ANNUAL REPORT
on the Activities of the
ICPDR in 2001
Information
ICPDR ­ International Commission for the Protection
of the Danube River / Permanent Secretariat
Vienna International Centre, D0412
P. O. Box 500, 1400 Vienna / Austria
Tel: 0043-1-260 60-5738, Fax: 0043-1-260 60-5895
e-mail: icpdr@unvienna.org, web: www.icpdr.org

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Imprint
Owner: ICPDR­ International Commission for the Protection of the Danube River / Permanent
Secretariat, Design and Production: p:matter Vienna, e-mail: h_warmuth@yahoo.com; Photos:
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Foreword
In 2001, the ICPDR made several important achievements that contributed to strengthening its
role in harmonising transboundary water management in the Danube River Basin. Full responsibi-
lity for the implementation of the work programme was with the Expert Groups and the Secretariat,
which once again proved their technical and managerial capacities in carrying out the given tasks.
Among the tasks, the highest priority was given to the harmonisation of river basin management
activities with the European Union guidelines. Consequently, the setting up of a strategy to co-ordi-
nate the implementation of the EU Water Framework Directive was a major achievement in 2001.
Another important milestone concerns the acceptance of the 2001-2005 Joint Action Pro-gram-
me for the Danube River Basin (JAP) ­ a document outlining the general strategy for the
implementation of the DRPC in the forthcoming five years. It defines the policies, strategies and
integrated measures for attaining a high water quality status in the Danube River Basin.
Further, an Inventory of Potential Accident Risk Spots in the Danube River Basin was prepared
in 2001. It is the first international review of potentially dangerous installations in the Danube regi-
on. The prioritisation of the risk-spots followed by an application of precautionary measures will
help prevent accidental spills in the Danube River Basin.
In addition, 2001 was marked by the launch of the Joint Danube Survey (JDS, the Survey) in
August that year, a scientific expedition aimed at improving the validity and comparability of water
quality data received from the Trans-National Monitoring Network (TNMN). The Survey produced
a homogeneous set of data on selected biological and chemical determinands measured along the
entire course of the Danube River as a basis for a reliable description of the Danube water and sedi-
ment quality and a contribution towards identifying and confirming specific pollution sources in
the Basin. The results of the Survey will serve as a sound basis for making adequate environmental
decisions.
The new UNDP/GEF Danube Regional Project, which started in December 2001, will support the
activities of the ICPDR in developing effective mechanisms for regional co-operation in order to
ensure protection of international waters, sustainable management of natural resources and pro-
tection of biodiversity.
An important breakthrough in co-operation between the ICPDR and the Black Sea Commission
(BSC) was made in 2001 when a joint Declaration on the Protection of Water and Water-Related
Ecosystems in the Wider Black Sea Region was signed at the ministerial conference in Brussels on
November 26, 2001. On this occasion the Danube-Black Sea (DABLAS) Task Force was created to
reinforce co-operation among the countries and to link with International Financing Institutions
and donors to support the implementation of investment projects. On the same occasion, the ICPDR
and the BSC signed a Memorandum of Understanding to reinforce mutual co-operation in nutrient
reduction and the protection of the Black Sea ecosystems. All these steps represent important mile-
stones towards a cleaner environment in the Danube-Black Sea Region.
Ambassador Stanko Nick
President of the ICPDR
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Contents
1.
ORGANIZATIONAL AND INSTITUTIONAL FRAMEWORK
5
2.
FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTIONS AND BUDGETARY SITUATION
8
3.
IMPLEMENTATION OF THE WATER FRAMEWORK DIRECTIVE IN THE
10
DANUBE RIVER BASIN
4.
JOINT DANUBE SURVEY AND INVESTIGATION OF THE TISZA RIVER
12
5.
WATER QUALITY AND HYDROLOGICAL SITUATION IN THE DANUBE RIVER BASIN
16
6.
WORK TOWARDS HARMONISED EMISSION POLICIES IN THE DANUBE BASIN
18
7.
OPERATION OF THE DANUBE ACCIDENT AND EMERGENCY WARNING SYSTEM
20
8.
BASIN-WIDE INVENTORY OF POTENTIAL ACCIDENT RISK SPOTS
21
9.
PREPARATION OF INVENTORY OF PROTECTED AREAS
23
10. DEVELOPMENT OF THE ICPDR INFORMATION SYSTEM
24
11.
INTERNATIONAL AND REGIONAL COOPERATION
26
11.1
COOPERATION BETWEEN THE ICPDR AND THE IHP DANUBE WORKING
26
GROUP ON PROJECT 5.3 "UPDATE OF WATER BALANCE"
11.2
CREATION OF THE DANUBE ­ BLACK SEA TASK FORCE (DABLAS)
26
11.3
SIGNING OF THE MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING AND
26
STRENGTHENING OF CO-OPERATION WITH THE BLACK SEA COMMISSION
11.4
GEF PROJECT IMPLEMENTATION
27
11.5
STATUS OF PROJECT IMPLEMENTATION IN REREP (STABILITY PACT)
27
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1. Operational and
Institutional Framework
2001 was the second year the ICPDR was in full
The ICPDR in its 3rd Plenary Meeting welcomed
operation including the activities of the Per-
the request of the Federal Republic of Yugo-
manent Secretariat. The Seat Agreement bet-
slavia (FRY) to accede to the Danube River
ween the ICPDR and the Republic of Austria
Protection Convention with all the rights and
was signed on 14 December 2000 and it entered
duties of a Contracting Party. The FRY is cur-
into force after its ratification by the Austrian
rently a Participant with Consultative Status in
Parliament on 1 November 2001. The organisat-
the ICPDR and has applied for its full members-
ional structure under the DRPC in 2001 is
hip. Ukraine has not yet ratified the DRPC. The
shown below. The Joint Action Programme
ICPDR has granted observership to the
(JAP) was finalised in 2001.
Internationale Arbeitsgemeinschaft der Wasser-
werke im Donaueinzugsgebiet (IAWD).
Organizational Structure under the Danube River Protection Convention
CONFERENCE OF THE PARTIES
International Commission for the
Protection of the Danube River (ICPDR)
Programme Management Task Force (PMTF)
Permanent Secretariat (PS)
-
Implementation of the Danube River
-
Coordination and implementation of
-
Supporting the ICPDR sessions
Protection Convention (DRPC)
donor supported activities
-
Supporting Expert Groups (and PMTF)
-
Decision making, management and
-
Development of financing mechanisms for
-
Coordinating the work programme
coordination of regional cooperation
project execution
-
Supporting project development and
-
Approval of the budget and annual work
implementation
programme
(currently suspended)
-
Maintenance of the Information System
-
Follow up on the activities and evaluating
the results of Expert Groups
-
Joint Action Programme
UNDP/GEF Danube Regional Project
ad-hoc
Strategic Expert Group
(S/EG)
-
Creation of sustainable ecological con-
ditions for land use and water management
-
Capacity building and reinforcement of
trans-boundary cooperation
- Strategic issues
-
Strengthening public involvement in
- Legal issues
environmental decision making
- Administrative and
financial issues
-
Reinforcement of monitoring, evaluation
and information system
River Basin Management
Monitoring, Laboratory
Emission
Accident Emergency
Ecology
(RBM/EG)
and Information
(EMIS/EG)
Prevention and Warning
(ECO/EG)
Management
System (AEPWS/EG)
(MLIM/EG)
-
Integrated river basin
-
Trans-National
-
Emission from point
-
Accidental pollution
-
Habitats and species
management
Monitoring Network
sources
incidents
protection areas
-
Implementation of EU
(TNMN)
-
Emission from diffuse
-
AEWS operations
-
Management of
Water Framework
-
Laboratory Quality
sources
-
Accident prevention
wetlands and
Directive
Analysis
-
Guidelines on BAT
floodplains
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1. Operational and
Institutional Framework
In 2001, five Expert Groups dealt with technical
ICPDR activities related to the conservation,
issues and one ad-hoc Expert Group addressed
restoration and sustainable management of
administrative and financial matters arising
aquatic ecosystems and those terrestrial ecosy-
from the implementation of the DRPC.
stems and wetlands directly depending on them.
This ad-hoc expert group should also contribute
