River Basin". While NGOs were later
excluded from the preparatory process of the Danube Protection Convention, a few of them were invited to
participate in the Danube Task Force (WWF, IUCN, Equipe Cousteau and the Regional Environmental
Center which later stopped being considered as NGO).
The need to establish something like a basin-wide NGO network or platform was soon realised and then
followed up both by the NGO community, the REC and the Danube PCU (UNDP). There were problems
assopciated with the fact that the NGO community was a very young, dynamic and largely inexperienced
group, while the top-down efforts of installing one partner body for the Task Force (rather than having e.g.
one NGO representative per country, resulting in 13 TF members) failed. Also, the TF was considered by
some NGOs as a governmental forum, which they did not want to support in general (e.g. NGO critique of a
lack of governmental policy towards sustainable development or true public participation; also: controversy
over the Gabcikovo hydrodam).
UNDP/GEF then funded several NGO consultation workshops which were organised via the REC in June
1992 in Bratislava (where a support for a so-called NGO Danube Forum was not granted by the NGO
community), via WWF Austria & Global 2000 in September 1993 in Vienna (calling the TF to grant two
seats for eastern NGOs) and via the NGO Danube Forum/Ecologist Youth of Romania on 17-20 February
1994 in Sinaia (RO) where eventually three interim NGO representatives were elected. At the 5th Task Force
meeting in Regensburg (D) in July 1994, CEE NGO representatives together with western NGO
representatives used the first opportunity since Sofia 1991 to raise their critical voice against a narrow-
scoped draft of the Danube Strategic Action Plan that according to them lacked broad ecological goals (this
was appreciated by several delegations and helped to improve the draft SAP).
A major step forward was achieved in October 1994 at the Danube NGO International Meeting (supported
by UNDP and the Danube Task Force) in Mikulov (CZ) when 31 NGO representatives agreed to the
establishment of the "Danube Environment Forum (DEF)". Following this, the elected three DEF speakers
were invited to Task Force meetings but over time failed to secure sustainable, competent participation and
communication (this was partly due to the absence of follow-up baseline support to the DEF by UNDP/GEF
after 1996). In 1995, NGO focal points in the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Croatia, Romania, Moldova and
Ukraine organised meetings to promote NGO collaboration. On 1 December 1995, the DEF board met in
Budapest to prepare the 1st General Assembly, which was held on 15-17 February 1996 in Kosice
(Slovakia) with 75 participants from 51 Danube basin NGOs. After that, however, the activities of the DEF
speakers receded and by 1997, there was no more activity within the DEF.
3.2 Reinforcement of NGO Cooperation in the DRB
Within the Danube PRP, a new effort was undertaken to reinforce and develop the NGO community in the
region. This firstly focused on the national NGO communities and started with the training of NGO
facilitators (10-19 March 1998 in Baden/A), who conducted from April to June 1998 national NGO
consultation workshops (each 2 days long). They were organised by the REC in 11 Danube Basin countries
and involved altogether 212 NGO representatives out of which five to eight NGO representatives per country
were nominated to take part in the PRP National Planning Workshops, and three to four NGO representatives
were nationally nominated and invited to the DEF Regional Consultation Meeting held in Szentendre (H) on
November 12-14, 1998.
Reinforcement of NGO Activities in Project Implementation and Awareness Raising
11
On this occasion, the 39 participants agreed to re-establish the NGO platform named "Danube
Environment Forum". Again, three speakers were elected (for the upper, middle and lower Danube Basin
parts) and an Interim DEF Secretariat became established in Bratislava at the office of the NGO Daphne.
The speakers, together with the Secretariat, prepared the crucial institutional development steps (secretary; e-
mail conference; new logo; project proposals for baseline funding submitted to PCU/UNDP). On March 18-
19, 1999, the first DEF Board meeting was held in Bratislava, which prepared the DEF statute, the DEF
registration, the national DEF structure and fund raising; this meeting was again funded by UNDP/GEF.
In April 1999, the official legal registration of DEF as an international organisation under the Slovak law
was initiated (founding members were Daphne/SK. Union for the Morava River/CZ and Distelverein/A)
which was accomplished in October 1999 (Memorandum of Foundation of DEF).
At the ICPDR-PMTF meeting on 12 June 1999, three project proposals on DEF institutional strengthening,
public awareness raising and wetland restoration were presented (they later became part of the Project Brief
for the Preparation of the GEF Danube Regional Project!). In November 1999, the DEF submitted its formal
application to the ICPDR for being granted "observer" status, which was accepted at the ICPDR meeting on
22-23 November 1999 in Sinaia/RO.
3.3 Situation of the DEF today
In 1999, another fifteen NGOs from ten Danube countries applied for DEF membership and ten were granted
it by the DEF Board at the DEF Strategy Meeting in Bratislava on March 6-7, 2000(meeting funded by the
Austrian Federal Chancellery).
Today, the DEF has 13 members representing 11 Danube Basin countries (i.e. in all except Hungary and
Moldova). Another five NGOs have requested membership (status April 2000). In six countries, DEF also
disposes of approved DEF National Focal Points (Austria, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, FR Yugoslavia,
Romania, Ukraine), for another five (B-H, BG, HR, D, SLO) this is under preparation during 2000. In
Slovakia, Yugoslavia and Romania, there exist already active DEF networks with each more than ten local
NGOs that benefit from the DEF information service provided by the Secretariat in Bratislava.
Except for the mentioned meetings and the invitation of DEF speakers to UNDP/GEF PRP or ICPDR
meetings (e.g. at the Hernstein workshops, PMTF and Steering Group meetings, to the Ad-hoc Expert Group
on River Basin Management), DEF has yet no institutional financial support; and all expenses such as
registration, secretariat and communication are covered by the Secretariat, Speakers and DEF members. Still,
efforts are under way to make possible the first general Assembly in 2000 (planned in Galati/RO).
Apart from WWF, DEF is the only relevant NGO in the Danube Basin that works on regional level on
environment (water). It is recognised within the NGO community but yet not well known especially among
NGOs working in other fields than water and nature. It is a fact that until today only very few NGOs in the
region work on international level and that the importance of e.g. transboundary pollution problems posing a
task for local NGOs became only evident with the Tisza accidental spills in early 2000.
Until this day, the DEF has not been able to establish national links in Hungary and Moldova. Hungary is a
special case because a few NGO leaders with their negative experience of the early 1990s top-down NGO
involvement process still today dominate the opinion about the DEF, the EPDRB and ICPDR. However,
recent communication indicates that the DEF could enlisist Hungarian and Moldovian members by the end
of 2000.
The participation of NGO representatives at the 11 PRP National Planning Workshops in 1998 strengthened
the participatory and communication process with governmental bodies. Representatives from local
communities and science also contributed to an open assessment of environmental problems, policy
objectives and measures to be undertaken. Participating NGOs also expressed their satisfaction with these
workshops and their outcome. The only country where these workshops and NGO involvement were not
successful is Hungary: For many years already, a few prominent Hungarian NGO leaders have not favoured
the Danube regional process.
Further, it should be mentioned that a few NGO representatives (DEF, WWF) attended the two successful
Danube Transboundary Analysis workshops in January and May 1999 in Hernstein (A).
12
3.4 Other NGO Involvement
To assess if and how NGO participation and awareness raising were reinforced by the UNDP/GEF Pollution
Reduction Project, a Questionnaire was distributed to the national consultants asking them to respond to the
following questions :
1. During the DPRP there were several activities related to public participation. In what respect did
each government in the DRB notice an (beneficial ?) impact from this? (was it through NGO
participation in national workshops, through the Small Grants Programme or through the
involvement of the DEF?)
Replies from most countries state that NGO participation in the National Workshops was viewed as a
very positive experience (e.g. as a second, independent opinion, provision of new facts). Moreover,
the SGP proved to be a successful contribution towards to increasing NGOs' level of expertise and
local public awareness/environmental education activities.
2. What possibilities and needs do the governments suggest in order to improve public participation
in the future? In particular, what should new NGO programmes focus on more (e.g. local field
activities, public awareness raising via the media, direct cooperation of specific NGOs with
government authorities on specific projects).
Based on the answers to this question, it seems that funds are the only limiting factor rather than
knowledge or lack of cooperation with NGOs. It was felt as a pity that very rewarding NGO ideas
and initiatives are not better supported. Future NGO SGP should focus on concrete local field
activities and public awareness raising (e.g. introduction of phosphorus-free detergents), also to
demonstrate the importance of local communities in solving global problems. Interest was also
expressed in improving the involvement of NGOs and the public in governmental decision-making
processes.
3.5 Conclusion
· It can be stated that the UNDP/GEF PRP in 1998/99 helped to raise awareness among a large
number of national NGOs regarding the Danube Basin environmental problems and the role and
tasks of the Danube Convention and its ICPDR.
· UNDP/GEF funds were decisive in re-institutionalising the DEF but were insufficient to sustain it.
The DEF (through its elected speakers and Secretariat) was able to then establish itself as a legal
body with elected speakers, board, secretariat, national representation in most Danube countries and
various policy work. However, when viewed against the large NGO community and NGO
competence available in the region, the DEF still seems to be weak in its structure, membership,
communication and policy work (not forgetting that it has officially existed for less than a year
only!).
· The future development of DEF still depends on outside funding (e.g. UNDP/GEF) which should
focus on the following priorities:
! Institutional development of DEF (more members, more internal and external communication,
better information service by the secretariat, better communication and co-ordination of
speakers, board & national focal points, more concrete outputs);
! Strengthening the local NGO community interest in the Danube Basin policy issues, aiming at
bilateral co-operation with the DEF international structure via national DEF Focal Points and
their projects (awareness raising, education, wetlands, hot spots etc.) including annual national
NGO meetings;
! Promotion of the development and submission of NGO projects to the UNDP/GEF Small Grants
Programme, i.e. the DEF should invite both its National Focal Points and the national NGO
community to prepare respective proposals for nutrient reduction (e.g. via wetland restoration);
Reinforcement of NGO Activities in Project Implementation and Awareness Raising
13
! Strengthening the DEF policy work through regular DEF board meetings and General
Assemblies, the enlisting of DEF experts for Danube issues as well as active DEF participation
at ICPDR meetings, workshops and training;
! Public awareness raising within in the general public (local people) about the needs for local and
transboundary water management, pollution prevention and mitigation, wetland conservation
and restoration;
! Competent DEF engagement in important regional issues, e.g. Tisza spills (BMTF), Lower
Danube Green Corridor, GEF Strategic Partnership etc.
14
4
EVALUATION OF PUBLIC AWARENESS RAISING
4.1 Background
The distribution of information and the raising of public awareness has not yet been a prominent activity of
the Danube programmes since 1991. There have been a few press releases for the media (e.g. on the occasion
of the signing of the Danube SAP in December 1994) but no real PR campaign. The most relevant activities
were
· the release of the quarterly bulletin "Danube Watch" since December 1994
· the establishment of web-pages by the Danube PCU (www.rec.org/DanubePCU) and by the ICPDR
(www.icpdr.org/DANUBIS)
· the request expressed to NGOs to engage in public awareness raising which has lately been
indirectly successful through the NGO Small Grants Programme (1998-1999)
4.2 Evaluation of previous Public Awareness Raising Activities
4.2.1 Danube Watch
"Danube Watch - The Magazine of the Environmental Programme for the Danube River Basin" was
launched in December 1994 by the Danube PCU. It is an independent quarterly magazine of 16 A4 pages
bringing stories of mostly 1-3 pages on a whole range of environmental issues within the region with a focus
on activities under the EPDRB and the ICPDR as well as on local issues related to environmental policy,
protection, pollution and restoration (mostly written by journalists). Information is also brought to the reader
in the form of interviews, statements by national government officials, local special authorities and NGOs. In
other words, a big portion of the DW is written by involved officials and experts.
In 1995, a special brochure called "Action for a Blue Danube" presented the Environmental Programme for
the DRB and its first results (24 pages).
After being published first in black and blue until June 1997, a re-launched DW in March 1998 appeared in a
full colour version with shorter stories (still 16 pages).
In 1999, a new tender resulted in a change of publisher and a change of the design but a continuation of the
content concept (June 1999).
With the 2/2000 issue (expected in September), the funding of Danube Watch by EU-Phare Programme and
the UNDP/GEF will cease. How the magazine will be sustained beyond that point remains to be decided.
The support for single issues by national donors, as in the case of no. 1/1999, funded by the Austrian Federal
Chancellery, could be a bridging solution but cannot secure a regular publication of the magazine.
Danube Watch can be ordered free of charge from the Danube PCU and the ICPDR Secretariat. It is
presently (July 2000) mailed to 6,400 addresses reaching an estimate of 10,000 readers:
! 7% government authorities and administration,
! 27% international organisations and IFIs,
! 25% R & D, professional training and universities
! 11% private individuals and NGOs,
! 17% civil engineers, scientists etc.).
It is obvious that Danube Watch reaches quite efficiently the specific target audience of the DRPC and
ICPDR as well as a broader range of persons and institutions.
Since 1999, DW has also been published on the homepage of the Danube PCU (www.rec.org/DanubePCU)
which will be incorporated into the ICPDR homepage (http://www.icpdr.org/Danubis) in fall 2000.
Reinforcement of NGO Activities in Project Implementation and Awareness Raising
15
Danube Watch is the only available environmental magazine in and for this European region. This indicates
its importance as a - largely independent - information source especially for regional issues and for the
ICPDR (especially since 1998).
Danube Watch has a very positive image in the region as an interesting, attractive and instructive source of
information. Readers to whom it is mailed respond unusually positive to the publisher.
Self-financing of Danube Watch
Several efforts have been undertaken over the past years and in particular since 1999 to sell advertising space
to make the magazine financially independent and sustainable. For independent financing, ten full-page
advertisements would need to be sold. However, potential advertisers have expressed very little interest,
much below the minimum funds required for self-financing..
Reasons:
· The overall number of copies distributed and read is too small for companies doing advertisement.
Potential donors such as banks, airlines, insurance and business companies have shown no interest.
· DW is still a special magazine through which the general public cannot be reached. Even though it is
non-scientific, its content is relevant only for a restricted audience and not attractive for most local
people (even if national editions would be produced);
· The region and sectors addressed cannot be well reached by business groups through such
advertisements; experience gained over the past years has shown that direct lobbying and personal
communication is more effective for these companies than public advertisements.
As a second alternative for the raising of funds, those interested in the magazine were contacted and asked if
they could secure the publication of the magazine. An informal survey condicted by the publisher and
Danube PCU/ICPDR has indicated that
· single readers would not be ready to pay as much (e.g. via paid order) as needed to simply cover the
administration of these payments
· the governments in the region do not have respective budgets to share the cost of a regular
publication (more than one issue is not feasible).
Therefore, for the coming years, the benefit of having and spreading Danube Watch in the region cannot be
secured from sources within the region.
Recommendations to improve Danube Watch
The fact of another re-launch of Danube Watch in 2001 should be used to undertake further activities
towards0 improving the magazine, namely
! Development of a general magazine concept including the magazine structure (e.g. pre-fixed cover
stories, special pages for the ICPDR Secretariat, governments, NGOs, a news page, ICPDR
President's comment, updated calendar of events, contact addresses etc.).
! The parallel publication on the ICPDR homepage should be continued as a complementing
publication form to expand its outreach. However, the electronic version cannot replace the print
version because the latter is received by a broader and more interested readership (the internet will
for many years to come remain a very uncommon tool in downstream countries).
! A DW "Readers Online Forum" should be established via an inter-active chat-page: given that the
issues appear at rather long time intervals, the internet should be used to establish more short-term
communication among the readers.
! The sub-title of the magazine should be changed/updated from "Magazine of the EPDRB" to e.g.
"Magazine of the International Commission for the Protection of the Danube River".
! The distribution of the magazine should be improved: mailing lists should be reviewed and
updated and new readers should be included (e.g. from Romania, Moldova, Ukraine), the overall
distribution concept should be re-assessed (e.g. via the central government, the DEF Focal Point, or
one contracted student).
16
! While it seems reasonable to have the editorial team located in Austria near the ICPDR, it should be
financially advantageous to re-locate the printing from Vienna to a less expensive transition
country, e.g. to printing companies in Bratislava, Brno or Györ.
! Special DW editions could be produced to address certain reader groups or refer to certain
events/occasions, e.g. national editions with many or all texts translated; an issue targeting children
or high school or college students to complement a public awareness campaign; an issue presenting
very obvious results of projects funded from the Small Grants Programme, etc.
4.2.2 Homepage
There are currently two internet addresses under which Danube region information can be found:
· The homepage of the Danube PCU (www.rec.org/DanubePCU)
This is a comprehensive source of information covering all subjects and activities undertaken within the
EPDRB over the last years. It brings broad or in-depth information about
" The Danube Protection Convention including the ICPDR
" The organisation, structure and institutions under the EPDRB
" The Geography and Nature of the DRB
" Publications and Projects under the EPDRB (list and summary of implemented projects)
" News and events
" Useful links
As the EU-Phare programme is ending its support, the Danube PCU office will be closed in October
2000 and this homepage will consequently be closed by the end of 2000 and incorporated into the
ICPDR homepage.
· ICPDR homepage: http://www.icpdr.org/DANUBIS
This is presently mainly serving as an intranet system for ICPDR members, containing many
"confidential" data (e.g. various national data, reports, meeting minutes etc.). The information provided
to external users is presently almost non-existing, even though there are important chapters listed:
" Legislation
" News and events
" Administration
" Agriculture
" Disasters, accidents, risks: provides a lot of information from the Elbe and Rhine rivers!
" Information
" Pollution
" Water
The sensitivity of no-public-accessibility presumably stems from "pre-Aarhus Convention" times when
many governments and authorities were (still are!) not used to or reluctant to open their files to inform
the general public. With the Aarhus Convention ("on Access to Information, Public Participation in
Decision-Making, and Access to Justice in Environmental Matters") and the EU Guidelines for Public
Information in force, a substantial change of the ICPDR's access-to-information policy is overdue. The
IC has on its agenda the revision of the homepage with a larger part of information to be publicly
available ("Access Rights Concept" from July 2000) and is expected to improve the situation in the
coming months. From October 2000 on, the ICPDR will incorporate the homepage of the Danube PCU
(www.rec.org/DanubePCU) and integrate it into the Danubis homepage.
Reinforcement of NGO Activities in Project Implementation and Awareness Raising
17
4.2.3 Other Public Awareness Activities
Apart from the already mentioned activities, two project components from the Pollution Reduction
programme contributed essentially to awareness raising :
· The organization of National Planning Workshops using target-oriented methodology and a
participatory approach,
· The implementation of community-based projects with the financial support of the GEF Small
Grants Programme.
National Planning Workshops conducted in 1998 in the frame of the Pollution Reduction Programme in
each of the central and downstream Danube countries, contributed in an essential manner to public
awareness raising. In each national workshop, 30 to 40 experts from ministries, local governments, scientific
institutions and national NGOs participated, carrying the message of pollution reduction and environmental
protection to their respective departments, institutions and to the general public. At the decision making
level, ministers, vice-ministers and directors were involved in the organization of National Workshops.
Statements, interviews and speeches were brought by the mass media to a large audience.
The preparation, publication and implementation of community-based projects under the GEF Small
Grants Programme has contributed equally to public awareness raising. Calls for submission of project
proposals were publicly launched to all NGOs in the participating countries. The implementation of projects
was reported by the local press, informing a large public about the initiatives taken by local NGOs to assure
environmental protection and pollution control. Some projects were conceived for raising public awareness
on specific environmental problems.
Conclusion
National Workshops and the implementation of the Small Grants Programme were essential elements to
reinforcing public awareness at the grass-root level as well as the decision making level.
