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Public participation in the
Danube Basin: approaches,
activities, challenges
Jasmine Bachmann
ICPDR 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 Indicators
GDP 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
Moldova
Romania
Serbia i Montenegro
Slovakia
Slovenia
Ukraine

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Observers
GWP CEE
REC
UNESCO - IHP
Danube Commission
Black Sea Com.
Danube Tourist
Com.

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River Basin
Mgm EG
Flood
Prevention
Control EG
Emission
EG
Monitoring
Laboratory
Info Mgmt
EG
Accident
Prevention
Control 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
M
K
AL
ICPDR
DE
AT
CZ
UA
M
D
HU
SI
CS
BG
RO
SK
HRBA
Cooperation
(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 events
throughout 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 ICPDR
b) 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