{"id":34187,"date":"2024-12-10T16:48:56","date_gmt":"2024-12-10T15:48:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.vtei.cz\/2024\/12\/predsednictvo-slovenskej-republiky-v-medzinarodnej-komisii-pre-ochranu-dunaja-2\/"},"modified":"2024-12-12T11:23:47","modified_gmt":"2024-12-12T10:23:47","slug":"presidency-of-the-slovak-republic-in-the-international-commission-for-the-protection-of-the-danube-river","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.vtei.cz\/en\/2024\/12\/presidency-of-the-slovak-republic-in-the-international-commission-for-the-protection-of-the-danube-river\/","title":{"rendered":"Presidency of the Slovak Republic in the International Commission for the Protection of the Danube River"},"content":{"rendered":"

In\u00a02024, the\u00a0Slovak Republic is chairing the\u00a0International Commission for the\u00a0Protection of\u00a0the\u00a0Danube River (ICPDR).<\/span><\/p>\n

The\u00a0Presidency is based on the\u00a0rotation of\u00a0the\u00a014 Danube states and the\u00a0European Commission, which are signatories of\u00a0the\u00a0Danube River Protection Convention. Hence, the\u00a0Slovak Republic is the\u00a0presiding state once every 15\u00a0years.<\/span><\/p>\n

As part of\u00a0the\u00a0Slovak presidency, the\u00a0Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of\u00a0the\u00a0Environment of\u00a0the\u00a0Slovak Republic appointed Ing. Vladim\u00edr Nov\u00e1k, Director General of\u00a0the\u00a0Directorate of\u00a0Water Policy, to be its president. The\u00a0ICPDR reported on this at the\u00a014th regular meeting of\u00a0the\u00a0heads of\u00a0the\u00a0ICPDR delegations, which took place in\u00a0December 2023 in\u00a0Vienna.<\/span><\/p>\n

The\u00a0Convention on Cooperation in\u00a0the\u00a0Protection and Sustainable Use of\u00a0the\u00a0Danube was signed on 29th June 1994 in\u00a0Sofia, Bulgaria. In\u00a02024, we are therefore commemorating 30 years of\u00a0successful cooperation between the\u00a0Danube countries. In\u00a02024, we are also commemorating another anniversary \u2013 20 years since the\u00a0declaration of\u00a0International Danube Day on 29th June (date of\u00a0signing the\u00a0Convention).<\/span><\/p>\n

The\u00a0<\/span>Convention on Cooperation in\u00a0the\u00a0Protection and Sustainable Use of\u00a0the\u00a0Danube created basis for future cooperation of\u00a0the\u00a0Danube countries, especially in\u00a0the\u00a0implementation of\u00a0the\u00a0EU Water Framework Directive and Directive on the\u00a0Assessment and Management of\u00a0Flood Risks (Floods Directive). In\u00a0this context, the\u00a0ICPDR develops support activities and measures in\u00a0the\u00a0Danube river basin, coordinates the\u00a0implementation of\u00a0EU directives, creates a\u00a0platform for the\u00a0ongoing exchange of\u00a0experience, and facilitates cooperation between EU and non-EU countries. In\u00a0February 2022, all signatory states of\u00a0the\u00a0Convention signed the\u00a0Ministerial Danube Declaration, in\u00a0which they commit to achieving good water status, increasing the\u00a0safety of\u00a0residents against floods and droughts, as well as returning the\u00a0Danube iconic fish \u2013 the\u00a0sturgeon \u2013 to its waters.<\/span><\/p>\n

On 25th and 26th June 2024, the\u00a0Directorate of\u00a0Water Policy of\u00a0the\u00a0Ministry of\u00a0Environment organized a\u00a0two-day meeting of\u00a0the\u00a0Permanent Working Group, which discussed the\u00a0fundamental direction of\u00a0the\u00a0ICPDR\u2019s\u00a0activities. On behalf of\u00a0the\u00a0Ministry of\u00a0Environment of\u00a0the\u00a0Slovak Republic, the\u00a0meeting was opened by the\u00a0president of\u00a0ICPDR for the\u00a02024, Ing. Vladim\u00edr Nov\u00e1k.<\/span><\/p>\n

Furthermore, the\u00a0Directorate of\u00a0Water Policy of\u00a0the\u00a0Ministry of\u00a0Environment of\u00a0the\u00a0Slovak Republic organized the\u00a0meeting of\u00a0the\u00a0Monitoring & Assessment Expert Group (MA EG) in\u00a0Bratislava on 25th and 26th September 2024, in\u00a0the\u00a0premises of\u00a0the\u00a0Water Research Institute (V\u00daVH) as well as online.<\/span><\/p>\n

On 24th September 2024, the\u00a0so-called JDS5 Biology Core Group and JDS5 Chemical Core Group working meetings were organized with the\u00a0aim of\u00a0organizing the\u00a0Joint Danube Survey (JDS5) in\u00a02025; its main\u00a0goal is proposing a\u00a0programme for the\u00a0field of\u00a0biology and chemistry. The\u00a0organization and premises will be provided by V\u00daVH.<\/span><\/p>\n

The\u00a0priorities of\u00a0the\u00a0Slovak ICPDR presidency in\u00a02024 are mainly the\u00a0following:<\/span><\/p>\n