Specifically:
to the implementation of the ecological provi-
- The River Basin Management Expert Group
sions of the EU Water Framework Directive. In its
(RBM/EG) defined and prepared the steps and
4th Plenary Session the ICPDR decided that this
activities the ICPDR should take in the 2001-
Expert Group would be a permanent expert body
2004 period towards the implementation of the
till the end of 2004;
EC Water Framework Directive in the Danube
- The ad-hoc Strategic Expert Group (S/EG) is
River Basin;
mandated to deal with ad-hoc administrative
- The Monitoring, Laboratory and Information
and financial matters of the ICPDR.
Management Expert Group (MLIM/EG) was res-
ponsible for issues concerning water quality
Joint Action Programme - a Tool for
assessment and classification including the
Implementing the Danube River Basin
operation of the Trans-National Monitoring
Convention
Network, AQC, laboratory analysis and moni-
toring data distribution. Special activities of
The Joint Action Programme (JAP, January 2001
this Expert Group related to the Joint Danube
- December 2005), was developed to de-scribe
Survey and the Investigation of the Tisza River;
policies and strategies for pollution reduction
- The Emission Expert Group (EMIS/EG) focused
and water management in response to the
its activities on the reduction of pollution resul-
Danube River Basin Convention (Art. 8). JAP
ting from emissions into the waters of the
also includes an investment programme for the
Danube and its tributaries. A priority issue was
reduction of pollution loads mainly from point
harmonisation with the EU water policies, e.g.,
sources (municipal and industrial discharges).
compliance with the EU/WFD List of Priority
Substances;
- The Accident and Emergency Prevention and
Investments and expected results
(JAP / Five-Year Nutrient Reduction Plan)
Warning System Expert Group (AEPWS/EG)
was involved in the operation of the Danube
Investments
- Municipal waste water collection & treatment 3.709 billion USD
Accident Warning System with an emphasis on
- Industrial waste water treatment
0.276 billion USD
the communication of alarm/warning messages
- Agricultural projects and land use
0.113 billion USD
- Rehabilitation of wetlands
0.323 billion USD
during accidents causing pollution in water
Nitrogen reduction
bodies. An additional task of this EG was pollu-
- from point sources
58,600 t/y
tion prevention and precautionary control in
- from diffuse sources
60,000 t/y
- total emission reduction
22 %
the whole Danube River Basin;
Phosphorus reduction
- The ad-hoc Ecological Expert Group (ECO/EG)
- from point sources
12,000 t/y
was established with the aim to support the
- from diffuse sources
4,000 t/y
- total emission reduction
33 %
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In addition, it identifies projects planned for the
restoration of wetlands and floodplains. Total
The ICPDR JAP reflects the general strategy
investment required for priority measures in the
for the implementation of the DRPC in the
five-year period (2001-2005) is projected at
forthcoming five years. Particular attention is
about EUR 4.404 billion.
paid to:
243 committed investment projects have been
- Developing a River Basin Management
identified in the frame of the ICPDR JAP (Five-
Plan for the Danube River Basin to comp-
Year Nutrient Reduction Action Plan), out of
ly with the EU Water Framework Directive;
which 156 in the municipal sector and only 44 in
- Maintaining and improving emission
the industrial sector. Most of these projects,
inventories and implementing measures
which generally respond to hot spots or point
proposed for the reduction of pollution
sources of emission, represent national priorities
from point and non-point sources;
but they also take into account the obligation to
- Restoring wetlands and flood plains to
mitigate transboundary effects. Particular emph-
improve flood control, increase nutrient
asis was also placed on the identification of sites
absorption capacities and rehabilitate habi-
for the restoration of wetlands, which play an
tats and ecosystems;
important role not only as natural habitats but
- Improving the operation of the Trans-
also as nutrient sinks.
national Monitoring Network (TNMN) to
assess the ecological and chemical quality
The Role of the UNDP/GEF Danube
status of rivers, including the establishment
Regional Project
of respective water quality standards;
- Developing an ICPDR Recommendation
The overall objective of the UNDP/GEF Danube
on the Reduction of Point Discharges from
Regional Project (DRP) is to complement the
Agriculture;
activities of the ICPDR required to strengthen a
- Establishing a Danube List of Priority
regional approach for solving transboundary
Substances;
problems. This includes the development of
- Maintaining and improving the existing
national policies and legislation, the definition of
AEPWS;
priority actions for pollution control and nutrient
- Reaching a self-binding voluntary agree-
reduction in particular, as well as the achieve-
ment with which the detergent in-dustry
ment of sustainable transboundary ecological
pledges to the ICPDR to put only phospha-
conditions within the DRB and the Black Sea
te-free detergents on the market;
Basin area. The DRP will facilitate the implemen-
- Developing a report on joint pro-grammes
tation of the Danube River Protection
aimed at minimising the impact of floods in
Convention (DRPC) and will assist those DRB
the Danube River Basin and eliminating
countries that are in the EU accession process in
their causes;
meeting the requirements of EU water-related
- Developing a water balance for the whole
directives with a special emphasis on the Water
Danube River Basin.
Framework Directive (WFD.)
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2. Financial Contributions
and Budgetary Situation
The 2nd Plenary Session of the ICPDR held in
Special Funds
Sinaia from 22 to 23 November 1999 approved
the budget for the year 2001 providing an over-
All financial contributions to the ICPDR sup-
all total of ATS 10,812,293.00 (EUR
porting special activities beyond its normal
785,759.95). This Budget already incorporates
tasks are considered as Special Funds. Thus, all
the working capital fund as its integral part,
funding of special activities and contributions
and the additional contributions of the two joi-
to the establishment of the Secretariat are
ning Contracting Parties (CPs), Bulgaria and
Special Funds, and are taken separately into
Moldova, as part of the total contribution.
account of the approved Regular Budget
These CPs were supposed to pay 5% of this
Contributions.
overall total as an input to the budgetary reser-
ve, i. e. working capital fund (see Financial
- Study on Bio-Indicators
Rules, Article 6.3).
The Austrian and German Governments decided
Regular Budget
to jointly finance a study on bio-indicators in
the Danube River. The funds were transferred
The actual expenditures in 2001 still failed to
into the account of the Secretariat on 22 and 29
match the projected figures but there was a sub-
October 1999 respectively. After submitting the
stantial improvement against the year 2000.
Final Report, VITUKI Plc was paid 80% of the
The necessary revision of the budget was car-
contractual amount on 12 December 2000.
ried out in December 2001 and approved by the
After the Final Report was approved by the 4th
President. The final regular expenditures per
Plenary Session, the 20% balance of ATS
budget line are as follows:
90,355.20 (EUR 6,566.37) was also transferred
to VITUKI Plc. The accounts are closed.
Budgetlines
ATS
EUR
- Joint Danube Survey (JDS)
In order to improve the comparability of water
1. Staff
5,321,310.-
386,715.-
quality data within the Danube River Basin, the
2. Services
1,632,671,-
118,651,-
MLIM/EG proposed a Danube longitudinal sur-
3. Equipment
378,511.-
27,507.-
vey focused on chemical and biological deter-
4. Other
1,093,731.-
79,484.-
minands. The Austrian and German
5. Operational costs
1,346,370.-
97,845.-
Governments decided to jointly finance these
activities. Funds were transferred into the
account of the Secretariat on 10 July and 28
Carried over balance
56,764.-
4,125.-
November 2001 by Germany and on 16 August
2001 by Austria. While Germany has fully paid
Overall total
9,829,357.- 714,327.-
its part, the Austrian contribution still shows a
negative balance of ATS 400,562.00 (EUR
- 8 -

