evaluation of the study visit - Mekong River Commission

MRC Study Visit 

to the Danube River Basin 

Final Report 

Prepared for the 

Mekong River Commission 

by Fresh-Thoughts Consulting 

May 2012

Produced by: Fresh-Thoughts Consulting, Vienna, Austria 

Aufhofstrasse 4/7 

Vienna, Austria 

Authors: Thomas Dworak, Birgit Vogel, Michaela Matauschek 

Produced for: Mekong River Commission 

More information: www.fresh-thoughts.at 

www.mrcmekong.org

LIST OF ACRONYMS 

AEWS Accident Emergency Warning System 

BDP Basin Development Plan 

CIS Common Implementation Strategy 

DRB Danube River Basin 

DRBM Plan Danube River Basin Management Plan 

DRPC Danube River Protection Convention 

EC European Commission 

EG Expert Groups 

EU European Union 

ICPDR International Commission for the Protection of the Danube River 

IWRM Integrated Water Resources Management 

LMB Lower Mekong basin 

M-IWRMP Mekong Integrated Water Resources Project 

MRC Mekong River Commission 

NGO Non Governmental Organisation 

RBM River Basin Management 

TG Task Groups 

TNMN TransNational Monitoring Network 

UNECE ESPOO Convention on Environmental Impact Assessment in a Transboundary Context 

WFD Water Framework Directive 

WWF World Wildlife Fund

TABLE OF CONTENTS 

MRC Study Visit to the Danube River Basin 2012 

List of acronyms ........................................................................................................................... 3 

1 Introduction and Background ................................................................................................ 1 

2 Objectives of the Danube Study Visit ..................................................................................... 1 

3 programme Scope and outline of Learning points .................................................................. 1 

4 Summary of the danube Study Visit ....................................................................................... 2 

4.1 Danube Study Visit Item 1 ........................................................................................ 2 

4.1.1 Presentations and experts ................................................................................. 3 

4.1.2 Summary ........................................................................................................... 3 

4.1.3 Addressed MRC Learning Points ...................................................................... 4 



4.2.2 Summary ........................................................................................................... 6 

4.2.3 Addressed MRC Learning Points ...................................................................... 8 



4.3.2 Summary ......................................................................................................... 10 

4.3.3 Addressed MRC Learning Points .................................................................... 11 

4.4 Danube Study Visit Item 4 ...................................................................................... 12 

4.4.1 Presentations and experts ............................................................................... 12 

4.4.2 Summary ......................................................................................................... 12 




4.5.2 Summary ......................................................................................................... 14 




4.6.2 Summary ......................................................................................................... 16





4.7.2 Summary ......................................................................................................... 18 


5 outcomes of the Visit – learning points achieved ................................................................. 20 

5.1.1 Evaluation of the Study Visit ............................................................................ 20 

5.1.2 Summary of Evaluation and Learning Points ................................................... 21 

6 Next Steps .......................................................................................................................... 26 

7 Annex 1: concept note and learning points (Concept note Annexes are not included) ........... 28 

8 Annex 2: Final Programme .................................................................................................. 34 

10 Annex 3: Detailed Programme ............................................................................................. 38 

11 Annex 4: List of Participants ................................................................................................ 55 

12 Annex 5: Weblink to the Presentations ................................................................................ 56 

13 Annex 6: Evaluation material ............................................................................................... 57 

Evaluation of the Study Visit – Outline of Questions .................................................................... 57 

Evaluation of the Study Visit – Written Questions for Group Work .............................................. 60 

Please answer the following questions in written (No answer should be longer than a quarter of a 

page) ......................................................................................................................................... 60 

14 Annex 7: Photo documentation ........................................................................................... 61

1 INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND 


The Basin Development Programme (BDP) 2011-2015 is designed to facilitate and support 

implementation of the Basin Development Strategy for the Lower Mekong River Basin. The 2012 

work plan includes a Study Visit to the Danube Basin for ‘technical middle managers’ involved in the 

regional implementation of the BDP Strategy. 

The Study Visit to the Danube River Basin took place 24 March – 3 April 2012 and intended to 

complement the 2008 study tour to the Columbia River Basin (US/Canada) for senior Government 

officials. The Columbia Basin study tour focused on key issues related to the preparation and 

negotiation of the Integrated Water Resource Management (IWRM) based Basin Development 

Strategy. 

As mentioned above, the target group for the Danube River Basin Study Visit was ‘technical middle 

managers’ with important responsibilities for: 1) the completion and subsequent implementation of 

the Basin Action Plan (for the implementation of the IWRM-based Basin Development Strategy) and 

2) broadening of the next planning cycle through the preparation of the BDP 2011-2015 Inception 

Report. 

The total size of the Danube Study Visit group was 21 participants from all four lower Mekong basin 

(LMB) countries as well as the Secretariat of the Mekong River Commission. A detailed list of 

participants can be found in Annex 4. 

2 OBJECTIVES OF THE DANUBE STUDY VISIT 

The objective of the Study Visit to the Danube River Basin aimed at learning from basin-wide 

planning experiences of the International Commission for the Protection of the Danube River (the 

Commission) in support of basin planning in the Mekong Basin. In particular river basin management 

aspects applied in the Danube River Basin should support 

1) the implementation of the Basin Development Strategy, in particular the priority actions for basin 

management such as the development of an environmental baseline and 

2) the detailed design of the next stage of basin planning, including a broader set of basin-wide 

development scenarios. 

3 PROGRAMME SCOPE AND OUTLINE OF LEARNING POINTS 

In order to thematically specify the Danube Study Visit and to meet its objectives, the Mekong River 

Commission up-front has outlined specific learning points (Annex 1). The learning points guided the 

Danube Study Visit per se, the development of a targeted programme as well as the evaluation at the 

end of the Study Visit. The overall and detailed programme of the Study Visits can be found in 

Annex 2 and Annex 3. The evaluation material is part of Annex 6. 

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In general, the learning points focus on the support of BDP activities and tasks covering aspects of 

transboundary River Basin Management/Integrated Water Resources Management, basin-wide 

issues like infrastructure development and flood management as well as on water management 

approaches that are specifically applied in the Danube River Basin (DRB) and Europe (e.g. 

implementation of the European Water Framework Directive). The following summarises the six key 

learning points in brief. The detailed learning points can be found in Annex 1: 

1. The EU Water Framework Directive and the preparation of river basin plans 

2. Preparation and implementation of the Danube River Basin Management Plan 

3. Development of basin-wide environmental objectives and baseline indicators. 

4. Transboundary issues and conflict management 

5. Transboundary assessment of significant water infrastructure projects 

6. Flood and drought forecasting and control 

4 SUMMARY OF THE DANUBE STUDY VISIT 

This chapter follows the chronology of the Study Visit’s programme and addresses all its items and 

venues summarising (i) key contributions and messages, (ii) lecturers/technical experts, (iii) key 

discussion points and (iv) key messages and the received learning points. The related photo 

documentation is part of Annex 7. 

The programme covered the entire time period of the Danube Study Visit (24 March – 3 April 2012) 

and included several venues in the Danube River Basin in order to respond accordingly to the MRC 

learning points. The Study Visit started in Vienna (Austria), which also is the institutional seat of the 

Secretariat of the International Commission for the Protection of the Danube River (ICPDR). Other 

venues in the DRB included Bratislava (Slovakia) and Budapest (Hungary) whereas the Study Visit 

ended in Munich (Germany). 

Thematically the programme provided a combination of thematic lectures, discussions and field visits 

to provide a balanced picture of river basin management in the Danube River Basin. Right at the 

beginning of the Study Visit an introduction and overview was given on the European Water 

Framework Directive as it is driving water resources management and policy in Europe. One and a 

half days were dedicated to meet representatives and technical experts of the ICPDR to gain 

knowledge on the general cooperation framework for transboundary river basin management 

between 14 contracting parties. At the other venues national representatives of relevant ministries 

and/or water agencies provided an overview on their national water management as well as their 

contributions within the international cooperation framework of the ICPDR. 

4.1 Danube Study Visit Item 1 

National Park Donau Auen/Danube Wetlands 

(Orth/Donau, Austria; www.donauauen.at) 

25 March 2012 

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4.1.1 Presentations and experts 

The excursion to the national park started with a presentation on the EU Water Framework Directive 

(WFD). Presentations where given by Fresh-Thoughts staff covering the following aspects of the 

WFD: 

� General Principles of the water Framework Directive 

o Overall Objectives 

o Main Principles 

o River Basin Management Approach 

o Common Implementation Strategy 

� Implementation Process 

o Timeline 

o Planning Process 

o WFD requirements 

o Water Pricing 

� Lessons learned – 10 years later implementation experiences 

The presentation was then followed by a contribution on managing large river basins towards 

integration and joint aims, comparing the Mekong and Danube. The presentation covered the 

following aspects 

� Role of international River Basin Management 

� Comparison Mekong and Danube River Basins 

� Basic facts and figures 

� Management frameworks in River Basins 

� Significant Water Management Issues 

� Difference in RBM between the Mekong and Danube Basin 

� Examples of good transboundary cooperation 

4.1.2 Summary 

The WFD commits the European Union Member States to achieve good qualitative and quantitative 

status of all water bodies (including marine waters up to one nautical mile from shore) by 2015. It is a 

framework in the sense that it prescribes steps to reach common goals rather than adopting the 

more traditional limit value approach. Thus, to achieve 'good surface water status' both the 

ecological status and the chemical status of a surface water body need to be at least 'good'. 

Ecological status refers to the quality of the structure and functioning of aquatic ecosystems of the 

surface waters and is defined locally as being lower than a theoretical reference point of pristine 

conditions, i.e. in the absence of anthropogenic influence. 

The WFD requires River Management Plans covering a six year planning cycles. Draft River Basin 

Management Plans have to be published for public consultation. Article 14 of the WFD requires 

Member States "to encourage the active involvement of interested parties" in the implementation of 

it. 

The implementation of the WFD raised and raises a number of shared technical challenges for the EU 

Member States, the Commission, stakeholders and NGOs. In addition, many of the European river 

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basins are international, crossing administrative and territorial borders and therefore a common 

understanding and approach is crucial to the successful and effective implementation of the 

Directive. In order to address the challenges in a co-operative and coordinated way, the Member 

States, Norway and the Commission agreed on a Common Implementation Strategy (CIS) for the 

WFD. The results of this work, covers guidance documents, resource documents or key events 

related to different aspects of the implementation. 

