Cross sectoral cooperation on water and public participation, examples from Romania .

ROMANIA

MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

Anemari CIUREAHead of Office for International Cooperartion for Waters

Romania - key figuresRomania - key figures

2007 - accession in EU

22 million inhabitants

- 15.5 mil. supplied by piped water

- 11.5 mil. supplied by sewerage

238.391 km2 sensitive area in the Danube catchments area

6% economical growth

LONG TERM OBJECTIVES

Sewerage and WW treatment

Population access to the water Population access to the water supplysupply

Key Documents (national and international legal framefor public information and consultation)

National:- Law 112/2006 and Law 310/2004 amending Water Law 107/1996 – transposing the Water Framework

Directive- Ministerial Order 1012/19 October 2005 concerning the Procedure for public information access related

to the water management field - Ministerial Order 1044/27 October 2005 concerning the Proceduree for water users, riparians and public

consultation in the decision making process related to the water management field International:- The Convention on Co-operation for the Protection and Sustainable Use of the River Danube

(Danube River Protection Convention), Sofia, 1994 - ICPDR Operational Plan (2005-2010)- Law 92/2003 related to the adhering of Romania to the Convention on the protection and use of

trans-boundary watercourses and international lakes (Helsinki Convention), Helsinki, 17 mars 1992- Government Order 95/2000 to ratify the Water and Health Protocol (adopted in 1999) to the

Helsinki Convention (art. 9 and 10 related to public awareness, education, training, information) .

- European accession requirements (compulsory): Article 14 of the Water Framework Directive 2000/60/EC : …to encourage the active involvement of all interested parties …seek comments from

public on river basin management plans

Water Management DepartmentResponsibilities

Development of the water management policy and strategy Coordination of the EU integration in the water field

Cooperation with other authorities Development of the water specific regulation Ensuring international cooperation in the water field

Organizational structureOrganizational structure

Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development Water Management Department

National Administration “Romanian Waters”National Administration of MeteorologyNational Institute for Marine Research and Development

Cross sectoral cooperation with other authorities(1)

At the central level –within the framework of the existing inter-ministerial Committee:

-nitrates (Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development)-dangerous substances (Ministry of Economy and Finances and

Companies)- drinking water supply and sanitation ( Ministry of Public

Health)- Water Framework Directive (all Ministries)- public participation and education (Ministry for Education,

Research and Youth)

At the basin level – Basin Committee

Inter-ministerial Water Council –under development

Cross sectoral cooperation with other authorities(2) Basin committees – “Water Parliaments”

Organized at the level of 11 water directorates of the National Administration“Romanian Waters”

Each committee has 15 members : water management responsible, environment management responsible representatives of prefectures, representatives of county councils, users (industry, agriculture, localities), Representatives of the County Inspectorate for Public Health NGOs.

Are involved in the decision making process to provide advise to national government to promote PP concerning the RBM process to inform other key stakeholders about PP possibilities and structures

Strategies/Plans on informing and educating peoples two communication strategy (for kids and grown-up people ) which have been

disseminated at national level, as a framework for local activities (implementation depending on the local financial situation)

2007 Communication Plan of the MoESD

MoESD website – an important and cost efficient tool/“Kids Corner” – ecologic education for children (based on the idea that children are excellent multipliers of the message)

national TV spots (2 weeks before the events - on 3 channels of the National Romanian Television) for celebrating: Danube Day / every year starting of 2004 International Black Sea Day / starting of 2006 – public awareness: the necessity of

the protection and the conservation of the marine environment

Two national campaigns in 2007 on rising public awarness and informing peolple(1) and (2) authorities /industries about the provisitions of WFD

Activities performed in pilot projects:

1. Enhancing Access to Information and Public Participation in Environmental Decision-making UNDP-GEF Danube Regional Project- Component 3.4

Under this project, in Romania, it were developed two national activities:

- Public Access to water management Information/Public Participation in decision making process in water management field – Manual for authorities which has been written for the authorities, especially for those not involved in the water management issues; it was printed under the coordination of the Regional Environment Center and with the Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development support.

- Elaboration of a brochure for the public and NGO’s as target groups, on the same topic printed

Activities performed in pilot projects

2. Support for the future preparation of a harmonised Körös/Crisuri river

basin management plan in a participative process (French technical and

financial support under the coordination of ICPDR).

