Environmental Policy Department Water Management

This topic area supports the application and dissemination of common principles of an integrated community policy on water and strengthens the efforts to improve the protection of waters, in terms of quantity and quality. It promotes sustainable water use and actions aimed to control and prevent transboundary water problems, as well as to protect aquatic ecosystems. In particular, this area provides assistance to the practical implementation of the EU Water Framework Directive (EU WFD) and the other water related directives in new EU member states, SEE and EECCA countries. The REC will continue contributing to the implementation of the Convention on the Protection and Use of Transboundary Water courses and International Lakes (Water Convention) and Convention on Cooperation for the Protection and Sustainable use of the Danube River (Danube River Protection Convention - DRPC). A number of special components on integrated river basin management plan, such as sustainable water policy; principle that precautionary and preventive actions should be taken and environmental damage should, as a priority, be rectified at source and that the polluter should pay could be introduced in capacity-building and awareness-raising activities for representatives of water authorities at regional and local level. It is equally important to strengthen multinational cooperation to accelerate sustainable water management in new EU member states, SEE and EECCA countries, and related domestic policies. Furthermore, REC fosters a continuous and constructive cross-border dialogue between water and/or environment communities, and supports the role of non-governmental organizations. In addition, integration of protection and sustainable water management into other relevant sectors such as energy, transport, agriculture, fisheries, regional policy and tourism is promoted. The work under this TA pays a special attention to the initiatives and support provided by the European Commission. The activities take into consideration and are implemented in cooperation with relevant national and international partners such as UNECE, UNITAR, UNEP, UNDP, WB, DRP, ICPDR, Danube Commission, Sava Commission, and OSCE. Contact Ms. Jovanka Ignjatovic Project Manager The Regional Environmental Center for Central and Eastern Europe Ady Endre ut 9-11 2000 Szentendre Hungary Tel: (36-26) 504-000 Fax: (36-26) 311-294 E-mail: jignjatovic@rec.org

Environmental Policy Department