Training programmes, workshops and the implementation process for the future Small Grants Programme
should contain special components for "applied public awareness raising" through frequent and regular
information of the public on "success stories" related to environmental protection, pollution control and
especially on nutrient reduction projects.
18
5
CONCEPT PAPER FOR NGO ACTIVITIES, SMALL
GRANTS PROGRAMME AND PUBLIC AWARENESS
The overall idea is to increase public involvement in basin-wide nutrient reduction measures, including
practical (replicable!) and community-based projects, education and training, monitoring and control or
policy programmes. Awareness raising can effectively contribute to expanding the local perception of
transboundary and regional issues and even boost the global understanding of environmental problems and
solutions.
5.1 Concept for Small Grants Programme
Based on the discussions with the REC headquarter, the REC local offices in Slovenia and Romania as well
as with the DEF speakers, WWF and local NGOs, it seems that benefits from SGP can be increased if the
programme incorporates the following ideas:
· More substantial SGP projects by increasing the maximum grants and time to each 15-20,000 $: This
will improve the relevance/capacity of each project and importance of possible outputs/ benefits/ impact
e.g. for nutrient pollution aspects.
· Two project phases within the new SGP, with each lasting about 18 months, with experience from the
first SGP phase used for the second phase: A small-grants project should not run beyond a maximum of
two years. However, thanks to the long period of the new UNDP/GEF programme, two SGP phases can
be implemented.
· The project calls should rather be issued on regional level, giving preference to the best ideas having the
potential of producing basin-wide model results: As the issues tackled are not of essentially local or
national character, there is no need to restrict the SGP to an even allocation of funds to all countries. The
tender and the proposals should also reflect the character of the programme - both are regional.
· Each project proposal should be submitted in English and should indicate an English-speaking contact
person: This will help to overcome the language constraints that many NGOs have while in fact English
is not essential for the actual progress of most projects but only for its international communication.
· Preference should be given to SGP projects dealing with important model hot spots of nutrient pollution
and transboundary aspects: While this should not be an exclusive condition (there may be excellent
project proposals e.g. on diffuse nutrient pollution), the SGP should focus on the most prominent
regional pollution problems. Many NGOs are already working on hot spot problems, others are open and
interested in re-orienting their activities in this direction. In each project, the transboundary character of
the pollution problem should be addressed, either by involving partners from neighbouring countries or
by raising the awareness on the transboundary aspect from a national perspective.
· The projects selected and awarded should have demonstration and model character for the DRB. As the
Danube PRP has shown (especially in its Transboundary Analysis), there are many similarities among
local pollution problems and the constraints and barriers to overcome. The SGP offers an opportunity to
implement small-scale, low-tech measures having significant pollution reduction effects, such as the
introduction and expansion of organic farming, manure handling methods, constructed wetlands for rural
sewage treatment, wetland restoration, more efficient pollution control and monitoring etc. For the end of
the SGP, it is therefore important to summarise and widely spread the results gained and to share the
practical experience with other parts of the DRB faced with similar problems (see below). This SGP may
even become a policy guideline for governments looking for inexpensive ways to reduce their local and
transboundary pollution problems.
· Identification of SGP project indicators able to measure the benefits/success in terms of nutrient
reduction: It is important to give preference to those project proposals having developed and built-n
indicators not only for direct pollution reduction measures (e.g. treatment of sewage; improvement or
change of production processes) but also indirect indicators through education, training and awareness-
raising projects (e.g. monitor the educated/trained persons' daily behaviour prior and after; count the
media reports and the reached audience over time; count new contacts to the polluting industry).
Reinforcement of NGO Activities in Project Implementation and Awareness Raising
19
· Multi-stakeholder co-operation projects (one NGO together with e.g. industry, community, government
agency): While the previous SGP already had many such projects, the role of cross-sectoral
communication and co-operation should be further strengthened in this part of Europe. In this respect,
NGOs are still considered as low-importance stakeholders, whose innovative spirit/motivation and pro-
active role is not sufficiently recognised. On the other hand, such "promoted" co-operation can also
improve the competence of NGOs on the technical level.
· Thorough pre-information of the SGP through national NGO meetings: This will deal both with the new
SGP and its conditions and with more general, basic information about the relevance of the DRPC, the
ICPDR, the DEF, the causes and effects of water pollution and the national and international efforts to
mitigate them. The series of these meetings in all Danube countries would secure a higher general
awareness about why this Danube SGP exists and what the NGO community can do and is invited to do.
The meeting should end with a "project idea stock exchange" to foster new NGO contacts and better
NGO project proposals.
· Project administration should secure:
-
Information about the SGP (pre-information meeting, call with submission procedures)
-
Contacting to the national NGO communities
-
Selection and awarding procedure (this should include one representative from ICPDR and WWF as
independent bodies; DEF member organisation may want to also submit projects and should
therefore not be involved at this level)
-
Contracting and reporting
-
Advise to NGOs on administrative aspects
-
SGP administration and reporting to ICPDR
· Project quality assurance service should be provided by a SGP co-ordinator who communicates with the
NGO contact person and visits each selected project during the implementation phase. This is to support
NGOs in solving various problems (technical, administrative, co-operation) and to secure a good
orientation and progress of each SGP project with respect to the regional objectives. As the SGP
experience has shown, such a service is needed and could happen both during the submission phase, at
half way through the implementation and possibly also in the final reporting stage. This person would
link between the ICPDR, the SGP implementing agency and the NGO community on non-administrative
aspects.
· Final international presentation event where e.g. the five best projects would be presented to the public,
the media and governments: It is assumed that many national and local governments would benefit from
the results and experiences made in some of the practical projects. Due to the constraints of most
government budgets in the Danube Basin, such small-scale but efficient pollution reduction and
stakeholder co-operation projects would serve as models for other parts of the country and the Danube
Basin. The time and location of the event could be linked to a regular ICPDR meeting.
· A complementing SGP should be initiated in Germany and Austria to also raise the local awareness
about transboundary pollution problems in the upper part of the Danube Basin, which still substantially
contributes to the nutrient loads of the Danube. The fact that GEF cannot support projects in these EU
countries should not prevent similar nutrient reduction projects from being implemented there. The
possible financial sources, size and character of the SGP and the number of projects supported should be
assessed in winter 2000/2001 by the two country delegations. The ICPDR Secretariat, WWF and DEF
may be involved in the SGP preparation and project selection.
20
5.2 Concept for DEF Activities
The institutional strengthening and capacity building of the NGO community in the Danube River Basin
should focus on the structure of the Danube Environmental Forum.
Justification:
1. The DEF is one of the very few NGO networks in this region of Europe and it is the only one directly
linked to the Danube Convention/ICPDR. Article II (DEF Objectives) of its "Memorandum of Foundation"
provides the following definition of its objectives:
a) "to promote international support to the future sustainable development of the Danube River region
on issues such as biodiversity, land use, environmental education, etc.;
b) as the NGOs representative body to ensure future NGOs participation in the International
Commission for the Protection of the Danube River structures and other Danube institutions;
c) to promote sustainable financial mechanisms ensuring permanent NGOs representation in the Danube
Rive-related governmental programs."
2. NGOs, and in particular the DEF with its combined regional and local member structure, secure through
their involvement in the ICPDR activities a high level of public information and public participation between
the DRPC/ICPDR and the general public. Public awareness raising on specific environmental issues is one of
the key objectives of all environmental NGOs, and consequently of the DEF. Therefore, the strengthening of
the DEF will increase the capacities of the ICPDR in awareness raising and public information.
The support of the UNDP/GEF Danube Regional Project should therefore focus on capacity building to
secure better NGO co-operation, communication and representation:
! Institutional development of DEF: It should support the main institutions and actors of the DEF to
secure baseline funding and improve their efficiency and outputs, and specifically:
-
DEF Secretariat: improved service capacity for DEF members, other NGOs, ICPDR and the
general public (information center for all persons and institutions interested in gaining
information about the DEF work and access to NGO resources)
-
DEF Speakers: improved capacities to co-operate internally and with ICPDR
-
DEF National Focal Points: improved capacities to communicate with other local NGOs
-
DEF meeting bodies: regular meetings of DEF board and General Assembly.
! Public awareness raising (education, information and monitoring) is needed within the NGO
community in the Danube basin and within the general public (local people) about the needs for
local and transboundary water management, pollution abatement, wetland conservation and
restoration. This should become a key activity especially of the DEF National Focal Points, as they
can - from an independent side - complement governmental activities to tackle pollution and water
protection problems. Unlike the Small Grants Programme, which will necessarily focus on local
point issues (hot spots) and will, therefore, not address nation-wide issues, the DEF with its National
Focal Points should run more general, nation-wide public awareness raising campaigns.
One simple activity of the DEF should be a regular publication of information via the "Danube
Watch" magazine (via a special DEF page). The same applies to a DEF homepage which is already
under preparation.
! Policy work: stronger involvement in the ICPDR and its working groups; more competent
engagement in important regional issues (water-related environment sector); capacity building in
local NGO communities; provision of experts, expert statements, studies and data (e.g. monitoring).
Reinforcement of NGO Activities in Project Implementation and Awareness Raising
21
5.3 Concept for Public Awareness
The new UNDP/GEF Programme offers for the first time the possibility to link and complement various
awareness raising activities under a joint umbrella. It is therefore proposed that public awareness raising
activities should be conducted on various levels which can be partly interconnected. A special role is
assigned to the NGO community, whose public awareness activities should be strengthened and more
oriented to the nutrient pollution problem:
· Via the Danube Watch magazine: The "DW" magazine could increase its attractiveness since it is a
unique and important source of information for the region. For the future, further development steps
should include:
! Development and implementation of a new Danube Watch concept (magazine contents,
production/printing/distribution) that would be prepared by the new publisher (new contract) in
co-operation with the ICPDR Secretariat; the objective is a closer link to the GEF nutrient
reduction programme and in particular to other awareness-raising activities (e.g. Small Grants
Program, folder, homepage, DEF awareness campaign)
! Production of new, partly Specialised Issues of Danube Watch
! Introduction of a specialized "DEF/NGO Forum" in Danube Watch
! Installation of a DW "Readers Online Forum" on the ICPDR homepage (possibly as a link to
the publishers homepage where the DW web-page will be established)
· Via the ICPDR homepage : Open access to information and decisions helps to create accountability and
to support sound environmental policies. The recent improvement of the Danube PCU homepage and the
upcoming inclusion into the ICPDR homepage will increase the number of its "visits" and potential
users. Therefore, the homepage has a good potential to meet information and awareness-raising needs.
The installation of a homepage makes sense only if it provides substantial information. So far, the
ICPDR homepage is not accessible to the broad public and restricts simple and useful information from
the Danube region contained in various new studies and data. This refers, for instance, to the
UNDP/GEF PRP whose outputs are in fact attractive documents which will satisfy many needs of public
interest and which have no reason to be kept internal (regardless of the fact that there is also a more
complicated possibility to get a copy from the ICPDR Secretariat). As long as such information is not
shown to the public, its support for such international donor programmes will remain very low (see e.g.
the ongoing critique of Hungarian NGOs).
For the future, i.e. with the start of the new UNDP/GEF programme at the latest, this has to be radically
changed. It is hoped that the incorporation of the Danube PCU homepage will result in the immediate
availability of most of the information not yet available on that homepage. Second, all new ICPDR
documents which have already been approved for publication by the ICPDR body should then be
published:
! General information about the geography and nature of the Danube Basin
! Information about the Danube Protection Convention, the ICPDR and its bodies
! Information about other legal frameworks including the EU Water Framework Directive
! Results from the projects conducted under the EPDRB including the Phare-SIP and the
UNDP/GEF PRP (there is a tremendous amount of important and useful information from this
programme in particular)
! Regularly updated calendar of events
! Regularly updated information about important issues such as the Tisza pollution spills, the
Steering Group and Expert Working Group meetings (contact, mandate, tasks, annual reports,
meeting minutes), the new UNDP/GEF Small Grants Program
! "Danube Watch" including its newly suggested "Readers Online Forum"
! Links to ICPDR members and observers (e.g. WWF, DEF)
22
· Via a new ICPDR information folder: This could be a concise coloured leaflet (e.g. A 1 or A2 folded to
A4 size; 40% photos and maps) which would briefly inform about the mandate, tasks and activities of
the ICPDR and its various bodies, on the Danube Protection Convention and the overall environmental
situation in the Danube River Basin.
This would be produced for the following target groups:
! For guests and correspondence between the ICPDR and national government focal points;
! At conferences, meetings, workshops where the ICPDR gives presentations;
! At public events organized or co-organized by the ICPDR.
The production of national versions may be appropriate but should rather become a (self-funded) task
of the national government. Also, it could become part of the national public awareness raising
campaigns run by DEF, in which case a degree of customazation would be needed (some local issues to
be included).
· Via the Small Grants Programme: This would include
! a series of information workshops at the beginning of the SGP in each of the 11 eligible
countries which would use half a day on raising the awareness of the national NGO community
about the environmental pollution problems, Danube Convention, the ICPDR, DEF, the
UNDP/GEF programme. It is assumed that over 300 NGOs would be addressed and directly
informed through expert speeches, papers and other illustrative material that they would be able
to use for their various activities.
! through the implementation of the SGP's local projects aimed at nutrient reduction activities. It is
expected that these very concrete local activities would be communicated to the media and the
local public, and at the end of the SGP to the international media to be invited to the SGP final
event.
· Via an NGO campaign conducted by the Danube Environment Forum National Focal Points: As the
DEF is the only region-wide network (apart from the ICPDR) which is committed to raising public
awareness on the Danube environmental problems, it is the appropriate institution to run such a
campaign. However, the DEF is still weak in its professional experience in the actual campaigning
sector, i.e. how to develop and implement an international campaign. It is therefore suggested that a
professional public awareness/communication expert should consult, train and support the DEF national
focal points.
The campaign topics would focus on nutrient pollution and its monitoring/mitigation/reduction/
prevention, with a mix of basin-wide aspects (e.g. transboundary river and pollution management, EU
accession process and its implications) and national issues (e.g. on changing intensive agriculture,
promoting constructed wetlands in rural areas, cleaning an important river stretch). Unlike the SGP, this
campaign would have a more national character addressing the governmental efforts (water protection,
bilateral and multilateral agreements, environmental education programmes etc.), the daily behaviour of
consumers and model activities of the industry.
The campaigns are expected to run for two years, plus a six-month preparatory period and two months
for wrapping up and evaluation. The public awareness/communication expert will cooperate with 3 local
campaigners (e.g. two pollution experts, one PR/education person) working at the DEF national focal
point. There should be a regional campaign meeting prior to the start of the campaign, involving two
representatives from all DEF national focal points, to jointly prepare, harmonise and co-ordinate the
overall campaign.
Reinforcement of NGO Activities in Project Implementation and Awareness Raising
23
6
PROGRAMME COMPONENTS FOR THE GEF DANUBE
REGIONAL PROJECT
6.1 Component Small Grants Programme (SGP)
· Small Grants Programme for implementation in two phases, $ 1,000,000 each:
-
Eligible: all environmental NGOs from 11 Danube Basin countries
(CZ, SK, H, SLO, HR, B-H, YU, BG, RO, MD and UA)
-
Maximum grant per project: $ 20,000
-
Expected results: about 50 projects per call (theoretically appx. 4 per DRB country)
-
Administration by sub-contractor/implementing agency: 10 to 15% of the budget
Sub-Total SGP
$ 2,000,000
Suggested Timing for the SGP:
2001
July: SGP
preparation
September:
Pre-information meetings in 11 countries and call for submission
November:
Phase 1 submission, selection, awarding
December: Contracting
2002
January:
Phase 1 projects start
February:
First quality assurance visits
October: 2nd quality assurance meetings
2003
June:
Finalisation of Phase 1
August:
Evaluation of project results
October:
First regional SGP presentation event
November:
Phase 2 call for submission
2004: January:
Submission,
selection,
awarding
February: Contracting
March:
Phase 2 projects start
April:
First quality assurance visits
December: 2nd quality assurance meetings
2005: September:
Finalisation of Phase 1
October:
Evaluation of project results
November:
Finalisation of SGP
December: 2nd regional presentation event
· Recruitment of International/National Experts for project evaluation
and programme coordination preparation ($ 106,000):
Travel: 4 visits to 4 projects in 11 countries ($ 40,000):
Sub-Total :
$ 146,000
24
· National Pre-Information meeting
Invitation (REC lists!) sent out to all NGOs known to work on water and environment issues, brief
introduction into the meeting and request to think about potential projects .
Day 1:
noon
Arrival of participants
14:00 Introduction to Pollution problems of the DRB
Information about the Danube Protection Convention, ICPDR, GEF program
Response by the government (national activities)
Response by the DEF (national focal point)
Report about previous SGP (including presentation of 2 model projects)
Day 2:
9:00
The new SGP - objectives, structure/timing, criteria Discussion
"SGP Stock-exchange": possibility to discuss project ideas and aspects
both with other NGOs and with representatives from the ICPDR and
SGP implementing agency
13:00 end and departure
Sub-Total (50 NGO representatives, 1 night, 2 meals and meeting facility):
$ 55,000
· "End of SGP" evaluation meeting
Invitation to all NGOs who participated in the SRP and to cooperating Government agencies to evaluate
the results of the SGP and to develop follow-up initiatives (programmes and financial support) :
Sub-Total : 50 participants, 1 night, 2 meals and meeting facility:
$ 44,000
TOTAL Cost for 5 years :
$ 2,245,000
6.2 Component DEF Structure Development
DEF institutional support
Secretariat
secretary, office costs, web page
$ 18,000
Speakers (3)
part-time office work (10 h/week), travel
$ 27,000
Board
room; accommodation, meals & travel for 12 persons
$ 10,000
General Assembly
accommodation, meals and travel for 40 persons
$ 15,000
National Focal Points 11 countries (not in D, A): fees and office; organi-
zation of annual national NGO meetings
$ 40,000
Per year
$ 100,000
TOTAL Cost for 5 years :
$ 500,000
6.3 Component Public Awareness
6.3.1 Danube Watch magazine
Cost of one edition, including preparation, editorial work, printing and mailing :
$ 15,000
Sub-Total for 5 years :
$ 300,000
Reinforcement of NGO Activities in Project Implementation and Awareness Raising
25
6.3.2 ICPDR homepage with DEF/NGO page
To be developed and maintained by ICPDR
6.3.3 New ICPDR information Folder
Production of information folder (organisation, editorial work, folder design,
selection of photos, adoption of maps, preparation for print etc.) :
$ 15,000
Printing of 3x10,000 copies (2001, 2003, 2005) :
$ 20,000
Sub-Total for 5 years: $ 35,000
6.3.4 DEF public awareness campaign
National and intern. public awareness/communication experts :
$ 146.000
Travel:
$ 40,000
1 regional co-ordination meeting: 2 DEF persons/country, 2 days
$ 14,000
11 national campaigns:
$ 280,000
Development and production of awareness raising materials
$ 420,000
Sub-Total cost for 5 years:
$ 900,000
TOTAL Cost for 5 years :
$ 1,235,000
6.4 Overview of Programme Components
6.1. Component Small Grants Programme:
$ 2,245,000
6.2. Component DEF Structure Development:
$ 500,000
6.3. Component Public Awareness:
$ 1,235,000
STRENGTHENING THE IMPLEMENTATION OF NUTRIENT
REDUCTION MEASURES AND TRANSBOUNDARY
COOPERATION IN THE DANUBE RIVER BASIN
DEVELOPMENT OF PROCESS, STRESS REDUCTION
AND ENVIRONMENTAL STATUS INDICATORS TO
MONITOR NUTRIENT REDUCTION AND ITS EFFECTS
IN THE DANUBE RIVER AND THE BLACK SEA
REPORT IN SUPPORT OF THE PROJECT BRIEF
AUGUST 2000
International Commission for
the Protection of the Danube River
UNDP/GEF Assistance
2
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1
INTRODUCTION.....................................................................................................................3
2
PROCESS INDICATORS........................................................................................................4
2.1
Implementation of international conventions ........................................................................4
2.2
Implementation of bilateral or multilateral agreements.......................................................4
2.3
Development and implementation of new policies and legislation and mechanism
for compliance ...........................................................................................................................5
2.4
Use of compliance schedule as a policy tool in the new water legislation ............................5
2.5
Introduction of legal and institutional reforms in transition countries ...............................5
2.6
Improvement of institutional capabilities river basin committees .......................................6
2.7
Establishment of inter-ministerial mechanisms for nutrient reduction ..............................6
2.8
Improve achievements of the ICPDR/ Expert Groups and Working Groups ....................6
2.9
Adoption and implementation of EU legislation....................................................................6
2.10 Adoption and implementation of National Environmental Action Plan .............................7
2.11 Introduction of new principles and approaches.....................................................................7
3
STRESS REDUCTION INDICATORS..................................................................................9
3.1
Rehabilitation, upgrading and new construction of municipal WWTPS............................9
3.2
Rehabilitation, upgrading and new construction of industrial WWTPS ............................9
3.3
Rehabilitation, upgrading and new construction of point-source related
agricultural WWTPS..............................................................................................................10
3.4
Restoration or new creation of wetlands ..............................................................................10
3.5
Implementation of surface water related protected areas and adequate buffer
zones between agricultural areas and surface water bodies ...............................................11
3.6
Implementation of agricultural management reforms aiming at appropriate,
respectively reduced utilisation of agro-chemicals and manure.........................................11
3.7
Shut down of polluting production sites, respectively modernisation of outdated
production technologies..........................................................................................................11
3.8
Phase-out of phosphorus containing detergents...................................................................11
3.9
Better enforcement of wastewater discharge permits in compliance with specified
discharge parameters..............................................................................................................11
4
ENVIRONMENTAL STATUS INDICATORS...................................................................12
4.1
Indicators measuring ecosystem goods .................................................................................12
4.2
Indicators measuring ecosystem services..............................................................................13
4.3
Standard Operational Procedure for Monitoring of Benthic Macroinvertebrates
in the frame of Transnational Monitoring Network............................................................13
4.4
Preliminary set of indicators for the Danube River Basin..................................................14
Development of Process, Stress Reduction and Environmental Status Indicators
3
1
INTRODUCTION
This Summary Report is an integral component for the preparation of the GEF/UNDP funded project entitled
"Strengthening Implementation of Nutrient Reduction Measures and Transboundary Cooperation in the
Danube River Basin". The basic task of this preparatory work is to prepare a qualified material basis for the
elaboration of a complete "Danube Regional Project" to be submitted to the GEF Council.
