Chapter 7
Transboundary River Basins
in the European Union and the Impacts
of the Anthropocene
7.1 Transboundary River Basins in the European Union
Despite its relatively small size, the European continent has the highest number of
international river basins among all UN regions. The Transboundary Freshwater
Dispute Database accounts for 69 transboundary basins (see Sect. 7.2.3) while a
2012 study commissioned by the European Commission on the subject identifies 75
international river basins in Europe (WRc plc 2012).
1 Although the European continent itself is much larger than the European Union, the concentration of international
basins within the EU still remains very high in global comparison. This is due to the
fact that—apart from the three large rivers of the eastern European plains (Volga, Dniester, Don) and four Caucasian basins (three of which are very small)—the majority
of Europe’s international basins are in fact found (at least partly) within the boundaries of EU member states (see Fig. 7.1). These international basins cover around
60% of EU territory, expanding to about 3.3 million km
2 . Out of the continent’s 75
basins 24 (30%) are shared by EU member states only (WRc plc 2012).
Naturally, these basins vary greatly in terms of size, hydrological conditions and
political complexity. E.g. the Danube catchment (with over 800,000 km
2 ) alone
makes up 25% of the total EU international basin area, while another five rivers
(Rhine, Vistula, Elbe, Oder, Nemunas) cover another 25%. The Danube basin has 19
riparian states, with 14 countries actually having more than 2000 km
2 of the entire
catchment area. The Danube is followed by the Rhine (9 riparian states), the Meuse
(5 riparian states), the Ems, the Daugava, the Nemunas and the Struma (each shared
by 4 countries). The remainder of the (partly) EU river basins are shared by two or
three countries only (WRc plc 2012).
1 These discrepancies will not be addressed in detail as they do not hold any significance for the
findings of this study. Also see Sect. 7.2.2.
© Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2020
G. Baranyai, European Water Law and Hydropolitics, Water Governance - Concepts,
Methods, and Practice, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-22541-4_7
71
Transboundary River Basins
in the European Union and the Impacts
of the Anthropocene
7.1 Transboundary River Basins in the European Union
Despite its relatively small size, the European continent has the highest number of
international river basins among all UN regions. The Transboundary Freshwater
Dispute Database accounts for 69 transboundary basins (see Sect. 7.2.3) while a
2012 study commissioned by the European Commission on the subject identifies 75
international river basins in Europe (WRc plc 2012).
1 Although the European continent itself is much larger than the European Union, the concentration of international
basins within the EU still remains very high in global comparison. This is due to the
fact that—apart from the three large rivers of the eastern European plains (Volga, Dniester, Don) and four Caucasian basins (three of which are very small)—the majority
of Europe’s international basins are in fact found (at least partly) within the boundaries of EU member states (see Fig. 7.1). These international basins cover around
60% of EU territory, expanding to about 3.3 million km
2 . Out of the continent’s 75
basins 24 (30%) are shared by EU member states only (WRc plc 2012).
Naturally, these basins vary greatly in terms of size, hydrological conditions and
political complexity. E.g. the Danube catchment (with over 800,000 km
2 ) alone
makes up 25% of the total EU international basin area, while another five rivers
(Rhine, Vistula, Elbe, Oder, Nemunas) cover another 25%. The Danube basin has 19
riparian states, with 14 countries actually having more than 2000 km
2 of the entire
catchment area. The Danube is followed by the Rhine (9 riparian states), the Meuse
(5 riparian states), the Ems, the Daugava, the Nemunas and the Struma (each shared
by 4 countries). The remainder of the (partly) EU river basins are shared by two or
three countries only (WRc plc 2012).
1 These discrepancies will not be addressed in detail as they do not hold any significance for the
findings of this study. Also see Sect. 7.2.2.
© Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2020
G. Baranyai, European Water Law and Hydropolitics, Water Governance - Concepts,
Methods, and Practice, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-22541-4_7
71