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29,109.98). The latter has been pre-paid from the
ICPDR in 2001. The contract was awarded to
account of the ICPDR and will be balanced out as
VITUKI Plc of Budapest, Hungary.
soon as Austria pays its due.
At the 6th Steering Group meeting some countries
- Joint Danube Survey ­ Investigation of
expressed their readiness to make financial con-
the Tisza River
tributions to support the continuation of the AQC
scheme. The contributions for 2001 were offered
The ICPDR organised Joint Danube Survey ­
by Hungary (EUR 11,000), Germany (EUR 7,800),
Investigation of the Tisza River (JDS ITR) as a
Austria (EUR 2,200) and Slovakia (EUR 1,000).
technical follow-up on JDS. The JDS ITR was
financed by the European Commission (EUR
The German and Austrian contributions were fore-
95,000) and received in-kind contributions from
seen to be paid to VITUKI Plc through the
the participating partners (EUR 56,500). The EU
Secretariat, while contributions from Hungary and
transferred its first part of EUR 57,000 (ATS
Slovakia were transferred directly to VITUKI Plc to
784,337.10) to the account of the ICPDR on 12
cover the total cost of EUR 22,000 for the annual
November 2001.
AQC programme. The contract with Germany was
made for a total amount of EUR 7,800 and the
The three partners in the project are VITUKI Plc
contract with Austria is being drafted.
(Budapest, Hungary), with a total contractual
amount of EUR 54,280, out of which EUR 32,568
(ATS 448,145.45) was paid on 26 November 2001.
Further contracts were made with the Hessisches
Landesamt für Umwelt und Geologie (HLUG,
Wiesbaden, Germany) for EUR 21,720, and with
the Federal Hydrometeorological Institute (FHMI,
Belgrade, Yugoslavia) for EUR 14,000. For the
last two contracts no payments were made in
2001.
- Analytical Quality Control (AQC)
In order to ensure reliability of water quality data
produced within the TNMN there is a need to
organise a regular Analytical Quality Control
Programme for the TNMN hydroanalytical labor-
atories. Having the mandate from the 5th
Steering Group meeting, the Secretariat launched
a tender for the selection of the laboratory that
would conduct the AQC programme for the
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3. Implementation of the Water Framework
Directive in the Danube River Basin
Commitment to Implementing the
Challenges of the
Water Framework Directive
Water Framework Directive
On 22nd December 2000, the EU Water Frame-
The Water Framework Directive brings major
work Directive (WFD) came into force. The EU
changes into water management practices. Most
Member States are obliged to fulfil this
importantly:
Directive. In order to find out whether all
Danube countries would join in the efforts to
- It sets uniform standards in water policy
implement the WFD in the Danube River Basin,
throughout the European Union and integrates
the president of the ICPDR wrote a letter to all
different policy areas involving water issues;
Danube countries in September 2000 inquiring
- It requires cross-border co-operation in the
about their willingness to support the imple-
development of integrated and co-ordinated
mentation of the WFD. In response, all coun-
river basin management plans;
tries co-operating under the DRPC expressed
- It includes public participation in the deve-
their firm political commitment to supporting
lopment of river basin management plans
the implementation of the WFD in their coun-
encouraging active involvement of interested
tries and pledged to co-operate in the frame-
parties including stakeholders, non-govern-
work of the ICPDR to achieve a single, basin-
mental organisations and citizens;
wide co-ordinated Danube River Basin
- It stipulates a defined timeframe for the achie-
Management Plan.
vement of the good status of surface water and
groundwater;
This commitment was confirmed at the 3rd
- It requires a comprehensive ecological assess-
Plenary Session of the ICPDR held in Sofia on
ment and classification of a water body on the
27th-28th November 2000, which ended with the
basis of the composition and abundance of
following resolutions:
aquatic fauna and flora taking into account the
type-specific reference conditions of the water
- The implementation of the EU Water Frame-
body;
work Directive is considered as the highest pri-
- It introduces economic analysis of water use
ority of the ICPDR.
in order to estimate the most cost-effective
combination of measures in respect to water
- The ICPDR will provide a platform for the co-
uses.
ordination necessary to develop and establish a
River Basin Management Plan for the Danube
The Special Situation in the
River Basin.
Danube River Basin
- The Contracting Parties pledge to make all
What makes the implementation process in the
efforts necessary to create a co-ordinated in-
Danube River Basin a particular challenge is the
ternational River Basin Management Plan for
fact that only a few countries are currently EU
the Danube River Basin.
members and as such obliged to fulfil the WFD.
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As indicated in the table below, most of the
ment in the DRB contributes to the eutrophicati-
Danube countries are in the process of EU
on of the Black Sea.
accession and are now preparing to fulfil the
complete body of EU legislation in order to be-
Tasks of the River Basin
come members. Others have not expressed their
Management Group
intent to join the EU. The Danube River Basin is
the second largest river basin of Europe, cover-
The River Basin Management Expert Group
ing 817.000 km2 and territories of 18 countries.
(RBM EG) was created to prepare and co-ordi-
The 13 countries that have national territories
nate the necessary actions for the implementa-
greater than 2.000 km2 within the Danube River
tion of the WFD. The RBM EG developed a
Basin are involved in the activities of the
detailed work plan for phase 1 of the imple-
ICPDR.
mentation process (2001-2004). The work plan
identifies the necessary steps to be
taken by the ICPDR in order to
Countries in the Danube River Basin:
comply with the reporting deadli-
Germany (M)
Hungary (AC)
Yugoslavia
Ukraine
nes of the WFD in 2003 (identifica-
Austria (M)
Slovenia (AC)
Bulgaria (AC) Others*
tion of the river basin district and
Czech Republic (AC)
Croatia
Romania (AC)
the competent authorities) and in
Slovak Republic (AC) Bosnia-Herzegovina Moldova
2004 (analysis of pressures and
*Areas less than 2.000 km2: Switzerland, Italy (M), Poland (AC), Albania and Macedonia
impacts including an economic
M = EU Member; AC = Accession Country
analysis). Furthermore, a link was
established to the relevant parts of
The Danube River Basin shows a number of
the UNDP/GEF Danube Regional Project. Some
particularities in comparison with other Euro-
of the operational tasks were assigned to the
pean river basins not only in terms of its size
existing working groups of the ICPDR.
and the large number of countries but also in
terms of its diverse landscapes and the major
The RBM expert group carried out an inquiry
socio-economic differences. Regional differ-
into the existing cartographic systems and GIS
ences in climate and landscape lead to differen-
in the Danube countries. It was agreed that the
ces in precipitation and discharge in the stre-
existing systems would be used as far as possi-
ams, making some countries rich in freshwater
ble including the GIS-based European river
and others suffering from poor water resources.
basin information system of the Joint Research
There is a large gap in socio-economic develop-
Centre (JRC) of the European Commission. A
ment between the upstream and downstream
first workshop on Cartography and GIS was
countries. This is reflected, for instance, in the
held in Budapest in May 2001 and was attended
percentage of population connected to the
by experts from the Danube countries and the
public water supply and sewage systems and in
JRC. In October 2001, an expert subgroup for
the level of technical development in wastewa-
cartography and GIS was created.
ter treatment. Last but not least, nutrient enrich-
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4. Joint Danube Survey and
Investigation of the Tisza River
The Joint Danube Survey (JDS) was proposed
Romania using two ships from Germany
by the Monitoring, Laboratory and Information
(Argus) and Hungary (Szechenyi). Following the
Management Expert Group (MLIM EG) as the
briefing and preparatory meeting on 11­12
best way to obtain comparable and reliable
August 2001 in Regensburg, the cruise started
information on the occurrence of specific sub-
on 13 August by sampling in Neu-Ulm,
stances (organic and inorganic micropollutants)
Germany, and made its way through Austria,
in different compartments of the aquatic ecosy-
Slovakia, Hungary, Croatia, Yugoslavia, Bul-
stem (water, sediments, suspended solids, biota)
garia, Romania, Moldova and Ukraine ending in
along the entire length of the Danube River. The
the Danube Delta on 20 September 2001.
idea was to use the Danube countries' sampling
and laboratory expertise and resources that
The following JDS activities were accomplis-
have the necessary level of analytical instru-
hed in 2001:
mentation and use the proven, acceptable AQC
procedures. The survey plan also reflected the
- Surface water, sediment, mussels and biologi-
requirement of the EU WFD to produce a cha-
cal (macrozoobenthos, phytobenthos, macro-
racterisation of the water status, especially with
phytes, phyto-plankton, zooplankton) samples
respect to the List of the Priority Substances.
were collected at 98 sampling sites along the
Danube and its major tributaries. Core sediment
Specific objectives of the Joint Danube
samples were collected in Gabcikovo and Iron
Survey were as follows:
Gate reservoirs. Suspended solids samples were
collected at 63 sections along the Danube. All
- To produce a homogenous data set for the
samples were sent to 9 JDS Reference
Danube River, based on a single laboratory ana-
Laboratories for analyses of more than 80
lysis of specified determinands;
determinands. The results are expected to be
- To identify and confirm specific pollution
available in January 2002;
sources;
- To screen the different segments of the water
- Fifteen parameters were analysed on board;
body for pollutants as specified in the EU
Water Framework Directive;
- Press conferences were organised in Regens-
- To provide a forum for the participation of
burg, Vienna, Bratislava, Budapest, Osijek,
riparian countries in sampling and inter-com-
Belgrade, Ruse, Silistra, Ismail and Tulcea to
parison exercises;
disseminate information about JDS.
- To identify specific training needs and impro-
ve in-country experience;
- To promote public awareness.
The Survey was carried out by an international
team of ten experts from Germany, Austria,
Slovakia, Hungary, Yugoslavia, Bulgaria and
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JDS Findings - Biology
values were found in the tributaries (the
Rusenski Lom and the Arges in particular)
More than 1000 aquatic taxa were found
and in the side arms (the Moson arm, the
during JDS:
upper part of the Soroksar arm).
- 268 macrozoobenthos taxa
- 340 phytobenthos taxa
- 49 macrophyte species
JDS Findings ­ Chemistry
- 261 phytoplan taxa
- 120 zooplankton taxa
- Algal blooming increased both pH values
and dissolved oxygen concentration in the
- The saprobity of the Danube varied between
Middle Danube reach;
water quality classes II (moderately polluted)
and II/III (critically polluted). Many arms and
- The highest heavy metal concentrations in
tributaries were more polluted than the main
water were found in the Rusenski Lom, the
stream and some of them even reached water
Iskar and the Timok tributaries;
quality class III (strongly polluted/the Sio
River) or worse (the Iskar, the Olt and the
- The analysis of sediments identified the Iskar
Arges - any macro-invertebrates missing).
(cadmium, lead and zinc) and the Timok (arse-
nic and copper) as specific contamination
- The opening of the Main-Danube Canal in
sources;
1992 removed a natural biogeographical bar-
rier and triggered mutual fauna transfer bet-
- The highest values of petroleum hydro-
ween the two rivers;
carbons in sediments and suspended solids
were found in the Middle Danube reach;
- A high correlation of phytoplankton-bio-
mass and chlorophyll-a concentration was
- The maximum value for atrazine was
observed. High values in biomass/chloro-
found in the Sava River (0,78 µg/l). It affec-
phyll-a were found in the Hungarian stretch
ted the Danube River downstream of the Sava
of the Danube downstream of Budapest;
confluence;
- The peak in phytoplankton biomass was
- Significant concentrations of 4-iso-nonyl-
followed by maximum zooplankton density
phenol and di[2-ethyl-hexyl]phthalate (on EU
values in the middle section of the Danube.
WFD List of Priority Pollutants) were found
The decrease in phytoplankton was asso-
in bottom sediments and suspended solids
ciated with an increase in zooplankton densi-
(from a few µg/kg up to more than 100
ty probably due to the filtering effect of zoo-
mg/kg). Most of the elevated concentrations
plankton;
of nonylphenol were found in the Yugo-
- The highest microbiological pollution
slavian section of the Danube.
- 13 -