The purpose of this report is to provide an overview of the international water indicators, in line with
emerging GEF policies - process, stress reduction and environmental status indicators, which will
be used to track the short and long-term impacts of this project, prior and after the implementation
of nutrient reduction action plan, within the Danube river basin.
The log frame of the project has been specifically designed in a way that lends itself to the
straightforward identification of relevant process, stress reduction, and environmental status
indicators.
The attributes identified as important in assessing the key indicators are:
(i) relevance
(ii)
precisely defined and scientifically credible
(iii)
easy to detect, record and interpret
(iv)
sensitive to stress on the water pollution management, ecological or social systems
or responsive to changes in time and/or space.
The evaluation of effectiveness of the project activities and outputs will depend on whether indicators
have successfully been limited to the key areas of sustainability, how they have been defined, the
amount of information they hold potentially, and only lastly, what survey and data collection
methods are used.
Using indicators give a means of:
(i)
measuring progress and identifying policy needs, as baselines to measure change
from a certain date or state, or as targets to reflect tangible performance objectives
(ii)
assessment of the gap between the current state and a reference state, and of
effectiveness of measures which have been taken
The proposed indicators are divided in primary and actual indicators, given an estimation of
whether they could be applied in the process of implementing of project activities.
4
2
PROCESS INDICATORS
In the context of the forthcoming Danube regional project (DRP) process indicators are quantitative
measures against which aspects of policy reforms can be measured. The use of process indicators allows
assessment of the significance of the procedures, activities or measures leading to the development of the
legal and institutional frame for transboundary co-operation within the Danube river basin in implementing
pollution control and nutrient reduction measures.
The main process indicators, which can be used to monitor the effects of legal and institutional reforms that
are going to take place on the national and regional levels as a result of performing the proposed activities,
include:
2.1 Implementation of international conventions
A range of national, bilateral, regional, and international agreements and conventions attempts to protect the
Danube's aquatic ecosystem by establishing obligations for individual or joint effort compliance. The
Danube River Protection Convention is the most significant legal frame for cooperation of the contracting
parties to assure environmental protection of ground and surface waters in the Danube river basin. Out of 13
countries in the Danube river basin, eleven states and the European Commission have singed, and most of
them have ratified the Danube River Protection Convention (DRPC) which came into force in October 1998.
The effective participation of actors involved in defining national priorities, in implementing regional and
basin wide measures, and in ensuring adequate transboundary co-operation is considered as process
indicators. In addition, this indicator can monitor the underlying processes leading to the DRPC
implementation and evaluate the effectiveness of measures taken during the implementation process.
The proposed indicators can monitor the effectiveness of the efforts taken by the Danube countries to
implement and to develop the necessary mechanisms for effective implementation of the Convention. The
indicators can identify:
(i)
what is changing (transboundary co-operation improved, institutional and legal reform in
place, etc)
(ii)
why is it changing (improve environmental quality status, etc)
(iii)
why is it important (increase quality of life, etc)
(iv)
what can be done about it (introduce good agricultural practices, create nutrient reduction
mechanism, etc).
There are many ways of organising this type of indicators: according to the DRPC objectives, (sustainable
water use, biodiversity conservation, benefit sharing, etc), by article of the DRPC (issue) or simply as a
comparison over time (biological indicators are far more effective if they are measured against a baseline).
The baseline can be set up having in mind the time of the DRPC's final ratification, before major interference
by industrial or agricultural sector or as agreed by the countries, through a set of characteristics for the basin.
2.2 Implementation of bilateral or multilateral agreements
This indicator measures capacity of the Danube countries to implement the bilateral or multilateral
agreements and assesses future requirements. Examination of the set of national reports, recommendations
and actions, which will focus on measures taken for the implementation of those agreements, will indicate
response indicators employed by countries in the preparation of these reports and suggest areas where
capacity-building is required or strengthened.
Development of Process, Stress Reduction and Environmental Status Indicators
5
2.3 Development and implementation of new policies, legislation and
mechanism for compliance
There is a great body of laws, regulations and protocols on the national level. Environmental and water
pollution control, fishing, shipping, and the protection of critical habitat are well regulated by most of the
Danube countries. However, the complexity of these regulations, insufficient financing, fragmentation of
institutional responsibilities, low national commitments, institutional weakness, conflict among parties,
ambiguities in jurisdiction, and lack of enforcement capacity impede the implementation of their legal
provisions. In addition, regionally, there are only very few structures which have the mandate, political
authority, financial resources, or implementation capacity to enforce or carry out multiparty agreements.
The development of adequate national and regional legislation and the existence of compliance mechanism
will facilitate measuring of project progress.
2.4 Use of compliance schedule as a policy tool in the new water legislation
At least until recently, governments across Danube transition countries had an implicit "take-it-easy"
approach on enterprises, many of which were prohibited from borrowing and subject to other uneconomic
restrictions. This has led to the authorities' inability to impose penalties or set prices for environmental goods
and services at economic levels to achieve acceptable emissions, and to enterprises' indifference to operating
with a valid permits. Instead, two approaches have been taken, investment co-financing and compliance
schedules. There are several advantages linked to the use of compliance schedule which refer to the
increased flexibility for polluters, provide opportunities for least cost solutions to compliance, reduced
regulatory agency burden to implement and defining options for addressing past pollution damages.
As the transition countries are still favourable to the regulatory tradition, the indicators will measure:
(i)
Creation of the institutional capacity to design programs of compliance
(ii)
Introduction of a credible enforcement system
(iii)
Existence of adequate tools for monitoring
(iv)
Use of non-compliance fines
(v)
Inspection resources available to detect violations
2.5 Introduction of legal and institutional reforms in transition countries
How far Danube countries have advanced in the preparation of legal and institutional environmental reforms
closely parallels their economic and political development. However, in most transition countries in the
Danube basin, the legislative and institutional reform process is not complete.
Since 1989, many changes have occurred in environmental legislation as a result of political and economic
reforms and changes in ownership structures. Some countries changed nearly the whole set of environmental
legislation immediately after 1989 as a result of the need to substantially change the approach towards
environmental protection. The intention was to create a comprehensive, co-ordinated legal system that could
allow application of cross-media regulations and new environmental protection instruments, such as EIA,
compliance schedules and market-based economic incentives. The new policy instruments, both legal and
financial, required developing and enacting a comprehensive environmental law. Broader implementation of
financial instruments (realistic resource prices, pollution charges and fines, product charges, taxes on natural
resources and tradable permits) require still more progress.
6
2.6 Improvement of institutional capabilities river basin committees
For the transition countries in the Danube River Basin, efficient and equitable allocation of waters, supply
oriented physical actions which refer to water resources infrastructures and corresponding operating rules
and sustainable financing options represent a challenging task for the policy makers and planners to foresee
in time and adopt the social structures of water resources development, in the complex of rapidly transition
context.
One of these structures are River Basin Committees which can co-ordinate the efforts of all those involved
and represent all interests within a sub-basin which use the water resource and contribute to water pollution.
This will lead to the improvement of the water quality and use, through increased decentralisation,
democratisation and sustainable financing in the water sector. The purpose of River Basin Committees is to
serve as a forum for co-ordinating the policies of integrated management of the basin water resources,
avoiding the water users' conflict of interests, establishing priorities in the achievement of the water
pollution abatement investments, ensuring public participation in decision making, and encouraging new
developments aimed at increasing the water use sustainability. The number of river basin committees, which
will be created in the Danube countries and which are effectively working is a proposed measurable process
indicator.
2.7 Establishment of inter-ministerial mechanisms for nutrient reduction
The inter-ministerial mechanism for pollution control and nutrient reduction shall be created at the national
level by most of the Danube countries. Based on the existence of such national structures, the effects of
implementing project activities can be quantitatively monitored.
2.8 Improve achievements of the ICPDR/ Expert Groups and Working
Groups
With the view to strengthen regional cooperation, in response to the DRPC provisions, the Danube countries
have established the International Commission for the Protection of the Danube River (ICPDR). The ICPDR
establishes the institutional frame for pollution control and the protection of water bodies and it sets also a
common platform for sustainable use of ecological resources and integrated river basin management.
The Expert Groups established within ICPDR can take actions to identify and agree measures and propose
strategies and approaches for implementation of pollution control and nutrient reduction, which will reduce
emissions to the Danube River and Black Sea.
2.9 Adoption and implementation of EU legislation
Environment community policies are grounded on the concept of sustainable development, by integrating
environment policies in the sector development policies of Member States.
To join the European Union (EU), the transition countries need to harmonise their legislative and
institutional framework with EU requirements. Harmonisation is an effective way to improve the state of the
environment in the Danube river basin. Further, the transition countries have not yet addressed
harmonisation among themselves, limiting co-operation to bilateral agreements and conventions.
Development of Process, Stress Reduction and Environmental Status Indicators
7
The Danube accession countries have committed into a process aiming the adoption of the environment
Acquis Communautaire, as well as the creation of institutions required for its implementation and
enforcement. The Program for the Adoption of the Environment Acquis Communautaire refers to the
achievement of measures leading on short and medium term to the harmonization of national legislation with
that existing in European Union, as well as the institutional development required to implement the
environment legislation at the national level. The results of programs for harmonization of the environment
legislation can be evaluated at the national level as one of the major impact of the project.
2.10 Adoption and implementation of National Environmental Action Plan
Danube countries have applied either strategic oriented (top-down) or action oriented (bottom-up)
approaches when developing their environmental policy documents. The majority of countries started with
the preparation of the strategic, long-term environmental policy papers and followed with action-oriented
plans (Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Hungary, Romania, and Slovakia). Other countries (Slovenia) prepared an
action-oriented environmental program.
The Danube countries are engaged in a number of national or donors financed activities that are directly related
to the developing of national environmental action plans that address the Danube issues. Each country will
elaborate, update and implement a National Environmental Action Plan (NEAP) or a Strategic Action Plan
(SAP), which will specifically address domestic problems and propose pollution control and nutrient reduction
measures.
The relevant national policy documents (i.e. environmental strategy studies, action plans and programs),
concentrate on the following issues: environmental policy development, implementation mechanisms,
institutional strengthening, and improvement of legislative and regulatory framework, investment priorities
and international co-operation.
NEAP/SAP represents a planning instrument which approaches the main environment concerns in line with
those international conventions whereupon each individual country is part, as well as with the environment
European Directives.
Currently NEAP is up-graded in line with the Program for the Adoption of the Acquis, turning this way into
a basic element to meet the conditions required by the European Union integration.
2.11 Introduction of new principles and approaches
Integrated water resources management
A consensus has emerged that a more comprehensive approach to water resources management is needed --
one that is cross-sectoral, integrates ecological and development needs, and is based on holistic analyses of
the carrying capacity of the water environment. In this approach, the river basin, groundwater system, coastal
area, or large marine ecosystem typically serves as a management unit on which to base changes in the way
that sectoral development activities are conducted and how priority environmental interventions are made.
Such a comprehensive approach that integrates actions across sectors is new to most transition countries,
difficult to implement, and even harder to achieve when actions must be co-ordinated among countries.
Integration of environmental requirements into economic policies
Current Danube countries policy promotes both environmental improvement and economic development.
With the view that economic growth leads inevitably to increased environmental pollution, development of
feasible methods for national economic policies that would more fully measure the environmental aspects of
changes in productivity, assets, and welfare resulting from economic growth is one of the priority of the
governments in Danube river basin.
8
This proposed indicator can measure the effects of:
(i)
the linkages between voluntary international environmental standards (e.g. ISO 14000) and
expansion of (or barriers to) international trade and effects on environmental quality
(ii)
the effects of pollution control expenditures on national income and economic growth in
each of the Danube countries
(iii)
the relationship between environmental performance and profitability at the plant level
including the impact of alternative approaches to achieving environmental compliance
involving technology innovation and pollution prevention methods.
Polluter and beneficiary pays principle
In addition to drafting new and comprehensive environmental legal acts, the Danube countries are
modernising their environmental regulations by eliminating gaps and improving the consistency of existing
regulations. Framework environmental acts and their amendments include such principles as polluter pays,
prevention and precautionary, beneficiary pays, etc. However, many of them remain just a declaration of
intent and are not properly enforced.
In addition, EU environmental policy is an essential component of the Internal Market and takes into account
the keeping of high environment standards by enforcing the broad accepted principles in the field and
namely the material polluter liability, the prevention pollution at source and the assignment of liabilities of
economic and social players involved at local, regional and national level. The beneficiary of
water/environmental service must pay for the service.
The transition countries government's interest in this policy tool is motivated by the need:
(i)
to encourage polluters to find low-cost or no-cost control measures to improve their
environmental performance
(ii)
to generate revenues for environmental fund
(iii)
to send a clear signal that the country is following the international trend to place
environmental policy on a polluter/beneficiary pay principle.
Innovative economic instruments (system of incentives and fines)
Direct environmental protection instruments include environmental standards, restrictions, compliance
schedules, and permits. The countries mainly use monetary penalties to enforce environmental legislation.
However, the concept of economic instruments (charges and fees) has not yet been fully implemented in the
Danube transition countries. Environmental charges, fees and fines are generally more widely used than
taxes. A few countries have adopted incentive financial instruments on a limited basis.
The proposed indicator is referring to the number of economic instruments introduced at the national level by
the Danube countries.
Improvement of local communities/NGO participation, dissemination, communication and
involvement in the decision making process
To ensure full participation and ownership of the programme by the Danube countries, in particular River
Basin Management Plans and implementation of EU Water Framework Directive, ongoing consultations
through open forum meetings with government representatives, district and local officials, and the public are
strongly encouraged. In addition, direct dialogues and negotiations between private sector, non-
governmental interests, and governmental representatives in the region will be an important aspect of the
programme, to generate undertakings with tangible results. The number of NGO and the number of public
hearings organised at the country level during permitting process may reflect a positive effect of the
proposed project.
Development of Process, Stress Reduction and Environmental Status Indicators
9
3
STRESS REDUCTION INDICATORS
In the context of the forthcoming Danube Regional Project, stress reduction means events, measures and
actions which lead to actual reduction in pressure on the aquatic systems of the Danube river basin and on
the Black Sea.
Bearing in mind what a regional Danube project can achieve, the most essential stress reduction issues and
related stress reduction indicators can be outlined as follows:
3.1 Rehabilitation, upgrading and new construction of municipal WWTPS
Primary and actual stress reduction indicators:
! Aggregated "population equivalent" (pe) and anticipated annual reduction of N, P, BOD5 AND
COD (t/year) of existing municipal WWTP, brought into appropriate operation by rehabilitation
measures;
! Aggregated "population equivalent" (pe), and anticipated annual reduction of N, P, BOD5 AND
COD (t/year) of existing WWTP, upgraded in terms of nutrient elimination technology;
! Aggregated "population equivalent" (pe), and anticipated annual reduction of N, P, BOD5 AND
COD (t/year) of newly constructed WWTPS (split by mechanical, biological and advanced
treatment technology).
In the case of adequate design and capacity the rehabilitation of existing WWTPS are usually the most cost
effective measures with regard to nutrient reduction.
The implementation of advanced N+P elimination technology is in the majority of the middle and down
stream DRB countries very critical, as the significantly higher operation cost lead usually to cost covering
tariffs which are currently hardy to afford by the poorer segments of the population.
As the construction of new WWTPS has to take into account the criterion of affordability, a phased
implementation with stepwise increasing treatment/effluent standards is usually the most appropriate strategy
in the majority of the middle and down stream DRB countries.
The potential EU accession countries have (with certain transition periods) in any case to fulfill the
requirements of the EU urban wastewater treatment directive.
According to the data provided by the draft "Five Year National Nutrient Reduction Action Plans" for the 13
DRB countries, the 156 proposed municipal WWTP projects have investment requirements of about EUR
3.4 billion and the following anticipated annual nutrient reduction:
" N: 31 500 (t/year)
" P: 7 400 (t/year)
" BOD5:
181 000 (t/year)
" COD:
351 000 (t/year).
3.2 Rehabilitation, upgrading and new construction of industrial WWTPS
Actual stress reduction indicators:
! Anticipated annual reduction of n, p, BOD5, cod (t/year) from rehabilitation and upgrading of
existing WWTPS, and construction of new WWTPS.
10
According to the data provided by the draft "five year national nutrient reduction action plans" the 44
proposed industrial WWTP projects have investment requirements of about EUR 267 million and the
following anticipated annual nutrient reduction:
" N: 3 400 (t/year)
" P: 3 700 (t/year)
" BOD5:
39 700 (t/year)
" COD:
78 700 (t/year).
The rehabilitation and construction of industrial WWTP are usually very cost-effective measures with regard
to phosphorus and cod reduction; in addition they usually achieve significant reduction of particular toxic
substances.
3.3 Rehabilitation, upgrading and new construction of point-source related
agricultural WWTPS
Primary and actual stress reduction indicators:
! Number of different categories of animals (cattle, pigs, etc) connected to appropriate
agricultural WWTPS;
! Anticipated annual reduction of N, P, BOD5, COD (t/year) from rehabilitation / upgrading of
existing WWTP and new construction of WWTP.
