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Seminar on Integrated Water Management in the Tisza River Basin
Final Report - XVI
ANNEX E. MAIN OUTPUTS OF THE BASELINE STUDY ON THE FIVE TISZA COUNTRIES
Summary of the Final Report on consultancy of baseline study, October 2003
by Mr. Kalman Morvay and Mr. Ioan Gherhes, KÁ-BA Consultants
Background
The Tisza river basin is the largest sub-catchment in the Danube River Basin. It is situated in the Carpathian Basin with a total area of 157,200 km2. The watershed is shared by the five countries: Romania (46.2%), Hungary (29.4%), Slovakia (9.7%), Ukraine (8.1%), and Serbia-Montenegro (6.6%). The total population living in the Tisza River Basin is 14,200,000 inhabitants.
The recent history of the five countries has left the river basin with problems such as pollution hot spots, declining heavy industry, lack of economic development and emerging patterns of regular flooding. In addition, the region holds well preserved traditional rural landscapes, complexes of natural forest and viable populations of endangered European species. The original nature along the river has decreased considerably due to transformation to agricultural land.
The objectives of the baseline study were to compile relevant documents and information on planned and ongoing activities related to the Carpathian sub-basin for each of the five countries and to obtain an overview of the focal points and major gaps in cooperation between the countries related to transborder IRBM of the Tisza River.
Main institutional arrangements in short
Hungary:
 The Minister Commissioner under the Prime Ministers Office is responsible for coordinating all types of developments in the Great Hungarian Plain. The National Agency for Regional Development is responsible for the spatial planning having three major programmes related to the TRB: 1) rural and spatial development parts of the plan for improvement of Vásárhelyi Plan, 2) development of the Danube-Tisza Sand Plateau, and 3) development of the Great Plain Program.
The Ministry of Environment and Water (MOEW) is responsible for river basin management, being covered by three different sectors: 1) The water sector deals with water related aspects on TRB on governmental level, where the Department for river basin management is dealing with planning and management of international waters, implementation of the WFD, and issues under the ICPDR, and the Department of regional water management is dealing with the improvement of Vásárhelyi Plan for the Tisza catchment area and with coordinating the work of the water district authorities, i.e. the National Water Authority (NWA). On regional level, five district water authorities are involved in the TRB. 2) The environmental protection sector takes care of the environmental issues on governmental level, where the National Environmental Authority (NEA) is similar to the NWA. On regional level, five district environmental inspectorates (DEI) deal with environmental issues. 3) The nature conservation sector is responsible for nature protection on governmental level. There are four National Park Directorates along the TRB.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MOARD) is responsible for 1) regional water management such as irrigation activities on farm level and drainage activities on sub-watershed level, 2) land tenure and land consolidation including handling land cadastre and the National Land Fund, and 3) rural development.
Romania:
The Ministry of Agriculture, Forests, Waters and Environment (MOAFWE) is responsible for key issues of integrated water management and development of national strategy and sectoral policies in this field. MOAFWE is coordinating the National Administration "Romanian Waters", the Environmental Research and Development Institute and the Institute of Meteorology, Hydrology and Water Management. All programmes and plans within the water sector need approval of the MOAFWE including international cooperation, directives and projects, such as the Ramsar Convention, ICPDR, ISPA, SAPARD etc.
The National Administration "Romanian Waters" deals with the quantitative and qualitative management of water and the implementation of national water strategies. This authority administrates public water and infrastructure of the national water management system, i.e. reservoirs, embankments against floods, channels, drains, redirection of water flow, water intake etc. Furthermore, "Romanian Waters" deals with the national hydrology, hydro-geological and quality monitoring systems. For the TRB, the responsibilities of "Romanian Waters" are at regional level divided between three Water Directions: 1) Waters Direction Somes-Tisa: Cluj Napoca, 2) Waters Direction Mures: Targu Mures, 3) Waters Direction Crisuri: Oradea.
The Research and Development Institutes carry out research and development activities at national scale within water management.
