Danube Basin
Issues
Sectors
ICPDR
News and Events
BULGARIA CLOSES TWO REACTORS ON THE DANUBE RIVER
Bulgaria has shut down two reactors at Kozloduj Power Plant as part of
the country’s accession to the EU. Shutting down the two 440-Megawatt
reactors was requested by the EU for security reasons. Two other 1000-Megawatt
reactors, also Soviet-designed pressurised water reactors, are still in
operation. Bulgaria receives €220 million in EU support for shutting down
the reactors. The full cost of the disposal is a minimum of €500 million.
For more information, please visit:
www.kznpp.org/main_en.php
GROUNDWATER DIRECTIVE COMES INTO FORCE
The new directive sets quality standards for groundwater and introduces
measures to prevent or limit pollutant inputs. The directive relates to assessments
on chemical status of groundwater and the identification and reversal
of significant and sustained upward trends in pollutant concentrations and
thus represents a sound response to the requirements of the Water Framework
Directive. Member States will have to establish the standards at the
most appropriate level and consider local and regional conditions.
For more information, please visit:
www.ec.europa.eu/environment/
ROMANIA DROPS DANUBE BRIDGE TAXES
Romania has dropped the transit taxes imposed on the Danube ‘Friendship’
Bridge linking the country with Bulgaria at Russe. Removing the taxes,
which caused outrage among some Bulgarian residents, will bring both
countries closer together in terms of business, cultural exchange and a sense
of shared community. Both Romania and Bulgaria joined the European Union
on January 1, 2007.
GERHARD SKOFF RECEIVES SKÅL TOURISM QUALITY
AWARD 2007
Skål International Austria, the association of travel and tourism managers,
presented its Tourism Quality Award to Gerhard Skoff, General Representative
of Casinos Austria and president of the Danube Tourist Commission.
The award ceremony took place aboard the MS Regina Danubia in Linz,
on Friday, 23 March. Skoff received the award for his work to improve
the quality of tourism in all Danube countries. The Skål Tourism Quality
Award is given to individuals and organisations that have contributed to
significant innovations and changes in the tourism branch.
For more information, please visit:
www.danube-river.org
16-18/4/2007, BELGRADE, SERBIA
THIRD DANUBE COOPERATION PROCESS MINISTERIAL
MEETING
On the basis of the Stability Pact for South Eastern Europe, the Danube Cooperation Process was formally launched in 2002 as a concerted action between Austria, Romania and the European Commission. The objective of the initiative, which holds its third meeting in Belgrade, is to “broaden and deepen present Danube cooperation and give to it clear political and economic dimensions, without creating new institutions, but taking stock of and using the existing structures and, where necessary, harmonizing their objectives and efforts, providing a focus, where appropriate, for their efforts within the Danube region”.
For more information, please visit:
www.danubecooperation.org
7-9/6/2007, BELGRADE, SERBIA
IWA CONFERENCE: GROUNDWATER MANAGEMENT IN THE
DANUBE
RIVER BASIN AND OTHER LARGE RIVER BASINS
Groundwater is a vital – but too often hidden – resource for about 75% of all Europeans. One of the goals of this conference is to contribute to a better understanding of groundwater processes and groundwater management, especially referring to the requirement of the EU Water Framework Directive. It will also offer a platform to exchange technical and scientific information regarding groundwater abstraction and protection.
For more information visit:
www.jcerni.org/activities/conferences/iwa2007/home.html
NEW WEB PORTAL OFFERS
‘GATEWAY’ TO EUROPEAN
WATER
DATA
The Water Information System for Europe, or WISE, compiles data and information collected by EU institutions or bodies which has previously not been easily available. Four EU partners, the European Commission (DG ENV, Eurostat and JRC) and the EEA are developing WISE, with the core objective to develop a comprehensive European data and information management system for water, including river basins.
For more information visit:
www.water.europa.eu
WOLFGANG STALZER, THE FIRST
ICPDR PRESIDENT, RETIRES
As first president of the ICPDR (1998–1999) and Head of the Austrian Delegation, Wolfgang Stalzer has been a driving force behind the work of the ICPDR. He played a leading role in building the cooperation that led to the signing of the Danube River Protection Convention and in setting up the ICPDR. The position as Head of Delegation has been taken over by Richard Stadler, Senior Official in the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, Environment and Water Management. The ICPDR would like to express thanks to Wolfgang for all his efforts and wish him all the best for the future.
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Only those documents clearly marked ICPDR documents reflect the position of the ICPDR.
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