According to the data provided by the draft "five year national nutrient reduction action plans" the 21
proposed point-source related agricultural projects have investment requirements of about eur 113 million
and the following anticipated annual nutrient reduction:
" N:
6 700 (t/year)
" P:
1 100 (t/year)
" BOD5:
9 500 (t/year)
" COD:
14 900 (t/year).
The rehabilitation and construction of point-source related agricultural WWTP are usually very cost effective
point-source measures with regard to reduction of nitrogen.
3.4 Restoration or new creation of wetlands
Primary and actual stress reduction indicators:
! Area (ha) of restored or newly created wetlands;
! Anticipated annual reduction of N, P, BOD5, COD (t/year) from restoration of existing wetlands
and creation of new wetlands;
According to the data provided by the draft "Five Year National Nutrient Reduction Action Plans"
the 22 proposed wetland projects have investment requirements of about EUR 113 million and the
following anticipated annual nutrient reduction:
" N: 6 700 (t/year)
" P: 1 100 (t/year)
" BOD5:
9 500 (t/year)
" COD:
15 000 (t/year).
The restoration and creation of wetlands are usually the most cost effective point-source measures
with regard to reduction of nitrogen.
Development of Process, Stress Reduction and Environmental Status Indicators
11
3.5 Implementation of surface water related protected areas and adequate
buffer zones between agricultural areas and surface water bodies
Primary stress reduction indicators:
! Creation of surface water related protected areas (ha), (split by degree of protection);
! Creation of agricultural buffer zones along surface waters (length in km).
Actual stress reduction (measured in actual nutrient load reduction in surface waters) cannot be assessed in
general terms.
3.6 Implementation of agricultural management reforms aiming at
appropriate, respectively reduced utilisation of agro-chemicals and
manure
Primary stress reduction indicators:
! Reduction of utilised chemical fertilisers (t/ha/year), (split by main crop categories);
! Reduction of utilised manure (t/ha/year), (split by main crop categories);
! Reduction of utilised pesticides (t/ha/year), (split by main crop categories).
Actual stress reduction (measured in actual nutrient load reduction in surface waters) cannot be assessed in
general terms.
3.7 Shut down of polluting production sites, respectively modernisation of
outdated production technologies
Primary and actual stress reduction indicators:
! Cases of shut down of polluting production sites (factories, mines, etc)
! Anticipated annual reduction of N, P, BOD5 and COD (t/year).
Actual stress reduction (measured in actual nutrient load reduction in surface waters) cannot be assessed in
general terms, but can be done on a case to case basis.
3.8 Phase-out of phosphorus containing detergents
Primary stress reduction indicators:
! Reduction of phosphorus components from utilisation of detergents / washing powders (kg
/capita/year).
Actual stress reduction (measured in actual nutrient load reduction in surface waters) cannot be assessed in
general terms. A rough assessment can be done on the basis of the number of population connected to
centralised sewerage systems and municipal WWTPS with different effluent standards.
3.9 Better enforcement of wastewater discharge permits in compliance with
specified discharge parameters
Primary stress reduction indicators:
! Number of discharge permits in compliance with appropriately specified discharge parameters.
Actual stress reduction (measured in actual nutrient load reduction in surface waters) cannot be assessed in
general terms.
12
4
ENVIRONMENTAL STATUS INDICATORS
Environmental status indicators are information tools. They summarise data on complex and sometimes
conflicting environmental issues to indicate the overall status and trends of Danube ecosystem. In the context
of implementation of the proposed project activities, they can be used to assess national performance and to
signal key issues to be addressed through policy interventions and other actions.
These indicators gauge the usefulness of nutrient reduction measures to human populations and aquatic
ecosystem and assess the sustainability of use. Much of the utility value of water pollution control and
nutrient reduction measures will be country-specific. However, indicators might track those elements of
Danube ecosystem that - because they are traded on international markets or provide transboundary life-
support services - are of regional or global importance. Two categories of environmental status indicators are
proposed to measure the impacts of implementing nutrient reduction measures within the Danube river basin:
(i)
indicators measuring ecosystem goods
(ii)
indicators measuring ecosystem services.
4.1 Indicators measuring ecosystem goods
Human-caused changes in ecosystems generally result in a decrease of population sizes of many species, and
an increase in populations of a few others. Both increases and decreases in comparison to the postulated
baseline are significant and are sensitive measures for changes in the state of the biodiversity in a country,
region or for a global comparison.
Ecosystem structure variables are most promising because they can offer a lot of information on the state of
ecosystems over large areas. Identifying key-ecosystem structure variables that can indicate if the ecosystem
is functioning correctly or not can capture many aspects of quality. For example, a measure of quality might
be the total number of well-specified habitat types observed within a sample area.
Each country can chose its own, appropriate, bio-geographic or ecosystem-specific and standardised core set
of quality variables. The core set can be gradually established by starting with a basic set of easily affordable
measurable quality variables, providing a picture of the overall national or regional biodiversity state.
The indicators can measure the:
" Water quality (water as an ecosystem good having economic value, to be used for water supply
for various purposes)
" Species risk
" Percent of wild species with known medicinal uses
" Biological diversity
" Ecosystem communities
Development of Process, Stress Reduction and Environmental Status Indicators
13
4.2 Indicators measuring ecosystem services
These include ecological processes that provide "life support" services to humans and environment, such as
soil conservation and watershed protection. Also, this indicator provides an impression of the biodiversity
losses or gains at the Danube ecosystem level as a result of industrial and agricultural activities and increased
nutrient load.
" Percent of transboundary waters with increased water quality river class
" Percent of transboundary watershed area assessed as "low risk of environmental pollution"
" Self-regenerating and man-made area as percentage of total area with reference to wetlands
restoration
" Annual land use change from self-regenerating area into agriculture
" Share of rivers dammed or channelled in order to reduce erosion and agricultural run-off as the
percent of the whole river per country
" Amount of agricultural area lost in 10 years due to pollution and erosion as percentage of
agricultural area brought into agriculture in the same period, per country
4.3 Standard Operational Procedure for Monitoring of Benthic
Macroinvertebrates in the frame of Transnational Monitoring Network
The main purpose of the SOP for monitoring of the benthic macro invertebrates in the frame of the Trans
National Monitoring Network was to find common methods for sampling, analysis, numerical evaluation and
presentation for bio monitoring that can be applied over the entire Danube river basin. The SOP covers
macro invertebrates only and is focused on the numerical evaluation for the system of saprobity by means of
the Saprobic Index. This system is adopted for the internationally agreed sampling stations and does not
apply necessarily to national monitoring networks. Other biological groups of aquatic ecosystem are exclude
like algae, water plants, fish, birds and mammals as well as river related (semi) terrestrial systems of riparian
vegetation and flood plains. However, it is recognised that these elements are an integral part of the river
ecosystem. So the macro invertebrates sampling and biological assessment is a first step in the development
of a more comprehensive ecological assessment of river quality.
The SOP covers sampling (choice of sampling site, period of sampling, frequency, sampling device),
collections, preservation, transport, taxa identification, quality assurance and quality control, numerical
evaluation and classification/presentation of results.
The most of Danubian countries are interesting in the revising of the set of bioindicators.
· In Germany, the activities on the Danube are co-ordinated by Bayerisches Landesamt fur
Wasserwirtschaft (Water Research Institute for Bavaria). The List of the Water Organisms Taxa
published in 1990 contains general information of the water organisms, the way of evaluation of
abundance, calculation of saprobic index and other needed information. The list has 4246
records organisms from many selected aquatic organisms.
· In Austria, the revised list of benthic fauna has been recently published. Austria has a long
experience with biological assessment of water quality that is compiled in the Fauna Aquatica
Austriaca, a comprehensive species inventory of Austrian aquatic organisms with ecological
notes. On a routine basis macro invertebrates, phyto-benthos and ciliates are sampled in rivers
and the Saprobic Index is calculated. Results are classified and presented in yearbooks in
geographical from with a colour coding or river reaches. Furthermore a far more detailed en
complex evaluation is applied for specific purposes in which the aquatic ecosystem is
thoroughly described for abiotic and biotic components.
14
· In Bulgaria, saprobity is determined by Pantle & Buck index for the Transnational Monitoring
Network (TNMN) sites only. The German DIN norm is used to calculate the Saprobic Index.
Also quality classes are defined for macro zoobenthos species diversity (Shannon), matching
degree and dominating degree. In the national network a biotic index is in use which is adapted
from the Irish Q-value. Every 5 kilometres of a river is assessed. The biological quality is
divided into 10 classes. This method has been chosen for its cost-effectiveness and relative ease
in required determination skills.
· In Czech Republic, there is a long tradition in using the saprobity system for routine monitoring
of rivers, just like in Austria. Regular measurements are made from the sixties in the national
monitoring network. Since 1975 a more detailed assessment is made. Besides routine
monitoring some projects are executed. At the moment a biological monitoring prediction
model for macro invertebrates (called `Perla' (a stonefly species) is being developed following
the RIVPACS approach. This model can make a prediction on the natural reference community
at a certain site when some abiotic features are known. The prediction is based on a database
with target communities, which is nearly completed. The actual sampled community at that site
can then be compared to the predicted one. The difference is a measure for the extent of
ecological stress. For the river Morava, a Danube tributary, a survey of population species
diversity of fish and benthos is included.
· In Hungary a biotic index has been developed in the past, adjusted from the western European
biotic indices. However this assessment is not supported by the government and hence not
implemented into a routine monitoring practice for rivers. For TNMN the Saprobic Index is
based on indicators outline by Gulyas (1998).
· Slovenian water authorities use the Saprobic Index method (Pantle & Buck, modified by
Zelinka & Marvan) for bio monitoring. The index and classification is based on the examination
of periphyton and macro invertebrates at the sampling site. (Sampling according to ISO
7828(E), 1985, ISO 8265(E), 1988). A basis for Slovenian biological evaluation of the water
quality of running waters are the as complete as possible species identification of organisms
composing the communities, their semi-quantitative determination (abundance scale 1-3-5) as
well as the knowledge of their ecology. In some cases it may become appropriate to
complement the Saprobic Index with a personal evaluation of specific conditions of the water
and the riverbed.
4.4 Preliminary set of indicators for the Danube River Basin
4.4.1 Existing sets of indicators in the Danube River Basin
Within the framework of the International Commission for the Protection of Danube River (ICPDR) and the
Monitoring, Laboratory and Information Management Expert Group (MLIM/EG), some years ago, an
inventory was made amongst Danube countries on water quality classification methods. These methods were
compared with the current practices in some EU-countries. Basic conclusion of that comparative analyses
was that the applied surface water quality standards forming the basis of classification of water bodies in the
different riparian countries are not compatible and as a consequence of the differences in principles and
values, the regular classifications of the countries can not be compared directly and can not be used for
basin-wide considerations.
Biological monitoring and assessment of water quality in Danube river basin has a fairly long tradition,
especially with respect to system of saprobity. However, the monitoring and assessment by the system of
saprobity can be done in several ways and allows some variation between countries, like the biological group
that is considered, different saprobic index values and valences for one species, the method of sampling,
counting of individuals and calculation of the Saprobic index.
Development of Process, Stress Reduction and Environmental Status Indicators
15
Besides the saprobity system some other developments on bio monitoring are going on in Danube river
basin. Biological assessment can consist of many aspects because of the complexity of the aquatic ecosystem
and presence of several biotic components or groups that indicate different aspects. Therefore, from the point
of view or living parts of the river ecosystem the following aspect can be distinguished:
! bacteriological assessment (Faecal coliformes or Escherichia coli, Salmonella, saprophytes);
! assessment of trophic status (i.e. chlorophyll-a concentration, phytoplankton species composition);
! ecotoxicological assessment by means of bioassays in the laboratory (acute and chronic test with
crustaceans (Daphnia magna), algae (Scenedesmus quadricauda,) and fish, Microtox, Toxkits like
Rototox, Thamnotox). But also accumulation laboratory experiments and field measurements and i.e.
measurement of PCB in fish in river Morava;
! saprobiological assessment using phytobenthos (periphyton), macroinvertebrates
(macrozoobenthon), phytoplankton.
4.4.2 Preliminary set of indicators for the Danube River Basin
Most Danube countries apply the Saprobic index for evaluation and presentation of water quality based on
macroinvertebrates (macrozoobenthon) for the running watercourses. Various indices and class limit values
are in use. The species indicator list varied also, due to country specific additions or modifications. The
saprobity is often classified in 5 classes (x,o,b,a,p), but the water quality classification by means of the
Saprobic index in 4 main classes, in some cases completed with 3 in-between classes giving a total of 7
classes.
Based on the available nformation and recommendations of projects for the Danube River Basin and in line
with new proposed European Water Framewok Directive, some communities of organisms have been
compiled.
Running water courses are covered by the communities of benthic fauna - macrozoobenthos
(macroinvertebrates, zoobenthos, zoobenthon), benthic flora periphyton (phytobenthos) and
macrovegetation (water macrophytes). This groups of water organisms are a good indicators of a long term
changes in the river, as well as the indicators of pollution point sources. Their use for the assessment of
biotic conditions is spreaded in most of Danube countries. Stagnant waters (e.g. large reservoirs, riparian
lakes) should be monitor from the plankton (phytoplankton and zooplankton) and macrophytes point of
view. This biological assessment system reveals a measure for the ecosystem stress due to organic
substances and related oxygen consumption. The saprobity system uses species-specific indicator values,
which indicates the tolerance for organic load. Measurements of water fauna and flora should be based on
the qualitative (species diversity) and quantitative (abundancy or relative (estimated) abundancy)
investigation.
The applied taxonomic level of identification is governed by the objectives of the biomonitoring. It is
recommended to perform identification of taxa at species level whenever possible. However, for distinct
groups determination literature and keys may not cover species level for all orders, families or genera.
For calculation of the Saprobic Index often an estimate of the abundance is sufficient. When this method is
applied the exact number of individuals per species in the sample is not known and cannot be used for other
purposes. It is advised to count in principle real numbers. Afterwards it is still possible to make a
classification in abundance. Obtained data can be processed by the calculation of Saprobic Index and
assessed by the agreed classification scheme.
The presentation of the ecological status as a result of monitoring biological quality elements is to be
presented into 5 classes. The next table present a proposal for classification of Saprobic Index of natural
rivers in Danube basin.
Class
I
II
III
IV
V
ecological status
high
good
moderate
poor
bad
Saprobic Index
< 1.8
1.81-2.3
2.31-2.7
2.71-3.2
>3.2
16
The preliminary set of indicators contains about 6 000 aquatic organisms corrected and modified according
to the published sources of references. The organisms have been devided to five groups: zoobenthos
(macroinvertebrates, macrozoobenthon), periphyton (phytobenthos), phytoplankton, zooplankton and water
macrovegetation (water macrophytes).
Bioindicator study performed in Yugoslavia in the frame of UNEP/Habitat BTF and ICPDR on 23-28
August 1999 is a good contribution to the knowledge of benthic macroinvertebrates of the Yugoslavian
stretch of the river Danube as well as the accumulation capacity of the benthic species, mainly mussels.
Primarily the results on bioaccumulation should be considered as excellent. Based on the outcome of
concentration of the mercury, PAHs and PCBs in the mussels' samples it can be said that the results are in a
good correlation with the concentration of the mentioned pollutants in sediment. Two mussel species have
been analyzed from the accumulation of pollutant point of view. Anodonta anatina was more frequent
organisms than Sinanodonta woodiana.
The analyses of the pollutants in the benthic organisms will be included into the program of the Joint Danube
Survey. In addition, the next phase of the Trans National Monitoring Network of the Danube River Basin
will include analyses of the organic and inorganic pollutants in the biota.
As for the species diversity the number of identified taxa at the individual sites ranged from 6 to 21
depending on the pollution and substrate condition as well. Mainly the snails and mussels have been found in
the investigated stretch of the Danube.
Beside the species diversity, additional data are needed for presentation or/and classification of the biological
status. For calculation of Saprobic Index an estimate of abundance is sufficient. When field estimates of
certain species of groups have been made, they should be proportionally added to the species that are
positively identified and counted.
Because of the differences in the biogeochemical characteristics of the Danube river itself and in the related
sub-catchments of the tributaries along the Danube, it is important to monitor and characterise the specific
biotic and abiotic compartments in the particular areas. Differences in the biodiversity of the aquatic life and
in the chemical composition of the abiotic compartment sediment call for reliable information on the specific
characteristics.
Effective water quality management requires appropriate monitoring programme to identify significant
pollutants affecting the health of the aquatic life and limiting the intended water uses, particularly public
water supplies. The appropriate monitoring programme should provide reliable, quality assured (checked and
verified), validated data: (a) on the abundance of different aquatic organisms, biological population, on the
biodiversity in the aquatic ecosystem; (b) on the type of the pollutants affecting, harming the aquatic life and
intended water uses; and (c) on the concentrations of these pollutants in the different compartments, matrices
in the aquatic environment. Implementation of the monitoring programme should provide these data in the
selected matrix at all representative sampling sites/positions with appropriate sampling frequency allowing
quality/pollution assessment, pollutant load calculation in space and time.
It is very important to distinguish the natural background and the anthropogenic input in the case of
pollutants also occurring naturally, to establish baseline levels for man-made (synthetic) pollutants and to
evaluate pollution trends in space and time. Establishment of historical trends, comparison of pollutant
concentrations in samples collected at present and in the past, requires availability of appropriate samples
(reference materials) on long-term basis.
There is a need to establish the biological sample bank for the Danube river basin, where the biological
reference samples will be collected at representative sites of the selected areas of the river basin. The
samples will be preserved and kept in the sample bank for the following purposes: (a) for later scientific (i.e.,
taxonomic) revision and comparative purposes, according to newly arising questions; (b) organs of selected
organisms, (e.g., mussels, fishes) will be freeze-dried, grounded, homogenised for chemical analysis, to be
used as biological reference materials; (c) education and training; and (d) quality assurance.
Development of Process, Stress Reduction and Environmental Status Indicators
17
The collected samples will be appropriate for estimating long term environmental changes and will include
types of samples representing:
! communities (the sample contains species assemblages) such as phytoplankton, zooplankton and
periphyton,
! species (species are sorted, taxa are separated) such as benthon and fish.
The selection of referential sites will include:
! undisturbed (unpolluted) sites indicating high biodiversity and characterised by clear water indicator
taxa, representing high quality, reference conditions for ecological status assessment, and
! sites representing special pollution situation.
The characteristics of the processed samples will be documented, archived in a computerised data bank, the
processed, preserved sample and/or the selected individuals of different species will be put in the sample
bank and stored there in such a way that the sample bank can serve the request of the participating
laboratories for five years at least.
After sample collection and preparation, the biological specimen sample bank will be used for education,
training purposes for biologists in the Danube river basin as capacity building.
It will be also particularly important to prepare specific organisms (species) unique in the Danube river basin
in addition to the common species, with contribution from the biologists of individual Danube countries.
