After my studies my first job was in a\u00a0German district government as water lawyer. I\u00a0dealt with licensing of water uses, designation of water protection zones etc. This very interesting combination of legal and technical issues in the environment sector has shaped my future professional life.<\/p>\n
At least at European level, you are very active in the field of water management. What was your first \u201cinternational\u201d experience in this field?<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n When I\u00a0started working in the framework of the UNECE Water Convention. Even before it became a\u00a0global convention, a\u00a0lot of countries from the whole world has met and discussed together in workshops and meetings under this Convention.<\/p>\n Do you have any experience or comparing with the activities of similar commissions outside the EU that are dedicated to water management?<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n Several river or river basin commissions from other areas in the world are participating in the work of the Water Convention. They exchange their experience and knowledge with the commissions from the UNECE region. Working structures are often similar, but political and economic conditions are sometimes rather different. And water quantity\/water scarcity is a\u00a0much bigger issue than in the commissions in the EU.<\/p>\n You have been the president of IKSE since this year. Prior to that, you worked in the same position in IKSO, you actively represent Germany in other international commissions (e.g. ICPDR). What is your comparison of work from the position of president in the Elbe and Oder commissions?<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n I\u00a0do not think that there are big differences in being a\u00a0president of one or the other commission. As president you represent the commission and together with the secretariat you keep the commission and its daily work running. Of course the commissions are different with regard to the number of delegations or negotiation mentalities etc. But as president work is rather similar.<\/p>\n Within IKSE you are already 11th<\/sup> President of this Commission. What are your goals that you would like to achieve from your position?<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n I\u00a0would like to continue the successful work of this commission and keep the good atmosphere of cooperation between the Czech Republic and Germany in the framework of the ICPE. We will finalize and publish the third international river basin management plan and the second international flood risk management plan. We will continue the discussions on the implementation of the challenging ICPE sediment management concept. And we will tackle other challenges like the effects of climate change like water scarcity and droughts.<\/p>\n Thanks to your work, you have also visited the Czech Republic for several times. Is there any city or any place you would like to return to or would you like to see again in the Czech Republic?\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n This is a\u00a0difficult question as the Czech Republic has so many beautiful cities and regions. I\u00a0would like to return to the Old Father Mountains (Hrub\u00fd\u00a0Jesen\u00edk) for example.<\/p>\n
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