Contents

 

 

NEWS AND EVENTS

   
Credit: Apele Romane/Savin NEW DIRECTIVE PROPOSED TO BATTLE FLOOD DAMAGES
Europe faced over 100 severe floods between 1998 and 2005, causing 700 deaths, the displacement of half a million people, and at least €25 billion in insured economic losses. In response, the EU Commission proposed a new directive on the assessment and management of floods on January 18. The aim is to reduce and manage the risks that floods pose to human health, the environment, infrastructure and property.
For more information, please visit:
http://europa.eu.int/comm/environment/water/flood_risk/index.htm
   
   
Credit: WWF/Jungius
STURGEON ACTION PLAN ADOPTED

In December 2005, the Standing Committee of the Bern Convention under the Council of Europe in Strasbourg officially adopted the Action Plan for the Conservation of Sturgeons in the Danube River Basin (see Danube Watch 4/2005). This Action Plan serves as a political instrument to facilitate steps to prevent the extinction of highly endangered species of sturgeons. The Action Plan was initiated by IAD and WWF and is now also discussed by the River Basin Management Expert Group of the ICPDR.
For more information, please visit:
www.iad.gs and www.wwf.org

   
   
Credit: ICPDR/Liška
JOINT DANUBE SURVEY 2 - PREPARATIONS STARTED

The first Joint Danube Survey (JDS 1) performed in 2001 produced results which are still frequently used. To obtain updated and comparable data a repetition is essential and the next Joint Danube Survey is planned for 2007. Moreover, newly introduced EU legislation poses challenges to further adapt the monitoring to European standards and add ecological parameters. With the support of Germany, the ICPDR Secretariat has developed a strategy to raise the funds needed to implement the survey.
For more information on JDS 1, please visit:
www.icpdr.org

   
   
Credit: via-donau EUROPEAN INLAND NAVIGATION CONFERENCE OPENS DIALOGUE
A high level meeting on inland navigation was held in Vienna on 15 February under the Austrian EU Presidency. Discussions focused on the NAIADES Action Programme, recently published by the EU to create favourable conditions for inland navigation in Europe. The International Commission for the Protection of the Rhine as well as the ICPDR were invited to the meeting and both organisations stated the need for full compliance with other EU legislation such as the WFD and for further dialogue.
For more information, please visit:
www.via-donau.org/eu2006
   
   

17-18/5/2006
VIENNA, AUSTRIA
EUROPEAN CONFERENCE ON FLOOD RISK MANAGEMENT
The conference aims to raise awareness of the impact of floods on people and the environment, and to present and discuss a wide range of different flood management strategies applied by countries all over Europe. The outcomes should provide input to the ongoing discussions about the proposed flood management directive.
For more information, please visit:
www.wassernet.at
   
   

22-23/6/2006
VIENNA, AUSTRIA
EUROPEAN GROUNDWATER CONFERENCE 2006
The conference, which is organised in the framework of the EU Presidency of Austria, will focus on different aspects of the overall EU groundwater legislative framework concerning groundwater chemical quality and on the implementation of the groundwater elements of the Water Framework Directive 2000/60/EC and of related EU directives. The key topic at the conference will be the new EU Daughter Directive on Groundwater protection against pollution.
For more information, please visit:
www.umweltbundesamt.at/en/umweltschutz/wasser/wasser_events/eu-grundwasser2006/
   
   
NEW ICPDR WEBSITE ONLINE!
A complex undertaking has found its end: the new ICPDR website is open for inspection and offers extensive information on the ICPDR, its goals and activities. Visit our website and find out more about the Danube River and its basin.

www.icpdr.org
   
   
Credit: ICPDR/Stögmüller GOODBYE, KÁROLY!
For the last six years Károly Futaki has been responsible for the ICPDR information and administration management section. Among many other tasks, Károly was responsible for the development and the administration of the DANUBIS system, the main tool for ensuring smooth communication of the extensive and complex ICPDR network. We wish him success in future challenges!