The deadline for publishing River Basin Management Plans (22.12.2009) and the deadline for 

reporting these plans to the Commission (22.3.2010) have expired. The Commission services are 

currently assessing the status of the reports received. 

From the presentations, the question asked and the discussions held it was clear that several 

elements of the WFD could be applied also in the Mekong River Basin in an adapted way. A particular 

challenge thereby is to establish a link between land use management and water management, 

which allows the integration of environmental with socio-economic interests. 

The thematic presentations where followed by a field trip in the wetlands of the Danube National 

Park. Situated between the European capitals Vienna and Bratislava, the park preserves the last 

remaining major wetlands environment in Central Europe. Here, the Danube is still free flowing and 

is the lifeline of the National Park. It creates a habitat for numerous animals and plants, some of 

which are rare species. Accompanied on a guided walking tour and on boats, the participants had the 

opportunity to get to know the fascinating world of the fauna and flora of the "Donau-Auen". 

4.1.3 Addressed MRC Learning Points 

In summary, the following MRC learning points have been addressed in detail and achieved: 

European Water Framework Directive 

� A river basin approach that allows to manage waters more efficiently and that enhances 

transboundary cooperation; 

� Integration of all water resources, combining fresh surface water and groundwater bodies, 

wetlands, coastal water resources at the river basin scale; 

� Integration of all water uses, functions and values into a common policy framework, i.e. 

investigating water for the environment, water for health and human consumption, water for 

economic sectors, transport, leisure, water as a social good; 

� Integration of disciplines, analyses and expertise, combining hydrology, hydraulics, ecology, 

chemistry, soil sciences, technology engineering and economics to assess current pressures and 

impacts on water resources and identify measures for achieving the environmental objectives of 

the Directive in the most cost-effective manner; 

� Integration of water legislation into a common and coherent framework; 

� Similar approaches across the EU; 

� Better use of scare resources to develop common methodologies; 

� EU Common Implementation Strategy Process is crucial to streamline the different approaches 

in each Member State. 

[4]

Development of basin-wide environmental objectives and baseline indicators 


� Integration of environmental objectives, combining quality, ecological and quantity objectives 

for protecting highly valuable aquatic ecosystems and ensuring a general good status of other 

waters; 

� The WFD requires to develop basin-wide environmental objectives and baseline indicators in 

accordance with geographical, climatic and socio-economic circumstances; 

� A specific intercalibration exercise ensures that monitoring and assessment methods are made 

comparable between the different Member States. 

Transboundary issues and conflict management 

� In international river basin districts within the EU, there is an obligation to coordinate the 

requirements for the achievement of the environmental objectives is indicated in Article 3.4 and 

3.5. 

� In these cases, a country causing a problem/pressure should be obliged to provide enough 

information for justification for the affected Member State. Frequent information exchange 

between EU Member States and Non EU Member States is crucial. 

Transboundary assessment of significant water infrastructure projects 

� Under Art 4.7 WFD exemptions form the good water status can be applied for new 

modifications (e.g. infrastructure development) and new sustainable human development 

activities. Thereby, Member States have to follow a complex procedure. Guidance on this can be 

found under: 

circa.europa.eu/Public/irc/env/wfd/library?l=/framework_directive/guidance_documents/docu 

mentn20_mars09pdf/_EN_1.0_&a=d 


Secretariat of the International Commission for the Protection of the Danube River 

(Vienna, Austria; www.icpdr.org) 

26 and 27 March 2012 


Staff of the ICPDR Secretariat as well as external experts and observers that cooperate in the ICPDR 

framework presented a broad spectrum of issues relevant in the Danube River Basin outlining a 

general overview on the ICPDR cooperation framework, the basin-wide perspective and 

management issues, technical topics like the monitoring network, river basin management and 

hydropower developing. The following presentations were given: 

� History, work and objectives of the ICPDR (Philip Weller - ICDPR Executive Secretary) 

� Trans-boundary monitoring and assessment (Philip Weller - ICDPR Executive Secretary) 

� River basin management (Raimund Mair – ICDPR Technical Expert for RBM) 

� Flood protection (Philip Weller - ICDPR Executive Secretary) 

� GIS and Information Management (Alex Höbart - ICDPR Technical Expert for Information 

Management and GIS) 

� ICPDR Public Participation (Benedikt Mandl – ICDPR Technical Expert for Public Participation) 

� EU-Strategy for the Danube Region (Roland Arbter - Austrian Federal Chancellery) 

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� Hydropower development in Austria and aligning to the environmental requirements of the EU 

WFD (Otto Pirker – Verbund/VGB Powertech) 

4.2.2 Summary 

Danube River Basin 

19 countries are sharing the Danube River Basin, which makes it the world’s most international river 

basin. More than 81 million people of different cultures and languages call the Danube Basin their 

home and are since centuries interconnected through the widely ramified water system of the 

Danube. All countries sharing over 2,000 km² of the Danube River Basin and the European Union are 

contracting parties of the ICPDR under the Convention on Cooperation for the Protection and 

Sustainable Use of the Danube River (Danube River Protection Convention). 

The main objective of the Danube River Protection Convention (DRPC) is to ensure that surface 

waters and groundwater within the Danube River Basin are managed and used sustainably and 

equitably. This involves (i) the conservation, improvement and rational use of surface waters and 

groundwater, (ii) preventive measures to control hazards originating from accidents involving floods, 

ice or hazardous substances and (iii) measures to reduce the pollution loads entering the Black Sea 

from sources in the Danube River Basin; 

The signatories to the Danube River Protection Convention (DRPC) (15 Danube countries) have 

agreed to co-operate on fundamental water management issues by taking "all appropriate legal, 

administrative and technical measures to at least maintain and where possible improve the current 

water quality and environmental conditions of the Danube river and of the waters in its catchment 

area, and to prevent and reduce as far as possible adverse impacts and changes occurring or likely to 

be caused." 

Since the year 2000 the implementation of the European Water Framework Directive has been 

declared highest priority by the contracting parties of the ICPDR (Resolution of the ICPDR Ordinary 

Meeting 2000 in Sofia). Another resolution has been adopted, that all contracting parties – including 

the Non EU Member States - ensure to make all efforts to arrive at a coordinated international River 

Basin Management Plan according to the requirements of the WFD. 

International Commission for the Protection of the Danube River 

The ICPDR is an international organisation with its permanent Secretariat in Vienna (Austria). Its 

meetings are held twice a year (Ordinary Meeting in Vienna each December; Standing Working 

Group Meeting in June in the country holding the Presidency) and are attended by the delegations of 

each contracting party as well as formally accepted observer organisations. Decisions are met 

through achievement of consensus. 

The ICPDR operates via seven permanent Expert Groups (EG) and one ad hoc EG (see Figure 1) that 

are compiled of country representatives. Each EG is coordinated through a technical expert from the 

ICPDR Secretariat. The work of the EGs is based on Terms of Reference, which are adopted by the 

Commission. Representatives of the Expert Groups usually meet twice to three times a year to 

discuss issues related to their Terms of Reference and to prepare reports/recommendations for 

coordinated action. The Expert Groups are (alphabetical order): 

[6]

1. Accidental Pollution Control EG 

2. Flood Management EG 

3. Information Management and Geographical Information Systems EG 

4. Monitoring and Assessment EG 

5. Pressures and Measures EG 

6. Public Participation EG 

7. River Basin Management EG 

8. Ad-hoc Strategic Expert Group EG 


In addition and on demand, Task Groups (TG) can be established. Those Task Groups include at the 

moment: Hydromorphology TG, Economics TG, Groundwater TG, and Nutrient TG. 

Figure 1: Organisation structure of the ICPDR. 

The active involvement of the public is a core principle in sustainable water management for the 

ICPDR. This basic fact was recognised when the Danube River Protection Convention was developed 

and signed in 1994 ICPDR observer ships are granted according to agreed rules. As of today, 22 

organisations hold observer ship status and cooperate actively with the ICPDR 

ICPDR key cooperation tasks 

(i) Implementation of the DRPC. It is both a forum to allow its contracting parties to coordinate the 

implementation of the DRPC and a platform to review the progress they make. The key 

objectives of the ICPDR include the following: 

� Ensure sustainable water management 

� Ensure conservation, improvement and rational use of surface waters and ground water 

� Control pollution and reduce inputs of nutrients and hazardous substances 

� Control floods and ice hazards. 

(ii) Coordinated implementation of the Water Framework Directive since 2000. All countries 

cooperating under the DRPC decided to make all efforts to implement the Directive throughout 

the whole basin. The Non EU Member States also committed themselves to implement the WFD 

within the frame of the DRPC. 

[7]


(iii) Facilitated cooperation between the Danube countries and the Black Sea region in issues 

requiring coordination, cooperates with other international organisations where appropriate, 

and addresses new challenges related to water management (e.g. climate change adaption) as 

they emerge. 

(iv) The ICPDR serves as a coordination platform for the basin-wide implementation of the EU Floods 

Directive (formally Directive 2007/60/EC). 

(v) Regarding the thematic topics the ICPDR cooperates on river basin management; monitoring 

and assessment; pressures and measures; databases and GIS; flood management and 

protection; accident pollution; hydromorphological alterations; climate changes and adaptation; 

public participation and consultation; strategic cooperation; 

(vi) The ICPDR assesses the state of surface and ground waters in the Danube River Basin; develops 

actions to conserve or improve these waters; collects information on the implementation and 

progress of these actions; and supports individual contracting parties or other relevant entities 

in the implementation efforts of these actions. 


The delegates of the Study Visit participated in pro-active and detailed discussions with the ICPDR 

experts widening the knowledge on the Danube River Basin. The discussions focused on the structure 

of the ICPDR, its decentralised set-up and the international cooperation/coordination. Further, basinwide 

management issues were discussed including the management of future infrastructure 

development including hydropower and the implementation of Environmental Impacts Assessment 

procedures. 

The Study Visit group reflected on similarities between the Danube River Basin and the Lower 

Mekong Basin in particular which issues would be relevant for implementation in the LMB. 

Respective outcomes are summarised in Chapter 5 of this report. 


European Water Framework Directive (EU WFD) 

� Coordinated basin-wide implementation of the EU WFD in the Danube River Basin; 

� Achievement of EU WFD objectives and application of approaches in practice via the example of 

the Danube River Basin; 

� Outline of added values for the ICPDR since the EU WFD has been implemented since the year 

2000; 

� Challenges on the basin-wide scale during the first WFD planning cycle. 

