Danube Basin
Issues
Sectors
ICPDR
Dear Readers
The implementation of the EU Water Framework Directive – especially the preparation of the Joint
Programme of Measures – is a central point of activities
of the ICPDR in 2008. However, as this issue of
Danube Watch highlights, the Danube countries have,
in recent years, already been active in implementing
measures to address the issues of concern in the Danube
River Basin: The Joint Action Programme report
for the years 2001–2005 documents the considerable
progress that has been made. I invite you to have a
good read of this article as it clearly shows how much
the countries have achieved in the past and it also gives
direction for the future steps.
Nonetheless, considerable effort is still needed and
new challenges have emerged that the countries will
have to address in the Joint Programme of Measures,
such as the increasing use of pesticides and fertilisers
in some agricultural areas. Work is in full swing to
prepare the Joint Programme of Measures and collect
all the necessary information to make the assessments
of those water bodies where actions are particularly
needed. As in the past, the success of these efforts
depends on the commitment and active involvement
of all Danube countries based on the principle of ‘Danube
Solidarity’.
It is easy to take for granted that countries cooperate in water management and we are fortunate that this is the case in the Danube region. When one looks around the world, however, there are many river basins where this is not so easy. At the ICPDR Delegation Meeting in December 2007 the Vice President of the International River Foundation, Else Shepherd, came all the way from Brisbane, Australia, to compliment the ICPDR on winning the prestigious 2007 International Thiess Riverprize. We should all be proud of the international recognition, but with it comes a responsibility to share our experience and lessons learnt. We have been doing so for a number of years and we are committed to use the funding from the Riverprize to do more of it.
I would like to use this opportunity to congratulate all those individuals who have contributed personally and professionally to the success of the ICPDR; Your continuous support and active involvement is crucial for the continued success of the ICPDR, in the words of Bertrand Russell, “the only thing that will redeem mankind is cooperation”.
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