Project Brief / Danube Regional Project
Annexes
ANNEX 9 Danube / Black Sea Basin
Programmatic Approach
Annex 9: Danube / Black Sea Basin Programmatic Approach
1
Addressing Transboundary Priorities in the Danube/Black Sea Basin:
A Programmatic Approach
Introduction:
The GEF, its Implementing Agencies, the European Community and others are working together to assist the
17 countries in the Danube/Black Sea basin in addressing their top priority transboundary waters issues. The
GEF Secretariat, UNDP, the World Bank and UNEP, in consultation with other key donors, the International
Commission for the Protection of the Danube River, the Black Sea Commission and the Danube and Black
Sea Secretariats/PIU, have prepared this draft strategy paper in order to:
· Describe the collaboration among the Implementing Agencies, funding partners and Danube/Black
Sea basin countries in the first "GEF Programmatic Approach" to a geographic area in the GEF
International Waters focal area;
· Inform the GEF Council on the approach being taken by the GEF Implementing Agencies in the
Danube/Black Sea basin;
· Provide a framework for interagency and inter-governmental cooperation and coordination in
addressing transboundary issues in the Danube/Black Sea basin;
· Help to leverage and coordinate additional inputs to the region from other donors;
· Provide guidance and orientation for the development of the Danube and Black Sea GEF Regional
Projects;
· Serve as a tool to assure coherence between donor activities and the policies and strategies of the
respective Conventions;
· Provide guidance to assure coherence between donor activities and the objectives and work
programs of the respective Secretariats;
· Establish a common agreement among the countries and Agencies for objectives and programmatic
indicators that will be utilized to measure progress over the five year program.
· Support the efforts of EU accession countries in the Danube/Black Sea basin to comply with EU
Water Directives (nitrate, phosphate) and the forthcoming Water Framework Directives.
This basin-wide, multi-stakeholder collaboration is needed to accelerate on-the-ground implementation of
measures and to consolidate gains made in jointly reversing nutrient over-enrichment and toxics
contamination of the Danube/Black Sea basin (see Annex 2) under the Global Programme of Action (GPA)
to protect the Marine Environment from Land-Based Activities. The participating countries have the
opportunity to shorten by one-half the time frame for significant environmental improvements that have
taken 2-3 decades to accomplish for other transboundary waterbodies in Europe and North America. This
draft was shared and discussed with the countries at the recent basin-wide Stocktaking meeting as part of
preparing their collaborative projects for consideration by the GEF Council in Fall, 2000.
Objectives and Programmatic Indicators:
Objective 1:
In support of the implementation of the Black Sea Strategic Action Plan and the "Common Platform for
Development of National Policies and Actions for Pollution Reduction under the Danube River Protection
Convention", and taking into account the mandate of the Sofia and Bucharest Conventions, Danube/Black
Sea basin countries adopt and implement policy, institutional and regulatory changes to reduce point and
non-point source nutrient discharges, restore nutrient `sinks', and prevent and remediate toxics "hot spots".
Indicator: By 2005, 100% of participating countries introduce one or more policy or regulatory measures
(including P-free detergents) to reduce nutrient discharges in the agricultural, municipal, or industrial sectors,
to restore nutrient sinks (wetlands, flood plains), and to prevent and remediate toxics "hot spots", and 50%
adopt multiple measures, towards goals of maintaining 1997 levels of nutrient inputs to the Black Sea, and
substantially reducing toxics contamination in the basin.
2
Project Brief / Danube Regional Project
Objective 2:
Countries gain experience in making investments in nutrient reduction and prevention and remediation of
toxics "hot spots".
Indicator: 100% of participating countries implement one or more investments in agricultural, municipal,
land use or industrial sectors for nutrient discharge reduction, nutrient sink restoration, and prevention and
remediation of hot spots of toxic substances, some with GEF assistance, by 2005 to accompany expected
baseline investments.
Objective 3:
Capacity of the Danube and Black Sea Convention Secretariats is increased through permanent status,
sustainable funding, and development of international waters process, stress reduction and environmental
status indicators adopted through Convention processes.
Indicators: PCU/PIU functions evolve into Convention Secretariats (Danube already in place); payments of
contributions by all contracting parties made for 2000 and pledged for the period beyond project duration;
nutrient control, toxics reduction and ecosystem indicators assessing processes in place, stress reduction, and
environmental status, are developed, harmonized and adopted for reporting to Secretariat databases by 2005.
Objective 4:
Country commitments to a cap on nutrient releases to the Black Sea at 1997 levels and agreed targets for
toxics reduction for the interim, and possible future reductions or revisions using an adaptive management
approach after 2004 are formalized into specific nutrients control and toxics discharge protocol(s) or
Annex(es) to both Conventions.
Indicator: Countries adopt protocols or annexes to their two conventions and/or develop legally binding
"Action Plans" regarding nutrients and toxics reduction commitments as part of their obligations under the
GPA for Land-Based Sources of pollution to the Danube/Black Sea basin by 2005 towards agreed goal to
restore the Sea to 1960's environmental status. For the Danube, such a commitment will be contained in the
revised Nutrient Reduction Plans (coherent with the ICPDR Joint Action Programme) and developed in
accord with the application of the relevant EU Water Directives.
Objective 5:
Implementing Agencies, the European Union, other funding partners and countries formalize nutrient and
toxics reduction commitments into IA, EU and partner regular programs with countries.
Indicators: Regular programs of IA's and EC support country nutrient and toxics reduction commitments
during 2000-2005 as part of expected baseline activities and incorporate them into CCF (UNDP), GPA
Office Support (UNEP), CAS (WB), and EU (Accession support) by 2005.
Objective 6:
Pilot techniques for restoration of Danube/Black Sea basin nutrient sinks and reduction of non-point source
nutrient discharges through integrated management of land and water resources and their ecosystems in river
sub-basins by involving private sector, government, NGO's and communities in restoration and prevention
activities, and utilizing GEF Biodiversity and MSP projects to accelerate implementation of results.
Indicators: All countries in basin begin nutrient sink restoration and non-point source discharge reduction by
2005 through integrated river sub-basin management of land, water and ecosystems with support from IA's,
partners and GEF through small grants to communities, biodiversity projects for wetlands and flood plain
conservation, enforcement by legal authorities and holistic approaches to water quality, quantity and
biodiversity of aquatic ecosystems.
Annex 9: Danube / Black Sea Basin Programmatic Approach
3
The Danube/Black Sea Basin: A Programmatic Approach
To accomplish the objectives summarized above aimed at addressing Danube/Black Sea basin pollution
reduction, with particular attention to nutrients and toxic substances, in the most efficient and coordinated
manner possible, the GEF and its Implementing Agencies are proposing a strategic programme of capital
investments, economic instruments, development and enforcement of environmental law and policy,
strengthening of public participation, and monitoring of trends and compliance. The programme would
include both GEF and non-GEF (EC, EBRD, IA regular programs, etc.) elements.
Operationally, within the GEF International Waters and Biodiversity focal areas, the interagency
programmatic approach proposed for the Danube/Black Sea basin includes twelve principal elements:
Elements of the Programmatic Approach:
1.
A GEF Black Sea regional project implemented (in cooperation with the Black Sea Commission)
jointly by the three GEF Implementing Agencies (UNDP, UNEP, World Bank) under the leadership
of UNDP;
2.
A GEF Danube River basin regional project implemented (in cooperation with the ICPDR) jointly by
the three GEF Implementing Agencies (UNDP, UNEP, World Bank) under the leadership of UNDP;
UNDP, UNEP and the World Bank propose to develop and jointly implement two regional projects aimed at
addressing transboundary environmental degradation in the Danube/Black Sea basin through policy and legal
reform, public awareness raising, and institutional strengthening. Each project will be operated through or
closely linked to the respective Black Sea and Danube Secretariats in Istanbul and Vienna. The two projects
will each focus on the following areas within the Danube and Black Sea convention countries, with the GEF
lead agency shown for each:
a) Actions to revise and/or create nutrients and toxics reduction protocol / annex to the Black Sea and
Convention alternatively a legally binding Action Plan for the Danube countries under the Danube
River Protection Convention in accordance with the Global Programme of Action to Protect the
Marine Environment from Land Based Activities and taking into account the EU Water Directives
for EU Accession countries (UNEP);
b) Activities to develop and implement policies and legislation aimed at addressing sectoral causes of
nutrient and toxics releases, such as phosphate detergent phase-out, agricultural reform, cleaner
production in industry, etc. (UNDP);
c) Policy and legislative reforms aimed at promoting the protection and restoration of critical nutrient
sinks, particularly wetlands and floodplains (UNDP);
d) Strengthening of the institutional capacities of the Black Sea and Danube Secretariats to build in
long-term capacity to understand, address and monitor levels and impacts of transboundary nutrients
and toxics (UNDP);
e) Public awareness raising in support of basin-wide nutrient and toxics reduction efforts (UNDP);
f) Harmonization of water regulatory standards (in line with EU regulations, where applicable) among
the Danube/Black Sea basin countries to include similar nutrient and toxics reduction provisions
(UNDP);
g) Development of Black Sea and Danube River basin Monitoring and Evaluation indicators
harmonized among countries for process, stress reduction and environmental status indicators
(UNDP);
h) Strengthening of the Information System to allow interactive information exchange and update and
development of public area for specific topics of nutrient reduction;
4
Project Brief / Danube Regional Project
i) Support to further development of NGO activities at national and regional level;
j) Establishment of Small Grants Fund to reinforce community based actions for nutrient reduction
with particular attention to agricultural reform projects, wetland restoration and use of lagoons for
nutrient reduction;
k) Feasibility studies for a nutrients emission trading system at the national and regional levels. The
World Bank will coordinate an overall study for the Black Sea basin as a whole while the
ICPDR/KfW will carry out a study specific to the Danube River Basin towards the possibility of
developing economic instruments for nutrient management in the Danube River Basin.
3.
The GEF Dnieper Basin Environment Programme (DBEP):
The Dnieper River transports some 20,000 tons of nitrogen annually to the Black Sea, further exacerbating
the Black Sea's eutrophication problem. A GEF project to assist the riparian countries of the Dnieper River
(Russia, Belarus and Ukraine) in the development and implementation of a Transboundary Diagnostic
Analysis and a Strategic Action Programme for the Dnieper River basin was approved by GEF in March,
1998 and will commence full implementation in September, 2000. Inter alia, the project will assist the
Dnieper basin countries in identifying, prioritizing and addressing both point and non-point sources of
nutrient and toxics pollution to the Dnieper and the downstream Black Sea, through legal, policy and
institutional reforms and priority investments. The GEF Dnieper project is designed to enable full
coordination of project activities with the Danube/Black Sea basin Programmatic Approach.
4.
The World Bank-GEF Strategic Partnership
The Partnership will finance incremental costs associated with the reduction of nutrient loads and discharges
into the Danube River, its tributaries, the Black Sea and other rivers which feed it. Three types of projects
(or combination thereof) would be eligible for financing under the Partnership:
a) Wetland restoration or creation, that reduce nutrients discharge or loads;
b) Reform and improvement of agriculture and land management practices with impact on nutrient use
and/or diffuse discharges through run-off;
c) Wastewater treatment in small communities (normally with a population less than 100,000) and
small industries or large ones if opportunity exists.
The Partnership would finance specific components of World Bank or bilateral financed projects. Baseline
costs would be covered by a combination of national financing, a World Bank --- or other IFI ---loan and
grant funds from other sources. The GEF financed component would leverage additional funds (including
national funds) in at least a 1:2 ratio against the amount of the GEF grant. Self-standing GEF-financed
projects without a corresponding World Bank loan or bilateral financing could be also considered, in
exceptional cases, if important policy reforms would be accomplished by the GEF grant or where national
funding, in cash and in-kind, is at least as large as GEF funding (i.e. 1:1 ratio).
Eligible projects must have: (i) the endorsement of the country's GEF focal point; (ii) be included in the
country's Black Sea or Danube National Environmental Program and selected as a priority investment; (iii)
form part of the Regional Environmental Program, as approved by the respective Commission; and (iv) the
proposing country be up to date on contributions to the Black Sea and/or Danube Secretariat(s). This would
include an explicit recognition from the countries that the transboundary control of nutrients is a priority
issue in their NEAP/NAPs.
As in the case of all GEF financed projects, eligible projects will be prepared, appraised and implemented
under the same terms as a regular World Bank project and subject to the standard World Bank review
Annex 9: Danube / Black Sea Basin Programmatic Approach
5
process before being submitted to the GEF Secretariat. Therefore, institutional requirements, sustainability,
financial, economic, social and environmental conditionality normally required in World Bank projects
would also apply to Partnership projects.
Whenever a project has additional global benefits, such as biodiversity preservation (i.e. through the
recovery of a Ramsar site), the existence of such additional benefits would be a positive factor, but not
constitute an eligibility criteria, even though it could lead to additional incremental GEF resources. In any
case, nutrient removal is the essential eligibility condition for all projects.
The World Bank is preparing the Strategic Partnership proposal for consideration at the November, 2000
meeting of the GEF Council. A figure of approximately $60 million would be reserved for nutrient reduction
investments under the Strategic Partnership as described above. Additional contributions will be solicited
from bilateral donors. If approved, the World Bank could then vet projects directly through the GEF
Secretariat without having to bring each separate project to Council. Two concepts, Bulgaria Wetland
Restoration and Romanian Agricultural Reform, have already been approved as likely components of the
investment programme. The GEF Secretariat would review and approve projects based on the criteria
summarized above.
The World Bank will also promote the Partnership, the investments it supports and the programmatic
approach in its country dialogues, include the Black Sea and Danube perspectives in relevant World Bank
Country Assistance Strategies (CASs) as they are updated, and promote policies that address nutrient
reduction as part of country dialogues.
5.
Georgia: World Bank GEF Agricultural Development Project II
The overall development objective of the project is to increase agricultural production sustainably, while
reducing pollution of natural resources. The project includes reforms targeting prevention of nutrient
releases. It represents the first phase of a ten-year Program, to be implemented in three phases, for the reform
of on-farm agricultural and environmental practices. Under phase one, GEF would support the costs of
implementing measures aimed at improving on-farm environmental practices, such as storage and
management of manure water quality monitoring, which over the long term would reduce nutrients from
entering the Black Sea.
6.
GEF Biodiversity and Medium-Sized Projects in the Danube/Black Sea basin
GEF Biodiversity and Medium Sized Projects in the Danube/Black Sea basin to address toxic hot spots and
nutrient sinks, test different approaches and catalytically accelerate on-the-ground results. These include:
Biodiversity Projects:
Integrated Coastal Management Project, Georgia (World Bank; WP entry 7/98)
Danube Delta Biodiversity, Romania (World Bank; WP entry 4/92)
Biodiversity Conservation in the Azov-Black Sea Ecological Corridor, Ukraine (World Bank; WP entry
1/98)
Danube Delta Biodiversity, Ukraine (World Bank; WP entry 4/92)
Integrated Biodiversity Conservation and Wetland Management for the Mid-Pripyat River and Floodplains
(UNDP, PDF-A)
6
Project Brief / Danube Regional Project
Medium-Sized Projects:
Transfer of Environmentally Sound Technology (TEST) to Reduce Transboundary Pollution in the Danube
River Basin (UNDP; MSP concept approved by GEF December, 1999; brief in preparation, UNIDO as
Executing Agency)
Building Environmental Citizenship to Support Transboundary Pollution Reduction in the Danube: A Pilot
Project in Hungary and Slovenia (UNDP; MSP approved November, 1998; implementation commences
April, 2000; REC as Executing Agency)
7.
Nutrient control and reduction Projects executed by European Bank for Reconstruction and
Development (EBRD) under the new GEF `Expanded Opportunities for Executing Agencies':
EBRD's main focus is to identify bankable investment projects together with supporting activities to
facilitate these investments. EBRD contributes to pollution reduction in the Danube and Black Sea Basin by
financing projects particularly in the municipal and industrial sectors, and by applying environmental
appraisal procedures and international environmental standards to all of the Bank's operations in the region.
Danube Pollution Reduction Programme: Financing of Pollution Reduction Projects by Local Financial
Intermediaries (IA: UNDP):
The main objective of the project is to facilitate principally small and medium sized private sector
investment projects in the industrial and agricultural sector. The project would identify mechanisms,
using the Bank's local financial intermediaries within the relevant countries to provide to the private
sector financial resources, including loans and GEF grants for eligible components for the reduction of
pollutants that are responsible for the degradation of the aquatic environment in the Danube River Basin
and the Black Sea. Considering the pilot character of the investments, the proposed project will initially
concentrate on Slovenia.
8.
Accelerated implementation of environmental management programs for mining related "hot spots"
identified by the Danube SAP and TDA.
This activity would support accelerated actions to address "hot spots" in the Danube River Basin and other
basins associated with mining operations and tailing ponds. This would allow for targeted investments,
consistent with ICPDR proposed actions for prevention and control of accidental pollution, to improve
emergency warning systems, develop preventive management programs and undertake selected priority
investment actions. The activity would complement ongoing UNEP and EU activities to support the
development and implementation of medium and long-term preventive measures for management of
operating, decommissioned and abandoned tailing dams at priority "hot spots" in the Danube River Basin.
This would provide a mechanism to enhance joint efforts in the Tisza River basin and other areas where
similar "hot spots" exist and there is a significant need for improved preventive management programs.
9.
European Union
The European Union is a major political and financial actor in the Central and Eastern European and NIS
area mainly through its enlargement and NIS relations' policies.
The enlargement of the EU to the ten candidate countries of Central and Eastern Europe will involve:
· The adoption and implementation by these countries of the EU environmental legislation and standards
as a prerequisite for their entry into the Union
· The financial assistance by the EU to these countries toward the development of the infrastructures
necessary for the implementation of the EU legislation
The financial assistance will involve primarily the pre-accession financial instruments PHARE and ISPA.
Annex 9: Danube / Black Sea Basin Programmatic Approach
7
In March 1998 the Commission, the World Bank and the EBRD signed a Memorandum of Understanding on
pre-accession financing. This was updated in March 2000 to take account of the new pre-accession financial
instruments (ISPA and SAPARD) and to extend co-operation to cover the NIS countries.
The Memorandum includes commitments to:
· Co-ordinate project implementation;
· Implement co-financing projects jointly which foster the adoption of the EU legislation;
· Identify future co-financing opportunities which could foster accession;
· Be as flexible as possible with the delivery of the grants.
The PHARE-funded Large Scale Infrastructure Facility ( 250 million for 1998-99) was developed to co-
finance accession-related projects in transport and environment with the international financing institutions
(IFIs). Realising that environmental projects would take much longer to put together than transport ones, DG
Environment of the European Commission co-operated with the World Bank to develop a pipeline of viable
projects to enable environment to take a reasonable share of the new Facility, screening all projects for
accession relevance. The result was a substantial list of environmental co-financing projects for 1998 and
1999 (50% of the total Facility).
The ISPA instrument has some 500 million a year to spend on environmental infrastructure investment over
the period 2000-06. The minimum size of projects is normally 5 million, and there is money for project
preparation. Although the ISPA Regulation does not formally require co-financing with the IFIs, this is
greatly encouraged. ISPA needs a project pipeline, while the grants could make it easier for the IFIs to lend
to the accession countries.
DG ENV is developing a Priority Environmental Investment Programme for Accession (PEPA), which aims
to develop investment strategies, priorities and a project pipeline for all Community sources of finance and
potentially non-Community such as the World Bank. World Bank officials have participated actively at a
number of meetings to promote this project.
The EU has concluded Partnership and Cooperation Agreements with each one of the Newly Independent
States. In this context it is providing financial assistance through the use of the TACIS programme. The new
TACIS Regulation foresees greater assistance on environmental pre-investment activities.
To date Phare and Tacis have contributed about 18 million to the Black Sea Environment Programme and
about 8 million to the Danube Environment Programme. The latest 4.6 million Tacis programme to the
BSEP is ending in 2000. It gave support to the Black Sea Implementation Unit and to BSEP Activity Centers
in Georgia, Russia and Ukraine.
Under the new Tacis Regional Programme 2000 currently under preparation the European Commission is
planning on a 12 million Black Sea Investment Support Programme for 2001-2003. The overall objectives
of this programme will be :
Investment support
Co-financing with IFIs of pilot investments yielding significant environmental benefits. These might include
the following in particular:
· Waste water treatment (including nutrient removal)
· End of pipe industrial discharge treatment (including upstream industrial facilities and oil terminals)
· Grants to new industrial facilities designed to minimise polluting discharges
· Landfills to replace marine waste dumping
· Prevention/remediation of oil spills from shipping
· Construction of harbour facilities
8
Project Brief / Danube Regional Project
The investments should be available for all riverine countries and would include up-stream as well as coastal
sites. Tacis should provide both technical assistance, including project preparation, and investment grants in
the form of interest subsidies or otherwise.
