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5 Institutions of Transboundary Water Governance
5.2 River Basin Organisations
5.2.1 The Evolution of River Basin Organisations
The world’s numerous river basin organisations constitute the institutional backbone
of transboundary water cooperation. These organisations have evolved in number and
in focus parallel to the expansion of the regional and sub-regional treaty framework
described above (see Sect. 4.2.3).
River basin organisations first appeared in the European continent following the
Napoleonic wars. The emergence of the new political order as a result of the Congress
of Vienna in 1815 coincided with the rapid expansion of navigation in the major rivers
of the continent. Thus, the Final Act of the Congress of Vienna already envisaged
the cooperation of riparian states with a view to jointly regulating navigation. River
commissions were established for several major shared European rivers by 1920.
These early river commissions subsequently inspired the creation of and served as a
model for basin organisations all over the world (Boisson de Chazournes 2013).
Against their narrow original mandate (navigation only), basin organisations gradually obtained additional responsibilities such as cooperation over fisheries, irrigation, hydro-electric plants, environmental protection, joint regulation, etc. Although
the form and structure of each RBO is highly contextual, there appears to be a recent
trend of harmonization of core functions towards integrated water resources management (Schmeier 2013). This development has been largely triggered by the expansion
of international water law at global, regional and basin level (Boisson de Chazournes
2013).
Today, most RBOs focus on water quantity, water quality or the general protection
of the environment. Other typical functions of RBOs include basin management
planning and monitoring, data sharing, technical assistance and capacity building,
investment facilitation, etc. In certain developing regions, RBOs are also charged with
the promotion of socio-economic development through the river’s water resources
(Schmeier 2013). Some RBOs carry out or facilitate joint activities for their members,
especially in developing countries where riparian states themselves may lack the
necessary capacities to do so (Boisson de Chazournes 2013). In a few cases RBOs
have functions that are not directly related to the river, such as economic integration
or the promotion of peace and security. Given their basic function as a platform
of dialogue, conciliation is also a recognised core function of RBOs even where
dispute settlement powers are not explicitly provided for in the founding instrument
of the actual basin organisation. The expansion of RBO functions is also reflected
in general water law is so far as the UNECE Water Convention provides a list of 10
major groups of tasks that basin organisations must be entrusted with as a minimum
(Art. 9.2.).
5 Institutions of Transboundary Water Governance
5.2 River Basin Organisations
5.2.1 The Evolution of River Basin Organisations
The world’s numerous river basin organisations constitute the institutional backbone
of transboundary water cooperation. These organisations have evolved in number and
in focus parallel to the expansion of the regional and sub-regional treaty framework
described above (see Sect. 4.2.3).
River basin organisations first appeared in the European continent following the
Napoleonic wars. The emergence of the new political order as a result of the Congress
of Vienna in 1815 coincided with the rapid expansion of navigation in the major rivers
of the continent. Thus, the Final Act of the Congress of Vienna already envisaged
the cooperation of riparian states with a view to jointly regulating navigation. River
commissions were established for several major shared European rivers by 1920.
These early river commissions subsequently inspired the creation of and served as a
model for basin organisations all over the world (Boisson de Chazournes 2013).
Against their narrow original mandate (navigation only), basin organisations gradually obtained additional responsibilities such as cooperation over fisheries, irrigation, hydro-electric plants, environmental protection, joint regulation, etc. Although
the form and structure of each RBO is highly contextual, there appears to be a recent
trend of harmonization of core functions towards integrated water resources management (Schmeier 2013). This development has been largely triggered by the expansion
of international water law at global, regional and basin level (Boisson de Chazournes
2013).
Today, most RBOs focus on water quantity, water quality or the general protection
of the environment. Other typical functions of RBOs include basin management
planning and monitoring, data sharing, technical assistance and capacity building,
investment facilitation, etc. In certain developing regions, RBOs are also charged with
the promotion of socio-economic development through the river’s water resources
(Schmeier 2013). Some RBOs carry out or facilitate joint activities for their members,
especially in developing countries where riparian states themselves may lack the
necessary capacities to do so (Boisson de Chazournes 2013). In a few cases RBOs
have functions that are not directly related to the river, such as economic integration
or the promotion of peace and security. Given their basic function as a platform
of dialogue, conciliation is also a recognised core function of RBOs even where
dispute settlement powers are not explicitly provided for in the founding instrument
of the actual basin organisation. The expansion of RBO functions is also reflected
in general water law is so far as the UNECE Water Convention provides a list of 10
major groups of tasks that basin organisations must be entrusted with as a minimum
(Art. 9.2.).