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Public participation in the Danube Basin: approaches,

activities, challenges

Jasmine BachmannICPDR Secretariat

UN Conference on Info Management and Public Participation St. Petersburg, June 8-10, 2005

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Content

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•Danube River Basin

•ICPDR, WFD & Public Participation

•Key Documents

•Key Activities

•Lessons Learned

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•10% of Europe

•81 Mio Inhabitants

•18 Countries

Most international River Basin in

the World

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Economic IndicatorsGDP on PPP, 2002, €/capita/year

0

5,000

10,000

15,000

20,000

25,000

30,000

DE AT CZ SK HU SI HR CS BA BG RO MD UA

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The legal frame for co-operation to assure protection of water and ecological resources and their sustainable use in the Danube River Basin.

Danube River Protection Convention(based on the principles of the UNECE Water Convention)

signed: 29 June 1994, Sofia

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International commission responsible for the implementation of the DRPC.

ICPDR – International Commission for the Protection of the Danube River

since: 1 October 1999

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Contracting Parties

Austria

Bulgaria

Bosnia i Herzegovina

Croatia

Czech Republic

European Union

Germany

Hungary MoldovaRomaniaSerbia i MontenegroSlovakiaSloveniaUkraine

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Observers

GWP CEEREC

UNESCO - IHP

Danube Commission

Black Sea Com.

Danube Tourist Com.

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River Basin Mgm EG

FloodPreventionControl EG

Emission EG

MonitoringLaboratoryInfo MgmtEG

AccidentPreventionControl EG

Ecology EG

Strategic EG

Permanent Secretariat

International Commission for the Protection of the Danube River (ICPDR)

Active participation of observers

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ICPDR has been nominated the platform to develop the Danube River Basin

Management Plan.

EU Water Framework Directive

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WFD Implementation

IT

CH

PL

MK

AL

ICPDR

DE

AT

CZ

UA

MD

HU

SICS

BG

ROSK

HRBACooperation(example)

Bilateral agreements (examples)

Cooperation(example)

Sub-river basin cooperation(example: Sava River)

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Allowing the public to influence the outcome of plans and working processes.

It IS NOT about:

–everybody joining

–always participation

–losing control

–achieving consensus at all costs

–everybody deciding

It IS about:

–management of expectations

–two-way communication

–tailor-made (no blue print)

–no pre-determined outcome

What is Public Participation?

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ICPDR process

April 2002: „Issue Paper on PP for the Implementation of the WFD in the DRB“ by WWF and GWP

April 2003: PP Workshop in Bratislava with 50 participants from all over the Danube River Basin

Jun/Nov 2003:- Danube River Basin Strategy for PP in RBM Planning- Danube River Basin Strategy for PP in RBM Planning (short PP Strategy)(short PP Strategy)

- ICPDR Operational Plan 2004, 2005- ICPDR Operational Plan 2004, 2005

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Its is NOT about:

– to prescribe activities to the governments at the national levels

It IS about:

– to provide guidance to national governments on all levels of PP e.g. tools, mechanisms, structures

– to promote PP concerning the RBM process

– to inform other key stakeholders about PP possibilities and structures

What is the Danube PP Strategy?

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It is NOT about: – to define activities on all levels– to duplicate effective ICPDR processes

It IS about: – to develop activities on the roof – level (“living document”)– to assist the national governments to fulfill their PP obligations – to demonstrate that PP is taken seriously by the DRB countries

What is the ICPDR Operational Plan?

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ICPDR Operational Plan (1)

Phase I („information“ )

•Stakeholder analysis

•Communication Network between countries

•Public Participation Network between countries

•Launching of International Danube Day - June 29

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ICPDR Operational Plan (2)

Phase II (“facilitate active participation”)

•WFD Leaflet (outcomes of the roof report)in English/national languages

•Stakeholder Forum 2005 – June 2005 Hearing for stakeholders; presentation of Roof Report 2004; discuss pressures and impacts

•Selected stakeholders even more actively involved in ICPDR Expert Groups

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Danube Day, June 29

„Danube Solidarity“- connect people- joining forces

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More than 300 eventsthroughout the Danube with wide participation

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•1,5 day conference on June 28-29 in Budapest

•100-120 participants

•4 blocks: a) ICPDR general, incl. pp concept of the ICPDRb) Danube Analysis Report (art.5 report WFD) c) Flood Action Programme d) summary and next steps

•Facilitated discussions & work sessions

Danube River Basin Stakeholder Conference

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Lessons Learned

•PP is a process – take the time and plan the process carefully

•Be patient – new “concept of governance”

•Accept also failures

•PP has to happen on different levels – it is crucial on the local level, but can be supported internationally

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Lessons Learned

•No need to be scared – there are not many stakeholders on the door

•Start early –and involve the main players

•Use synergies and cooperate (DEF, GWP, WWF)

•Make the procedures clear –to avoid misunderstanding and mistrust

•Make the best use of the people’s time

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For more information, please visit:

www.icpdr.org