A legacy of strengthened bonds: the Ukrainian Presidency of the ICPDR
A legacy of
strengthened
bonds:
the Ukrainian
Presidency of
the ICPDR
2011, the year of the Ukrainian presidency, was characterised by a dialogue between eastern and western initiatives that will shape and benefit the work of the ICPDR for many years to come.
In taking over the ICPDR Presidency, Ukraine placed a high priority on the EU Danube Strategy, thus helping to ensure the full participation of non-EU countries in implementing the Strategy.
The 2011 presidency of the ICPDR was held by Ukraine, and the Head of the Delegation of Ukraine to the ICPDR and Ambassador at Large of the Ukrainian Ministry for Foreign Affairs, Mykola Melenevskyi, served as President to guide the activities of the ICPDR to strengthen bonds with all parts of the Danube River Basin.
Supporting the sub-basins. The adoption of the Integrated Tisza River Basin Management Plan was a milestone for the ICPDR and for Ukraine, and was ushered into force under Ukraine’s presidency. A ministerial meeting of the five Tisza Basin countries – Hungary, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia and Ukraine – was held in Uzhgorod, Ukraine, in April 2011 where the heads of delegations endorsed the Plan and presented their visions of further cooperation in the region.
Ukraine’s close involvement in the development of the Plan is an important step towards bringing Ukrainian policies to EU environmental legislation and fostering Ukraine’s move towards the European Union.
Highlighting the Danube Delta. One of the goals of Ukraine’s Presidency was to dedicate increased attention to the Danube Delta and strengthen international cooperation in the region. To achieve this, Ukraine has been part of a project to improve cross-border cooperation in the region and introduce a river basin approach to water management in the Danube Delta. The project is implemented by the ICPDR in the framework of the Environment and Security Initiative in cooperation with UNEP, UNECE and regional partners, including representatives of the three countries sharing the Danube Delta Sub-basin: Moldova, Romania and Ukraine. The project is managed at the regional level by the Centre for Regional Studies in Odessa, Ukraine.
The first output of the project, the Joint Danube Delta Survey, will significantly improve knowledge about water quality, the environment, current management of water resources and human activities in the region. The survey – the first of its kind for the Delta – was undertaken by 23 researchers from the Delta countries and the final results will serve as an important step to develop a river basin management plan for the Danube Delta Sub-basin.
Ushering in the Danube Strategy. In taking over the Presidency, Ukraine placed a high priority on the EU Danube Strategy. The goal of the strategy is to ensure socio-economic development of the region without jeopardising the ecological values of the area for the future. The Danube Strategy was the focus of the Ninth Standing Working Group Meeting in Kiev in June where participants adopted a resolution endorsing the EU Danube Strategy. The resolution emphasises that the Strategy’s cross-sectoral approach and the involvement of non-EU Member States in its development and implementation provide opportunities to combine efforts and collaborate equally. The Ukrainian Presidency helped ensure the full participation of non-EU countries in implementing the Strategy.
The year of the Ukrainian Presidency of the ICPDR was marked by these and other important events, all vividly testifying to the significant contributions made by Ukraine to protect the Danube and its tributaries, for future generations.