Preparation and implementation of the Danube River Basin Management Plan 

� Aims and content of the international Danube River Basin Management Plan (DRBMP); 

� Approaches and methodologies that were applied to develop the DRBMP; 

� Applied link to the EU WFD and meeting its objectives on the basin-wide scale; 

� Challenges to achieve the EU WFD objectives by 2015, 2021 respectively 2027; 

� Outline of differences between national River Basin Management Plans and the international 

DRBM Plan; 

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� Outline of added values of an international RBM Plan; 


� Approach of the DRBM data collection and management of the ICPDR databases as well as 

Geographical Information System for consolidated data analyses involving all contracting 

parties; 

� Approaches to fill information gaps in order to improve knowledge exchange; 

� Overview on the Joint Programme of Measures as part of the DRBM Plan and its basin-wide 

implementation via the national level; 

� Outline and estimation of challenges regarding the implementation of the Joint Programme of 

Measures in the DRB taking into account the first interim evaluation report for measures that is 

due 2012; 

� Harmonisation of different national approaches and methodologies for effective basin-wide 

management; 

� Strategy of Climate Change adaptation in the DRB and its consideration as part of the DRBM 

Plan; 

� Implementation challenges and solutions between EU Member States and Non EU Member 

Sates in the DRB. 


� Outline of the ICPDR’s Transnational Monitoring Network as basis to assess water status and 

baselines; 

� Current situation on water status as presented in the DRBM Plan. 


� Outline of the ICPDR’s joint statement on navigation to ensure environmental sustainability. 


� Brief outline of the ICPDR’s role as coordination platform regarding future infrastructure 

development and transboundary assessments (focus: navigation; current activities regarding 

hydropower development); 

� Outline of on-going ICPDR activities regarding hydropower development in the DRB; 

� Outline of hydropower development in the Austrian Danube mainstream and alignment with 

environmental requirements according to the EU WFD and other standards (current mitigation 

measures and retro-fitting of already existing hydropower dams) 

� Respective involvement of relevant stakeholder including NGOs. 


Meeting and technical exchange at the Austrian Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, Environment and 

Water Management – Department of International Water Management 

(Vienna, Austria; www.lebensministerium.at) 

27 March 2012 


Staff of the national and international Department for Water Management at the Austrian 

Environment Ministry presented on key national water resources management issues as well as on 

the contributions and role of Austria within the ICPDR cooperation framework. Besides international 

cooperation, the Austrian representatives presented on national EU WFD implementation, 

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approaches to develop and basin-wide environmental assessments and future infrastructure 

development. 

In this respect, the following presentations were given: 

� Water Management in Austria: an Overview – Karl Schwaiger (Head of the International 

Department for Water Management, AT Environment Ministry) 

� Development and Assessment of Basin – Wide Environmental Objectives within the Frame of 

the Danube River Basin Management Plan and Implementation of EU WFD seen from a 

Contracting State’s Perspective (Veronika Koller – Kreimel (National Department for Water 

Management, AT Environment Ministry) 

� Legal Frame for Future Infrastructure Development in the Danube Basin - Guidances in 

Elaboration – Karl Schwaiger / Veronika Koller Kreimel (AT Environment Ministry) 

4.3.2 Summary 

Austria holds a surface area of 83.871 km 2 and a population of approximately 8 million people. 

Austria is a federal state with nine provinces sharing national competences including the water 

management sector. 1995 Austria became a member of the European Union providing strong input 

in particular in the area of water resources management. Austria has to comply with the 

requirements of the EU Water Framework Directive and this brings along that all water bodies must 

achieve a good water status by 2015 at the latest by 2027. The first national River Basin Management 

Plan according to the EU WFD was reported to the European Commission by end 2009 and is 

currently checked for compliance. 

Surface waters in Austria are characterised by: 

� the predominantly mountainous nature of Austria and the resulting scarcity of land that can be 

used for agriculture; 

� the efforts that have been made for centuries to protect the limited natural living space against 

natural hazards – particularly in the inner-Alpine valley; 

� due to the lack of sufficient resources of coal, oil and gas, efforts that have been made for many 

years to cover energy needs from hydroelectric power; 

� the efforts to ensure self-sufficiency in food which have been made for centuries, also spurred 

on by the years of scarcity after two world wars – this was not achieved until the 1960s through 

the reclamation of wetlands by drainage. 

Austria is sharing three international river basins for which international coordination mechanisms 

are in place. 96% of the country’s water network drains into the Danube River, 3% into the River 

Rhine and 1% into the River Elbe. The cooperation with riparian countries sharing these basins takes 

place via international River Commissions and/or formal transboundary water commissions. 

The Austrian river network of 7,335 surface water bodies with a catchment area >10 km 2 is about 

31,000 km in length. Key human pressures to surface waters include alteration of the physic-chemical 

conditions and hydromorphological alterations. Due to impairments of river morphology or the 

hydrological conditions, about two thirds of running waters do not achieve good status. Examples for 

this include power plants, weirs and river bottom sills, regulation (including channelizing and 

[10]


straightening) and disruptions of the hydrology because of too little residual water being discharged 

at intakes or due to hydro-peaking of power plants. 

Impacts are assessed via a complex national monitoring network and programme. It focuses on 

biological data evaluation to gain a complete picture of the ecological water status with information 

on all biological quality elements. These quality elements include fish, mactoinvertebrates, 

macrophytes, phytobenthos and phytoplankton. 

The monitoring programmes aim to assess the current ecological status and if the ecological water 

status required by the EU WFD is met. Pre-conditions for these assessments are (i) the availability of 

detailed biological data and (ii) the knowledge of environmental baseline/reference conditions. The 

ecological assessment is the deviation from the reference condition and expressed in five classes of 

water status (high, good, moderate, poor, bad). 

The biological assessment is based on methods that have been developed over the last three 

decades but it was emphasised that the starting point were simple and rough methods that have 

been continuously refined over the years. 

For Austria, natural surface water bodies without modified or artificial waters account for 88% of the 

network. 16 % of these have a high ecological status, 23% have a good one, 51% show moderate, 8% 

a poor and 2% a bad ecological status. 

Around 12% of this network is heavily modified or consists of artificial waters (e.g. such areas where 

water is retained for energy production). Of these, at present 87% do not have a good potential, 

since in particular measures for improving hydromorphological conditions are still possible. 

Each of the 62 lakes >50 ha has been identified as a separate surface water body. The total surface 

area is 1,034 km². Altogether, 61% of these have good ecological status or good ecological potential, 

and 34% even have a high ecological status 


The discussions of the delegates of the Study Visit with the Austrian Ministry representatives focused 

on the link between national and international river basin management and the operation of 

respective coordination mechanisms as well as the contribution of Austria in the framework of the 

ICPDR. 


European Water Framework Directive 

� National implementation of the EU WFD in Austria; 

� Challenges on the basin-wide scale during the first WFD planning cycle. 


� Inter-linkage of the national River Basin Management Plans with the international Danube River 

Basin Management Plan; 

� Implementation of the EU WFD and the respective development of the DRBM Plan seen from a 

contracting state’s perspective; 

� Contributions of Austria to the development of the DRBM Plan; 

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� Added values of an international DRBM Plan for the Austrian national level 



� Outline of Austria’s approach to assess water status and environmental baselines; 

� Development and assessment of Danube basin-wide environmental objectives; 

� Delivery process of respective environmental data to the ICPDR; 

� Presentation of environmental indictors, biological quality elements to assess baselines and the 

water status classification system; 

� Current situation on water status as presented in the DRBM Plan. 


� Outline of Austria’s cooperation mechanisms with its neighbouring countries; 


� Outline of the legal frame and guidance’s for future infrastructure development in Austria’s 

water resources management (focus hydropower); 

� Inter-linkage and reporting of national future infrastructure development to the international 

ICPDR level. 

� Outline of hydropower development in the Austrian Danube mainstream and its alignment with 

environmental requirements according to the EU WFD and other standards (current mitigation 

measures and retro-fitting of already existing hydropower dams) 

� Outline of national stakeholder involvement including NGOs. 


Meeting with stakeholders in the Danube region (Vienna, Austria; 

http://wwf.panda.org/what_we_do/where_we_work/black_sea_basin/danube_carpathian/) 

28 March 2012 


Two main stakeholders in the regions have been met, namely: 

� WWF´s involvement in Danube basin freshwater conservation – Irene Lucius (WWF) The WWF 

Danube-Carpathian Programme is responsible for leading and - to a significant extent - 

implementing WWF’s efforts to preserve, restore and sustainably manage the natural values of 

the Danube-Carpathian ecoregions. 

� Verbund - power plant developer (Freudenau) in the city of Vienna: The Danube power plant at 

Freudenau has been producing electricity from hydropower since 1998. It is both the tenth and 

last hydropower plant in the Austrian Danube River and, at the same time, within the urban 

district of the metropolis of Vienna. The hydropower plant also integrates one of the most 

modern fish-ladder systems in Europe with the aim to mitigate the negative impacts on fish 

migration and to ensure river continuity. 

4.4.2 Summary 

The presentation held by the WWF focused on the current work in the basin, which is strongly linked 

to wetland preservation and restoration as well as on fish migration. Several practical examples 

where given. Further, several examples were addressed on how economic developments can be 

[12]


brought in line with environmental conservation. These examples focused on: biomass production 

from wetland, river restoration and shipping and electricity production and fish migration. 

The visit of the power plant Freudenau, which is the world‘s first big run-of-the-river power station 

located in a city, highlighted on one hand the technical challenges when building the plant but also 

the efforts taken to mitigate environmental impacts. The power plant was constructed applying a 

„wet construction” method. Six Kaplan turbines (diameter of 7.5 m) are installed in the power house 

which is located in the middle of the river between the lock and weir systems. Each turbine drives a 

directly coupled three-phase generator. Ecological measures include the water supply to the New 

and Old Danube, new biotopes, inlets and the ecologically designed fish bypass channel located on 

the Danube island. 


In summary, the following MRC learning points have been discussed with WWF and Verbund: 


� The EU WFD has strengthened the role of WWF in particular due to the Common 

Implementation Strategy process and the mandatory public participation request; 

� The development of new hydropower plants became more difficult but are still possible. 


� WWF acts as an observer in the ICPDR; 

� WWF played an important role in awareness raising and during the public participation. 


Meeting with the Slovakian water managers and officials 

(Bratislava, Slovakia) 

29 March 2012 


Staff of the Slovak Water Management authorities presented on key national water resources 

management issues as well as on environmental mitigation measures that have been taken in the 

artificial part of the Danube River, where the Gabcikovo hydropower plant is located. 