---

4. Joint Danube Survey and
Investigation of the Tisza River
The total cost of JDS was EUR 557,373. The
National Teams, including the analytical work,
German Federal Environmental Agency contri-
were financed by the individual participating
buted EUR 458,263 towards this amount and
countries as their in-kind contribution.
the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry,
Environment and Water Management of Austria
The JDS Report is expected to be published in
provided EUR 99,110. The activities of JDS
the summer of 2002.
1 600 000
45000
Novi Sad
Dunaföldvar
40000
1 400 000
35000
1 200 000
30000
1 000 000
Phytoplankton
Zooplankton
25000
800 000
20000
600 000
15000
400 000
10000
200 000
5000
0
0
3000 2500
2000 1600 1000 500 0
River km
Variation in phytoplankton biomass and zooplankton population density along the Danube River
found during JDS
- 14 -

---

The Tisza Survey
October in Tokaj. Sampling and on-board ana-
lyses were carried out on the Argus ship by
The ICPDR organised the Joint Danube Survey
experts from Hungary, Germany, Romania, Slo-
­ Investigation of the Tisza River (JDS ITR) as a
vakia and Yugoslavia.
technical follow-up on JDS. The objective of
this survey was to assess the water quality of
During the survey, samples of surface water,
the Tisza by hydro-biological and hydro-chemi-
sediments, suspended solids, mussels and biol-
cal measurements and to promote public awa-
ogy (macrozoobenthos, phytoplankton, zoo-
reness. JDS ITR was financed by the European
plankton) were taken from 27 sampling sites
Commission (EUR 95,000) and by in-kind con-
covering the 744-km stretch of the Tisza River.
tributions of the participating partners (EUR
Water samples were analysed on board for ele-
56,500). Besides the ICPDR, other partners in
ven parameters: pH, temperature, conductivity,
the project were VITUKI (Budapest, Hungary),
dissolved oxygen, nitrites, nitrates, ammonium,
Hessisches Landesamt für Umwelt und Geologie
ortho-phosphates, alkalinity, suspended solids,
(HLUG, Wiesbaden, Germany), and Federal
chlorophyll-a. Biomarkers (growth, parasitizati-
Hydrometeorological Institute (FHMI, Belgrade,
on, sex ratio) were also determined on board in
Yugoslavia).
fish collected by electrofishing at five sampling
sites. Samples of fish tissues were prepared and
The technical programme of JDS ITR started in
sent for analyses. The Final Report of the Tisza
Titel (confluence of the Danube and the Tisza
Survey will be completed in the spring of 2002.
rivers) on 29 September and ended up on 9
- 15 -

---

5. Water Quality and Hydrological Situation in
the Danube River Basin.
The long-term daily mean flow of the
Country
Total annual precipitation Relative annual precipitation
Danube River is about 6500 m3s-1, which
in 2001 (mm) in 2001 (%)
represents an average annual discharge of
Germany
1230
105
207 km3. The discharge in 2001 was 199
Austria
967
95
km3 (96% of the average annual discharge)
Czech Republic
803
112
Slovakia
845
111
Hydrological Situation
Hungary
562
98
The hydrological situation in 2001 can be
Bulgaria
485
90
characterised by big seasonal and spatial
Romania
409
63
variations in precipitation and the respec-
Moldova
587
107
tive discharge in the whole basin. Total pre-
cipitation values in 2001 and relative precipi-
tation values in the same year (compared to the
long-term value, which resulted in the highest
long-term annual average) in selected countries
daily discharges in 2001. On the other hand, July
are shown in the following table:
was the driest month in the German part of the
Danube Basin with half of the average precipita-
tion values. In Austria, comparatively high pre-
Danube 2001 ­ Mean annual dischargem3/s
cipitation was measured in northern and western
7000
parts of the country. This explains the higher
discharge of the Danube River in comparison
6000
with the long time series. In the lower Danube,
the differences in precipitation were also signifi-
5000
cant. While in western and northern Romania
the discharges were slightly over the average
4000
long-term mean, in southern Romania and nort-
hern Bulgaria they dropped to 20 - 60% of the
3000
long-term average. This irregular hydrological
pattern led to frequent flash floods in a large part
2000
of Romania almost throughout the year. Rapid
snowmelt in combination with heavy rainfall in
the upper Tisza region in March caused a disa-
1000
strous flood in the Hungarian territory.
0
rkm
2500 2000 1500 1000 500 0
Pollution Caused by Accidents
long-term annual average mean annual discharge 2001
No major pollution events with a substantial
impact on water quality were recorded in 2001.
In Germany, high precipitation occurred in
Similarly, the flood in the Tisza River Basin had
March, June, August and September. The month-
no detrimental effect on the water quality. A pol-
ly precipitation in March was twice the average
lution event reported in Germany was caused by
- 16 -

---

the infiltration of hexachlorobutadiene (HCBD)
WWTP (Upper Austria, 950.000 PE) was finalised
into the Inn River (right tributary of the Danube).
in 2001. This achievement resulted in a further
The compound accumulated in the local fish
reduction of nutrient discharges into the Danube
population, which affected the fishing industry
due to P- and N-reduction at this plant.
in that region. Rehabilitation activities were
immediately launched. Apart from this, minor
In the Czech part of the Danube River Basin, the
accidents were observed in the Czech Republic
new municipal WWTP in Prostejov was put into
and Slovakia but these had no measurable
operation. Reconstruction activities continued at
impact on the Danube water quality. Accidents
the WWTPs in Prerov, Hodonin, Trebic, Uherske
that triggered the Danube Accident and Emerg-
Hradiste, Brno and Kromeriz. In Hungary, the
ency Warning System are reported in Chapter 7.
upgrading of WWTPs is also a high priority. The
National Sewerage and Wastewater Treatment
Improvements in Wastewater Treatment
Programme for the municipalities enjoys a signi-
In Germany, improvements aimed at nitrogen
ficant governmental support. 110 municipal pro-
reduction were performed at several wastewater
jects aimed at developing sewerage systems and
treatment plants (WWTP). Only five out of all
wastewater treatment facilities were supported in
plants serving more than 100,000 inhabitants
2001. In Romania, the main contribution to pol-
have yet to comply with EU directives on nitro-
lution reduction was in the industrial and agri-
gen treatment. A pilot project was carried out at
cultural sectors. The chemical and mining indu-
the Isar River (right tributary of the Danube)
stries significantly reduced their activities and so
aimed at reaching bathing water quality. To
did the farming industry. In agriculture, the use
achieve this, the local WWTP was equipped with
of fertilisers has decreased by more than 60 %
UV disinfection. Simultaneously, structural
since 1989. However, it was not only the decline
changes of the banks and the riverbed were per-
in production that led to reduced pollution in
formed including the building of fish traps. In
Romania. Altogether 1,445 WWTPs operate in
Austria, the percentage of the population
this country out of which about 42 % report
connected to the central WWTP fulfilling natio-
satisfactory performance. The construction of
nal regulations further increased to reach 85 %.
another 12 WWTPs is under way.
Despite the fact that this figure was for a long
time considered to be at the margin of economic
Water Quality Trends
feasibility, new developments in the construction
No significant changes in the Danube River
of wastewater collection facilities have led to
water quality in comparison with the previous
solutions which allow the cost to be lowered and
year were observed along the whole river stretch.
to further increase the number of population to
Considering the results from the national classi-
be connected. At the end of the year 2000 more
fication schemes, partial improvements were
than 1,400 biological purification plants were in
observed in the tributaries in the Czech Republic
operation in Austria, out of which approximate-
(Dyje/Thaya) and in Romania.
ly 80 % with more than 2,000 PE perform terti-
ary treatment. The upgrading of the city of Linz
- 17 -

