DANUBE DECLARATION
adopted at the Ministerial Meeting, February 16, 2010
DANUBE BASIN:
SHARED WATERS
JOINT RESPONSIBILITIES
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We, the Ministers, High Officials and the Member of the European Commission, being responsible for
the implementation of the Danube River Protection Convention
The Danube River Basin A Catalyst for Cooperation
(1) recall with gratitude that twenty years ago the fall of the iron curtain opened the door for the reuni-
fication of Europe. The signing of the "Convention on the Cooperation for the Protection and Sustain-
able Use of the Danube River" (Danube River Protection Convention DRPC) in 1994 in Sofia cre-
ated the International Commission for the Protection of the Danube River (ICPDR). Since then the
ICPDR has been a catalyst for cooperation in water management in the Danube River Basin the most
international river basin worldwide. Today the Danube is again a lifeline in the heart of Europe.
(2) appreciate the accession of the Czech Republic, Hungary, Slovakia and Slovenia to the European
Union in 2004 as well as the accession of Bulgaria and Romania in 2007 which has extended the bor-
ders of the European Union to the Black Sea. We support the further enlargement process of the Euro-
pean Union as a successful policy for the sake of the whole of Europe and appreciate the intensive
cooperation on water management between the EU and Non EU member states that exists in the
framework of the ICPDR.
(3) welcome the fact that the European Council at its meeting in June 2009 invited the European
Commission to present an EU strategy for the Danube region before the end of 2010 and emphasize
the importance of water and water related ecosystems in the Danube region. We underline the role of
the ICPDR as the major coordinating body in the region with regard to all water management issues
and offer its experience and expertise for both the preparation and the implementation of the EU strat-
egy. The Danube River Basin Management Plan and its Joint Programme of Measures should be con-
sidered as an integral part of the EU Strategy.
(4) reaffirm our appreciation and support for the successful steps to increase coordination and coopera-
tion among the countries in the Sava and Tisza sub-basins of the Danube and for the evolving initia-
tives in the sub-basins of the Prut and the Danube Delta.
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(5) declare our intention to enter into a targeted partnership between the ICPDR and other interna-
tional river basins fostering thereby also the objectives and principles of the International Thiess Riv-
erprize awarded to the ICPDR in 2007.
(6) reconfirm our commitment to contribute to the protection of the Black Sea, taking fully into ac-
count the Memorandum of Understanding with the Black Sea Commission and the options for coordi-
nation and cooperation presented by the new EU Marine Strategy Framework Directive, keeping in
mind that our most important contribution to a sustainable Black Sea is a healthy Danube.
(7) express our sincere gratitude for the financial support received from the UNDP/GEF Danube Re-
gional Project in the years 1991-2006 which developed into a flagship model of good practice for ap-
plying Integrated Water Resources Management to other international river basins across the globe.
The Danube River Basin Management Plan
(8) recalling the political and environmental conditions in the Danube river basin twenty years ago,
characterized by a lack of basin wide cooperation and heavy pollution, appreciate the significant pro-
gress achieved through the cooperation of our countries in the ICPDR and declare our ongoing com-
mitment to living rivers in the Danube basin.
(9) reaffirm our political commitment to make all efforts to implement the EU Water Framework Di-
rective throughout the whole Danube River Basin.
(10) approve the Danube River Basin Management Plan (DRBM Plan) as a milestone of our coopera-
tion in the ICPDR. To develop the first DRBM Plan in line with the complex and ambitious regula-
tions of the EU Water Framework Directive was a particular challenge in a river basin as large and
diverse as the Danube basin. We are convinced that the DRBM Plan will result in a significant first
step towards our ultimate goal to achieve the "good status", or where appropriate the "good potential"
of water bodies. To prepare the DRBM Plan we had to break new ground in many areas and are fully
aware of the fact that there are still serious gaps and uncertainties which need to be addressed in the
next cycle of implementation of the EU Water Framework Directive.
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(11) commit ourselves to implement the Joint Programme of Measures, which forms an integral part of
the DRBM Plan (Part A), as well as our national programmes of measures. The Joint Programme of
Measures is based on the national programmes of measures, entails some additional joint initiatives
and describes the estimated effects on the basin-wide scale. The Joint Programme of Measures will be
our common roadmap guiding our activities and ensuring the necessary harmonisation of actions at the
basin-wide scale. We recognize that there are differences between EU Member States and Non EU
Member States with regard to their legal obligations and financial resources which need to be taken
into consideration.
(12) in view of the financial resources needed to implement the Joint Programme of Measures and the
national programmes of measures and taking into consideration the financial constraints some coun-
tries in the Danube River Basin might face in this regard ask the ICPDR to organize in 2010 a confer-
ence with the relevant international financial institutions and donors in order to draw the attention to
the priorities defined in the Joint Programme of Measures and to identify additional options and
mechanisms for the financing of projects, in particular for wastewater treatment facilities in Non-EU
countries.
