Europe - UNEP

View of Dnieper River at Kiev, capital of Ukraine. Photo credit: Shliahov, via Wikimedia Commons.
as harmonise the relevant legal, administrative,
and technical arrangements—including creating
a single system for monitoring transboundary
resources and preventing or mitigating the
harmful effects of extreme conditions. The
agreement also mandates countries to designate
competent authorities responsible for the
implementation of the agreement, and adopt
bilateral and multilateral agreements as
necessary. Accordingly, in 2002, Russia and
Belarus adopted an agreement in the field of
protection and rational utilisation of
Reservoir behind Kachovská Dam, on the Dnipro River in southern
Ukraine. Photo credit: Mš, via Wikimedia Commons.
transboundary waters, with the objective to
“coordinate cooperation of the parties.” This
framework agreement requires countries to adopt
measures to prevent, limit, and reduce
transboundary impacts, such as conducting
environmental impact assessments for planned
activities, notifying each other of planned
measures, and entering into consultations if
necessary. Furthermore, the framework requires
that countries regularly monitor and exchange
information on the transboundary water
resources, provide local authorities and the
public with access to information, develop and
coordinate activities in cases of emergencies,
and establish a joint Russian-Belarusian
commission for the implementation of the
agreement.
A similar agreement was adopted between
Belarus and the Ukraine in 2002 on the common
use and protection of transboundary waters. In
addition, Russia and the Ukraine adopted an
agreement on the cooperation of boundary
areas. However, to date these countries have not
adopted a Dnieper basin-wide agreement,
although a draft version exists. The adoption of
the latter agreement will be crucial in order to
harmonise the various regional and bilateral
68 — Hydropolitical Vulnerability and Resilience along International Waters: Europe