---

6. Work Towards Harmonised
Emission Policies in the Danube Basin
Harmonised Emission Policies are central to
wed as urgent, the EMIS/EG prepared an inven-
effective implementation of the DRPC. This in-
tory of municipal and industrial point sources in
cludes establishing basin-wide harmonised
the Danube catchment area with the reference
emission inventories and tracking systems, cre-
year 2000. Some improvements in data collec-
dible methods for determining the Best
tion and reporting were integrated in the new
Available Techniques and the Best Available
inventory such as, for example, the indication of
Practice to prevent or reduce the emissions, as
geographical co-ordinates of discharge locations
well as a transparent reporting and updating
to enable future presentation of the data in GIS.
system.
Translation of ICPDR Recommendations into
National and sector emission policies will also
National Languages
be needed in the near future to lower the values
for industrial and municipal discharges and to
A critical challenge for the Danube countries lies
encourage cost-effective measures for limiting
in reducing consumption of energy and raw
emissions over time. Political commitment and
materials as well as the output of waste and pol-
co-operation in the Danube Basin, as well as
lution. To respond to this requirement the ICPDR
institutional, technical and behavioural inno-
adopted Recommendations/Guidelines (inclu-
vations are essential ingredients and so is the
ding related Reporting Formats) on the Best
role that the ICPDR can play to enhance the
Available Techniques in the chemical, food and
Danube countries' capacity to respond effec-
pulp and paper industries, on the treatment of
tively to emission control.
municipal waste water, and on the monitoring
of waste water discharges.
Major activities carried out in 2001 under the
guidance of the EMIS Expert Group include the
These Recommendations/Guidelines have been
drafting of Emission Inventory 2000, the trans-
translated with the support from the European
lation of ICPDR Recommendations into na-tio-
Commission into all administrative languages in
nal languages, negotiations with the detergent
the Danube River Basin.
industry over the use of phosphate-free deter-
gents and a workshop looking at policy options
Local authorities and other stakeholders (e.g.
for the handling of shipping wastes.
industrial associations) will benefit from having
access to the ICPDR Recommendations in their
Emission Inventory 2000
own languages. Bulgaria, for example, has
already distributed 1,000 copies of the translated
The Emission Inventory 1996 is mainly based on
versions to local institutions and other con-cer-
data from the year 1996. The data were widely
ned parties.
used in different research projects including, for
example, the UNDP/GEF Pollution Reduction
Programme. Since the development of an upda-
ted version of the Emission Inventory was vie-
- 18 -

---

Negotiations with the Detergent Industry on a
available by spring 2002. Since in Germany and
Voluntary Agreement Concerning the Use of
Austria only phosphate-free detergents are avai-
Phosphate-free Detergents
lable on the market (and should be in the Czech
Republic by 2005), the ICPDR believes there are
The ICPDR JAP attaches special importance to
good chances that a voluntary agreement with
reducing the discharge of phosphorus into the
the detergent industry will be reached.
water bodies. Besides the reduction of 5200 t P/
year by treatment of wastewater measures in
Pollution from Inland Navigation
municipal and industrial sites, the use of phos-
phate-free detergents shall be encouraged.
A workshop on "Shipping Wastes in the Danube
River" was held at Harbour Enns, Austria, with
The environmental problems associated with
a view to clarifying the policy options and
phosphates in water are mainly related to the
reaching a harmonised procedure for handling
eutrophication with subsequent algae bloom.
shipping wastes. The workshop was attended by
The introduction of synthetic detergents was
representatives of the Danube Commission, the
seen as a major contributor to the eutrophi-
ICPDR and the Austrian Ministry of Transport.
cation. Municipal waste water is the main sour-
Among the participants were also experts from
ce of P-load into the surface water (5 - 41% of
the Danube countries and from Denmark and
P originates from detergents). The first seminar
the Netherlands.
on phosphate-free detergents organised by
EMIS/ EG and held in Zagreb on 3 October 2001
Various alternatives were presented and discus-
brought together national experts and major
sed on how to collect bilge water and wastes,
European detergent companies.
with particular attention to the options to have
the incurred costs covered by ship owners or
harbour companies. In future, the "polluter
Water quality in the Danube River Basin
pays" principle should be applied, as intended,
Concentrations of ortho-phosphate-
for example, at the Rhine, by levying an addi-
phosphorus (TNMN 1998)
tional charge on the fuel bought by ship owners.
0.003 - 0.640 mg/ l (Danube)
The Austrian Ministry of Transport, in co-opera-
0.027 - 0.342 mg/ l (annual mean -(Danube)
tion with Germany, Slovakia and Hungary, will
0.002 - 1.120 mg/ l (Tributaries)
take the lead in establishing a more effective
0.016 - 0.636 mg/ l (annual mean -Tributaries)
and harmonised system of reception and treat-
ment of shipping wastes. At the same time, fur-
In order to obtain the necessary statistical data,
ther research actions and their funding by the
the detergent companies were invited to deliver
EU and individual countries should be initiated.
for every country and detergent sector (laundry,
dishwashing, industrial) information on the total
phosphorus sold in 2000. These data should be
- 19 -

---

7. Operation of the Danube Accident and
Emergency Warning System
In 2001, the Accident and Emergency Warning
oil spills. In all those accidents, the impact areas
System (AEWS) covered almost the entire
were local - no transboundary effects were
Danube Basin, except for the territories of
observed. Brief information on pollution caused
Bosnia-Herzegovina and Yugoslavia. During
by accidents in the Danube River Basin in 2001
that year, the AEWS transmitted information on
is given below.
five accidents out of which four were caused by
Site of Accident / Date
Affected River
Primary
International
Transboundary
Pollutant
Satellite Messages
Impact
Hungary (and Slovakia)
Ipoly in
Oil
PIAC 05kPIAC 04 "Info"
SK: No
30.01.2001
Slovakia
PIAC 04kPIAC 05
H: No
"End of Alert"
Hungary (and Slovakia)
Danube
Oil
PIAC 05kPIAC 04 "Info"
SK: No
01.03.2001
(km 1768)
PIAC 04kPIAC 05
H: No
(common river
"End of Alert"
stretch)
Slovenia/Croatia
Kolpa/Kulpa
Textile
PIAC 07kPIAC 06 "Info"
SLO: No
10.05.2001
(border river)
dyestuff
PIAC 06kPIAC 07
"Confirmation"
PIAC 06kPIAC 07
"End of Alert"
Austria
Dyje river near
Oil
PIAC 02kPIAC 03
CZ: No
10.08.2001
Drosendorf
"Warning"
PIAC 02 Ć PIAC 03 "End
of Alert"
Slovakia (and Hungary)
Danube (km.
Oil
PIAC 05kPIAC 04 "Info"
SK: No
23.09.2001
1734)
PIAC 04kPIAC 05
"End of Alert"
Development of the Accident and
on an accident should be distributed through the
Emergency Warning System in 2001
Internet. The proposal of the project for an
AEWS upgrade to involve Internet communi-
In order to economise the operation of the warn-
cation was prepared and submitted to potential
ing system a new concept has been adopted
donors. During 2001, emphasis was placed on
introducing a simultaneous use of satellite
designing an emission-oriented approach for the
communication and the Internet. According to
detection of water pollution accidents. This
this concept, the first "flash warning message"
included an assessment of alert thresholds for the
should be propagated via the satellite system to
launching of a warning message. The whole con-
ensure fast and reliable dissemination of the
cept is expected to be finalised and approved in
warning, while the more descriptive information
2002.
- 20 -