In this respect, the following two presentations were given: 

� Introduction of Slovak Water Management – Alenka Bujnova (Slovakian Ministry of Environment 

and Water Research Institute) 

� Presentation on the Cunovo dam, which combines hydropower and recreation (e.g. canoeing - 

water has been allocated for this purpose) 

� Danube mainstream hydropower dam Gabčikovo, development, experiences – Vladimir Holcik 

(Slovak National Committee of Pianc) 

The presentation where completed by a field trip to the mainstream hydropower dam Gabčikovo 

with several stops along the Danube covering the artificial stretch for shipping but also artificial 

wetland for flood control and recreation 

[13]


4.5.2 Summary 

Slovak rivers flow mainly to the Black and Baltic Sea watersheds. Key rivers like the Tisza runs to 

Slovakia from the East and the Morava from the West. The main water management issues are: 

� Implementation of the EU WFD to achieve environmental objectives for all water bodies 

� Implementation of EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive – building sewage collection and 

treatment 

� Flood protection 

All these are important rivers for shipping so there are several agreements on transboundary waters, 

such as 

� Czechoslovak Socialistic Republic and Hungary 

� Slovakia and Ukraine 

� Slovakia and Poland 

� Slovakia and Czech Republic 

� Treaty between Czechoslovak Socialistic Republic and Austria on Transboundary Waters 

In the frame of each agreement or treaty a common Commission is created. 

Further, a field trip to the Cunovo dam and Gabčíkovo – Nagymaros dams was undertaken. In 1992, 

Slovakia completed the 30-km section from Čunovo to Gabčíkovo, which includes a dam at each end, 

each dam spanning half the river width, the two dams being connected by a 30-km long levee, all of 

which combine to impound the 40 km² Čunovo reservoir and force the river into a navigation channel 

on the left side of the riverbed. The Čunovo dam (14 km southeast of Bratislava), on river right at the 

upstream end, is a flood control feature with 27 spillways to send excess water into the bypass 

channel and flood plain south of the navigation channel. The Gabčíkovo dam, at the downstream 

end, contains the main navigation locks and the hydropower plant, which began operation in 1996 

and now provides electricity equal to 11% of the total Slovakian demand. Its maximum capacity is 

720 Megawatts 

The Čunovo dam also includes a water sports centre providing an artificial wild water slalom course 

on an island in the Danube River. It is powered by flow diversion from the Čunovo dam. 

The Gabčíkovo dam is a large barrage project on the Danube mainstream and was initiated by the 

Budapest Treaty of 16 September 1977 between the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic and the People's 

Republic of Hungary. The project aimed at preventing catastrophic floods, improving river 

navigability and producing electricity. Only a part of the project has been finished in Slovakia, under 

the name Gabčíkovo Dam, because Hungary unilaterally abandoned the construction due to 

environmental concerns. This fact caused a international dispute between Slovakia and Hungary and 

has been subject to the International Court at The Hague for a ruling. 

The Gabčíkovo Hydroelectric Power Station produces 2,600 GWh of electricity annually, making it the 

largest hydroelectric plant in Slovakia. The power station has eight vertical Kaplan turbines with 

runners 9.3 m in diameter and a maximum capacity of 90 MW each. Total capacity is 720 MW at 

operational discharge of 4,000 m 3 /s. Water level differences are 24 and 12.88 m. The original river 

bed has a discharge of between 250 and 600 m 3 /s. Two navigation locks were built. A bypass canal 

will support flood management in future. 

[14]



The discussions of the delegates of the Study Visit with the Slovakian Ministry representatives and 

the hydropower plant owners focused on how to manage large-scale infrastructure projects in an 

international context. Thereby the following learning points have been addressed: 


� National implementation of the EU WFD in Sloavakia; 

� Challenges on how to implement the WFD under heavily modified conditions; 


� Inter-linkage of the national River Basin Management Plans with the international Danube River 

Basin Management Plan; 


contracting state’s perspective. 


� Outline of Slovakian cooperation mechanisms with its neighbouring countries; 

� Discussion of the legal case with Hungary in the case of the Gabčíkovo dam. 


Meeting with the Hungarian water managers and officials 

(Budapest, Hungary) 

30 March 2012 


Staff of the Hungarian Water Management authorities presented on key national water resources 

management issues as well as on international cooperation issues. Also the issue of accidental 

pollution was addressed. Finally insights on the international monitoring network between the 

Danube River Basin countries under the ICPDR cooperation and the Hungarian early warning systems 

for floods were given. In this respect, the following presentations were given: 

� Introductory lecture on the Hungarian water management with special attention to the EU WFD 

implementation – Zsuzsa Steindl (Hungarian Ministry of Rural Development) 

� River basin management planning: experience at the national and international levels – 

Gabriella Jelinek / Agnes Tahy (National Institute for Environment) 

� Sub-basin level cooperation in the Tisza river basin and bilateral cooperation/cooperation with 

neighbouring countries necessary to achieve commonly agreed goals at river basin level – 

Andrea Zagyva (Hungarian Ministry of Rural Development) 

� Accidental risk prevention, control and response measures: examples and lessons of the Ajka 

red mud accident – Gábor Hasznos (Hungarian Ministry of Rural Development) 

� Introduction of the activities of VITUKI – Ferenc László (VITUKI) 

� Overview on the international monitoring network within Danube basin countries under the 

ICPDR cooperation: TransNational Monitoring Network (TNMN) and on the operation of the 

Accident Emergency Warning System (AEWS) – Ferenc László (VITUKI) 

[15]


� Presentation with special focus on activities relevant to Hungarian hydrological information 

system, its communication center and prognosis services (EFAS adaptation) – Gábor Bálint / 

András Csík (VITUKI) 

� Special projects with participation of VITUKI related to climate change issues: WETwin Project – 

Gábor Bálint (VITUKI) 

� Special projects with participation of VITUKI related to climate change issues: Carpathian 

Climate Change Project – Gábor Bálint (VITUKI) 

4.6.2 Summary 

As every other EU Member State Hungary has to implement the WFD. For practical management 

reasons, however, the country is divided into planning units. Four sub-catchments (Danube, Tisza, 

Dráva, Lake Balaton) and within these altogether 42 planning sub-units have been identified. For the 

preparation of the RBMPs at the sub-unit level the regional environmental and water directorates 

are responsible who co-operates with the regional environmental inspectorates and the national 

park directorates. At the sub-catchment level four appointed regional environmental and water 

directorates coordinate the planning, while at the national level the Central Directorate of 

Environment and Water is the leading agency. It was further presented on how the different steps 

towards the final RBMP have been taken. 

Since Hungary is part of the Tisza River Basin (the largest sub-basin of the Danube RB) the country 

was taking part in the development of the Tisza RBMP coordinated by the ICPDR. As a first result an 

analysis report of the Tisza River Basin has been prepared in cooperation with the five countries 

involved (Ukraine, Romania, Slovakia, Hungary and Serbia). The river basin management plan is 

based on this analysis feeding into the Danube “Roof Report”. 

Based on the Ajka alumina sludge spill in 2010, which was an industrial accident at a caustic waste 

reservoir chain of the Ajkai Timföldgyár alumina plant, in western Hungary the Study Visit 

participants got introduced to the EU environmental liability Directive. The EU legislation has the 

main objectives to include the application of the "polluter pays" principle and establishes a common 

framework for liability with a view to preventing and remedying damage to animals, plants, natural 

habitats and water resources, and damage affecting the land. The liability scheme applies to certain 

specified occupational activities and to other activities in cases where the operator is at fault or 

negligent. The public authorities are also responsible for ensuring that the operators responsible take 

or finance the necessary preventive or remedial measures themselves. 

The last stop in Budapest lead to VITUKI which was founded in 1952 on the basis of the Hydrologic 

Institute to perform for the Hungarian Water Management both basic and applied research, as well 

as studies related to the development, conservation and sound management of water resources of 

the country. Integrated with the Hungarian Hydrological Service and supported by hydraulic, hydromachinery, 

hydro-chemical, hydro-biological and soil mechanical laboratories, equipment, 

instrumentation and computer facilities, VITUKI is involved in several national and international 

research projects, which have been briefly presented to the participants. 

VITUKI also introduced the participants to the TransNational Monitoring Network (TNMN). Formally 

launched in 1996, it aims to provide a well-balanced overall view of pollution and long-term trends in 

water quality and pollution loads in the major rivers in the Danube River Basin. The main objective of 

[16]


the TNMN is to provide a structured and well-balanced overall view of pollution and long-term trends 

in water quality and pollution loads in the major rivers in the Danube River Basin. 

In response to the danger of flooding and in line with its Joint Action Programme, the ICPDR decided 

in 2000 to establish the long-term Action Programme for Sustainable Flood Prevention in the Danube 

River Basin. The whole process was accelerated after disastrous floods in 2002 and resulted in 

adoption of the Action Programme at the ICPDR Ministerial Meeting on 13 December 2004. The 

efforts of the ICPDR Contracting Parties focus on interlinking of the national and/or regional systems 

with the view of improving the overall coordination and transboundary coherence of flood 

monitoring and forecasting systems. 

VITUKI also operates the ICPDR’s Accident Emergency Warning System (AEWS), which is activated 

whenever there is a risk of transboundary water pollution, or threshold danger levels of hazardous 

substances are exceeded. The AEWS sends out international warning messages to the downstream 

countries. This supports the authorities to put environmental protection and public safety measures 

into action. The system underwent a major test in 2000, during the Baia Mare and Baia Borsa spill 

accidents on the Tisa River. The system effectively enabled the timely activation of measures that 

prevented more extensive damage to people and ecosystems downstream along the Tisa River. 

Participants also had a chance to see the online flood warning tool operated by VITUKI. 


The discussions of the delegates of the Study Visit with the Austrian Ministry representatives focused 

on the link between national and international river basin management and the operation of 

respective coordination mechanisms as well as the contribution of Hungary in the framework of the 

ICPDR. 



