Industrial infrastructure in the Danube River Basin is in many cases old,
outdated and inefficient and will have to be replaced to make the industry
competitive. Therefore, the Study of Industrial Policy Options carried out
in the framework of the UNDPR/GEF Danube Regional Project is a timely response
to the need for technology modernization. It will help the countries recognize
the need for good policies and legislation that will encourage manufacturers
to install modern production technologies including the best available techniques
for nutrient and toxics pollution control. The study of industrial policy
options builds upon the experience of the ICPDR EMIS Expert Group and takes
advantage of emerging EU legislative changes. This will result both in better
data gathering and effective pollution reduction and control initiatives.
The study also addresses transferring successful technological initiatives
among individual installations through the use of Best Available Techniques
(BAT). The study started in the fall of 2002 and will be completed in July
2003. The project will assist the EMIS EG in its work. The three main tasks
of the project include updating the EMIS methodology, analysing national
industrial environmental legislation and promoting BAT in the region.
Information from the updated EMIS methodology will be used to recommend
industrial control policy at the country level, which can be supported by
BAT in individual installations. An analysis of the data needed for industrial
policy purposes is being completed. Data is provided from secondary sources
and has focused on the measurement of pollutants. The methodology update
will be directed, in part, toward ensuring that there is sufficient source
data i.e. technology type to provide a basis for policy recommendations.
Recently introduced EU Directives, most notably the Water Framework Directive,
provide analysis and enforcement potential which complement the work of
the EMIS EG. All ICPDR member countries are committed to working within
the WFD. In fact, the inventory itself fits directly into the conceptual
framework, shown in the exhibit, used by the WFD, the European Environment
Agency and other international bodies including the OECD.
This framework shows the causality between human activities and environmental
policies. EMIS relates to driving forces and pressures. Driving forces identify
human activities, e.g. industrial production. Pressure describes problems
caused by the activities on the function of the river basin. State is the
actual state of the river and can include the concentration of pollutants.
Impact describes the loss of function e.g. toxicity causing a decreased
fish population. Finally, responses describe the political action taken
to deal with the problems. The study results will be useful in allowing
EMIS EG to reduce pollution through effective industrial policy development
recommendations by focusing on important future economic sectors and linking
industrial organizations to positive partners in existing BAT networks.