---

8. Basin-Wide Inventory
of Potential Accident
Risk Spots
In response to the spill accidents in Baia Mare
solid particles). Water Risk Classes (WRC) have
and Baia Borsa in January and March 2000, the
already been used in Germany for more than 20
ICPDR Steering Group in September 2000 en-
years as a means of assessing substance-specific
couraged all Danube countries to create national
water hazards, particularly in determining the
ARS inventories in order to arrive at a common
water-endangering potential posed by hazar-
inventory for the whole Danube River Basin. The
dous installations. At present, about 6,000 sub-
Accident and Emergency Prevention and
stances and mixtures of substances have been
Warning System Expert Group (AEPWS EG) was
classified by WRC. Since the use of Water Risk
given the responsibility for conceptualising and
Classes also takes into account the basic criteria
preparing the national inventories. This expert
used in the EU Seveso II Directive and in the
group also created a special ad-hoc ARS Expert
UN/ECE Industrial Accidents Convention, it was
Panel charged with compiling the results and pre-
assured that all industrial installations would
paring an analytical summary of the inventory.
also be included in the basin-wide inventory.
Because systems for classifying accident risks
For a final assessment of potential risk, the
vary between the Danube countries, a common
Water Risk Index was used taking into account
procedure had to be found for arriving at a
the Water Risk Classes and the respective masses
single classification. Therefore, the EU Seveso II
of hazardous substances handled and stored in a
Directive, the UN/ECE Agreement on the Trans-
particular installation.
boundary Effects of Industrial Accidents
(Industrial Accidents Convention) as well as the
The ARS Inventory reflects the status as of 30
methodology applied in a similar inventory pre-
June 2001. Altogether 611 potential accident risk
pared by the International Commission for the
spots in nine countries were reported. About six
Protection of the Elbe River (ICPE) were con-
million tonnes of dangerous substances equi-
sidered.
valent to the highest WRC 3 risk are handled
and stored in those installations. It is now the
The approach adopted by the ICPE was found to
task of the ICPDR member states to control and
be the most suitable tool for the analysis of
monitor carefully the locations with a high-risk
industrial activities and sites with a high risk of
potential identified in the inventory.
pollution caused by accidents. This approach
takes into account the potential of water-endan-
The actual risks arising from the hazardous sites
gering installations expressed in terms of Water
depend on the safety measures applied in each
Risk Classes (Wassergefährdnungsklassen, WGK
installation. In order to estimate the real safety
in German) and the quantity of hazardous sub-
level that has been attained, special checklists
stances used in the process or stored. The con-
have been developed, which are based on the
cept of Water Risk Classes is based on an inte-
recommendations of the International Commis-
grated assessment of a substance in terms of its
sion for the Protection of the Rhine River and of
toxicity, its persistence in the environment, its
the ICPE. These checklists are to be used for the
degradability (physical, chemical and biological)
investigation of safety measures in each poten-
and its accumulation ability (in biota and on
tial accident risk spot.
- 21 -

---

8. Basin-Wide Inventory of
Potential Accident Risk Spots
Country
Reported ARS
Evaluated ARS
Total quantity in kg
Total WRI
(WRC 3 ­ Equivalents)
Bulgaria
29
28
370,000,000
8.6
Germany
56
56
2,293,874,000
9.4
Croatia
30
26
135,734,760
8.1
Moldova
27
14
3,634,610
6.6
Romania
67
59
2,076,893,274
9.3
Slovak Republic
148
145
250,877,521
8.4
Slovenia
2
2
980,000
6.0
Czech Republic
9
8
144,617,790
8.2
Hungary
243
242
706,603,002
8.8
Total
611
580
5,982,720,034
9.8
The Baia Mare and Baia Borsa accidents sever-
appropriate regulations and to set safety stan-
ely affected the environment and had adverse
dards for those high-risk sites. The inventory of
impacts on social and economic conditions of
potential accident risk spots in the Danube River
the region. According to the results of the ARS
Basin is the first complete, albeit not yet perfect
Inventory, the tailing ponds of mines and the
review of potentially dangerous installations
waste dumps were found to have the highest
and sites in the Danube region. It is essential to
hazard potential. These sites are covered only
further work on the refinement and standardisa-
partially by the international regulations. There-
tion of the survey method and to update the
fore, the AEPWS EG proposed that the EU and
ARS Inventory at regular intervals.
the UN/ECE should be requested to provide
- 22 -

---

9. Preparation of an Inven-
tory of Protected Areas
Requirement of the
the maintenance or improvement of the status
Water Framework Directive
of water is an important factor in their protec-
tion.
The EU Water Framework Directive requires the
establishment of an inventory of "all areas lying
Approach to the Development
within each river basin district which have been
of the Inventory
designated as requiring special protection ... of
their sur-face water and groundwater or for the
The inventory will be elaborated on the basis of
conservation of habitats and species directly
materials and information from the Danube
depending on water" (Art. 6 WFD).
countries. Sites of international relevance
(Ramsar sites, National Parks, IBAs, World
Task of the Ecology Expert Group
Heritage Sites e.g.) will be given priority in the
inventory since they have digital data sets avai-
The Ecology Expert Group (ECO EG) is entrusted
lable in a more advanced state. The IUCN-
with making an inventory of protected areas
WCMC List of Protected Areas 1993, as well as
that are part of the riverine ecosystem in the
the world-wide wetland inventory (managed by
Danube River Basin according to the provisions
Wetlands International) can form an important
of the WFD Art. 6 and Annex IV, 1. (v), desig-
basis for accomplishing the task. A number of
nated
protected areas have also been identified in the
- under EC regulations (Natura 2000 for
frame of the study "Evaluation of Wetlands and
EU Member States) or
Floodplain Areas in the Danube River Basin"
- under national regulations (for non-EU
carried out in May 1999 by WWF Auen-Institut
Member States)
(Germany) as part of the UNDP/GEF-funded
for the protection of habitats and species where
Danube Pollution Reduction Programme.
- 23 -

---

10. Development of the
ICPDR Information System
Preparation of Database for
TNMN Database
Joint Danube Survey
Data for the year 1998 were received from the
Data collection sheet in MS Excel and a manual
TNMN Data Centre (Slovakia) and imported into
for data entry were prepared to assure that data
the TNMN Database of the ICPDR Information
collected during the Joint Danube Survey are
System. As data were received in a different file
properly entered in the system. The JDS Database
format and not free of anomalies, new import
was also set up within the ICPDR Information
procedures were developed in order to import
System to present the data from on-board analy-
data from different sources.
sis. Additionally, data collection sheets for the
laboratories were developed and a new format
Integration of Library System
for collecting data from gas chromatographic
The technical integration of the Library System
mass spectrometric analyses was designed. Public
into the ICPDR Information System has re-cent-
web pages for JDS and JDS Investigation of the
ly been successfully tested. The user interface of
Tisza River were prepared containing general
the Library System needs to be further adapted
information, calendar of events (press conferen-
to the ICPDR Information System. Once this has
ces, sampling, etc.), contacts, maps, and further
been done, it will make both systems work
documents (list of stations, determinands, refe-
seamlessly in the near future.
rence laboratories, etc.).
User Support
Geographical Information System (GIS)
A training course for a selected group of users
The ICPDR is currently examining the different
was held and a User's Manual was prepared. This
modalities for establishing a GIS with par-ticu-
manual, which contains step-by-step infor-
lar attention to identifying the appropriate car-
mation on the most frequently needed proce-
tographic systems (such as co-ordinates, scales,
dures, was placed on the Information System.
etc.). For now, the ICPDR Information System
From there any new user can easily learn the
can be used to support this discussion (through
way to perform the basic tasks in the
the availability of relevant documents and a dis-
Information System.
cussion forum, etc.).
Preparation of Software Upgrade
Emissions Inventory
Both the website management software (Oracle
Emissions Inventory 1997 was finalised and a
WebDB, now called Oracle Portal) and the data-
public version (with a click-on map of the Da-
base management software (Oracle8 Database
nube sub-basins) was made available on the
Server) were upgraded in 2001. Due to the com-
ICPDR website. The publishing of the Emissions
plexity of this process, a test system of the
Inventory 2000 was also launched. Data collec-
ICPDR Information System was set up, where
tion worksheets for each country were prepared
the upgrade could be tested before its final
using MS-Excel. Validation checks were intro-
launch. The test system also allowed the new
duced to facilitate data input and reduce errors
features of the software to be tried out.
during input.
- 24 -

---

ICPDR Information System ­ Folder Hits per Month
0 1000 2000 3000 4000 5000 6000 7000 8000 9000
2001-01
1610
2001-02
2818
2001-03
8542
2001-04
3006
2001-05
4194
2001-06
2552
2001-07
3063
2001-08
5036
2001-09
3388
2001-10
4155
2001-11
4732
2001-12
2937
Monthly number of folder hits during the period of January to December 2001
- 25 -