Institutional support
Continuation of the work of the Black Sea Commission is of crucial importance for concerted action of the
riparian countries to tackle the problems of the Black Sea.
Support may also be included to the three Activity Centres in order to fulfill the regional coordinating role
for which they have also been designated . These are:
· Batumi, Georgia: biodiversity monitoring and development of strategy;
· Odessa, Ukraine: water quality monitoring and development of strategy;
· Krasnodar, Russia: coastal zone management.
EU is also anticipating a project on Nutrient Management in the Danube River Basin and its impact on the
Black Sea (total cost 3,5 million ) as part of its 5th Framework Programme.
It will be important to seek the close cooperation of the EU programmes in the Danube and Black Sea areas
with those of the GEF, the World Bank, the EBRD etc. so that synergies can be found in the execution of
these programmes.
10.
European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD)
EBRD has carried out pre-investment regional and sector studies in the Danube River Basin and technical
co-operation projects in Hungary and Romania. The Bank's main focus is to identify and to promote
investment projects together with supporting activities to facilitate these investments. The Bank attaches
particular importance to promoting environmentally orientated operations in line with its mandate, both
through "stand-alone" operations with primarily environmental objectives, such as upgrading of waste water
management and solid and hazardous waste management, and also by financing environmental
improvements in the industrial often as part of a larger-scale restructuring and modernisation investment.
EBRD municipal environmental infrastructure projects under implementation:
Municipal Utilities Development Programme (MUDP) I and II, Romania:
Water and wastewater sector loans to two programmes covering 6 and 10 cities, respectively. As well as
improving the water quality of the Danube River and the Black Sea, the municipal infrastructure
investments will also bring the water companies in line with EU environmental standards.
Maribor water and waste-water BOT project, Slovenia:
Loan to finance construction of a wastewater treatment plant in Maribor, Slovenia's second largest city.
The project will have a major positive impact on the water quality of the Drava River.
Budapest Waste Water Services, Hungary:
The Bank has invested in the partly privatised Budapest Municipal Sewerage Company (BMSC). BMSC
has subsequently developed an environmental action plan which will bring the facilities into compliance
over time with both Hungarian and EU environmental standards.
Zaporozhia-Water Utility Development & Investment Programme, Ukraine:
The project is financing investments in the water supply and waste-water sector and enhancing the
financial and operational performance of Vodokanal, the municipally owned water and waste-water
company of Zaporizhia . The project will reduce discharges of untreated waste water into the Dnieper
river and, ultimately, the Black Sea.
Annex 9: Danube / Black Sea Basin Programmatic Approach
9
Brno-Modrice Waste-Water Treatment Plant, Czech Republic:
Loan to the water utility of the city of Brno to finance the extension and upgrading of the Brno-Modice
waste-water treatment plant and part of the city's sewerage network, contributing to the further reduction
of the pollution of the River Svratka.
Zagreb landfill rehabilitation, Croatia:
EBRD has funded the rehabilitation of one of the largest uncontrolled landfills in Europe to bring the
landfill in line with EU environmental standards. The project includes a leachate collection and treatment
facility to prevent discharge into the Sava River, a tributary to the Danube.
EBRD municipal environmental infrastructure projects under preparation:
- Sofia Water, Bulgaria
- Zagreb Waste-water treatment plant, Croatia
- Municipal Environment Loan Facility, Romania
- Sevastopol Water, Ukraine
- Municipal Utilities Development Programme, Ukraine
EBRD industrial projects under implementation:
Slovalco Aluminium Smelter, Slovak Republic:
EBRD made a loan and took equity to enable the company to complete the construction and operation of
a new smelter and to shut down inefficient and polluting aluminium smelters and plants. Slovalco is now
in full compliance with EBRD's environmental covenants and is a "zero emission plant", with all
process waters being recycled and no wastewater discharges being discharged from the site.
Ambro/Sical, Romania:
An EBRD loan to Ambro to modernise its pulp and paper production facilities is also resulting in
improvements in environmental conditions at the plant, including improvements in the treatment of black
liquor, waste-water and sludge.
Further examples of EBRD-supported industrial projects under implementation in the water and wastewater
management sector in the Danube catchment area are:
- Egis (pharmaceutical industry), Hungary
- Borchodchem (chemical industry), Hungary
- TVK (chemical industry), Hungary
- Petrom (petro-chemical industry), Romania
- Somatra zink smelter, Copca Mica, Romania
- ALRO aluminium smelter, Slotina, Romania
- Phoenix copper smelter, Baia Mare, Romania
- Policolor (print and ink factory), Bukarest, Romania, and Ruse, Bulgaria
- PIRDOP copper smelter, Bulgaria
- Sodi (Solvay-processing), Bulgaria
- Celhart (pulp and paper), Bulgaria.
The Bank has also undertaken environmental investments in the agribusiness sector focusing, typically, on
the control of waste-water discharges, the improvement of waste-water treatment and the protection of
groundwater.
10
Project Brief / Danube Regional Project
11.
UNDP Country Cooperation Frameworks/Regional Cooperation Frameworks
UNDP is supporting the Programmatic Approach through interventions under both its Environment and
Governance focus areas. Under Environment, during the pilot phase Danube and Black Sea projects UNDP
provided over $2 million in support to Danube/Black Sea basin issues through projects such as:
· Ukraine: Improving Environmental Monitoring Capacity ($1.099 million; 1995-1999)
· Ukraine: Environmental Impact Assessment Demonstration ($138,000; 1997-2000)
· Russia: Water Quality Evaluation and Prediction in Areas Affected by the Chernobyl Accident
($278,000; 1997-2000).
· Georgia: Capacity Building for the Ministry of Environment ($620,000; 1998-2000)
The Danube/Black Sea Basin Programmatic Approach has a strong focus on facilitating legal, policy and
institutional reform in support of transboundary pollution reduction. These new laws, policies and
institutions can only be effective if they have the appropriate level of trust, legitimacy and credibility in civil
society. In addition, as has been the case in the West, environmental protection is being propelled more and
more by public demand. UNDP is supporting the empowerment of individuals and NGOs with skills and
information to increase their involvement in the environmental policymaking and enforcement processes.
During the Danube and Black Sea pilot phase programs, UNDP provided assistance totaling nearly $6
million to the Black Sea basin countries in support of governance, democracy and public participation.
Sample projects included:
· Regional Umbrella Program to Support Democracy, Governance and Participation in Europe and the
CIS ($2.153 million, 1997-1999)
· Moldova: Governance and Democracy: Strengthening the Judicial and Legislative Systems ($1.739
million, 1996-1999).
· Georgia: Capacity Building for the Ministry of the Environment ($0.620 million, 1998-2000).
· Regional Programme on the Environment and Development ($1.8 million, 1997-1999). National
Agenda 21's, policy reforms, institutional strengthening, public participation and networking,
strengthening of inter-sectoral cooperation.
In addition, through the GEF Small Grants Programme in Turkey, UNDP supported a survey of monk seals
and their habitats along the Black Sea coast, a coastal management programme in the Black Sea province of
Trabzon, and a small scale Waste Water and Sanitation Project in the town of Hacimahmutlu.
Through its ongoing support to Environment and Governance in the Central European and CIS countries,
UNDP will continue to provide the framework for successful implementation of the key reforms envisioned
under the Programmatic Approach. During the five year period of the programme, UNDP will support, inter
alia, the following projects which support the goals of the Programmatic Approach:
· Implementing Local Agenda 21's in Turkey: Phase II (includes 3 Black Sea provinces of Trabzon,
Samsun and Zonguldak); ~$100,000.
· Turkey: National Programme for Environmental Management and Sustainable Development
(includes efforts to combat desertification); $100,000.
· Management Planning for Conservation of Fen Mire Biodiversity in Belarus (Dnieper River Basin),
$143,000.
· Ukraine: Promoting and Strengthening Horizontal Cooperation (supports Ukraine's process of triple
transition to statehood, democracy and a market-oriented economy by acquainting Ukrainian
government officials and policymakers with relevant reform experiences in other countries of the
region, Asia and Latin America); $65,000.
Annex 9: Danube / Black Sea Basin Programmatic Approach
11
· Support to Economic, Social and Administrative Reforms in Ukraine (aimed at facilitating the
implementation of the government's economic, social and administrative reform programme by
providing timely and effective expertise to develop and implement policy reform initiatives);
$704,000.
· Czech Republic, Slovakia and Slovenia: National Capacity Building for Sustainable Development
(institutional strengthening, integration of SD principles into selected sectoral policies and
programmes, enhancing SD awareness); $300,000.
In addition, the GEF SGP will increase its links with the Black Sea Environment Programme through
projects in the Biodiversity and International Waters focal areas. 7 of 33 recently submitted project concepts
have direct relevance to Black Sea environmental issues, including protection of the Mersin Fish (Huso), a
threatened species; raising public awareness to prevent Black Sea pollution; and a small size waste water
treatment project in Samsun.
12.
Other Programs:
· World Wildlife Fund: Lower Danube Green Corridor
· Integrated Management of the Carpathian River Basins (GEF project concept)
· Preparation of an Annex to the DRPC for the protection of ecosystems and nature conservation
Future Considerations Not Addressed in the Programmatic Approach.
Two activities not addressed in this Programmatic Approach will be considered at a later date. The first is the
Black Sea-Bosphorus Straits-Mediterranean Sea Marine Electronic Highway (MEH) Feasibility Study, and
the second an International Waters Fisheries Component. Regarding the MEH, the Black Sea GEF project
identified shipping as a transboundary issue and mechanisms needed to support environmental management,
and the Secretariat is in a position to set environmental management shipping guidelines, but this effort lends
itself to a private sector initiative. The International Waters fisheries component is currently under
preparation and will be considered and integrated into the Programmatic Approach, once operational
guidelines have been prepared.
12
Project Brief / Danube Regional Project
Annex 1
Transboundary Issues in the Danube/Black Sea Basin
It is widely agreed that regional scale eutrophication driven by excess nutrient inputs, primarily from riverine
sources, is the major transboundary issue impacting the Danube/Black Sea basin. As a result of the pollution
source inventory conducted during the preparatory work for the Black Sea Strategic Action Plan, it has been
possible to gather data on the inputs of dissolved nitrogen and phosphorus compounds to the Black Sea (as of
1995). To the best of our knowledge1, some 14% of total nitrogen are from Bulgaria, 27% from Romania,
12% from Ukraine, 10% from the Russian Federation, less than 1% from Georgia, 6% from Turkey and
about 30% from the non-coastal countries (Austria, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Czech
Republic, Former Yugoslavia, Germany, Hungary, Moldova, Slovakia, Slovenia). In the case of phosphorus,
the figures are Bulgaria, 5%; Romania, 23%; Ukraine, 20%; Russia, 13%; Georgia 1%; Turkey 12% and
26%, for the remaining countries, a similar story to that of nitrogen.
According to the GEF Operational Strategy (p.48-49), the GEF strategy is to meet the agreed incremental
costs of:
Implementing measures that address the priority transboundary environmental concerns.
Control of land-based sources of surface and groundwater pollution that degrade the quality of international
waters....High priority is also placed on abatement of common contaminants such as nutrients,...
The Black Sea Strategic Action Plan states (p.10):
29. A Black Sea Basin Wide Strategy, negotiated with all states located in the Black Sea basin, should be
developed to address the eutrophication problem in the Black Sea. The objective of the Strategy should be to
negotiate a progressive series of stepwise reductions of nutrient loads, until agreed Black Sea water quality
objectives are met. Such a Basin Wide Strategy may also be required to ensure the reduction of inputs of
other pollutants into the Black Sea, in particular oil.
30. Given that the Danube is the largest single source of nutrient inputs into the Black Sea, it is imperative
that strategies for the reduction of nutrients be adopted for this river.
The Common Platform for the Development of National Policies and Actions under the Danube River
Protection Convention (DRPC) (chapter 3.2.4) states:
The eutrophication by nutrients from land-based sources of pollution is one of the most serious
environmental problems of the Black Sea, one of the key explanations for its environmental decline and the
principal cause for the degradation of the Black Sea environment. The main causes of negative regional
effects on the Black Sea ecosystems include:
· Pollution by untreated municipal and industrial wastes,
· Pollution from agricultural activities,
· Reduction of wetlands and forested areas.
In the framework of the DRPC implementation the following goals and objectives have to be achieved:
1 Topping, G., H. Sarikaya and L.D. Mee (1998) Sources of pollution to the Black Sea. In: Mee, L.D. and G. Topping
(Eds) (1999 in press) Black Sea Pollution Assessment. UN Publications, New York, 380, 280pp
Annex 9: Danube / Black Sea Basin Programmatic Approach
13
Strategic Goals:
· to improve aquatic ecosystems and biodiversity
· to maintain and improve water resources quality and quantity (sustainable use)
· to prevent, reduce and control water pollution from point and diffuse sources, in particular where
hazardous substances and nutrients are involved;
· to prevent and control transboundary impact and contribute to the Protection of the Black Sea from
land-based pollution sources
Specific objectives for the main sectors:
· to ensure biological and advanced waste water treatment in the municipal and industrial sector
· to promote the use of BAT and the adoption of BEP in all industries, particularly those involving
hazardous substances
· to promote the adoption of BEP and sustainable land use in agriculture
As a result of the severe economic downturn in the region following the political upheavals of the early
1990's, the near collapse of the industrial and agricultural sectors in the Danube/Black Sea basin countries
has resulted in some modest short-term reductions in nitrogen and phosphorus inputs to the Black Sea from
the Danube and probably other rivers. In recognition of this "window of opportunity" to catalyze
improvements in the status of the Black Sea ecosystem, the Joint Danube-Black Sea Technical Working
Group identified the following goal for the next seven years:
The long-term goal is for all Black Sea basin countries to take measures to reduce nutrient levels and other
hazardous substances to such levels necessary to permit Black Sea ecosystems to recover to similar
conditions as those observed in the 1960s.
As an intermediate goal, urgent control measures should be taken by all countries in the Black Sea basin, in
order to avoid that discharges of nitrogen and phosphorus to the Black Sea exceed those levels observed in
1997. This will require countries to adopt and declare strategies that permit economic development whilst
ensuring appropriate practices and measures to limit nutrient discharge, and to rehabilitate ecosystems
which assimilate nitrogen and phosphorus. This target, monitored and reported annually, shall be reviewed
in 2007 with a view to considering further measures that may be required for meeting the long-term
objective.
The strategy put forth below integrates the technical, policy, legal, institutional and investment frameworks
summarized in the preceding sections.
Addressing Danube/Black Sea Basin-wide Eutrophication through Reduction and Sequestering of
Nutrient Releases:
The Joint Danube-Black Sea Technical Working Group identified four key measures which could be taken to
reduce nutrient discharges to the Danube/Black Sea basin. These include:
1. Reform of agricultural policies to reduce non-point source run-off of fertilizers and manure (buffer
zones, manure storage clamps, erosion control, organic agriculture, etc.);
2. Improved municipal and industrial wastewater treatment to capture nutrients, particularly using
alternative technologies with low capital and O&M costs (e.g. constructed wetlands, advanced
integrated ponding systems, etc.);
3. Rehabilitation of key basin ecosystems (e.g. wetland restoration) to enhance their capacities as
nutrient `sinks';
4. Changes in consumer practices (including use of phosphate free detergents), including legislation
(where needed), enforcement and public awareness.
14
Project Brief / Danube Regional Project
Annex 2
Preserving the Danube/Black Sea basin Environment: A brief history
The Black Sea was formed only seven or eight thousand years ago when changing sea level sent
Mediterranean water through the Bosphorus valley into what was until then a large freshwater lake. Human
populations emerged and flourished in the basin, with little apparent negative impacts on the Sea or the rivers
that feed it. Though not very biologically diverse compared with open seas at similar latitudes, the Black
Sea developed remarkable and unique ecosystems, particularly in its expansive northwestern shelf where the
sea is relatively shallow. Today, the Danube/Black Sea basin encompasses 17 countries and supports a
population of over 160 million people over an area of about ...square kilometers. Over the last 30-40 years,
as a result of rapid and largely unsustainable development, industrialization and the `green revolution', the
Black Sea and many of the rivers that feed it have become severely degraded, with effects including:
·
Loss of species diversity;
·
Severe eutrophication over large areas (particularly in the NW shelf) due to excess inputs of
nutrients;
·
Declining water quality due to persistent inputs and levels of hydrocarbons and other chemicals from
both marine and land-based sources;
·
Landscape degradation due to unplanned coastal and watershed development;
·
Introduction of exotic species (at least 26 in the Black Sea) with major impacts on the ecosystem
and on commercial fisheries;
·
Overfishing which together with the environmental factors led to a decrease in the diversity of Black
Sea commercial species from 26 species to 6 in less than two decades;
· Increased frequency of outbreaks of waterborne diseases such as cholera and
frequent beach closures due to poor coastal water quality.
Donor and National Activity:
Recognizing the declining status of the Danube/Black Sea basin environment, in recent years both the
governments of the region and the international community have taken steps to remediate the degradation of
the Danube/Black Sea basin and to prevent future impacts through a variety of reforms. Beginning in 1993,
the Black Sea Environment Programme (BSEP) was created with both donor and national funding, including
major inputs from the GEF and the European Union's TACIS and Phare programs. The BSEP focused on
enabling activities, capacity building, and the preparation and approval of regional and national `Strategic
Action Plans' (SAP's). The BSEP focal areas included Emergency Response, Pollution Monitoring,
Biodiversity, Integrated Coastal Zone Management, Fisheries, Database Management and Geographic
Information System, Environmental Economics and Investments, NGO's, Information and Communication
and Policy and Legislation.
Similarly, in 1991, GEF, the European Union and the countries of the Danube River basin created the
Environmental Programme for the Danube River Basin (EPDRB), designed to support the Danube countries
in their long term objective of improving the environmental management of the Danube river basin. EPDRB
supported SAP and NAP preparation, monitoring, collection and assessment of data, emergency response
systems, pre-investment studies, institutional strengthening, capacity building and reinforcement of NGO
activities.
Concurrently, GEF and other donor-supported environmental protection activities have been underway in
other Danube/Black Sea Basin rivers, including the Dnipro (GEF), Dniester (various), Don (World Bank)
and Prut (Tacis) Rivers, and the Sea of Azov (Dutch).
Legal Framework:
Both the Black Sea and the Danube, the largest river in the basin, have developed and ratified international
conventions (Black Sea Convention, Danube River Protection Convention) whose objectives pertain to the
prevention of pollution of the Danube/Black Sea basin. The Danube River Protection Convention came into
Annex 9: Danube / Black Sea Basin Programmatic Approach
15
force in October, 1998, the Black Sea Convention in February, 1994. A number of the basin countries are
also parties to the UN Economic Commission for Europe's Convention on the Protection and Use of
Transboundary Watercourses and International Lakes. Most countries are also party to several other relevant
conventions, including the Convention on Biological Diversity, Convention on Wetlands of International
Importance (Ramsar Convention). At the national level, numerous policies, laws and regulations exist
relating to protection of Danube/Black Sea basin resources, but exhibit a wide range of implementation,
compliance and enforcement. In most countries, legislation to address some of the priority problems,
especially transboundary ones, identified by the programs noted above is still in its infancy. In the Danube
River Basin, most countries, especially those in the accession process to the European Union are actually
revising their policy and legal frame for environmental and water protection to be coherent with EU water
directives.