The Significant Water Management Issues
(13) recognize that the Danube river basin is a very diverse river basin, characterized by natural
stretches as well as by heavily modified parts, some areas being rich in biodiversity whilst others are
seriously polluted. Nevertheless we have identified from the basin-wide perspective four topics as
the most significant water management issues: organic pollution, nutrient pollution, hazardous sub-
stances pollution, hydromorphological alterations. The DRBM Plan and the Joint Programme of
Measures focus on these issues and as a separate item - on the identified important transboundary
groundwater bodies.
(14) state with regard to organic pollution that the implementation of the Urban Wastewater Treat-
ment Directive in the EU Member States and the committed construction/rehabilitation of wastewater
treatment plants in Non EU Member States will result in a considerable reduction of BOD5 and COD
loads but will not be sufficient to achieve the environmental objectives of the EU Water Framework
Directive on the basin-wide scale by 2015.
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(15) are committed to speed up the construction and rehabilitation of wastewater collection systems
and treatment plants wherever possible and appeal to the international financial institutions and donors
to give priority to this process. We are determined to undertake significant further efforts in the sec-
ond cycle of the implementation of the EU Water Framework Directive with the aim to realise wher-
ever possible the removal of phosphorus in wastewater treatment plants >10,000 Population Equiva-
lents by 2021.
(16) state with regard to nutrient pollution that - due to the measures made operational until 2012-
the nitrogen and phosphorus emissions to surface waters in 2015 will be about 12%, respectively 25%,
lower compared to the average of the years 2000-2005. The load to the Black Sea will reach a level
below the present state but still about 40% above that of the 1960's for nitrogen and about 15% for
phosphorus. Keeping in mind our long-term goal - as agreed in 2001 in the Memorandum of Under-
standing between the International Commission for the Protection of the Black Sea and the Interna-
tional Commission for the Protection of the Danube River - to reduce the loads of nutrients discharged
to such levels necessary to permit the Black Sea ecosystems to recover to conditions similar to those
observed in the 1960s, we agree on the need for additional initiatives.
(17) even though the implementation of the Nitrate Directive in the EU Member States and an im-
proved implementation of the concept of Best Agricultural Practice in the Non EU Member States will
reduce nutrient pollution from agriculture we are concerned that a stronger increase in the intensity of
the agricultural development in some areas, might offset these pollution reductions. Therefore we ask
the ICPDR to organize - in close cooperation with the European Commission and involving both the
agricultural and water management ministries of our countries - a workshop focussing on the relevant
instruments of the EU Common Agricultural Policy and Best Agricultural Practices for ensuring re-
duction of agricultural pollution.
(18) see the introduction of limitations on phosphate in detergents as a particularly cost effective and
necessary measure to complement the efforts of implementing urban wastewater treatment and as
Ministers of the Danube countries commit ourselves to initiate the introduction of a maximum limit for
the content of total phosphorus of 0.2 to 0.5% P weight/weight, in laundry detergents for consumer
use, if possible by 2012 and to work towards a market launch of polyphosphate-free dishwasher deter-
gents for consumer use until 2015.
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(19) state with regard to hazardous substances pollution that we face a lack of knowledge on the
sources, pathways, discharges and losses of hazardous substances in the Danube River Basin. It is
estimated that the implementation of the relevant EU directives and the widespread application of Best
Available Techniques/Best Environmental Practices will reduce the hazardous substances pollution
but not be sufficient to achieve the environmental objectives of the EU Water Framework Directive by
2015.
(20) ask the ICPDR to ensure the intensification of the monitoring of hazardous substances and to
make best use of the relevant EU instruments, e.g. European Pollution Release and Transfer Register
reports and reporting of EU REACH as well as the inventory on the new EU Environmental Quality
Standards Directive, for monitoring and controlling these substances and to encourage the non EU
member states to cooperate in these activities.
(21) state with regard to hydromorphological alterations that notwithstanding the manifold meas-
ures made operational until 2012 - the interruption of river and habitat continuity, the disconnection of
adjacent wetlands/floodplains and hydrological alterations will still have a significant impact on water
status in 2015. In view of the existing impacts we give particular importance to infrastructure projects
which have to be implemented only after a thorough needs assessment and observing all legal re-
quirements as well as best environmental practices and best available techniques.
(22) reconfirm our commitment to further develop and make full use of the ecological prioritisation
approach for measures to restore river and habitat continuity in order to ensure that they are ecologi-
cally most efficient.
(23) welcome and support in this context the joint initiative of the ICPDR and relevant stakeholders
for a feasibility study for providing the conditions for the migration of sturgeon species and other mi-
gratory species beyond the Iron Gates Dams and ask the ICPDR to intensify its efforts to secure the
funding for this study.