---

11. International and Regional
Co-Operation
11.1 Co-Operation between the ICPDR and the
11.2 Creation of the Danube ­ Black Sea Task
IHP Danube Working Group on Project 5.3
Force (DABLAS)
"Update of Water Balance"
The joint Declaration on the Protection of Water
Links of co-operation have been established with
and Water-Related Ecosystems in the Wider
the Danube IHP Working Group for the de-
Black Sea Region was signed in Brussels on 26
velopment of a water balance for the Danube
November. To implement the Declaration, the
River Basin. In this context, IHP National
DABLAS Task Force was created to reinforce co-
Committees in the Danube countries have offered
operation between countries of the Danube-
their co-operation with particular attention to
Black Sea Region and to bring them together
flood-related issues. The project proposal inclu-
with donors and international financial institu-
des a description of the methodology, a time plan
tions. The aim of the DABLAS Task Force is to
(two years) and budget estimation. The UNESCO
facilitate financial arrangements for the im-ple-
Venice Office is requested to raise the necessary
mentation of investment projects for pollution
funds for project implementation, estimated at
reduction and rehabilitation of ecosystems.
USD 120,000. The main objectives of the project
DABLAS will have a Secretariat supported by the
include the following:
European Commission.
The ICPDR shall, in co-operation with the
- Elaboration of a spatially distributed water
Black Sea Secretariat provide assistance in devel-
balance for the whole Danube Basin to provide
oping an operational framework for the identifi-
the basis for transboundary water management;
cation, preparation and prioritisation of projects.
- Development of a standardised database in
The work shall be carried out based on existing
digital format to facilitate water management
information, in particular through the improving
decisions at the national and the basin-wide
and updating of the existing ICPDR project data-
scale;
base.
- Creation of conditions for further harmonisati-
on and unification of methodologies and the use
of a more sophisticated approach at the domestic
11.3 Signing the Memorandum of
and/or sub-regional level;
Understanding and Strengthening Co-
- Assembling of baseline information for further
Operation with the Black Sea Commission
impact analysis of ongoing global cli-mate
change.
On the occasion of the Ministerial Meeting in
Brussels on 26 November 2001, a Memorandum
All participating countries shall provide hydro-
of Understanding (MoU) was signed by the
meteorological data for the development of a
Presidents of the ICPDR and the BSC. In this con-
water balance for the agreed period (1951-1990)
text, the revitalisation of the Danube ­ Black Sea
to the national experts of the IHP Water Balance
Joint Technical Working Group is to assure the
Working Group and support their work techni-
implementation of all technical measures of the
cally and financially.
MoU with particular attention to the assessment
- 26 -

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of nutrient inputs into the Black Sea, the asses-
mental conditions in south-eastern Europe have
sment of the ecological status of the Black Sea,
resulted in the implementation of 92 cur-rent
the development of a monitoring system and
projects by the disbursement of more than EUR
reporting formats, the analysis of national status
100 million.
reports and the identification of measures for
limiting nutrient loads to the Black Sea. The two
REReP Mechanism Supporting Stabilisation
regional UNDP/GEF Projects (Danube and Black
and Accession Process
Sea) shall provide the necessary support for the
The revised REReP mechanism presented by the
work of the Danube ­ Black Sea Joint Technical
European Commission is introducing new objec-
Working Group.
tives with focus to
stabilisation and
"Today, in South Eastern Europe we
accession process
are also in the situation where a con-
11.4 GEF Project Implementation
(SAP) as well as
crete political process is taking
redefining the
shape. The Stabilisation and
Association Process ­ the European
The 1st phase of the UNDP/GEF Project started
structure of
Union's contribution to the Stability
on 1 December 2001. The project management is
REReP. The new
Pact- is well underway". (Opening of
located near the offices of the ICPDR Secretariat
priority area of the
the 4th REReP TF meeting by Margot
to facilitate close co-operation. The recently
programme "Re-
Wallstrom, European Commissioner
assigned Project Manager is Ivan Zavadsky.
ducing Environ-
for the Environment).
The total amount of the project budget is USD
mental Health
5 million. The 2nd phase beginning end 2003
Threats and Loss of Biodiversity" comprises pro-
will have a budget of USD 10 million. All objec-
jects previously listed under "Emergency assi-
tives, activities and modalities of implementation
stance for combating war damage" and "Local
are contained in the Project Document that was
and National Environmental Priorities".
sent for endorsement to all HoDs. A Project
Inception Workshop shall be held in early 2002
REReP Projects Database
to define the work programme and the imple-
A decision was made that the "Quick Start" pri-
mentation modalities. Experts from all ICPDR
ority projects and the associated/bilateral pro-
Expert Groups and from the NGO com-munity
jects should be reorganised in two lists: (i) pro-
will be invited in order to ensure broad partici-
jects underway or for which there is a firm donor
pation in the early stage of project implementa-
commitment, and (ii) projects awaiting donor
tion.
interest. The first list of projects contains projec-
ts from the "REReP Quick Start Projects" portfo-
lio. Two of them not under the ICPDR label are
11.5 Status of Project Implementation in
also considered to contribute to pollution reduc-
REReP (Stability Pact)
tion in the Danube River Basin: "Transboundary
Management of Two National Parks in the Iron
The donors' commitment and the joint efforts to
Gate Area" and "Pilot Projects on Rapid Risk
create a regional approach to improve envi-ron-
Assessment in Environment and Health in
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---

11. International and
Regional Co-Operation
Results of Regional Co-Operation
The ICPDR projects files in the EU database:
The major results of the early REReP project
implementation are in the priority areas
1. Equipment for MLIM &AEWS under the Danube
"Institutional Building" and "Support to environ-
Convention
2. Joint Bulgarian-Romanian monitoring of the water
mental civil society" which lay the ground for
and the sediments of the Danube River, paying speci-
follow up activities within the SAP. Networks of
al attention to the priority pollutants
high officials and experts were successfully esta-
3. Water Quality Monitoring (the radioactivity inclu-
blished in the area of environmental enforce-
ded) of the Danube River and the pollutants trans-
ment and compliance, biodiversity conservation,
port models for the transboundary zones in the sou-
environmental financing, implementation of
theastern European Countries
4. Improvement of the ICPDR Accident and
environmental multilateral agreements and
Emergency Warning System and development of pre-
national environmental information systems.
ventive measures for mining and industrial sites
The projects aimed at supporting civil society
5. Establishment and implementation program for
building have promoted networking and co-ope-
the protection of the Sava sub-basin of the Danube
ration among NGOs in the region by providing
River
financial grants for projects and for the esta-
6. Development of Water Resources Management in
the Middle and Lower Danube River Basin via the
blishment of electronic networks on regional
implementation of the EU WFD
level.
7. Remediation of high acidity and pollution by lead
and arsenic from the mine activities on the agri-
During the implementation of "Quick Start" pri-
cultural land and of the Tchiprovtzi village,
ority projects, the beneficiary countries expres-
Tchiprovtzi municipality north-western Bulgaria"
sed their willingness to continue the regional co-
8. Remediation of high acidity and agricultural lands
polluted by lead and arsenic on the land of the Bely
operation and networking in the follow-up
Mel village, Tchiprovtzy municipality, north-western
REReP project activities, which will be closely
Bulgaria".
linked to the implementation of the obligations
under the SAP.
Secondary Rivers of the Lower Danube Basin".
The second list contains project proposals from
Example of co-operation achieved in
the ICPDR JAP clustered as "Support to Environ-
south-eastern Europe:
Ministers of Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia, Slovenia
mental Regional Co-Operation Mechanisms and
and Yugoslavia signed a Letter of Intent on the Sava
Cross-Border Projects" and "Reducing Environ-
River. The Letter of Intent, endorsed in Sarajevo, on
mental Health Threats and Loss of Biodiversity".
29th November 2001 on the margins of the Stability
Pact Working Table II (Economic Reconstruction)
The TF Secretariat has initiated preparation of a
meeting, establishes a Working Group, which will
web-based database of information on REReP
have the task to prepare an International Treaty on
the Sava River. The Treaty will address issues such
projects, structured in unified format and contai-
as institutional framework, navigation, fisheries,
ning general project information, objectives and
environment, hydropower, irrigation and tourism. It
activities performed to date.
will also deal with matters related to the the Drina
and the Una, tributaries of the Sava.
- 28 -

