Tisza and Carpathian highlights at Europe’s Environment Conference

The Tisza is the longest tributary of the Danube (966 km) and drains an area of 157,186 km² in five countries (Slovakia, Ukraine, Hungary, Romania and Serbia). The states in the
Tisza Basin agreed to cooperate closely, aiming to achieve integrated management of the Tisza River Basin.

Tisza basin as a european model for ministerial action. The sixth ministerial conference of the ‘Environment for Europe’ (EfE) process included the launch of the ‘Tisza River Basin Analysis 2007: Summary Report – A call to action’. The report notes the outstanding diversity of landscapes and species in the Tisza Basin as well as wetland sites and protected areas. However, “this
region faces serious threats from pollution and river engineering as well as floods and droughts”, it states.

After an informal get-together at the EfE conference, a press conference was held at the conference’s Media Centre. The ICPDR’s Philip Weller presented the Summary Report and explained its purpose and connection to the larger ‘Tisza River Basin Analysis’ to be developed by the end of 2007. He noted that the Summary Report highlights the need for Tisza countries to act on specific issues such as pollution and floods, and that water quality and quantity management should be integrated. “Tisza cooperation is a European model for ministerial action”, he said.
This was followed by water management officials from Tisza country governments (Ukraine, Romania, Slovakia, Hungary and Serbia) and the European Commission (EC) publicly voicing their support for continued cooperation related to Tisza Basin water protection and management and implementation of the EU Water
Framework Directive – including support for the recommendations included in the Summary Report. pilot river basins should continue.

“I can assure you that we will provide conditions to finish the Tisza River Basin Management Plan in time and with high quality in Slovakia, and that this will be a pilot plan for other such plans in Europe”, said Mr. Jaroslav Izak, Slovakia’s Minister of the Environment. At the end of the press conference, the speakers made a toast to continued Tisza cooperation and drank from cups imprinted with pictures of Tisza flowers.

Tisza flowers, a type of mayfly, dance on the surface of the Tisza River each spring. The Tisza flower is just one of the treasures found in the Tisza River Basin.

The Tisza Group and Tisza Plan. In 2004, representatives of the five Tisza countries signed a Memorandum of Understanding and agreed to prepare a ‘Tisza River Basin Management Plan’ by the end of 2009. A ‘Tisza Group’ was also created to coordinate all related activities. The first main activity was the development of the ‘Tisza River Basin Analysis 2007’ – with support from the EU – to help decision-makers identify a ‘Programme of Measures’ to be included in the Management Plan.

“The Plan is geared to help the Tisza countries meet the EU Water Framework Directive’s requirements by 2015”, says Joachim D’Eugenio from the EC’s Environment Directorate and Chairman of the Tisza Group. “Europe-wide, the Tisza is probably the most advanced in terms of developing such a Plan at the sub-basin level. This is especially important given the fact that the EU does not require sub-basin level plans, although they are strongly encouraged. Two of the five countries are not even in the EU. Furthermore, the Tisza Plan will go beyond water quality issues to also cover water quantity issues in similar depth, anticipating the future EU Flood Risk Management Directive, EU Water Scarcity Directive and Droughts Action Plan. It is truly a European model and pilot programme for other European sub-basins.”

By the end of 2008, the draft Plan will be available for public consultation. A list of future infrastructure plans and projects will also be compiled and made publicly available.

Pan-European water problems worse in some cases. The sixth ministerial conference of the ‘Environment for Europe (EfE)’ process, held under the auspices of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE), took place in Belgrade, Serbia, from 10 to 12 October. Ministers and high-level officials from 51 UNECE member states and the EC, international organisations, NGOs and other stakeholders discussed progress achieved in the implementation of environmental policies since the Kiev Conference in 2003, capacity building, partnerships and the future of the EfE process.

At the opening session, the key conference report – ‘Europe’s environment – The fourth assessment’ – was presented. The latest in a 15-year series by the European Environment Agency (EEA), the report assesses environmental progress in 53 countries in an area with over 870 million people.

Wide-ranging effects on water across the region are among the report’s highlights. Over 100 million people lack access to safe drinking water and sanitation. In many countries, the quality of water supply and sanitation has deteriorated over the past 15 years. There is particular concern also about eutrophication, coastal environments and climate change impacts.

“Our report shows that there has been progress”, said EEA Executive Director Jacqueline McGlade. “We have reduced some air pollution and improved wastewater treatment. However, in an era of change, major concerns remain such as climate, biodiversity and environment-related health threats. To respond to these complex environmental issues, we need continued cooperation across the pan-European region as well as targeted financial and technical support.” She added that further assessment, communication and education to help overcome the “information gap” were required to “better equip those who need to act”.

Water management officials from Tisza country governments (Ukraine, Romania, Slovakia, Hungary and Serbia) and the European Commission publicly voiced their support for continued cooperation related to Tisza Basin water protection and the speakers made a
toast to continued Tisza cooperation with mugs imprinted with Tisza flowers.

Carpathians environmental outlook 2007. Among the many side events held during the EfE conference, the ‘Carpathians Environmental Outlook 2007’ was launched and presented by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). As the Carpathian region covers an extensive area of the Danube River Basin shared by six Danube countries, its results and recommendations are highly valuable for Danube decisionmakers, especially to complement the ‘Tisza River Basin Analysis 2007’ now in progress.

The report is divided into five main chapters including a (1) Background and Introduction, (2) Socio-Economic Driving Forces, (3) State of the Carpathians’ Environment and Policy Measures (with a sub-chapter called ‘Water Resources’), (4) Outlook 2005 to 2020: Three Scenarios for the Carpathian Region’s Future Development and (5) Conclusions and Options for Action. It was prepared in its entirety by scientific and governmental experts from the Carpathian countries.

“The report is a source of knowledge that can evolve to support the new and developing needs of the Carpathian countries and relevant organizations in their quest to deliver common and concrete solutions to the challenges and opportunities now and in the years to come”, says UNEP Executive Director Achim Steiner.

Paul Csagoly is a communications specialist and writer about European environmental issues.

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