(24) highly appreciate the "Joint Statement on Development of Inland Navigation and Environmental
Protection" elaborated and adopted by the ICPDR, the Danube Commission and the International Sava
River Basin Commission as a vital contribution to developing sustainable inland waterway transport
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on the Danube and its tributaries integrating both economic and environmental aspects in the planning
and implementation of navigation infrastructure projects, call for its comprehensive application and
support the follow up process preparing a "Manual on Good Practices in Sustainable Waterway Plan-
ning".
(25) aware of the fact that hydropower plants offer an additional reduction potential for greenhouse
gases but recognizing as well their negative impacts on the riverine ecology ask the ICPDR to organ-
ize in close cooperation with the hydropower sector and all relevant stakeholders a broad discussion
process with the aim of developing guiding principles on integrating environmental aspects in the use
of existing hydropower plants, including a possible increase of their efficiency, as well as in the plan-
ning and construction of new hydropower plants.
(26) state with regard to groundwater quality that the measures to control surface water pollution will
have a positive effect on groundwater quality as well. We agree that nevertheless additional measures
to prevent losses of pollutants to groundwater are needed and national legislation to prohibit direct
discharges of pollutants into groundwater is required.
(27) state with regard to groundwater quantity that additional measures are needed to ensure that
available groundwater resources are not exceeded by the long-term annual average rate of abstraction
including putting in place requirements for prior authorization of abstractions.
Emerging Issues
(28) underline the growing importance at the basin-wide scale of some additional, emerging issues,
such as the quality and quantity of sediments, invasive alien species, micro-pollutants and thermal
pollution, and ask the ICPDR to intensify its related investigations and monitoring in order to prepare
a comprehensive analysis and if necessary appropriate measures for the second DRBM Plan in
2015.
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Impacts of Climate Change and Climate Adaptation
(29) emphasize that the impacts of climate change will increase and develop into a significant threat in
the Danube River Basin if the reduction of greenhouse gases is not complemented by adaptation meas-
ures. We appreciate that the DRBM Plan draws some first conclusions and identifies future tasks in
this regard.
(30) ask the ICPDR to develop until 2012 a Climate Adaptation Strategy in the Danube River Basin.
This strategy should be based on a step-by-step approach and encompass an overview of relevant re-
search and data collection, a vulnerability assessment, ensure that measures and projects are climate
proof respectively "no regret measures" and ensure that climate adaptation issues are fully integrated
in the second DRBM Plan in 2015.
Flood Risk Management Issues
(31) keeping in mind the severe flood events we have suffered in the past causing the loss of human
life and immense damage to our citizens and economies as well as the expected impacts of climate
change reaffirm our conviction that flood prevention and protection are not short term tasks but per-
manent tasks of highest priority.
(32) commit ourselves to make all efforts to implement the EU Flood Risk Management Directive
throughout the whole Danube River Basin and to develop one single international Flood Risk Man-
agement Plan or a set of flood risk management plans, based upon the ICPDR Action Programme for
Sustainable Flood Protection and the sub-basin plans, coordinated at the level of the international river
basin district by 2015 making full use of the existing synergies with the DRBM Plan.
(33) support the ongoing Danube FLOODRISK project implemented within the South East Europe
Transnational Cooperation Programme aiming at provision of hazard maps and flood risk maps for the
Danube River floodplains and aspire to extend this initiative and coordinated methodologies when
completed throughout the Danube River Basin.
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Public Participation
(34) appreciate the fruitful cooperation with our accredited observers in the ICPDR as well as all other
relevant stakeholders, in particular the input we received as result of the public consultation of the
DRBM Plan and the ICPDR stakeholder conference in June 2009.
(35) are determined to further strengthen our public participation activities building on existing ele-
ments including the celebration of "Danube Day", Danube Art Masters competition, and the publica-
tion and use of the school-kit "Danube Box".
(36) acknowledge the positive benefits that have been generated through partnership with business
and the commitments that have been made through "Business Friends of the Danube" and continue to
seek cooperation with the business sector as necessary in realizing the goals of the Danube River Pro-
tection Convention.
Next steps
(37) ask the ICPDR to coordinate an interim report describing progress in the implementation of the
Joint Programme of Measures and the national programmes of measures by the end of 2012.
(38) appreciating the very valuable results of the previous Joint Danube Surveys in 2001 and 2007
request the ICPDR to prepare a third Joint Danube Survey (JDS 3) to be held in 2013 and commit to
secure the necessary funding.
(39) ask the ICPDR to review and update the DRBM Plan and the Joint Programme of Measures by
the end of 2015
(40) in view of the fact that the review and update of the DRBM Plan as well as the Flood Risk Man-
agement Plan(s) need to be prepared by 2015 declare our intention to convene our next Ministerial
Meeting in 2015/2016.
(end)