� National implementation of the EU WFD in Hungary from the regional to the national level; 

� Challenges on the basin-wide scale during the first WFD planning cycle; 

� Challenges of implementing the WFD in a transboundary sub-basin 


� Inter-linkage of the national River Basin Management Plans with the international Danube and 

Tisza River Basin Management Plan; 


contracting state’s perspective; 

� Contributions of Hungary to the development of the DRBM Plan; 

� Added values of an international DRBM Plan for the Hungarian national level; 


� Presentation of environmental indictors, biological quality elements to assess baselines and the 

water status classification system; 

� Current situation on water status as presented in the DRBM Plan; 

� Information on transnational water quality monitoring 

[17]

� Information on an basin wide early warning systems for flooding 



� Outline of Hungarian cooperation mechanisms with its neighbouring countries; 

� Risk management on the case of accidental pollution and development of an early warning 

system 

� Development of mechanism of trust among the ICPDR member countries in data exchange and 

sharing for flood risk management. 

Flood and drought forecasting and control 

� The flood warning system maintained by VITUKI. 


Meeting with the former Deputy Head of the European Commission’s Water Unit at the General 

Directorate of Environment (Helmut Blöch), field visit of the re-naturated stretches of the River Isar 

followed by a short meeting at the Bavarian State Ministry of the Environment and Health 

(Munich, Germany; www.stmug.bayern.de/english/ministry/) 

1 and 2 April 2012 


The presentations focused on providing an overview on the implementation of the EU WFD and 

other water related Directives from the perspective of the European Commission. The field visit of 

the Isar River re-naturation project in Munich (Germany) provided a case study presentation 

regarding future infrastructure development (flood protection measures) in combination with the 

aim to meet environmental standards. 

In this respect, the following presentation were given: 

� European Water Policy – Helmut Blöch (Former Deputy Head of the European Commission’s 

Water Unit at the General Directorate of Environment) 

� Field Visit of the re-naturated stretches of the River Isar (Representatives of the Bavarian State 

Ministry of the Environment and Health) 

� Official welcome by the Head of the Water Policy Department, of the Bavarian State Ministry of 

the Environment and Health – Dr. Ing. Martin Grambow and Klaus Schütt – Bavarian State 

Ministry of the Environment and Health, International Relations 

4.7.2 Summary 

Helmut Blöch presented on applied aspects of European Water Policy out of the perspective of the 

European Commission. Focus was given on European water policy, its diversity and complexity of 

integrated implementation in the 27 EU Member States. The whole spectrum of different water uses 

(e.g. nature protection, agriculture, industry, drinking water, tourism, flood management, waster 

water disposal, navigation, hydropower) was presented addressing aspirations and impacts. 

Processes of water policy development followed by EU-wide implementation were highlighted in 

order to reflect on challenges as well as successes. 

The EU WFD, its development before its enforcement, its aims and related implementation 

challenges were described once more but also similar aspect in relation to other important EU 

[18]


Directives that relate to water (e.g. Nitrate Directive, Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive, Floods 

Directive). The view of the European Commission as enforcement power was described in practice. In 

order to demonstrate how this enforcement of European Directives and the evaluation of 

implementation are undertaken, examples were demonstrated what kind of procedures are 

implemented from European Commission side in case of infringements. An overview was given on 

the state-of-play in EU WFD implementation and for which Member States the European Commission 

made decisions on referral to the European Court of Justice as of 2011. 

An introduction was provided to the process of the Common Implementation Strategy for the EU 

WFD that support the countries n to follow a coherent guidance toward consolidated approaches for 

implementation. 

Due to the fact that international coordination mechanisms and functioning cooperation plays a 

crucial role in the European framework, informal and formal cooperation mechanisms including 

international conventions, their specifications and aims were presented. 

The Bavarian State Ministry of the Environment and Health invited the delegates of the Study Visit to 

participate in a three hour guided field tour along the River Isar in Munich. Focus of this filed visit 

was the demonstration of the urban River Isar restoration project that was initiated in the year 2000 

and recently finalised. The re-naturated stretch of the River Isar extends over 8 kilometres in the 

urban area of Munich. Approximately 35 million Euro have been invested to realise the project and 

its measures. 

The aim of the project is to improve local flood protection but also to ensure the restoration as well 

as the development of ecologically valuable flora/fauna habitats. Ecological reference sites 

(environmental baseline conditions) served as crucial implementation basis of this the re-naturation 

project. In addition, the demand of urban population to use natural areas in urban surroundings for 

leisure has been fulfilled via the implementation of this project. 

The project is considered an international showcase project and successfully demonstrates that 

infrastructure development can be undertaken while environmental requirements are fully met and 

human demands responded to. 

The Study Visit ended at the Bavarian State Ministry of the Environment and Health, where the 

Director (Martin Grambow) and Head of International Relations (Klaus Schütt) welcomed the MRC 

delegation. A very short outline on the Bavarian water management, its aims and issues was given. 

The Ministry representatives emphasised their strong interest to cooperate with the Mekong River 

Commission and expressed motivation to establish contact via concrete proposals. 


The discussions of the delegates of the Study Visit focused on how the European Commission sees 

and enforces the implementation of the EU WFD from their perspective. Links to the situation in the 

Lower Mekong Basin were established reflecting if and how a legally binding Directive like the EU 

WFD would change the situation in the LMB. 

The discussions during the field visit along the River Isar supported the understanding of committed 

implementation of measures that combine infrastructure development with also meeting 

environmental requirements in a sustainable way. 

[19]




� Objectives and implementation of the EU WFD from the perspective of the European 

Commission and related challenges; 

� Enforcement of the EU WFD through the European Commission; 

� Infringement procedures 


� Field visit of the River Isar re-naturation project and practical/visual demonstration of ecological 

references sites/environmental baselines; 

� Practical demonstration of deviations from reference conditions and measures that can be taken 

to mitigate human impacts and to meet environmental requirements; 

� Reflection if a similar approach regarding environmental baseline development could be applied 

for the Mekong mainstream. 


� Outline of formal and informal cooperation mechanisms in Europe; 

� Outline of water policy enforcement processes on the EU level; 

� Demonstration of current challenges in international river basin cooperation in Europe 

specifically in relation to water resources management; 

Flood and drought forecasting and control 

� Field visit of the River Isar re-naturation project that aimed for sufficient flood protection in the 

urban area of the city of Munich besides meeting environmental standards; 

5 OUTCOMES OF THE VISIT – LEARNING POINTS ACHIEVED 

The key lessons learned during the Study Visit to the Danube River Basin are summarised in this 

chapter. They are in particular relevant for the MRC’s Basin Development Programme specifically for 

the implementation of the Basin Development Strategy and the detailed design of the next steps for 

basin planning in the LMB. In addition, the lessons learned can certainly serve to also support the 

activities of the MRC’s Mekong Integrated Water Resources Project (M-IWRMP) as well as the MRC 

discussion on overall basin planning and cooperation mechanisms reflecting upon successful 

experiences and approaches in another large international river basin. 

The summary of learning points in this chapter is based on discussions and conclusions that took 

place during the Study Visit itself as well as on an evaluation that was undertaken at the end of it. 

5.1.1 Evaluation of the Study Visit 

As mentioned above, on the first day of the Study Visit the participants expressed their expectations 

for the visit and confirmed the learning points that are part of the Study Visit’s Concept Note (Annex 

1) and served as basis for the evaluation. 

The evaluation itself aimed (i) to reflect on lessons learned in the Danube River Basin, (ii) to 

summarise the information received during the Study Visit, (iii) to identify parallel issues between the 

DRB and LMB/MRC and ICPDR, (iv) to reflect which approaches/methods that could possibly be 

[20]


applied in the Lower Mekong Basin and (v) to highlight added values for the MRC. Timely before the 

evaluation was undertaken the Study Visit participants received an outline of questions to prepare 

for the evaluation. Therefore, the evaluation consisted of three parts: 

1) Timely circulation of an outline of questions to the Study Visit participants for evaluation 

preparation (Annex 6). 

2) Answering of questions in four working groups (Annex 6). Each group – consisting of five MRC 

delegates – answered the same four specific questions in written way for a following joint 

discussion. Available time to answer was one hour. 

3) Joint discussion taking into account all learning points with a particular focus on added values 

for the BDP and MRC. 

The following four questions have been dealt with and answered in the four working groups (also see 

Annex 6): 

1) Briefly describe the key aims of the EU Water Framework Directive. 

2) Briefly describe (i) the key content of the Danube River Basin Management Plans, (ii) what are its 

agreed Significant Water Management Issues and (iii) its basin-wide role. 

3) Briefly describe the (i) structure of the ICPDR and (ii) list 3 cooperation key issues between the 

contracting parties of the ICPDR? 

4) Briefly describe what are the key learning points of this Danube Study Visit for you? 

Could some river basin management issues/approaches be applied in the LMB? Which ones? 

5.1.2 Summary of Evaluation and Learning Points 

In general, the results of the evaluation and therefore the added learning values of the Study Visit 

can be rated as very positive. The participants expressed satisfaction with the components and 

outcomes of the Study Visit to the DRB. The comprehensive answers of the evaluation questions as 

well as the high-class and fruitful evaluation discussion confirmed the eager learning ambition and 

positive spirit demonstrated by the participants during the entire Study Visit. 

The evaluated outcomes of the Working Groups clearly showed that the participants of the Study 

Visit gained a very good knowledge and understanding of the international cooperation in the 

Danube River Basin, the significant issues of river basin management as well as the institutional 

structure and context of the International Commission for the Protection of the Danube River. Interlinkages 

between the two basins were well reflected regarding similarities and differences but also 

regarding possible cross-cutting implementation issues for future exchange and/or further screening 

for BDP/MRC implementation adaptation. 

In summary the following key learning points have been highlighted as essential by the Study Visit 

participants and are seen as important for BDP/MRC consideration. Additional details are provided in 

the chapter sections below: 

� Decentralised structure of the ICPDR; 

� Institutional and organisational management in the DRB via the ICPDR and its effectiveness; 

� Effective operation of the ICPDR Expert Groups within the decentralised ICPDR structure; 

� Ownership, cooperation ambition and spirit of the ICPDR contracting parties; 

[21]


� Financial contributions and investment scheme of the contracting parties to the ICPDR 

framework; 

� Stakeholder involvement and communication efficiency; 

� Cooperation mechanism between the ICPDR contracting parties to jointly manage transnational 

water bodies (shared benefits, remediation); 

� Joint transnational monitoring network and related DRB database and DanubeGIS; 

� Objectives and content of the Danube River Basin Management Plan as well as its IWRM 

character; 

� Inter-linkage of international, national and sub-basin levels as part of the DRBM Plan; 

� Identification of joint significant water management issues and respective visions as well as 

management objectives for implementation; 

� Approach for data collection, analyses and map development in relation to the DRBM Plan. 

