Availability of water management data and information

in the context of the European principles and directives

Content of presentation

Aarhus Convention European water directives International cooperation Official and inofficial information transfer

Aarhus Convention

UNECE (United Nations Economic Commission for Europe)

Adopted on 25th June 1998 in the Danish city of Aarhus

Entry into force: 30 October 2001 Ratification by the European Union: 18 May 2005 Council Decision 2005/370/EC

Convention on Access to Information, Public Participation in Decision-making and Access to Justice in Environmental Matters

Three broad themes or “pillars” access to information public participation access to justice

Objective In order to contribute to the protection of the right of every

person of present and future generations to live in an environment adequate to his or her health and well-being, each Party shall guarantee the rights of access to information, public participation in decision-making, and access to justice in environmental matters in accordance with the provisions of this Convention.

Aarhus Convention

The Convention Links environmental rights and human rights Acknowledges that we owe an obligation to future

generations Establishes that sustainable development can be achieved

only through the involvement of all stakeholders Links government accountability and environmental

protection Focuses on interactions between the public and public

authorities in a democratic context

Aarhus Convention

European water directives

Water Framework Directive

Entered into force:22 December 2000

Directive 2000/60/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing a framework for the Community action in the field of water policy

Flood Risk Directive

Entered into force:26 November 2007

Directive 2007/60/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council on the assessment and management of flood risks

vizeink.hu

Official webpage of the Hungarian river basin management planning

All information about the 1st River Basin Management Plan of Hungary

Available for the public Allows direct communication Aarhus Convention

access to information & public participation

International cooperation for solving cross-border problems

Hungary is located in the middle of the Danube catchment area

Many problems can only be solved with the cooperation of the countries located on the catchment area       Commonly elaborated River basin

management plan for the Danube catchment area

Bilateral cooperation (coordination: Bilateral committees on transboundary waters)

Information flow between neighbouring countries

Official Inofficial

Official information transfer

Regulated, formal transmission of information Eg.: Kosice Bratislava Budapest Miskolc Could cause serious delay in the information flow and the

necessary intervention Water Framework Directive & Flood Risk

Directive Importance of communication increased The Directives defined planning tasks need for

constant coordination between the countries Important part of planning: cognition of basic design

data

Inofficial information flow is also necessary

Inofficial information transfer

Unregulated, informal, professional information transfer, based on personal relationships

Parallel to official information flow Especially inportant in case of extraordinary

incidents and emergency Becomes more and more important Crossborder projects play an important role Principle: nothing is secret amongst the countries

what is public within the countries

Thank you for your attention!