92
8 Transboundary Water Governance in the European Union
unity of the qualitative and quantitative conditions of the river (Art. 1.3.). Sustainable water management thus implies the integrated management of all surface and
groundwater bodies with a view to ensuring sufficient water quantity and quality for
all ecological functions and major human uses (Art. 11.). The Agreement also calls
for the adoption of an integrated Sava River Basin Management Plan, to be developed
in coordination with the ICPDR and in line with the EU Water Framework Directive
(Art. 3.2., 12.).
The Agreement established a dedicated river basin organisation: the International
Sava River Basin Commission, operational since 2005. The Commission follows the
integrated approach of the Agreement and, as such, it has the broadest formal mandate among all European basin organisations. Its responsibilities go beyond the traditional RBO activities (navigation, pollution prevention and control, monitoring) to
encompass such activities as the coordination of the preparation and implementation
of joint plans for the basin, the preparation of development programmes, even, the
harmonisation of national legislation with relevant EU law (Komatina and Grošelj
2014).
8.2.3.6 The Meuse Agreement
The River Meuse (Maas) rises in France and flows through Belgium and the Netherlands for 900 km. Its catchment area covers approximately 36,000 km
2 that also
includes Germany and Luxembourg. While it is commonly treated as a distinct river
basin, in hydro-geographical terms it forms part of the larger Rhine river system for
its connection to the same estuary system (see Sect. 2.2).
The main instrument governing basin-wide cooperation of riparian states is the
2002 International Agreement on the River Meuse,
31 replacing a 1994 agreement on
the same subject. Contracting parties to the Agreement are France, Germany, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Belgium and the three affected Belgian regions (Wallonia,
Flanders, Brussels Capital).
The Agreement is conceived as a regional implementation tool for the UNECE
Water Convention, the Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment of
the North-East Atlantic and, first and foremost, the EU Water Framework Directive (WFD). While the Agreement aims to achieve sustainable water management
based on an integrated approach, its focus and provisions are largely concerned with
environmental quality and, to a lesser extent, with flood protection and drought management (Art. 2.). It establishes a governance mechanism for the joint implementation
of the WFD in the Meuse basin through the development and execution of a single
river basin management plan (Art. 1.).
The institutional framework of the Agreement is provided by the International
Meuse Commission. The Commission can adopt opinions and recommendations,
but cannot take decisions binding on the parties (Art. 4–5.). According to some
31 International Agreement on the River Meuse (Accord international sur la Meuse), Gent, 3 December 2002.
8 Transboundary Water Governance in the European Union
unity of the qualitative and quantitative conditions of the river (Art. 1.3.). Sustainable water management thus implies the integrated management of all surface and
groundwater bodies with a view to ensuring sufficient water quantity and quality for
all ecological functions and major human uses (Art. 11.). The Agreement also calls
for the adoption of an integrated Sava River Basin Management Plan, to be developed
in coordination with the ICPDR and in line with the EU Water Framework Directive
(Art. 3.2., 12.).
The Agreement established a dedicated river basin organisation: the International
Sava River Basin Commission, operational since 2005. The Commission follows the
integrated approach of the Agreement and, as such, it has the broadest formal mandate among all European basin organisations. Its responsibilities go beyond the traditional RBO activities (navigation, pollution prevention and control, monitoring) to
encompass such activities as the coordination of the preparation and implementation
of joint plans for the basin, the preparation of development programmes, even, the
harmonisation of national legislation with relevant EU law (Komatina and Grošelj
2014).
8.2.3.6 The Meuse Agreement
The River Meuse (Maas) rises in France and flows through Belgium and the Netherlands for 900 km. Its catchment area covers approximately 36,000 km
2 that also
includes Germany and Luxembourg. While it is commonly treated as a distinct river
basin, in hydro-geographical terms it forms part of the larger Rhine river system for
its connection to the same estuary system (see Sect. 2.2).
The main instrument governing basin-wide cooperation of riparian states is the
2002 International Agreement on the River Meuse,
31 replacing a 1994 agreement on
the same subject. Contracting parties to the Agreement are France, Germany, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Belgium and the three affected Belgian regions (Wallonia,
Flanders, Brussels Capital).
The Agreement is conceived as a regional implementation tool for the UNECE
Water Convention, the Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment of
the North-East Atlantic and, first and foremost, the EU Water Framework Directive (WFD). While the Agreement aims to achieve sustainable water management
based on an integrated approach, its focus and provisions are largely concerned with
environmental quality and, to a lesser extent, with flood protection and drought management (Art. 2.). It establishes a governance mechanism for the joint implementation
of the WFD in the Meuse basin through the development and execution of a single
river basin management plan (Art. 1.).
The institutional framework of the Agreement is provided by the International
Meuse Commission. The Commission can adopt opinions and recommendations,
but cannot take decisions binding on the parties (Art. 4–5.). According to some
31 International Agreement on the River Meuse (Accord international sur la Meuse), Gent, 3 December 2002.