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Annex 1: Composition of
the ICPDR in 2001
PRESIDENT: Stanko NICK
Croatia: Zeljko OSTOJIC
´, Senior Adviser on
Croatian Ambassador to Hungary
Water Protection, State Water Directorate,
Ulica grada Vukovara 220, HR-10 000
HEADS OF THE DELEGATIONS:
Zagreb, Croatia
Germany: Fritz HOLZWARTH, Deputy
Director General, Bundesministerium für
Romania: Florin STADIU, Secretary of State,
Umwelt, Naturschutz und Reaktorsicherheit,
Ministry of the Water and Environmental
P.O.Box 120629, Bernkasteler Str. 8,
Protection, 12 B-dul Libertatii, Sect. 5, RO-
D-53048 Bonn, Germany
Bucharest, Romania
Austria: Wolfgang STALZER, General Director,
Bulgaria: Manoela GEORGIEVA, Deputy
Bundesministerium für Land- und Forstwirt-
Minister, Ministry of Environment and Water,
schaft, Umwelt & Wasserwirtschaft, Sektion
Bd. Maria Luisa 22, BG-1000 Sofia, Bulgaria
VII, Stubenring 12, A­1010 Vienna, Austria
Moldova: Gheorge DUCA, Minister, Ministry
Czech Republic: Jaroslav KINKOR, Director of
of Ecology, Construction and Territorial
the Water Protection Department, Ministry of
Development, 9 Cosmonautilor St., MD-2005
the Environment, Vrsovicka 65, CZ-10010
Chisinau, Moldova
Praha 10, Chech Republic
Bosnia-Herzegovina: Mehmed CERO,
Slovakia: Ivan ZA
´VADSKY´, General Director,
Secretary General, Federal Ministry of Physical
Ministry of the Environment, Namestie L'Stura
`´
Planning and Environment, M.Tita 9a, BiH-
1, SK-81235 Bratislava, Slovakia (until
71000 Sarajevo, Bosnia-Herzogevina
31.11.2001)
Borislav JAKSIC
`´ , Ministry for Urbanism,
´
Milan MATUSKA
`´
, General Director, Ministry
Construction, Communal Issues and Ecology,
of the Environment, Namestie L'Stura 1, SK-
`´
Trg Srpskih Junaka 4, 78000 Banja Luka,
81235 Bratislava, Slovakia (from 31.11.2001)
Republika Srpska
Hungary: Gyula HOLLÓ, Department of
Ukraine: Mykola STETSENKO, Deputy
European River Basin Management, Ministry
Minister of Water Resource Dep., Ministry of
of Transport and Water Management, Dob utca
Environment and Natural Resources,
75/81, H-1077 Budapest, Hungary
Khreshchatyk 5, UA-252601 Kiev, Ukraine
Slovenia: Mitja BRICELJ, Director of Nature
European Community: Jean-Francois VER-
Protection Authority, Ministry of the Environ-
STRYNGE, Deputy Director General,
ment and Physical Planning, Dunajska cesta
DG/Environment, European Commission, 200,
48, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
Rue de la Loi, BU-9 01/169, B-1049 Brussels,
Belgium
- 29 -

---

Annex 1: Composition of
the ICPDR in 2001
PERMANENT SECRETARIAT
Monitoring ESG
Milan MATUSKA
`´ , Director of the Water
Joachim BENDOW, Executive Secretary
Protection Department, Ministry of the
Environment Nam. L Stura 1, SK-812 35
Bratislava, Slovak Republic
Károly FUTAKI, Information Management and
Administration Officer
Laboratory Management ESG
Péter LITERÁTHY, Director, Water Quality
Igor LISKA,
`´
Technical Expert for Water
Institute, Water Resources Research Centre,
Management and Water Quality
VITUKI RT, Kvassay Jenö ut 1, H - 1095
Budapest, Hungary
Mihaela POPOVICI, Technical Expert for Water
Accident and Emergency Prevention
Management and Emissions Pollution Control
and Warning System EG
Dobri DIMITROV (until 20 Apr 2001), Senior
Hellmut FLECKSEDER, Technical Expert for
Scientist, National Institute of Meteorology &
River Basin Management (until 31.01.2001)
Hydrology, Forecasting Dept., 66 Tzarigradsko
Shose boul., BG - 1784 Sofia, Bulgaria
Ursula SCHMEDTJE, Technical Expert for
Aurel VARDUCA (from 20 Apr 2001), Head of
River Basin Management (from 01.08.2001)
the Department, ICIM Research & Engineering
Institute for Environment, Spl. Independentei nr
Julia KÖLBLINGER, Support Staff ­ Finance &
294, Sector 6, RO - 77703, Bucharest, Romania
Relation with Host Country Services
Strategic EG
Knut BEYER, Federal Ministry for the
Sylvia KERSCH, Support Staff ­ Secretary
Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear
Safety, BMUNR, WA I 6B, Bernkasteler Straße 8,
Marcela FABIANOVÁ, GEF Technical Support
D­53048 Bonn, Germany
River Basin Management EG
CHAIRMEN OF THE EXPERT GROUPS
Helmut BLOECH, European Commission,
AND SUBGROUPS
DG/Environment, Rue de la Loi 200, B-1049
Brussels, Belgium
Emission EG
Bernd MEHLHORN, Head of Unit Emissions to
Ecology EG
Water, Umweltbundesamt, Bismarckplatz 1,
Ödön RÁDAI (until 25 Oct 2001), János
D-14191 Berlin, Germany
BRUHÁCS (from 26 Oct 2001), Temp. Secre-
tariat for the Ecological Convention on the Da-
Monitoring, Laboratory and
nube Basin, 21 Költö utca, H-1121 Budapest,
Information Management EG
Hungary, Janus Pananius University, 48-as tér 1.
Liviu POPESCU, Senior Expert, ICIM Research &
H-7622 Pécs, Hungary
Engineering Institute for Environment, Spl.
Independentei 294, Sector 6, RO-77703
Bucharest, Romania
- 30 -

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Annex 2: Observer Status
as of 31.12. 2001
Danube Commission (for inland navigation);
Ady Endre ut 9-11, 2000 Szentendre -
´
(CD) Mr. Danail Nedialkov, Director General
Hungary
Benczúr utca 25, H-1068 Budapest - Hungary
International Commission for the Protection
World Wide Fund for Nature
of the Black Sea (ICPBS)
(WWF International)
Mr. Plamen DZHADZHEV, Dolmabahce Sarayi
Mr. Philip Weller, Director, Danube Carpathian
II., Harekat Kosku, 80680 Besiktas, Istanbul -
Programme, Ottakringer Str. 114-116
Turkey
A-1160 Vienna - Austria
GWP
International Association for Danube Re-
Mr. Jozsef GAYER, Global Water Partnership
´
search (IAD; in the framework of SIL)
VITUKI II, P.O.Box 27, 1453 Budapest -
Dr. Meinhard BREILING, General Secretary,
Hungary
Schiffmühlenstr. 120, A-1220 Vienna -
Austria
IHP UNESCO
Dr. Pavol MIKLANEK, Slovak Committee for
RAMSAR Convention on Wetlands
Hydrology, Institute of Hydrology SAS, P.O.Box
Mr. Tobias SALATHE, Regional Coordinator
94, 838 11 Bratislava 38 - Slovak Republic
for Europe, rue Mauverney 28
CH-1196 Gland ­ Switzerland
Mr. Philippe PYPAERT, UNESCO Venice
Office, Dorsoduro, 1262/A, 30123 Venice -
Danube Environmental Forum
Italy
(DEF) - DAPHNE
DAPHNE, Hanulova 5/D, 844 40 Bratislava -
International Working Association of Water
Slovak Republic
Works in the Danube Basin (IAWD)
Mr. Markus WERDERITSCH, c/o Wiener
The Regional Environmental Center for
Wasserwerke, Grabnergasse 4-6
Central and Eastern Europe (REC)
A-1061 Vienna - Austria
Mr. Jernej STRITIH, Executive Director
- 31 -

---

Annex 3
Financial Situation
Regular Budget 2001
CONTRIBUTIONS
Contracting Parties
Contribution Keys Contributions in EUR
(%) Planned
Actual
Germany
14.81
116,352.91
116,352.91
Austria
14.81
116,352.91
116,352.91
Czech Republic
10.94
85,942.53
85,942.53
Slovakia
8.36
65,668.84
65,668.84
Hungary
10.94
85,942.53
85,942.53
Slovenia
10.94
85,942.53
85,942.53
Croatia
8.36
65,668.84
65,668.84
Bulgaria1
(5.00)
(39,288.02)
(39,288.02)
Romania
8.36
65,668.84
65,668.84
Moldova1
(5.00)
(39,288.02)
(0.00)
EC
2.50
19,643.98
19,643.98
Total Contribution
100.00
785,759.95
707,096.23
EXPENDITURES2
Approved
Expenditures
Engagements
Status as of
Budget
31-Dec-2001
A. Administrative costs
(EUR)
(EUR)
(EUR)
(EUR)
1. Staff
388,090
381,949
4,766
1,375
2. Services
126,770
97,307
21,344
8,120
3. Equipment
28,342
27,507
0
835
4. Other
72,673
67,456
12,028
-6,812
Sub-Total A
615,875
574,220
38,138
3,518
B. Operational costs
98,452
91,028
6,817
607
Total (A + B)
714,327
665,247
44,955
4,125
Working Capital Fund
71,433
0
0
71,433
Overall total
785,760
665,247
44,955
75,558
1 Contribution not taken into account for Regular
2 Minor differences are due to roundings
- 32 -

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