Policy Framework:
The BSEP was the first programme to develop a systematic approach to policy development through the
application of a Transboundary Diagnostic Analysis and a Strategic Action Plan (SAP). The Black Sea SAP,
contains 59 specific commitments on policy regarding measures to reduce pollution, improve living
resources management, encourage human development in a manner which does not prejudice the
environment, and take steps towards improving financing for environmental projects. In adopting this plan,
the Black Sea governments have committed themselves to a process of profound reform in the manner in
which environmental issues are addressed in the Black Sea and its basin. Preparation of National Action
Plans to operationalize the SAP at the national level is also underway.
Concurrently, the Environmental Programme for the Danube River Basin adopted a Danube River SAP in
1994 (revised in 1999 as a Common Platform for National Policies and Actions under the DRPC) which
provides direction and a framework for achieving the goals of regional integrated water management and
riverine environmental management expressed in the Danube River Protection Convention. The most recent
GEF intervention in the Danube sought to operationalize elements of the SAP and Convention through the
preparation of a Pollution Reduction Programme (PRP) which was completed in July, 1999. Over $5 billion
in investments, primarily at the national level and targeting `hot spots', were identified and project files
prepared.
Preparation of a Strategic Action Programme and support to its implementation is also planned in the Dnipro
River Basin through UNDP-GEF and IDRC assistance.
Institutional Framework
Several emerging or operational institutions have key roles to play in the identification and implementation
of activities aimed at the remediation and protection of the Danube/Black Sea basin waters and ecosystems.
Key among these are the Commission on the Protection of the Black Sea Against Pollution and the
Secretariat of the Black Sea Commission, and the International Commission for the Protection of the Danube
River and its Permanent Secretariat, each with responsibility for coordinating implementation of the
respective Conventions. The Danube Secretariat and the ICPDR Expert Groups (Monitoring, Laboratory,
Information Management Expert Group, Emission Expert Group, Accidental Emergency Warning and
Prevention Expert Group and Ad-hoc Expert Group for Implementation of EU Water Framework Directives
and River Basin Management) are fully operational and financially sustainable whereas the Black Sea
Secretariat has experienced repeated delays in overcoming political and bureaucratic challenges to its
establishment. It is hoped that these will be overcome shortly (April, 2000) and the Black Sea Secretariat
will come into existence in late 2000 or early 2001. In addition, donor-supported activities have resulted in
the creation of non-permanent institutions such as the Black Sea PIU and Danube PCU responsible for
coordination of the respective environment programmes.
Investment Framework:
Both the Black Sea and Danube Environment programmes have supported the identification and preparation
of investments aimed at remediating and preventing environmental degradation in the Danube/Black Sea
16
Project Brief / Danube Regional Project
basin. Collectively, the 13 countries of the Danube River Basin invested approximately $560 million in
municipal and industrial wastewater treatment, agricultural water pollution reduction, wetlands protection
and water resources management in 1997-98. An additional $4.29 billion in water sector investments is
planned for the next 2-5 years. For the Black Sea riparians, a total of nearly $100 million in water sector
investments are underway or near completion.
Project Brief / Danube Regional Project
Annexes
ANNEX 10 Relevance of the GPA for Land-
Based Sources of Pollution in the
frame of the DRPC
STRENGTHENING THE IMPLEMENTATION OF NUTRIENT
REDUCTION MEASURES AND TRANSBOUNDARY
COOPERATION IN THE DANUBE RIVER BASIN
ENHANCING INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION AND
LEGAL PROVISIONS FOR REDUCTION OF
NUTRIENT INPUT IN THE DANUBE RIVER BASIN
REPORT IN SUPPORT OF THE PROJECT BRIEF
AUGUST 2000
International Commission for
the Protection of the Danube River
UNDP/GEF Assistance
Introduction
This study was prepared by a legal consultant to the United Nations Environment
Programme / Regional Office for Europe (UNEP/ROE) in the framework of the PDF-B project
"Strengthening the Implementation of Nutrient Reduction Measures and Transboundary
Cooperation in the Danube River Basin" of the Global Environment Facility (GEF).
The main purpose of the study is to provide recommendations to UNEP on which legal steps
are required in order to enhance the implementation of the Global Programme of Action
(GPA)1 in the Danube River basin, with particular focus on the issue of pollution by nutrients.
The paper includes:
· An introduction to the problem of eutrophication in the Danube River and in the Black
Sea;
· Description of legal/policy response required or actually undertaken;
· Assessment of implementation of the GPA in the Danube River basin;
· Recommendation of proposed actions to be considered by Danube Basin Countries and
stakeholders.
The paper was drawn up in consultation with key stakeholders, such as the Secretariat of the
International Commission for the Protection of the Danube River (Secretariat of ICPDR),
UNEP/ROE, and the UNEP/GPA Coordination Office. Scientific advice was provided by
Professor Helmut Kroiss of the Technical University in Vienna in Austria.
Pollution by Nutrients in the Danube River Basin and in the Black
Sea
The Danube and Black Sea Basins
On its way from the Black Forest to the Black Sea, the Danube crosses 11 countries, more
than any other river in the world, representing a high diversity of cultural, economic and
social characteristics. The Danube is the second largest river of Europe, its catchment area
comprises areas in17 countries and over 800.000km2, which are part of the Black Sea
catchment area of an estimated 2.300.000 km2. Therefore, the Danube provides for a large
part of the input of water - and of pollution - from rivers to the Black Sea.
Eutrophication in the Black Sea
The last decades have seen a considerable increase in the input of nutrients (nitrogen and
phosphorus) and into the Black Sea. As a result of eutrophication, excessive alga growth has
been observed in areas of the Danube delta and of the Black Sea. The lack of oxygen in the
water led to decrease in fish stocks and marine living resources. The peak of eutrophication
was reached in the early 1990's. This situation led to the awareness that there is an urgent
need for action in order to improve the ecological situation by controlling the release of
nutrients into the aquatic environment.
1 Global Programme of Action for the Protection of the Marine Environment from Land-based
Activities, adopted in Washington DC on 3 November 1995
Recent improvements
Since 1992, an improvement of the ecological situation has been observed in the Black Sea.
Alga growth has decreased and stocks of certain fish species are slowly recovering. This
improvement was mainly due to two factors. In the more upstream countries, efforts that
started in the past decades in wastewater treatment and in implementing new agricultural
policies are showing effect, resulting in stabilization and reduction of nutrient input.
Nevertheless, further efforts will be necessary in agricultural policies as well as wastewater
treatment in order to reduce the input of nutrients.
The other, more important factor was the economic transition of the Central and Eastern
European Countries. Economic decline resulted in a significant reduction (e.g. estimates of
about 15% reduction in total input of N and P to the Danube between 1988/89 and1992) of
pollution from nutrients, mainly due to decrease of agricultural and industrial activity. As
economic recovery takes place, it will be a challenge to stabilize and further reduce input of
nutrients to a sustainable level.
Main Sources of Nutrients
The main sources of nutrients entering the Black Sea from the Danube come from agriculture
(>1/2), from communal discharges (>1/4), from industry and from background sources.
Discharges can be from "point sources" (e.g. from communal wastewater discharge,
agricultural point source) or from "diffuse sources", such as from agriculture/groundwater
infiltration or erosion.
The scientific knowledge about the interrelations of hydrology, pollution and water quality of
the Black Sea and Danube basins is constantly improving. The Transnational Monitoring
Network (TNMN) and the resulting Danube Water Quality Model (DWQM) produced results,
which can provide a sound basis for policy decisions. Nevertheless, many important factors
still remain to be solved, e.g. with regard to an exact assessment of national shares of
nutrient input into the Danube River.
Towards a Common Policy Response to Pollution by Nutrients and
other Pollutants in the Danube River Basin
Background
The Danube basin comprises some of the most performing economies of the European
Union, as well as countries with economies in transition, some of them just recovering from a
conflict situation. Nevertheless, as demonstrated by the report 2 prepared in the framework of
this GEF PDF-B project, many DRPC countries are either implementing / approximizing to
EU legislation, others are planning to harmonize their legislation with the EU acquis. Two
countries are already members of the European Union (Germany, Austria), some are
harmonizing their legislation with a view of joining the EU in the near future (Czech Republic,
Hungary, Slovenia) or later (Slovakia, Croatia, Romania and Bulgaria).
FR Yugoslavia and Bosnia Herzegovina find themselves in a special situation, but
nevertheless, have expressed their interest of harmonizing their legislation to the EU law and
2 "Existing and Planned policies and Legislation relating to Nutrient Control and Reduction", Draft
Summary Report for Danube Regional Project, ICPDR-UNDP/GEF, June 2000 e.g., Table 14.5
"Planned Schedule for Approximation of National Legislation to EU Legislation"
2
policies. Moldova and Ukraine have also expressed the interest of taking into account the
aspect of harmonization with EU policies in the development of national policies in the
framework of cooperation with the EU in the field of environment protection.
Policy approach of relevant EU legislation
The current state of EU legislation is marked by one major event: the recent adoption of the
"European Water Framework Directive"3 (WFD) of 18 July 2000. The Water Framework
Directive will reform the EU water policy, setting out a new common approach to water
management, as well as common objectives and principles, common definitions and basic
measures. It is designed to prevent further deterioration and to protect and enhance the
quality and quantity of aquatic ecosystems.
Key elements of the Directive relevant to the reduction of pollution by nutrients or other
substances include:
· Protection of all surface waters, including maritime coastal waters, and groundwaters in
their quality and quantity with a proper ecological dimension;
· Emissions and discharges to be controlled by y a combined approach (see below);
· Integrated river basin management across administrative and political borders with
coordinated programmes of measures, including the establishment of River Basin
Districts and River Basin Management Plans.
The EU Water Framework Directive in its Article 10 stipulates a combined approach to be
taken for the control of discharges from point and diffuse sources into surface waters. This
combined approach includes:
· Emission controls based on Best Available Techniques (BAT);
· Relevant emission limit values;
· In the case of diffuse impacts the controls including Best Environmental Practices (BEP).
Control measures are set out more specifically in several EU Directives, to which the Water
Framework Directive makes reference. These directives include, amongst others, the
Directive concerning integrated pollution prevention and control (IPPC-Directive), the
directive concerning urban waste water-treatment and the directive concerning the protection
of waters against pollution caused by nitrates from agricultural sources ("nitrate directive").
The following table gives an overview of the most relevant EU legal acts:
3 Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing a framework for Community
action in the field of water policy
3
Table 1:
Examples of relevant EU-legislation and underlying principles:
European Parliament and Council
· Combined approach of water quality
Directive establishing a framework for
objective approach and emission limits
Community action in the field of water
value approach used to mutually reinforce
policy
each other.
("European Water Framework Directive",
· Water
quality
standards
WFD)
· "Good surface water status" to be
achieved within 15 years
· Use of notions of "Best Available
Techniques" and Best Environmental
Practices for point and diffuse sources
· River Basin Districts and River Basin
Management Plans to be established.
Council Directive 91/271/EEC of 21 May
· Emission limitation for treatment and
1991 concerning urban waste-water
discharge of urban waste water and
treatment.
waste water from certain industrial
sectors
· Identification of "sensitive areas", where
there is a requirement of appropriate
treatment of waste-water for the removal
of nutrients
Council Directive 91/676/EEC of 12
· Reduction and prevention of emission
December 1991 concerning the protection
from nitrates from agricultural sources
of waters against pollution caused by
· Designation of "vulnerable zones".
nitrates from agricultural sources
· Establishment of codes of "good
agricultural practice" and "action
programmes".
Council Directive 96/61/EC of 24
· Integrated prevention and control of
September 1996 concerning integrated
pollution from industrial activities
pollution prevention and control
· Installation permit shall include emission
limit value for relevant pollutants
· Emission limit value shall be based on
best available techniques (BAT).
Additional measures to be taken if
required by environmental quality
standards
4
Targets and timeframes of WFD:
· Prevent deterioration of surface and ground waters;
· Achieve good surface and groundwater status within 15 years of entry into force of WFD;
· Review of the environmental impact of human activity and Economic Analysis of water use
within 4 years of entry into force of WFD;
· River Basin Management Plan completed by end of 2004, reviewed every six years.
Integrated River Basin Management
One of the main innovations of the EU Water Framework Directive (WFD) is to create a
single system of water management: the river basin management on the European level,
following and complementing positive examples of initiatives taken forward by the States
concerned for e.g. the Rhine or Danube basin. This policy is based on the recognition that
the best model for a single system of water management is management by river basin
the natural geographical and hydrological unit instead of according to administrative or
political boundaries.
This development is also of particular relevance for the Danube basin. Therefor, several
provisions of the WFD merit special consideration.
Establishment of River Basin Districts
The "River Basin District" is the main unit for management of river basins under the WFD. It
is composed of the "area of land and sea, made up of one or more neighboring river basins
together with their associated groundwaters and coastal waters" (Article 2 para. 15). The EU
Member States shall identify river basins and assign them to river basin districts.
A river basin covering the territory of more than on EU Member State shall be assigned to
an international River Basin District (Article 3 para. 3 of the WFD).
Conclusion: The Danube Basin will be assigned to an "International River Basin District" by EU and
accession countries.
Paragraph 5 of Article 3 stipulates a principle of cooperation for River Basins Districts, which
extend beyond the territory of the EU. In this case, the Member States concerned "shall
endeavour to establish appropriate coordination with the relevant non-Member States, with
the aim of achieving the objectives of this Directive throughout the River Basin District. For
international River Basin Districts the Member States concerned shall together ensure this
coordination and may, for this purpose, use existing structures stemming from international
agreements.
According to Article 18 of the DRPC, the International Commission for the Protection of the
Danube River (ICPDR) can, in addition to affairs explicitly entrusted to the International
Commission, "deal with all other affairs the Commission is entrusted with by mandate from
the Contracting Parties".
Conclusion: ICPDR could perform coordination of International River Basin District with EU member and
non-member countries, when entrusted by mandate from the DRPC Contracting Parties.
5
River Basin Management Plans
Article 16 of the WFD requires that for each River Basin District a River Basin Management
Plan should be elaborated. In the case of an international River Basin District extending
beyond the boundaries of the Community, Member States shall endeavour to produce a
single River Basin Management Plan.
Where this is not possible, the plan shall at least cover the portion of the international River
Basin District lying within the territory of the Member State concerned. The River Basin
Management Plan shall cover various elements, which are listed in Annex VII of the WFD.
Conclusion: Danube Countries could consider establishing a joint International River Basin Management
Plan for the Danube River basin.
Scope of application
As already stated in the preamble of the WFD, "an effective water policy must take account
of the vulnerability of aquatic ecosystems located near the coast and estuaries or in gulfs or
relatively closed seas, as their equilibrium is strongly influenced by the quality of inland
waters flowing into them". Consequently, according to Article 1 of the WFD, the "purpose of
this Directive is to establish a framework for the protection of inland surface waters,
transitional waters, coastal waters and groundwaters", thereby including "coastal waters"
into the territorial scope of application of the WFD.
Furthermore, the definition of "surface water" in Article 2 paragraph 1 of the WFD also
includes coastal waters. Paragraph 15 of Article 2 stipulates that "associated [...] coastal
waters shall be included into the River Basin District. "Coastal waters" are defined by Article
2 paragraph 7 of the WFD as "surface water on the landward side of a line every point of
which is at a distance of one nautical mile on the seaward side from the nearest point of the
baseline from which the breadth of territorial waters is measured, extending where
appropriate up to the outer limit of transitional waters".
Conclusion: The quality of coastal waters of participating countries should be taken into account in the
International River Basin Management Plan.
Environmental Objectives and Water Quality Status
According to Article 4 paragraph 1 subparagraph (a) (i) of the WFD, "Member States shall
implement the necessary measures to prevent deterioration of the status of all bodies of
surface water". Subparagraph (a) (ii) stipulates that "Member States shall protect, enhance
and restore all bodies of surface water [...] with the aim of achieving good surface water
status at the latest 15 years after the date of entry into force of this Directive".
Conclusion: The International River Basin Management Plan should contain targets and timeframes,
including transitional provisions, for the reduction of the pollution by nutrients (and other pollutants).
6
Protected Areas
According to Article 6 of the WFD, "protected areas" shall be established in each River Basin
District. Such protected areas shall include, in particular, "nutrient sensitive areas, including
areas designated as Vulnerable Zones under the nitrate Directive and areas designated as
Sensitive Areas under the urban waste-water Directive (Paragraph 1 - iv of Annex IV of the
WFD).
According to Article 3 paragraph 2 of the nitrates Directive, all known areas of land in their
territories which drain into nitrate polluted waters and which contribute to pollution shall be
designated as "vulnerable zone", requiring special action programmes.
The urban waste-water Directive requires that freshwater body, estuary or coastal water
which are found to be eutrophic or which in the near future may become eutrophic shall be
identified as "sensitive areas" (Annex II-A). Discharges from urban waste water treatment
plants (of agglomerations of more than 10.000 persons) situated in the catchment area of a
sensitive area, and which contribute to the pollution of such area, are subject to emission
limits regarding concentration or for percentage of reduction of nutrients (Article 5,
paragraph 5 of urban waste-water Directive).
Conclusion: Danube countries could consider establishing Vulnerable Zones and Sensitive Areas within
the basin as Protected Areas under the International River Basin Management Plan.
Table: Some of main innovations of WFD vs. Danube River Protection Convention
WFD
DRPC
Scope of application
· Inland surface waters,
Hydrological river basin
including transitional
waters and coastal waters
· Groundwater
Quality standards and
"Good surface waters status" To be developed under
objectives
within 15 years (Article 4
Article 7 paragraph 4 DRPC
paragraph 1 WFD)
River Basin Management
Yes
No
Plan
Protected Areas
Yes
No
7
Implementation of the Global Programme of Action
Requirements of the Global Programme of Action (GPA)
The Global Programme of Action for the Protection of the Marine Environment from Land-
based Activities (GPA) was adopted by 108 Governments and the European Commission in
1995. It is the response of the international community to the fact that a large part of the
pollution of the world's oceans (estimated 80%) is caused by human activities on land.
Therefore, marine protection is an issue of everybody, living in a coastal or landlocked
country.
By adopting the GPA, States declared that the protection and management of the global
water resources has to be based on a basin wide approach. This means that all countries
lying within the catchment area of a hydrological basin of a water resource should cooperate
to protect the water resource in question.
The GPA is aimed to be "a source of conceptual and practical guidance to be drawn upon by
national and/or regional authorities in devising and implementing sustained action to prevent,
reduce, control and/or eliminate marine degradation from land based activities".
The GPA gives recommendations for action at the national level, and at the level of regional
and international cooperation. Furthermore, the GPA provides guidance for "recommended
approaches by source category", including a chapter on nutrients, which are of particular
relevance for this study.
The objectives of the GPA with regard to nutrients are to:
· identify marine areas where nutrient inputs are causing or are likely to cause pollution;
· reduce nutrient inputs into the areas identified;
· reduce the number of marine areas where eutrophication is evident,
· protect and restore areas of natural denitrification.
Action at the national level
Recommendations for Reduction of Pollution from Land Based Sources
On the national level, the GPA lists activities in the following fields, which are valid for
reduction of all pollution from land-based activities, some of them being of particular
relevance also for nutrient reduction:
· Identification and assessment of problems, such as identification of contaminants and of
sources of degradation (e.g., point sources and diffuse sources of pollution), as well as
identification of "areas of concern" (ecologically sensitive areas);
· Establishment of priorities for source categories and areas affected;
· Setting management objectives for priority problems, including goals, targets and
timetables;
· Identification, evaluation and selection of strategies and measures, including e.g.
implementation of best available techniques and best environmental practices, product
substitution, waste treatment etc.
