Convention on the Protection and Use of Transboundary Watercourses and International Lakes

UNECE's records on transboundary water agreements previous to the Water Convention:

• in 1858 Austria and Bavaria signed the agreement concerning the regulation and management of the river Inn
• in 1863 Belgium and the Netherlands signed the treaty concerning the regulation of water supply from the Meuse
• in 1890 Germany and Switzerland signed the agreement concerning the hydropower station at Rheinfelden
• from 1909 dates the first and still existing agreement covering both water-quality and water-quantity issues, and setting up a joint body, between Great Britain and the United States of America relating to boundary waters between Canada and the United States[6]

• International Commission for the Protection of the Danube River (ICPDR)[12]
• International Sava River Basin Commission[13]
• Internationale Kommission zum Schutz der Elbe (IKSE)[14]
• Internationale Commissie voor de Bescherming van de Maas (ICBM)[15]
• Internationale Kommission zum Schutze des Rheins[16]
• Internationale Kommissionen zum Schutze der Mosel und der Saar (IKSMS)[17]
• Internationale Gewässerschutzkommission für den Bodensee(IGKB)[18]
• Internationale Kommission zum Schutz des Genfersees[19]
• Internationale Scheldecommissie (ISC)[20]
• International Commission for the Protection of the Odra River against Pollution
• Interstate Commission for Water Coordination of Central Asia[21]
• The Commission of the Republic of Kazakhstan and the Kyrgyz Republic on the Use of Water Management Facilities of Intergovernmental Status on the Rivers Chu and Talas

[22]

• Great Lakes, St. Lawrence River and other transboundary waters shared by Canada and the United States: International Joint Commission (IJC)[23]
• Great Lakes Commission (GLC)[24]

[22]

Meeting of the Parties is the main governing body of the Water Convention that reviews its implementation. It consists of all Parties to the convention. Other Signatories and States as well as non-governmental and intergovernmental organizations can participate as observers.[25]

The Bureau of the Meeting of the Parties makes arrangements to further develop the workplan, adapts it to changing circumstances and avoids duplication of efforts with water-related activities of other United Nations bodies and other international organizations. Is also takes initiatives to strengthen implementation of the convention.[26]

The two Working Groups collaborate closely through cooperation on a number of joint activities. They hold one ordinary meeting per year.

1. Working Group on Integrated Water Resources Management The focus of this Group are the intersectoral activities related to the integrated management of transboundary water resources. Activities tend to prevent damage to the environment, promote the ecosystem approach in the framework of integrated water resources management, and ensure conservation and possibly, restoration of water-related ecosystems. Further efforts include promotion of the concept of payments for ecosystem services, prevention of accidental water pollution, and adaptation to climate change in the transboundary context, including floods and droughts management.[27]

2. Working Group on Monitoring and Assessment The focus is establishing and implementing joint programmes for monitoring the conditions of transboundary waters, including floods and ice drift, as well as transboundary impacts. Also, this Working Group prepares periodic assessments on the status of transboundary waters and international lakes in the UNECE region. It encourages Parties to inform each other and the general public about any critical situation that may have a transboundary impact and to make available the results of water and effluent sampling.[28]

The Legal Board was established in November 2003, to facilitate legal issues related to the work under the convention. The Legal Board has developed the Guide to Implementing the convention, together with the Working Group on Integrated Water Resources.

The Task Force is responsible for activities related to adaptation to climate change, including flood and drought management. In 2007–2009 they prepared a Guidance on Water and Adaptation to Climate Change[29] which provides recommendations for the governments. The Task Force implements the Guidance through various pilot projects and a platform for exchanging experience.[30]

This Group deals with prevention of the accidental pollution of transboundary waters.[31]

The centre was established at the second meeting of the Parties (Paris, March 2000). It serves as an operational body of the Convention and its Provisions.[32]

The objective of the Implementation Committee is to facilitate, promote and safeguard the implementation and application and compliance with the Water Convention. Established in November 2012, the committee is to be simple, non-confrontational, non-adversarial, transparent, supportive and cooperative, building on the collaborative spirit of the convention.[33]

This protocol was negotiated in 1999. It is addressing the problems of water related diseases in the UNECE region, where one out of seven people do not have access to safe drinking water and adequate sanitation. Consequently, that brings diseases such as cholera, bacillary dysentery, coli infections, viral hepatitis A and typhoid.[34] The implementation of this Protocol requires setting firm targets: the process of setting targets consists of analyzing the national situation, streamlining and harmonizing responsibilities and commitments in water and health. A State Party has to elaborate a realistic plan for improvement. This process helps focus the attention on the services and actions needed.[35] Some of the areas of work of the Protocol are: small scale water supplies, water supply and sanitation in extreme weather events, water-related disease surveillance, equitable access to water and sanitation etc.[36]

The Protocol on Water and Health entered into force in 2005. As of 2013, it has been ratified by 26 European states.[37]

The Protocol on Civil Liability for Damage and Compensation for Damage Caused by Transboundary Effects of Industrial Accidents on Transboundary Waters was formally adapted at the Ministerial Conference "Environment for Europe" in Kiev, Ukraine, on 21 May 2003. It was initiated by a first joint special session of the Parties to the Water Convention together with the Parties to the Convention on the Transboundary Effects of Industrial Accidents. Its aim is to give individuals affected by the transboundary impact of industrial accidents on international watercourses (e.g. fishermen or operators of downstream waterworks) a legal claim for adequate and prompt compensation.[38]

The financial limits of liability as well as the minimum amount of financial securities have been agreed by all the actors of the negotiation, including the insurance sector, and are therefore realistic and appropriate.[39] As of 2013, the Protocol has been ratified only by Hungary and is not in force.