Brief comparison: Mekong River Basin – Danube River Basin 

The Mekong River is the 10 th largest in the World (4,909 km) while the Danube River the 29 th but the 

second largest river in Europe (2,857 km). The Danube River Basin is shared by 19 countries, the 

Mekong Basin by six and the Lower Mekong Basin by four. However, their landscapes determine 

their catchment areas to be almost the same size covering approximately 800,000km 2 . 

Large river basins – like those of the Danube or the Mekong - are in general determined by very 

diverse conditions no matter if ecological imprints, impacts on them, histories, populations, socioeconomic 

situations and future development are addressed. Accordingly their management is a 

demanding challenge and equally reflects this diversity in its tasks and outputs. 

Comparing the two basins, it was concluded that a large number of other basin characteristics are 

very similar. However, other aspects like human impacts on the rivers in those basins, the waterrelated 

economic development and the respective international river basin management between 

many different countries differ a bit more. Although the management of those river basins is 

coordinated and facilitated by international river commissions (the Mekong River Commission and 

respectively the International Commission for the Protection of the Danube River), the basic 

RBM/IWRM framework, challenges and objectives are different in certain ways including the legal 

framework and its implementation. Socio-economic aspects like livelihoods play a far more 

important role in the Mekong Basin. 

However, it was concluded that many issues have been learned during the Study Visit that would be 

suitable for an adapted and flexible implementation within the MRC Framework. Such issues include 

certain components/approaches of the European Framework Directive, development of 

environmental baselines/reference conditions, aspects of flood management and general 

cooperation mechanism. Details are provided below. 

The EU Water Framework Directive and River Basin Management Plans 

The EU WFD is the key Directive for water resources management in Europe. Taking into account the 

MRC framework/link and learning points highlighted by the Study Visit participants, it can be 

concluded: 

[22]


� The European Union provides a strong framework providing a consolidated basis for river basin 

management that have to be followed by all EU Member States. 

� The EU WFD and the accompanying Common Implementation Strategy process was rated a very 

good tool for effective river basin management, a targeted management tool to achieve joint 

objectives and consensus as well as a sufficient basis to support transparent communication and 

stakeholder involvement. 

� Following the same objectives all over Europe and the legally binding character of the EU WFD 

for EU Member States is seen as an advantage in comparison to the situation in the LMB and 

MRC framework. 

� In general, similar approaches as required in the EU WFD would be possible for LMB 

implementation but the MRC legal framework is seen as a challenge (e.g. the MRC Procedures 

do not have the same legally binding character as the EU WFD). 

� The EU Common Implementation Strategy provides a strong guiding basis for coherent 

implementation. The use of non-binding guidance documents in this respect was valued as 

important 

� The River Basin Management Plans are complex in its content and follow same idea all over 

Europe, which supports efficient international cooperation including the river basin 

management in the DRB. 

� The basic philosophy of the BDP and the Basin Development Strategy is seen similar in 

comparison with the WFD. 

� However, for practical implementation specific issues of the EU WFD should be screened in 

more detail as a Study Visit follow-up for possible adaptation in the LMB. This includes aspects 

like the environmental objectives, the identification of significant water management issues and 

approaches for environmental baselines assessment. 

� In summary, specific RBM/IWRM points to be possibly adapted for MRC purposes could include 

the EU WFD’s approaches regarding biological monitoring, assessment of ecological water status 

including environmental baselines/reference conditions, approaches on hydromorphology and 

heavily modifies water bodies in relation to future infrastructure development, economic 

approaches, public participation and implementation of similar approaches as applied in the 

Common Implementation Strategy. 

The International Commission for the Protection for the Danube River (ICPDR) 

Taking into account the MRC framework/link and learning points highlighted by the Study Visit 

participants, it can be concluded: 

� Comparing the MRC and ICPDR, the structure of the Commissions is different due to the fact 

that the ICPDR is fully decentralised operating via a very small Secretariat with 8 staff members 

and several technical Expert Groups that report for resolutions at the two Plenary Meetings 

each year. 

� A similar structure could be followed by the MRC during its decentralisation process. However, 

this is still a long was to go regarding both time and restructuring. 

� The MRC could learn from the ICPDR experiences in particular regarding the set-up, operation 

and tasks of the different ICPDR Expert Groups that develop most of the reports rather than via 

consultancy. 

[23]


� The MRC could investigate stronger in-house and country elaboration of technical issues/reports 

to enhance ownership. 

� In summary, specific points to be learned refers to the decentralised structure of the ICPDR, the 

coordination mechanisms between the countries and the operation of technical Expert Groups 

that could be active in a similar set-up within the MRC framework. 




� Similarities do exist between the DRBM Plan and the BDP. 

� However, it was stated that the MRC’s BDP rather follows a sector than basin-wide approach 

that is based on agreed significant water management issues including management objectives. 

Further screening could be a BDP follow-up to this visit. 

� The DRBM Plan is based on national RBM Plans as well as sub-basin RBMPs with a clearly 

defined level separation as well as interrelation for added values between all levels. The 

approach could be screened as a follow-up to this Study Visit for BDP purposes. 

� The upstream and well as downstream transboundary cooperation is very strongly developed in 

the DRB and supported by clear identification of pressures, impacts and a Joint Programme of 

Measures in the DRBM Plan. 

� The planning cylces in the LMB and DRB are similar but technical approaches are different. 

� The MRC could learn from the data collection approach that has been applied for the 

development of the DRBM Plan including the structure of databases, the use of DanubeGIS for 

the elaboration of thematic maps and also the process of informing the countries how the data 

are used for DRBM Plan analyses. 

� The MRC could learn from the basin-wide DRBM Plan harmonisation approaches that have been 

undertaken towards consolidated results. 

� The approach for Climate Change Adaptation that is undertaken in the DRB as part of DRBM 

planning is relevant for the MRC. 

� In summary, specific points to be learned and followed-up include the basin-wide approaches 

applied in the DRBM Plan, the data collection and information exchange, basin-wide 

development of thematic maps, the development of the DRBM Plan that is based on national as 

well as sub-basin RBMPs, harmonisation approaches for consolidated results and the strategy 

for climate change adaptation. 




� The strength of solid environmental baselines and assessment methods for water status 

assessment as implemented in the DRB was realised and seen as an added value for basin-wide 

planning and management to achieve sustainable results. 

� Ann applied example of developing reference conditions and other type-specific river sites was 

demonstrated at the field visit of the Isar re-naturation project in the city of Munich. Although, 

the River Isar is Danube tributary and therefore far smaller in discharge than the Mekong 

[24]


mainstream, experience of this project on establishing environmental baselines could be applied 

in the LMB. 

� BDP and MRC could learn from the approaches for environmental baseline/reference condition 

assessment applied in the DRB by the ICPDR and the respective contracting parties. 

� As a follow-up it was proposed to update the respective MRC technical guidelines for this 

purpose and to initiate technical case studies to extend experience. 

� It is considered important to take into account all relevant biological and physic-chemical 

parameters for environmental baseline assessments despite the strong MRC focus on hydrology. 

� The strong need to fill data gaps on environmental information and baselines in the LMB were 

emphasised by the participants. 

Transboundary issues, conflict management and transboundary assessment of significant water 

infrastructure projects 



� As mentioned above, the international cooperation mechanisms in the LMB and DRB are similar 

and contribute respectively to transboundary issues and conflict management. 

� It was concluded that tools applied in the DRB for transboundary issues and conflict 

management could be screened in more detail for MRC purposes as a follow-up activity 

especially related to issues of environment impact assessments. This includes the content and 

objectives of the UNECE ESPOO convention and the EU Directive on Strategic Environmental 

Planning. 

� The ICPDR Joint Statement for Navigation and Ecology that aims for sustainable development 

was considered useful tool for applied sustainability and transboundary conflict prevention. In 

addition, the on-going ICPDR process regarding hydropower in the DRB was seen as an issue to 

be followed-up in more detail. 

� It was highlighted that the data gathering in the LMB for transboundary issues in particular 

regarding the assessment of significant water infrastructure project is weak and that 

improvement is needed. The approaches that have been applied in the DRB and for the DRBM 

Plan could be screened in more detail for possible BDP/MRC adaptation. 

� River Basin wide information and monitoring tools such as the ICPDR Transnational Monitoring 

Network, the flood early warning system and the alert system for accidental pollution are rated 

as important to reduce the risks of international conflicts. 

Flood/drought forecasting and control 

Taking into account the MRC framework/link and the learning points (Annex 6), it can be concluded: 

� Flood management approaches applied in the DRB and its countries were considered as possible 

case examples for the LMB. 

� In particular it was raised, screen the flood management approaches in the Tisza River Basin in 

more detail for possible implementation in the 3S sub-basin in the LMB. 

� Approaches to implement the EU Flood Directive within the basin-wide frame of the ICPDR but 

also the DRB countries could be screened in more detail for LMB implementation relevance. 

� The Alert system applied in the DRB and ICPDR was considered interesting and useful for more 

detailed screening. 

[25]

Summary Box 


In relation to the BDP2 and the priority activities of its strategy, areas of highest relevance for 

follow-up and cooperation activities can be identified. ICPDR input via expertise and technical 

knowledge exchange with the BDP would be useful to support the 

� development of environmental baselines/indicators via adequate monitoring programmes and 

networks, 

� establishment of basin-wide visions and management strategies of water related sectors, 

� strengthening overall basin management processes, 

� linking national river basin management activities with the international ones regarding planning 

and measure implementation, 

� adaptation to climate change, 

� improvement of sustainability in relation to hydropower development, 

� guideline development regarding specific topics, 

� stakeholder involvement regarding basin-wide management issues, and 

� pro-active exchange with other River Basin Organisations. 

In addition, the MRC could make use of the long-term ICPDR experience in the Danube River Basin 

on institutional decentralisation issues, flood management, design of transboundary monitoring 

programmes and basin-wide alert systems regarding accidental pollution and flood. 

6 NEXT STEPS 

The participants of the Study Visit concluded and agreed that the LMB countries can learn and profit 

from the knowledge and extensive expertise in the Danube River Basin. BDP but also the M-IWRMP 

could make use of experience present in the cooperation framework of the ICPDR for both the 

implementation of the Basin Development Strategy and for the detailed design of basin planning. 

