Enhancing access to information and public participation in addressing priority sources of pollution through improved access to information in the frame of the EU WFD and the Aarhus Convention

1. 3rd Biennial GEF IW 2
» Danube Regional Project
» PP Support
»Danube Environmental Forum (DEF);
»Communication and Public Awareness Raising;
»Access to Information and public participation;
» ICPDR Public Participation Strategy;
» ICPDR Operational Plan;
» Lessons learned;
UBLIC PARTICIPATION AND AWARENESS RAISING
ontent

2. 3rd Biennial GEF IW 3
» Strengthening Institution(s) – regional level (ICPDR),
national level, other stakeholders;
» Improving Management Tools – river basin management,
Danube GIS, economic instruments;
» Developing Policies – agriculture, industry, land-use and
wetlands, phosphate detergents;
» Promoting Public Participation – NGO strengthening, Small
Grants Programme, public participation and access to
information;
» Implementing Pilot Projects – river basin management,
agriculture, wetlands
UBLIC PARTICIPATION AND AWARENESS RAISING
anube Regional Project

3. 3rd Biennial GEF IW 4
UBLIC PARTICIPATION AND AWARENESS RAISING
upport for the Danube Environmental Forum (DEF)
» Network of 175 NGOs in 13 Danube countries
» DRP supports the DEF to become self sustained network
» Focus on capacity building combined with specific, well
targeted practical activities
» Workshops/trainings, prepare communication material

4. 3rd Biennial GEF IW 5
» DRP Communication strategy
» Project and ICPRD branding, web-page,
» DRP / ICPDR information material
» Danube Day
» Danube Watch
» Campaigns
» Capacity building/Communication training
» Media
PUBLIC PARTICIPATION AND AWARENESS RAISING
Communication and Public Awareness

5. 3rd Biennial GEF IW 6
Objective: Enhancing access to information and public
participation in addressing priority sources of pollution through
improved access to information in the frame of the EU WFD and
the Aarhus Convention
Strengthen implementation capacity of government officials and
NGOs through:
» Legal, policy & practical measures
» Technical assistance, joint capacity building
» Country specific solutions, regional experience sharing
» Field-test approaches at hot spot locations
» Dissemination of results
PUBLIC PARTICIPATION AND AWARENESS RAISING
Public Access to Information

6. 3rd Biennial GEF IW 7
» The Danube River Protection Convention is the legal
frame for co-operation to assure protection of water
and ecological resources and their sustainable use in
the Danube River Basin (1994)
» The ICPDR is responsible for the implementation of the
Convention
» The ICPDR has been nominated as the platform to
develop the Danube River Basin Management Plan
PUBLIC PARTICIPATION AND AWARENESS
International Commission for the Protection
of the Danube River (ICPDR)

7. 3rd Biennial GEF IW 8
» Provide guidance to national governments on all
levels of PP e.g. tools, mechanisms, structures
» Promote PP concerning the RBM process
» Inform other key stakeholders about PP possibilities
and structures
PUBLIC PARTICIPATION
ICPDR Public Participation Strategy

8. 3rd Biennial GEF IW 9
PUBLIC PARTICIPATION
ICPDR Operational Plan
» Develop activities on the roof – level (“living
document”)
» Assist the national governments to fulfill their PP
obligations
» Demonstrate that PP is taken seriously by the DRB
countries

9. 3rd Biennial GEF IW 10
Phase I - Information
» Stakeholder analysis at basin level
» Communication Network between countries
» Public Participation Network between countries
» Launching of International Danube Day - June 29
PUBLIC PARTICIPATION
ICPDR Operational Plan

10. 3rd Biennial GEF IW 11
Phase I - facilitate active participation
» WFD Leaflet (outcomes of the roof report)
» Stakeholder Forum 2005 – June 2005
» Selected stakeholders even more actively involved
in ICPDR Expert Groups
PUBLIC PARTICIPATION
ICPDR Operational Plan (cont)

11. 3rd Biennial GEF IW 12
» 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
PUBLIC PARTICIPATION
Lessons Learned

12. 3rd Biennial GEF IW 13
» Start early – and involve the main players
» Use synergies for cooperation
» Make the procedures clear – to avoid
misunderstanding and mistrust
» Make the best use of the people’s time
PUBLIC PARTICIPATION
Lessons Learned