| In environmental and health
terms, the Danube - Black Sea region suffers from very acute
problems. The Danube is subject to pressure from irrigation,
industry, fishing, tourism, power generation, navigation and
not the least as the final destination of urban wastewater.
These intensive uses have created severe problems
of water quality and quantity and drastically reduced biodiversity
in the basin. The pollution ends up in the Black Sea and affects
a very large area. This is why the EU is striving to make
the countries of the region work closer together and is heavily
involved in improving the state of environment in the region.
Under the Danube River Protection Convention
(DRPC) and the Convention on the Protection of the Black Sea
against Pollution (Black Sea Convention environment programmes
have been drawn up defining strategies and identifying hot
spots for which investment interventions are needed). The
International Commission for the Protection of the Danube
River (ICPDR) is implementing the DRPC and the Black
Sea Commission is implementing the Black Sea Convention.
In November 2001 the DABLAS Task Force was set up in order to ensure a more efficient
funding of projects and to
provide a platform for co-operation on financing of water
related investments in the region. The DABLAS Task Force comprises
all major stakeholders to this end.
In April 2007 the European Commission put forward a Communication from the Commission to the Council and the European Parliament on the Black Sea Synergy. - A new regional cooperation initiative. This initiative was set up to complement existing policy and is intended as a flexible framework to ensure greater coherence and policy guidance. Environment is highlighted as one of the sectors where increased regional co-operation will be of added value. |