In order to use the momentum, it is important to take follow-up steps to the Study Visit and in this 

context identify priority tasks that are of relevance for the BDP, the M-IWRMP and MRC regarding 

potential cooperation with the ICDR and related technical support. The following activities can be 

undertaken: 

� BDP wrap-up of the MRC Study Visit to the Danube River Basin and confirmation of the learning 

points and potential areas of cooperation with the ICPDR. 

� Based on the above, identification of detailed follow-up activities addressing several issues in 

direct relation to the BDP Strategy implementation including potential technical DRB input to 

strengthen basin management processes, develop environmental baseline indicators via 

adequate monitoring programmes, establish basin-wide visions and management objectives, 

adapt to climate change and improve sustainability in relation to hydropower development. 

� Make use of the decentralisation experience of the DRB to support the related MRC activities 

towards its decentralisation. 

� If needed, make use of technical DRB assistance for the above specification. 

� Highlight the relevance of ICPDR/DRB activities for the respective MRC Programmes besides the 

M-IWRMP and BDP and ensure applied interlainkage. 

[26]


� Present the outcomes of the MRC Study Visit to the Danube River Basin to the MRC Senior Staff 

Management and in consequence to the higher level of the MRC outlining the learning points 

and highlighting the identified follow-up activities that can contribute to the implementation of 

the BDP Strategy but also the overall MRC activities. 

� Discuss and assess the transferability of EU WFD Common Implementation Strategy guidance 

documents to the work of BDP and MRC. 

� DRB technical assistance on the identified detailed activities to support the implementation of 

the BDP Strategy and the design of upcoming planning. 

� MRC Higher Level Visit (small/targeted group) to the Danube River Basin to foster closer 

cooperation and seek for detailed possibilities technical knowledge exchange and support from 

the ICPDR on the identified priority tasks/activities. 

� The High Level Visit should also take into account the downstream challenges in the DRB, as 

these are highly relevant for the LMB (note: downstream countries were not visited during the 

MRC Study Visit in March due to time restriction). 

� Wrap-up of Higher Level Visit and further design of concrete cooperation activities. 

The above listed issues aim to develop a basis for further cooperation between the Mekong and 

Danube River Basins. It is envisioned that the MRC in particular the BDP exchanges with staff and 

partners of the ICPDR to support future basin-planning activities with its relevant long-term 

knowledge and expertise. 

[27]


7 ANNEX 1: CONCEPT NOTE AND LEARNING POINTS (CONCEPT NOTE 

ANNEXES ARE NOT INCLUDED) 

Mekong River Commission 

Office of the Secretariat in Phnom Penh (OSP) 

576 National Road, #2, Chak Angre Krom, 

P.O. Box 623, Phnom Penh, Cambodia 

Tel. (855-23) 425 353. Fax (855-23) 425 363 

Office of the Secretariat in Vientiane (OSV), 

Office of the Chief Executive Officer 

184 Fa Ngoum Road, 

P.O. Box 6101, Vientiane, Lao PDR 

Tel: (856-21) 263 263. Fax: (856-21) 263 264 

Concept Note for a Study Visit to the Danube River Basin 

Background 

The BDP 2011-2015 Programme is designed to facilitate and support implementation of the 

Basin Development Strategy. The 2012 work plan includes a Study Visit to the Danube River 

Basin for ‘technical middle managers’ involved in the implementation of the Strategy. The 

concept note provides the basic information to initiate the organization of the Study Visit. 

Background information on the Mekong Basin, The Mekong River Commission, and the Basin 

Development Plan for readers in the Danube River Basin is provided in Annex 1 and 2. Annex 

3 summarizes the basin planning process in the Danube River Basin. 

Objective and Justification 

(Version 31 January 2012) 

The Study Visit complements the 2008 study tour to the Columbia River Basin (US/Canada) 

for senior Government officials, which focused on key issues related to the preparation and 

negotiation of the IWRM-based Basin Development Strategy. The Study Visit to the Danube 

Basin is tuned to technical middle managers with responsibilities for the implementation of 

the Basin Development Strategy. 

The objective of the Study Visit is to the Danube Basin is to learn from basin-wide planning 

experiences of the International Commission for the Protection of the Danube River (the 

Commission) in support of basin planning in the Mekong Basin, in particular: 1) the 

implementation of the Basin Development Strategy, in particular the priority actions for 

basin management such as the development of an environmental baseline and 2) the 

detailed design of the next stage of basin planning, including a broader set of basin-wide 

development scenarios. 

[28]

Learning Points 


Below, important learning points are outlined, with a view to providing focus to the Study Visit. Some 

of the learning points are inter-related or overlapping. At the end of the Study Visit, The BDP 

Programme will evaluate how well the participants have achieved these learning points. 

1) The EU Water Framework Directive and the preparation of river basin plans 

� What is the EU Water Framework Directive and what has been the value of having very 

strong overarching legislation that directs the approach, methods and process of river 

basin planning and management? 

� How could this happen in Europe with many sovereign countries? 

� Could something similar happen in the Mekong region? 

2) Preparation and implementation of the Danube River Basin Management Plan 

� What is the purpose of the Danube River Basin Management Plan, how was the plan 

prepared, and what are the main principles? 

� How would the Danube River Basin Management Plan look like without the EU Water 

Framework Directive? 

� How are the required data collected and managed in databases of the Commission for 

the preparation and implementation of the Plan? What does the commission do if basin 

countries do not provide the data required? 

� How are the lack of data, knowledge gaps, uncertainties and risks addressed? 

� How does the plan of measures (action plan) look like for the different parts of the 

basin? Were measures identified at the basin-wide level that were not identified at the 

national level? How were such basin-wide measures harmonized and/or integrated with 

the national and local plan of measures? 

� How were climate change impacts considered in the Plan? 

� How was the considerable difference in financial and human capacities between the 

western and eastern European countries overcome in the planning process? 

� How is the plan of measures being implemented at the basin-wide, national and local 

scales? What are the challenges? 

� How does the Commission monitor and evaluate the implementation of the plan of 

measures at the national level? What are the main ‘carrots’ and ‘sticks’? 

� Is the plan going to achieve good status of the countries’ water bodies as required by the 

EU Water Framework Directive? Or is more legislation and funding needed in order to 

comply with the Directive? 

� What are the main differences with basin development planning in the Mekong Basin? 

� What ‘lessons’ can be learned from basin planning in Danube Basin for basin-wide 

planning in the Mekong Basin, including the interaction between national and basinwide 

planning, the financing of basin-wide planning, capacity building to create a ‘level 

playing field’ for between basin countries, basin-wide cost and benefit sharing, the 

increasing focus on management in the Mekong Basin to complement the focus on 

development, the exchange of data and information between basin countries, the role 

of basin-wide procedures and (best practice) guidelines, and relevant ‘carrots and 

sticks’ to promote transboundary cooperation and compliance with basin-wide 

procedures? 

[29]


� What changes could be made in the platform for Mekong planning and cooperation 

used in BDP2, including the role, responsibilities and operations of the RTWG? 

3) Development of basin-wide environmental objectives and baseline indicators. 

� What approach and process has been used to establish and adopt basin-wide 

environmental objectives (including for aquatic ecosystem health) in the Danube River 

Basin (driven by the EU Water Framework Directive). 

� How will this ‘environmental baseline’ be used for land and water related planning and 

management at the various basin scales (sub-basin, national and basin-wide levels)? Is 

the baseline used also to assess major proposed infrastructure projects, such as dams 

and deepening of river sections for navigation? 

� How does the Commission ensure compliance with the adopted environmental baseline? 

� What would be the value of adopting an environmental baseline in the Mekong basin? 

How can it be used in basin planning and project assessment? 

� Would it be sensible to have a procedure in place on the maintenance of aquatic 

ecological health in order to support the provision of an ‘acceptable’ boundary of the 

Development Opportunity Space (DOS), together with the PMFM and the PWQ? 

4) Transboundary issues and conflict management 

� How were significant conflicts over land and water related issues managed and resolved, 

and what was the role of the Commission (such as Gabcikovo mainstream dam and the 

dredging of one of the mainstream arms in the delta)? 

� What was the role and impact of basin-wide planning and the application TbEIA in 

preventing or resolving transboundary conflicts? 

� Which lessons can be learned for conflict prevention and management in the Mekong 

Basin? 

� What lessons can be drawn for promoting consensus between the LMB countries on the 

development of the Mekong mainstream and individual projects? 

5) Transboundary assessment of significant water infrastructure projects 1 

� How is the impact assessment of large development proposals and the associated 

offsetting or mitigation of adverse impacts addressed in the Danube River Basin 

Management Plan? Are basin-wide procedures and/or best practice guidelines in place 

for the preparation, design, construction and design of such projects? How are (will) 

such procedures/guidelines (be) implemented and what are the challenges? 

� What is the role in this of the Commission? What is the flow of data and information 

between the Commission and the competent national water authorities and the Danube 

Commission for Navigation? 

1 

It may be difficult to address this learning point fully during the Study Visit as the Danube River Protection 

Convention (and the Commission) is primarily about protection of river ecosystems and water quality, and not 

about basin development and infrastructure. According to the EU Water Framework Directive, no degradation is 

allowed in heavily modified water bodies (by hydropower dams for example). In effect this means there are no 

opportunities for new major water infrastructure projects in the mainstream or tributaries. 

[30]


� Which lessons can be learned for the improved implementation of the Procedures for 

Notification, Prior Consultation and Agreement (PNPCA) in the Mekong Basin? 

6) Flood and drought forecasting and control 

� What is the role and value added of the Commission regarding flood and drought 

forecasting and control? 

� How are the basin-wide services and measures financed? 

� How is the flow of data and information managed between the Commission and relevant 

national agencies and the Danube Commission for Navigation? 

� Which lessons can be learned for the improvement of flood and drought management 

in the Mekong Basin? 

Benefits of Study Visit 

The Study Visit provides an opportunity for the participants to broaden their knowledge of 

international river basin planning and management, and apply their acquired ideas and knowledge 

immediately after the visit to: 1) finalize the Basin Action Plan for the implementation of the IWRMbased 

Basin Development Strategy and 2) broaden the next planning cycle through the preparation 

of the BDP 2011-2015 Inception Report. The participants are central to the success of these two 

important activities. The Study Visit will not delay the finalization of the Basin Action Plan and the 

Inception Report. 

The finalization and implementation of the of the Basin Action plan will benefit in particular from 

increased knowledge related to: addressing knowledge gaps, uncertainties and risks; designing 

efficient implementation arrangements, including decentralization of tasks to the national level; 

management of trade-offs and conflicts; application of procedures and guidelines; development of 

an environmental baseline; financing of basin planning, development and management; and bringing 

regional and national water related planning closer together. 