Support for processing the\u00a0ICPDR Interim Report on the\u00a0Joint Programme of\u00a0Measures, or implementation of\u00a0Danube Basin\u00a0Management Plans. The\u00a0Interim Report will be prepared in\u00a0the\u00a0form of\u00a0examples of\u00a0successful implementation of\u00a0the\u00a0EU Water Framework Directive and Floods Directive. The\u00a0deadline for approval of\u00a0the\u00a0Interim Report is December 2024.<\/p>\n

Support for Joint Danube Survey 5 (JDS5) \u2013 this is the\u00a0fifth cycle of\u00a0the\u00a0joint survey of\u00a0the\u00a0Danube. Previous surveys were carried out in\u00a02001, 2007, 2013, and 2021. The\u00a0JDS is the\u00a0most comprehensive surface water monitoring research project in\u00a0the\u00a0world, harmonizing water monitoring practices in\u00a0the\u00a0Danube countries to support compliance with the\u00a0Water Framework Directive. Scientific research teams from all Danube countries are participating in\u00a0the\u00a0survey. JDS helps to cover the\u00a0information gaps necessary for updating the\u00a0management plan of the\u00a0Danube basin\u00a0administrative area. An important role is played by V\u00daVH \u2013 Water Research Institute with its expert staff and laboratory equipment. The\u00a0Slovak Hydrometeorological Institute (SHM\u00da), which provides in-kind support for the\u00a0TransNational Monitoring Network for all Danube countries, is also cooperating in\u00a0the\u00a0survey. There will be new challenges for monitoring in\u00a0JDS5: eDNA will be used to assess biodiversity elements, sturgeon will be monitored. Preparation for JDS5, which is expected to take place in\u00a0spring 2025, is being carried out throughout 2024.<\/span><\/p>\n

Support for the\u00a0organization of\u00a0the\u00a0ICPDR Sustainable Hydropower Workshop, which took place on 4\u20135th June 2024 in\u00a0Vienna. In\u00a02011, the\u00a0ICPDR published the\u00a0Main\u00a0Principles for the\u00a0Integration of\u00a0Environmental Aspects of\u00a0Hydropower Use, which the\u00a0Danube countries committed to incorporate into their national policies. The\u00a0aim of\u00a0the\u00a0workshop was to present new challenges in\u00a0the\u00a0field of\u00a0renewable energy sources and the\u00a0adoption of\u00a0the\u00a0EU RePower regulation in\u00a02021 in\u00a0the\u00a0countries of\u00a0the\u00a0Danube basin. Hydropower stations offer the\u00a0possibility of\u00a0reducing greenhouse gas emissions; however, at the\u00a0same time they have negative impact on river ecology. The\u00a0workshop was a\u00a0dialogue between water managers and power engineers to ensure balanced and integrated development, which dealt with the\u00a0potential conflict of\u00a0interests from the\u00a0beginning.<\/p>\n

Accompanying events on the\u00a0occasion of\u00a0Danube Day on 29th June 2024, due to the\u00a0celebration of\u00a0the\u00a020th anniversary of\u00a0the\u00a0declaration of\u00a0Danube Day. This international day was announced on the\u00a0occasion of\u00a0the\u00a010th anniversary of\u00a0the\u00a0signing of\u00a0the\u00a0Convention on Cooperation in\u00a0the\u00a0Protection and Sustainable Use of\u00a0the\u00a0Danube.<\/p>\n

Presentation of\u00a0activities within\u00a0the\u00a0\u201cLIFE Living Rivers\u201d<\/span> project, which aims to restore rivers. The\u00a0Directorate of\u00a0Water Policy of\u00a0the\u00a0Ministry of\u00a0the\u00a0Environment of\u00a0the\u00a0Slovak Republic is cooperating in\u00a0the\u00a0project, and the\u00a0main\u00a0partner is V\u00daVH. It was assumed that representatives of\u00a0the\u00a0Danube countries would be invited to one of\u00a0the\u00a0workshops in\u00a02024. This is a\u00a0contribution to the\u00a0implementation of\u00a0the\u00a0Water Plan of\u00a0Slovakia as\u00a0well as the\u00a0EU Water Framework Directive the\u00a0EU Nature Restoration Law, the\u00a0obligation to restore rivers and ensure free-flowing sections of\u00a0rivers.<\/p>\n

This informative article has not been peer-reviewed.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

In 2024, the Slovak Republic is chairing the International Commission for the Protection of the Danube River (ICPDR). The article discusses the main activities that the commission will carry out under the Slovak presidency.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":33951,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[86],"tags":[3506,3670,3671,3004],"coauthors":[3637],"class_list":["post-34187","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-hydraulics-hydrology-and-hydrogeology","tag-icpdr","tag-international-commission-for-the-protection-of-the-danube-river","tag-presidency-icpdr","tag-slovak-republik"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vtei.cz\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/34187","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vtei.cz\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vtei.cz\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vtei.cz\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/8"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vtei.cz\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=34187"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/www.vtei.cz\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/34187\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":34188,"href":"https:\/\/www.vtei.cz\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/34187\/revisions\/34188"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vtei.cz\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/33951"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vtei.cz\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=34187"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vtei.cz\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=34187"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vtei.cz\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=34187"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vtei.cz\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=34187"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}