Results: Strengthening the Hungarian and Romanian cooperation between transboundary

organisations in charge of water management including public participation

Enhance stakeholder consultation and prepare a test joint public consultation based on the timetable and WFD work programme and the main issue in the Körös/Crisuri basin (as a pilot test for the Tisa basin/region consultation) – on going

Activities performed in pilot projects

3.“Clean Crisuri” pilot basin project (based on two education strategies developed by MoESD for children and people over 18 years old) as recommended by the Water and Health Protocol

Results: information and raising people’s involvement in elaborating the water protection and management strategies

Questionnaires Printed information/education booklets/leaflets Web site (www.crisuricurate.go.ro) Public meetings Education/Awareness campaigns

Activities under ICPDR Danube Day, June 29

Promoting „Danube Solidarity“Connecting peopleJoining forcesFacilitating discussions & work sessions

In 29 June 2008 will be launched the Romanian language

Danube Box - an education tool - assisting teachers in bringing the Danube closer to the minds and the heard of the future generation

Activities on the 2nd consultation phase for the Water Activities on the 2nd consultation phase for the Water Framework Directive Framework Directive

which started in December 2007 (1):which started in December 2007 (1):

Public Debate Sessions at national and regional level

Tools: presentations made by the central authorities on water management brochures and leaflets for information on main water management issues on regional

and local level website of the Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development

(www.mmediu.ro) and the National Administration “Apele Romane” (www.rowater.ro) to make available the document on „Significant water management

issues in Romania”

It is planned to translate in Romanian language the ,,Significant Water Management Issue,, - short document, elaborated at the Danube River Basin level and will be made available on the website of the Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development and on the websites of the National Administration ,,Apele Romane” and its Water Directorates.

Participants: main stakeholders

Results: collecting observations and proposals regarding the significant water management issues

Activities on the 2nd consultation phase Activities on the 2nd consultation phase which started in December 2007 (2):which started in December 2007 (2):

Public debates at each of the 11 Water Directorates of the National Administration „Apele Romane” focused on:

public consultation in elaboration of the River Basin Planning of the River Basin;

new EU policy about floods: Flood Risk Management and Assessment Directive;

prevention, protection and diminution of the flood effects at the River Basin level;

synthesis of the water management issues for all 11 River Basins managed by the 11 Water Directorates of the National Administration „Apele Romane”;

stage of development of the River Basin Management Plan; These public debates sessions have been finished with press communication

and articles in local newspapers. Large meetings of the Basin Committees focused on the presentation and the

debate of: new monitoring system according to the Article 8 of the Water Framework

Directive the stage of the elaboration of the program of measures ( basic measures ) in

accordance with EU Directives

Activities on the 2nd consultation phase Activities on the 2nd consultation phase which started in December 2007 (3):which started in December 2007 (3):

Conference „Environmentally Friendly Business in the Danube”, organized under the 2007 ICPDR Presidency of Romania and held in

Bucharest, Romania, on 15-16 November 2007:

Results: brought participants together from throughout the basin Identified trends, strategies and profitable areas for business involvement in

the water sector, drawing on recent successful models of cooperation and initiatives in the Danube countries.

Allowed companies to enhance their understanding of Danube problems and the best strategies to pursue in meeting the environmental obligations.

Provided an opportunity for companies, government officials, investment advisors and consultancies to expand their business networks and to increase the cooperation and efforts for protection of the marine waters and marine environment of the Black Sea.

Different results achieved through pilot projects:

Elaboration of the questionnaires for the consultation of the stakeholders in the different stages of elaboration of River Basin Management Plan.

workshops to present the : requirements of WFD information on methods, tools for development of public participation in

process of consultation and decisions making strengthening ability and capacity of the NAAR’s specialists to perform public

consultation process related to the Program of measures dissemination of the results achieved through the pilot projects to the relevant

stakeholders. Informing and educating peoples – recommendation of the Water and Health Protocol

NEXT STEPS IN 2008 public consultation process will continue and will be intensified at basin and national

level , regarding development of the program of measures, involving stakeholders groups in accordance with type of measures which must be established in the near consultations and negotiations meetings (ex: measures to reduce pollution from urban sources, measures to reduce pollution from industrial and agricultural activities, navigation, energy, etc.).

Organizing debates of the Basin Committees on: development of the program of measures for elaboration of the River Basin

Management Plan, the implementation of the new monitoring system in accordance with Article 8

of the Water Framework Directive, Organizing meetings for public information when celebrating events like: the World

Water Day, the Danube Day, etc. In the frame of these meetings, will be disseminated and collected the questionnaires

for public consultation and will be prepared the interviews with local authorities and the main stakeholders which will implement the program of measures. These meetings will be followed by press conferences, articles, brochures and leaflets.

CONCLUSIONS:• Education, information and active involvement of people in water management issues

are still under development• Awareness raising on water and health is a must:

• Several national events and activities • Danube Day, Danube Box, several publications

• Questions to be solved: • Funding for the process (because public information/consultation is a continues

process, a financing system is required) • No specialised services for implementing public participation issues in the structure

of the central and local authorities (time consuming for the experts working in water management)

• To make effective the consultation process (to receive back the fulfilled questionnaires)

Thank you for your kind attention!

anemari.ciurea@mmediu.ro