The Ministry of European Integration is responsible for regional development policies, such as 1) reduce the existing regional disparities, 2) prepare institutional framework to comply with EU and to ensure access to financial assistance instruments (the structural funds and the Cohesion fund of the EU), 3) correlate governmental sector development policies and activities. Two regions are part of the TRB: the Development Region North-West in Cluj Napoca and the Development Region Center in Alba Iulia.
Slovakia:
The Ministry of Environment has the responsibility for the water sector. On governmental level, the Water Sector is represented by the Department of Water Courses and River Basins Administration. At regional level, the responsibilities for the management of the TRB are under the Slovak Water Management Enterprise (SWE) with the local branch Office for River Basin Bodrog and Hornad in Kossice
The scientific issues are handled by the Slovak Hydro-meteorological Institute and the Slovak Research Institute of Water Management, both in Bratislava
The NGO sector in Slovakia is strong and participates in the planning and management of river basins
The Ministry of Agriculture is responsible for development of the agricultural aspects of the TRB
The Ministry of Development is responsible for the overall rural development activities in relation to the TRB.
Serbia-Montenegro:
The Ministry of Agriculture and Water Management (MAWM) is responsible for agriculture and water management development on governmental level, where the National Water Directorate is responsible for water resource management, water quality and quantity control, while the "Srbijevode" Public Water Authority is responsible for managing water projects in the Serbian part of the country.
The Ministry for Protection of Nature Resources and Environment has responsibilities for nature conservation and environmental protection on national level.
The TRB falls under the autonomous Province of Vojvodina. The Provincial Secretariat for Environmental Protection and Sustainable Development is responsible for all environmental and nature protection issues on provincial level.
The Vode Vojvodine Public Water Company has responsibilities for all water related developments and operations, e.g. irrigation, drainage and waste water treatment plants.
On local level, there are several stakeholders involved in environmental, nature protection and water management projects.
The scientific sector on national level is represented by the Water Management Institute "Jaroslav Cerni", and on local level by the University of Novi Sad, Faculty of Civil Engineering.
Ukraine:
The State committee of Ukraine on Water Management plays a role involving water quantity and flood control aspects of the water resources on national level.
The Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources of Ukraine is responsible for environmental protection, water quality control and nature conservation.
On regional level, the Water Management Directorate of Trans-Carpathian Region plays a major role in water development, such as flood control, land drainage, municipal water supply and waste water treatment, while the State Department of Ecology and Natural Resources in the Trans-Carpathian Region has responsibilities of supervising the development in this sector.
There are several NGOs involved in the TRB and nature protection.
The scientific sector is represented by the Uzhgorod National University which is involved in river basin development activities.
Cross-border organisations:
The International Commission for the Protection of the Danube River (ICPDR) are mandated by the "Convention on Co-operation for Protection and Sustainable Use of the Danube River". The ICPDR has the responsibilities of managing integrated water management actions in the TRB.
The Carpathian Foundation (CF) is a cross-border regional foundation that provides grants and technical assistance to NGOs and local authorities being focused on economic development and transborder activities. The mission of CF is to promote social stability, economic progress in the border regions of Hungary, Poland, Romania, Slovakia and Ukraine.
The Regional Environmental Centre for Central and Eastern Europe (REC) has the mission to assist Central and Eastern Europe in solving environmental problems through cooperation among stakeholders, governments, NGOs and businesses, being focused on promoting public participation and access to information.
The European Conference of Ministers Responsible for Regional Planning (CEMAT) of the Council of Europe has prepared a draft initiative on Sustainable Spatial Development of the Tisza River Basin. This initiative includes a plan of setting up a joint commission aiming at ensuring effective cooperation across borders in the TRB. This joint commission will have the responsibilities of establishing a work and action programme to the TRB. The first phase of this is planned for 2005-2008.
Assessment of relevant current projects and activities
The annex from the baseline study presenting a table for each country with list of projects and activities is included beneath.
Major gaps in the coordination
International aspects:
More coordination efforts are needed to achieve a better environment for the population living in the TRB
There is a need to give the bilateral agreements a more uniform basis of cooperation
Several bi- and multilateral agreements/initiatives have no force to become implemented
The country representatives are not fully satisfied with the role of the ICPDR.
National aspects:
There is a lack of information exchange between sectors and across borders
There is a lack of sufficient funding for the TRB.