8
GPA Recommendations for Nutrient Reduction
With particular regard to the source category of nutrients, the GPA recommends different
national action, policies and measures to be taken at the national levels. The GPA requires:
· the identification of areas where nutrient inputs are likely to cause pollution;
· the identification of point sources and diffuse sources of nutrient input;
· the adoption of appropriate cost-effective policy instruments, including regulatory
measures, economic instruments and voluntary agreements, such as activities relates to
sewage treatment, integration of best environmental practice (BEP), best available
techniques (BAT), integrated pollution prevention and information campaigns;
· to strengthen capacity on the local level (urban development and agriculture);
· scientific
research;
· to protect and restore potential natural sinks such as wetlands.
Implementation enhanced by DRPC
A thorough assessment of the nutrients problem and of the action required or undertaken at
the national level is included in the report "Five Year National Nutrient Reduction Action
Plan"4, which has been prepared in the context of the PDF-B phase of the present project.
The following table gives an overview of the implementation of some of the key elements of
the GPA at the national level regarding nutrients:
Identification of
Nutrient
Completion of
Product
Need of
point / diffuse
Reduction Plan
Appropriate Policy
substitution of P-
legislative
sources of
adopted
instruments
free detergents
changes
nutrient input
identified
Germany
Yes
No
Partly
Yes
No
Austria
Yes
No
Partly
Yes
No
Czech Republic Yes
No
Short term
Yes
Slovakia
Yes
No
Mid-term
Control planned Yes
Hungary
Yes
No
Short term
No plan
Yes
Slovenia
Yes
No
Short term
No plan
Yes
Croatia
Yes
No
Mid-term
No plan
Yes
FR Yugoslavia
Yes
No
Long-term
Yes
Bosnia-
Yes
No
Long-term
No plan
Yes
Herzegovina
Romania
Yes
No
Mid-term
In discussion
Yes
Bulgaria
Yes
No
Mid-term
No plan
Yes
Moldova
Yes
No
Long-term
No plan
Yes
Ukraine
Yes
No
Mid-term
No plan
Yes
It can be concluded that the implementation of the GPA is on the way, mainly driven by
activities under the DRPC as well as the process of approximation of legislation to EU
policies. For example, under the current GEF PDF-B project an exhaustive assessment of
sources of nutrient pollution has been prepared, in order to provide the basis for the
development of "national nutrient reduction plans".
All of the Danube countries with two exceptions identified a need for legislative changes on
the national level, in order to implement the planned policy reforms for nutrient reduction. The
implementation of appropriate policy tools is just at the beginning.
4 " Five Year National Nutrient Reduction Action Plan", draft summary report for the Danube Regional
Project, ICPDR UNDP/GEF, June 2000
9
A number of measures at the national level remain to be implemented. An effective
implementation of a strategy, including identification of problem, establishment of objectives
and implementation of activities in line with the guidance contained in the GPA, will be
enhanced by the elaboration of national nutrient reduction plans.
Conclusion: Work on elaboration of National Nutrient Reduction Plans has been started under the
umbrella of the ICPDR.
Action at the Regional Level
GPA Recommendations for Reduction of Pollution from Land Based Sources
The GPA recognizes that "regional and subregional cooperation and arrangements are
crucial for successful action to protect the marine environment from land-based activities".
The objective should be to "strengthen and, where necessary, create new regional
arrangements and joint actions to support effective action, strategies and programmes.
The GPA recommends the following activities:
· Participation in international regional and subregional marine and freshwater agreements
or arrangements. Where necessary, existing agreements should be strengthened or new
ones being negotiated ;
· Effective functioning of regional and subregional arrangements, including securing of
funding and cooperation with multilateral financing agencies, adoption of programmes of
action, information clearing house, inter-institutional cooperation, cooperation between
secretariats and conventions ;
· Adequate secretarial support for regional and subregional agreements.
GPA Recommendations for Reduction of Pollution by Nutrients
Specifically for the issue of eutrophication, the GPA recommends:
· the establishment of common criteria for the identification of eutrophication problems;
· the identification of marine areas where nutrients are causing pollution;
· the identification of areas for priority actions;
· the estimation of uniform approaches to the calculation of anthropogenic nutrient input
with the aim of improving estimation of these inputs;
· the development and implementation of programmes for reducing nutrient input, paying
particular attention to the agricultural sector;
· to establish mechanisms for assessing the effectiveness of the measures taken; and
· to develop strategies for reducing eutrophication.
Assessment of Implementation
There are two regional conventions in force, which have direct relevance for the protection of
the Black Sea:
The Convention on the protection of the Black Sea against pollution was adopted in April
1992 in Bucharest and came into force in 1994. It is not a basin-wide convention, but covers
the six Black Sea riparian States.
10
It is supplemented by a Protocol on the Protection of the Black Sea Marine Environment
against Pollution from Land Based Sources, which is an integral part of the Convention.
The assessment of the implementation of the GPA through the Black Sea Convention and
the identification of legislative needs is subject of a detailed report prepared by Mr. I.
Zrazhevski, consultant to UNEP under the framework of this PDF-B phase. One of the
questions arising is whether an assessment of the Black Sea Protocol on land based sources
would indicate that it requires amendment in order to enhance implementation of the
recommendations of the GPA.
The Danube River Protection Convention (DRPC) was adopted in 1994 and entered into
force in October 1998. Its scope covers 13 Danube River countries, most of which have
already ratified the Convention. The DRPC is based on the basin-wide approach. As a river
basin convention it is "land based" by nature; therefore, its provisions can be directly
compared to the LBS Protocols of Regional Seas agreements, including the Black Sea
Convention and the Barcelona Convention.
Several subsidiary bodies have been established under the DRPC, which address many of
the recommendations of the GPA.
· Accident Emergency Prevention and Warning System Expert Group;
· Emission
Expert
Group;
· Monitoring Laboratory and Information Management Group;
· Strategic Expert Group; and
· Ad Hoc Expert Group for implementation of EU Water Framework Directive and River
Basin Management.
In order to provide an overview of the legal and institutional framework and measures of
implementation, a comparative analysis can be done of the above-mentioned regional
instruments. The table below lists some of the recommendations of the GPA and the relevant
provisions/implementation measures in the two LBS Protocols felt more relevant and the
DRPC, as well as the new European system of the WFD.
11
GPA Recommendations
LBS Protocol 1996
LBS Protocol
WFD
DRPC
Mediterranean Sea
Black Sea
Not yet in force
In force
Entry into force expected 2000
In force
Basin Management
Other States within
·
"Coastal" convention. Black Sea
River Basin Districts, including
·
Implemented by Articles 1,2 and 3 of the
Approach
hydrological basin invited to
Convention is open for accession by other
associated coastal waters, to be
Convention.
cooperate in implementation
States.
established
·
Joint Ad Hoc Technical Working Group
·
Joint Ad Hoc Technical Working Group
ICPDR-ICPBS
ICPDR- ICPBS5
BAT/BEP
Annex IV Protocol
No
· Article10
WFD
Annex I DRPC
·
Related EU Directives
Secretarial Support
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Cooperation in Monitoring
Article 8 of Mediterranean
Article 15 of Black Sea Protocol
Article 8 WFD
· Article
9
Protocol
·
Monitoring, laboratory and information
management expert group.
·
Transnational Monitoring Network (TNMN)
and Danube Water Quality Model (DWQM)
Harmonization of emission Article 7: Common guidelines, Article 6: Common guidelines, standards and
·
Article 10 WFD "Combined
·
Article 7 DRPC: Emission limits and water
limitation
standards and criteria to be
criteria to be developed
approach"
quality objectives to be developed
developed
·
Article 11 controls for priority
· Emission
expert
group
substances and priority hazardous
substances
·
Limitations of related EU
Directives
Regional Strategic Action
Not yet
To be developed under present project
·
River Basin Management Plan to
Joint Action Plan to be developed under
Plan adopted for nutrient
be produced (Article 13 WFD)
proposed project
reduction
·
Programmes of measures (Article
11 WFD)
Information clearing house Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Implementation of
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
programmes with other
international agencies
5 ICPBS: International Commission for the Protection of the Black Sea, "Istanbul Commission"
12
The Danube River basin - which forms an important hydrological "sub-basin" to the Black
Sea basin is almost entirely covered by the DRPC. The assessment of the implementation
of the GPA in the Black Sea basin shows that the DRPC presently offers an appropriate legal
framework for the implementation of the GPA on a regional level. The DRPC contains
similar provisions, which are contained in the LBS Protocols examined, and which are
sometimes more far-reaching than the LBS provisions, e.g., by implementing a basin wide
approach for its sub-basin. Therefor, as far as the Danube River basin is concerned, it can
be noted that presently the DRPC is supplementing the Black Sea Convention.
Furthermore, the adoption of a common policy approach in line with the EU legislation is
providing a considerable impetus to harmonization of policies and to implementation of
pollution reduction in the Danube River Basin.
On the side of practical implementation, considerable work remains to be done. The
proposed Danube Regional Project proposes implementation measures to be undertaken,
which will provide for a reduction in nutrient transport to the Black Sea of estimated 27% for
Phosphorus and 14% of Nitrates.
The GPA requires the development of a regional strategy for reduction of pollutants including
nutrients. Such action plan should contain the identification and assessment of the problem,
the fixing of objectives (such as clear targets and timeframes), measures to achieve these
objectives and a mechanism in order to review the effectiveness of the measures taken. Until
presently, many activities have been undertaken, but no such regional action plan which
could serve as a common platform for implementation of nutrient reduction measures on the
national level - was adopted.
Close co-operation with stakeholders, such as the International Commission for the
Protection of the Black Sea (ICPBS), will be required in order to ensure full compatibility of
this process with related work currently undertaken, such as the (possible) development of
an amended Protocol on land-based sources to the Black Sea Convention. UNEP will
continue to play a catalytic role in order to enhance this process.
Conclusions:
· Most of the action recommended by the GPA is taken by DRB countries in the framework of
participation in the DRPC, including its Commission and subsidiary bodies, and by implementing a
common policy approach;
· The necessary secretarial support is provided by the Secretariat of the ICPDR;
· Common platform of action for implementation, such as a Joint Action Programme for the Danube
River basin, should be developed and adopted in order to implement pollution reduction measures
following the recommendations of GPA.
Action at the international level
GPA Recommendations for LBS Pollution
Activities at the international level, which are recommended by the GPA, fall into the
following categories:
· capacity building, including the mobilization of experience in support of national and
regional action, as well as a clearing house mechanism;
· mobilization of financial resources, including the GEF;
· international institutional framework, with UNEP playing a catalytic role between the
institutions concerned;
· additional areas of international cooperation, such as waste water treatment and
management as well as Persistent Organic Pollutants
13
GPA Recommendations for Reduction of Pollution by Nutrients
Specifically for the issue of reduction of pollution by nutrients, the following activities are
recommended at the international level:
· Participation in a clearing-house for providing information about BEP / BAT to reduce or
eliminate causes of eutrophication;
· Strengthening of international programmes for capacity building for identification of areas
where eutrphication is causing or is likely to cause pollution, Nutrient control and removal
technique, application of BEP in aquaculture and agriculture;
· Technical cooperation for reduction of release of nutrients, including environmentally
sound land-use techniques, planning and practices,
· Provision of forums for establishing criteria for determining the circumstances in which
nutrients are likely to cause pollution,
· Maintaining existing international quality assurance and quality control procedures
relevant to eutrophication.
GPA Strategic Action Plan on Sewage
In the period 2000 2001 a major mandated task of the UNEP/GPA Co-ordination Office is
to forward and coordinate the implementation of the GPA Strategic Action Plan on Municipal
Wastewater. A Global Conference Process is part of this action plan.
The main aim of the Strategic Action Plan is to initiate and facilitate a process, which leads to
the development and implementation of national strategies on sewage. An innovative
element of this strategy is the exploration of possibilities for public-private partnerships.
There are a number of economic sectors, such as tourism, mariculture, and urban
development, which can benefit from a healthier environment.
At present, pre-investment studies to identify suitable socio-economic opportunities are being
carried out, with the support of the UNEP/GPA Coordination Office, in four regions: the East
Asian Seas, the South Asian Seas, Eastern Africa, and the South-East Pacific. In addition, a
number of case studies on the environmental, social, and economic benefits of addressing
sewage are under preparation.
At a later stage, the UNEP/GPA Coordination Office, in partnership with governments and
organizations such as the World Health Organisation, United Nations Centre for Human
Settlements (Habitat), and the United Nations Development Programme, will be promoting
development and implementation of national strategies on sewage.
Public Participation and Compliance
22 invited Experts of the ECE/UNEP network of Experts on Public Participation and
Compliance drew up a "Guidance on Public Participation in Water Management and
Framework for Compliance with Agreements on Transboundary Waters"6. These guidelines
aim at promoting the full and effective implementation of the Convention on the Protection
and Use of Transboundary Watercourses and International Lakes (Helsinki 1992, "Water
Convention).
The Guidance on public participation in water management gives recommendations in the
field of public participation in decision-making and recommends the development of a
6 Published by United Nations, New York and Geneva, 2000
14
communication strategy for each catchment area. Many of these recommendations are taken
into account within the respective regional systems of the Danube and the Black Sea
Conventions. UNEP could contribute to this aim by developing a Black Sea basin-wide
communication strategy for public awareness, promoting the issue of the reduction of
pollution of the Black Sea in the Danube basin and vice versa.
The Framework for Compliance recommends the establishment of a compliance review
procedure in agreements on transboundary waters in order to facilitate compliance more
effectively, as well as to introduce non-confrontational, non-judicial and consultative
procedures to review compliance and resolve disputes. So far, no agreement on
transboundary waters in the ECE region is currently following developments in global
environmental agreements and providing a compliance review procedure.
Assessment of Implementation
A great part of this action is taken into account by the work under the DRPC as well as the
Black Sea Convention. The proposed regional project will be a good example for
international cooperation undertaken.
A crucial element is the cooperation between the two Commissions, which has led to the
setting up with the assistance of UNDP/GEF and UNEP - of a Joint Ad Hoc Technical
Working Group in 1997. One outcome of this cooperation is the preparation of a draft
Memorandum of Understanding between the two Commissions, which has not yet been
signed.
Taking into account the number of activities, which are planned in relation to Danube and
Black Sea Conventions and their close interrelation, further strengthening of this successful
co-operation is crucial. UNEP is called upon to play a "catalytic role" in this process.
Furthermore, the synergies between the work of the UNEP GPA Co-ordination Office and the
Danube / Black Sea Commissions should be further strengthened and exploited. Part of this
cooperation could be the consideration of the future GPA Strategic Action Plan on Sewage,
which could be appropriately undertaken in a Joint meeting. Furthermore, it is important that
the GPA recommendations will be taken into account when implementing activities in the
framework of the Danube and Black Sea Regional projects, e.g. by implementing joint pilot
projects. Of particular interest will be to draw upon the experience of the GPA Coordination
Office in enhancing public-private partnerships.
UNEP could contribute to the promotion of public awareness on the protection of the Black
Sea and Danube by developing and implementing one basin-wide communication strategy,
promoting the issue of protection of the Black Sea in the Danube basin and vice versa. The
Framework for Compliance should be brought to the attention of the Danube and the Black
Sea Countries.
Conclusions:
· Cooperation between Danube and Black Sea Commissions should be continued and strengthened
through the work of the Joint Ad Hoc Working Group and the signature and implementation of a MoU
between the Black Sea / Danube Commissions;
· UNEP shall continue to play a catalytic role between the institutions concerned;
· GPA Strategic action plan on Sewage shall be considered by Danube and Black Sea countries in a
joint meeting and integrated into implementation activities under ICPDR and ICPBS, e.g. by the joint
implementation of pilot projects.
· UNEP should develop a common communication strategy for Danube and Black Sea basins;
· The Framework of Compliance with Agreements on Transboundary Waters should be brought to the
attention of and considered by the Joint Ad Hoc Technical Working Group or a joint meeting.
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Summary of Conclusions:
· The Danube Basin will be assigned to an "International River Basin District" by EU and
accession countries;
· ICPDR could perform coordination of International River Basin District with EU member
and non-member countries;
· Parties of DRPC could consider establishing a joint International River Basin
Management Plan;
· The coastal waters of the participating Danube River Basin countries would have to be
taken into account in the International River Basin Management Plan;
· The International River Basin Management Plan should contain targets and timeframes,
including transitional provisions, for the reduction of the pollution by nutrients (and other
pollutants);
· Danube countries could consider establishing Vulnerable Zones and Sensitive Areas
within the basin as Protected Areas under the International River Basin Management
Plan;
· Work on elaboration of National Nutrient Reduction Plans has been started under the
umbrella of the ICPDR;
· Most of the action recommended by the GPA is undertaken by DRB countries in the
framework of participation in the DRPC, including its Commission and subsidiary bodies,
and by implementing a common policy approach;
· The necessary secretarial support is provided by the Secretariat of the ICPDR
· There is a need of establishing a common platform of action for implementation, such as
a Joint Action Programme for the Danube River basin;
· Cooperation between Danube and Black Sea Commissions should be continued and
strengthened via the work of the Joint Ad Hoc Working Group;
· UNEP shall continue to play a catalytic role between the institutions concerned;
· The MoU between ICPDR and ICPDS should be signed and implemented;
· GPA Strategic action plan on Sewage shall be considered by Danube and Black Sea
countries in a joint meeting and integrated into implementation activities under ICPDR
and ICPBS, e.g. by the joint implementation of pilot projects;
· UNEP should develop a common communication strategy for Danube and Black Sea
basins;
· The Framework of Compliance with Agreements on Transboundary Waters should be
brought to the attention of and considered by the Joint Ad Hoc Technical Working Group
or a joint meeting.
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Recommendations
Parties to the DRPC may consider:
· to develop and implement a Joint Action Programme for the Danube River basin, which
should serve as a common regional platform for implementation. The Joint Action
Programme shall be elaborated with the participation of the ICPBS (or in consultation
with the Joint Danube-Black Sea Technical Working Group), in order to achieve
complementarity between the Joint Action Programme and the amended Protocol on LBS
possibly to be developed under the Black Sea Convention. The Joint Action Programme
should include clear objectives and timeframes for reduction of nutrient pollution.
· The Joint Action Programme should aim at establishing a joint International River Basin
Management Plan, including the coastal waters of the participating Danube River Basin
countries and establishing Vulnerable Zones and Sensitive Areas within the basin as
Protected Areas under the International River Basin Management Plan. ICPDR should
perform the coordination of the International River Basin District with EU member and
non-member countries.
· The Cooperation between Danube and Black Sea Commissions should be continued and
the MoU between ICPDR and ICPDS should be signed and implemented. UNEP shall
continue to play a catalytic role between the institutions concerned.
· GPA Strategic Action Plan on Sewage shall be considered by Danube and Black Sea
countries in a joint meeting and integrated into implementation activities under ICPDR
and ICPBS, e.g. by the joint implementation of pilot projects. The Framework for
Compliance with Agreements on Transboundary Waters of the ECE/UNEP Network of
Experts on Public Participation and Compliance shall be considered by the ICPDR-
ICPBS Joint Ad Hoc Technical Working Group or a joint meeting.
· UNEP/ROE should develop a common communication strategy for the Black Sea and the
Danube.
Activities for consideration to be undertaken by UNEP
UNEP should inform the Danube and Black Sea Countries (or members of the Joint Danube-
Black Sea Technical Working Group) on its activities and call for a meeting. The meeting
should consider this report and the similar report for the Black Sea, comment on both of them
and recommend UNEP/ROE the follow-up actions. As regards the development of a Joint
Action Plan for Danube River basin Countries, the meeting should elaborate on policy issues
and advise on the indicators assessing effectiveness of the Joint Action Plan.
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