Key issues on the Tisza watershed planning
During the baseline study, it was clear that there is a need for international cooperation on the TRB. More multilateral cooperation is needed for sustainable development, flood protection, higher safety against natural and industrial disasters, preservation of biodiversity, protection of natural resources and landscape values.
Hungary:
There is full support for international cooperation on the TRB. Integrated watershed planning and management are welcomed
Integrated river basin management planning is needed to regulate flooding and industrial contamination
Several actions towards increasing the quality of the rural livelihood will be launched by the government
The Improvement of Vásárhelyi Plan has been started in 2003 to improve the flood safety level in the area
An environmental friendly agricultural production system has been introduced under the National Agri-environmental Programme. It is planned to take 1.4 mill. Hectares of agricultural land out of production to use it as flood retention reservoirs, green corridors and sanctuaries for the various water organisms.
It is planned that the unprotected floodplains and oxbow lakes along the Tisza River will be preserved to protect the unique biodiversity.
The major constrain in starting IRBM planning for the TRB has been the high workload of implementing the WFD for the accession countries. Therefore multinational river basin planning is scheduled to start after 2006.
Romania:
Setting up a river basin commission or signing any agreement should be in the frame of the ICPDR
It is not regarded necessary to prepare an action plan on the TRB, because this has been prepared and submitted to the ICPDR so far
MOAFWE has set up strategic objectives in water management which may be considered valuable for a general approach in integrated water management of the Tisza watershed
There is a need for permanent water supply to users: 1) develop new water sources, multifunction reservoirs is needed on the poor-water areas, 2) expand water supply distribution networks for local population and industry, and 3) save water and reduce its cost
Improvement of water quality: 1) to use new clean non-polluting technologies, 2) to develop new wastewater treatment plants and modernise the existing ones, and 3) to implement the means for preventing, reducing and limiting the effects of accidental pollution.
Reconstruction of ecological river: 1) to improve and develop sufficient habitats for conserving biodiversity, and 2) to ensure sufficient water flow in rivers to protect aquatic ecosystems and to facilitate fish migration.
Reducing flood risk: 1) develop multifunction reservoirs to provide protection volume against floods, 2) to make embankments compatible with wetland protection, 3) to ban construction of buildings on floodplains
Future transborder cooperation on the TRB is suggested to be focused on the general objectives of integrated water management: water supply and distribution network improvement, flood prevention and control, and conservation of biodiversity.
Slovakia:
Lowering the flood discharges in the rivers and creeks
Improving the minimal discharge in low water seasons to retain surface water resources for local use
Improving water quality by extending the sewage network and the capacity of waste water treatment plants
Supporting biodiversity and ecological stability by international co-operation through Ramsar and other conventions
Increasing the natural agricultural potential of the soil
Serbia-Montenegro:
There are several plans, initiatives etc. for river basin cooperation, therefore coordination is needed to avoid overlap
The EU WFD has generated a lot of tasks and further actions need to be taken to implement the directive according to the requirements of the strict methodologies provided
To achieve the requirements of a river basin action plan the existing bilateral agreements could be replaced by a strong multilateral agreement
The major expectation for a river basin management plan is to improve the water resources in the Vojvodina
Because of lack of funding, the Serbia-Montenegro is in delay for implementing the international agreements, such as the Tisza Water Forum.
There is a bilateral agreement with Hungary on the navigation on the Tisza River, which could be an advantage to extend it into a multilateral agreement
Lack of funding has stopped the construction of a needed sewage system and development of waster water treatment capacity of the Province of Vojvodina.
The eutrophication process in the main river channel of the Tisza has accelerated.
Ukraine:
The main issues for Ukraine is to protect human lives and properties from the natural and industrial disasters
Construction of flood retention dams in the mountains is needed
Establishment of flood protection dikes along the Tisza River and its major tributaries
Acceleration of the re-forestation action in the Carpathians
Reduction of the contaminant loads from industrial and municipal areas
Remediation of the un-authorised land settlements
Collection of waste from the river channels
Creation of new jobs to avoid illegal clear cutting of forests, which are causing rapid surface runoff
Establishment of public awareness programmes on proper use of natural resources.
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