The preparation of the BDP 2011-2015 Inception Report (based on the Basin Action Plan) will benefit 

in particular from new ideas and increased knowledge related to: formulation of a broader set of 

basin-wide development scenarios, including ‘environmental’ scenarios; transboundary cost and 

benefit sharing; the identification of a common set of indicators for water and land resources 

monitoring, state-of-the basin reporting, and the assessment of basin-wide development scenarios; 

demonstrating national benefits of the improved implementation of MRC Procedures and guidelines 

in basin-wide planning; the interaction of planning activities at the local, national and regional levels; 

and knowledge and capacity building at the regional level to complement and reinforce national 

efforts. 

Participants Target Groups 

The target group is ‘technical middle managers’ with important responsibilities for: 1) the completion 

and subsequent implementation of the Basin Action Plan (for the implementation of the IWRMbased 

Basin Development Strategy) and 2) broadening of the next planning cycle through the 

preparation of the BDP 2011-2015 Inception Report. Therefore, the approximately 15 participants 

will include the National BDP Coordinators, members of BDP’s Regional Technical Working Group 

(two members from each country), and three representatives of the MRCS. 

All participants will be proficient in the English language. 

[31]

Study Visit Programme 


The programme of the Study Visit will be based on the above learning points and designed in 

consultation with the Commission for the Protection of the Danube River. The participants will spend 

one working week (five days) in the Danube Basin. 

Organisation of the Study Visit 

The BDP Programme, in consultation with the NMCs, will organize the Study Visit and is responsible 

for the efficient implementation and the achievement of the learning goals. During the preparation 

of the Study Visit it will be identified how exactly the learning points will be implemented and 

evaluated. 

In Europe, the BDP Programme will engage a former staff of the Commission for the Protection of the 

Danube River to support the organization and implementation of the Study Visit (the Consultant). At 

the MRCS, a Programme assistant or local consultant will be appointed to handle the non-technical 

aspects of the organization of the Study Visit. 

Timing of the Study Visit 

The participants will travel on Saturday 24 March from Bangkok to Vienna (Austria) and return on 

Sunday 1April in Bangkok. 

Evaluation and Reporting 

At the end of the Study Visit an evaluation will be made of how well the participants have achieved 

the learning points. 

A Study Visit Completion Report will be prepared summarizing the purpose and nature of the 

activities undertaken, places and organizations visited, individuals contacted, the findings and lessons 

learned, and recommendations for follow-on actions and future Study Visits. The draft report will be 

presented and discussed with MRCS management and senior Programme staff. The aforementioned 

consultant (see under Organisation of the Study Visit) will support the preparation of the report. 

Important Milestones 

The timeline for the organization and implementation of the Study Visit is as follows: 

Task Deadline Status 

1. Preparation of draft concept note 16 Aug 2011 Done 

2. Approval of final concept note Mid Jan 2012 Underway 

3. Consultant in the Danube Basin contracted 31 Jan Consultant selected 

4. Participants of Study Visit selected 10 Feb Preliminary 

selection made 

5. Preliminary Study Visit programme prepared 10 Feb Preliminary ideas 

exchanged 

[32]

6. Study Visit programme approved by MRCS and 

NMCSs, and agreed by the contributing organizations 

and people in the Danube Basin 


24 Feb 

7. Participants have airline tickets 9 Mar 

8. Participants have the required visa 16 Mar 

9. All preparatory work in the Danube Basin completed 16 Mar 

10. Implementation of Study Visit 24 Mar-1Apr 5 working days in 

the Danube Basin 

11. Study Visit evaluated with participants 1 Apr 

12. Draft Study Visit Completion Report prepared and 

disseminated 

13. Presentation of findings to MRCS management and 

senior Programme staff 

16 Apr 

TBD 

14. Final Study Visit Completion Report disseminated 4 May 2012 

Contact Point 

The MRC contact points for the Study Visit are: 

Ms. Chitthina Misaiphon 

Secretary to Director 

Planning Division 

Mekong River Commission Secretariat 

Vientiane, Lao PDR 

Tel: + 856 21 263 263 ext: 2115 

Email: chitthina@mrcmekong.org 

[33]

8 ANNEX 2: FINAL PROGRAMME 

Programme MRC Study Visit 



Detailed programmes for each day are part of the Danube Study Visit folder that also includes all 

other details on logistics (venue-, restaurant-and hotel addresses) and options for social activities. 

(See Annex 2) 

Date Time Draft Programme Venue 

Saturday, Morning Airport transfer to hotel according to arrival times of Vienna 

24.03.2012 

Danube Study Visit participant 

Saturday, 

Private programme: 

Vienna 

24.03.2012 

See Danube Study Visit activity proposal 

Saturday, 

24.03.2012 

17.30 Pick-up at the hotel Vienna 

Saturday, 

24.03.2012 

18.00 Joint dinner at the restaurant “3 Hacken” Vienna 

Sunday, 2.00 Daylight saving time: 

25.03.2012 

Please do not forget to change your clock (add one 

hour) 

Sunday, 

25.03.2012 

Sunday, 

25.03.2012 

Sunday, 

25.03.2012 

Sunday, 

25.03.2012 

Sunday, 

25.03.2012 

Monday, 

26.03.2012 

Monday, 

26.03.2012 

Monday, 

26.03.2012 


9.00-12.00 Review of the learning points 

Introduction to the European Water Framework 

Directive (EU WFD) 

(Thomas Dworak, Fresh-Thoughts) 

Vienna/ 

National 

Park 

12.00-13.30 Lunch at the restaurant “Zum Schauhuber” Vienna/ 

National 

14.00-17.00 Study Visit (boat tour and hiking) to the National Park 

“Donau Auen” (Danube Wetlands) 

Park 

Vienna/ 

National 

Park 

18.00-20.30 Dinner at the restaurant “Heuriger-Haus Schmidt” Vienna 

8.00 Pick-up at the hotel 

Please take your passport with you to register for the 

ICDPR Secretariat at the UN Office Vienna! 

9.00 Official welcome by the Executive Secretary of the 

International Commission for the Protection of the 

Danube River – Philip Weller 

9.15-12.30 ICPDR Secretariat – Technical Presentations and 

Exchange 

Vienna 

Vienna 

Vienna 

[34]

Monday, 

26.03.2012 

Monday, 

26.03.2012 

Monday, 

26.03.2012 

Monday, 

26.03.2012 

Monday, 

26.03.2012 

Tuesday, 

27.03.2012 

Tuesday, 

27.03.2012 

Tuesday, 

27.03.2012 

Tuesday, 

27.03.2012 

Tuesday, 

27.03.2012 


12.30 Lunch at the UN Office Vienna restaurant Vienna 

13.30-16.00 Continuation: 

ICPDR Secretariat – Technical Presentations and 

Exchange 

16.00-17.30 Presentation of the EU-Strategy for the Danube 

Region (Roland Arbter – Austrian Federal Chancellery) 


18.15-22.00 Study Visit Reception: 

Dinner at the restaurant “Figlmüller” and social 

programme 

Vienna 

Vienna 

Vienna 


Please take your passport with you to register for the 

ICDPR Secretariat at the UN Office Vienna! 

Vienna 

9.00-12.00 ICPDR Secretariat – Technical Presentations and 

Exchange (cont.) 

Presentation on hydropower development in Austria 

and aligning to the environmental requirements of the 

EU WFD (Otto Pirker – Verbund/VGB Powertech) 

Closing remark by the Executive Secretary of the 

ICPDR – Philip Weller 

Vienna 

12.00-13.30 Lunch at the UN Office Vienna cafeteria Vienna 

14.00 Official welcome by the Head of the International 

Department for Water Management of the Austrian 

Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, Environment and 

Water Management – Karl Schwaiger 

Vienna 

14.00-18.00 Austrian Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, Vienna 

18.40 

Environment and Water Management – Technical 

Presentations and Exchange 

Pick-up at the hotel Vienna 

Tuesday, 

27.03.2012 

Tuesday, 19.00 Dinner at the restaurant “Schweizer Haus”, 

Vienna 

27.03.2012 

Private programme: 


Wednesday, 

28.03.2012 


Wednesday, 9.00-12.00 Presentation by the WWF Danube-Carpathian Vienna 

28.03.2012 

Programme and following discussion – Irene Lucius 

Wednesday, 

28.03.2012 

12.00-13.15 Lunch at the restaurant “Kahlenberg” Vienna 

Wednesday, 14.00-17.00 Guided tour of the Freudenau power house (Mr. Vienna 

28.03.2012 

Wagner – Verbund) and of the nature-like fish bypass 

channel (Dr. Hubert Honsowitz – Technical University 

Vienna) 

Wednesday2 

8.03.2012 

17.20-18.32 Train to Bratislava Bratislava 

Wednesday2 19.30 Dinner at the hotel; 

Bratislava 

8.03.2012 

Private programme 

Thursday, 8.50 Pick-up at the hotel Bratislava 

[35]

29.03.2012 

Thursday, 

29.03.2012 

Thursday, 

29.03.2012 

Thursday, 

29.03.2012 

Thursday, 

29.03.2012 

Thursday, 

29.03.2012 

Thursday, 

29.03.2012 

Thursday, 

29.03.2012 

Friday, 

30.03.2012 

Friday, 

30.03.2012 

Friday, 

30.03.2012 

Friday, 

30.03.2012 

Friday, 

30.03.2012 

Friday, 

30.03.2012 

Friday, 

30.03.2012 

Friday, 

30.03.2012 

Saturday, 

31.03.2012 

Saturday, 

31.03.2012 

Saturday, 

31.03.2012 

Saturday, 

31.03.2012 

Saturday, 

31.03.2012 

Sunday, 

01.04.2012 


9.15 Official welcome by the Director of the Water Policy 

Department – Alenka Bujnova 

Bratislava 

9.30-11.30 Meeting with representatives of the Slovakian Bratislava 

11.30-14.00 

Ministry of Environment and Water Research Institute 

– Technical Presentations and Exchange 

Study Visit to the Danube mainstream hydropower 

dam Gabcikovo 

Bratislava 

14.00-14.30 Lunch break Bratislava 

14.30-16.30 Continuation: Study Visit to the Danube mainstream 

hydropower dam Gabcikovo 

Bratislava 

17.54-20.35 Train to Budapest Budapest 

21.00 Dinner at the hotel Budapest 

7.40 Pick-up at the hotel Budapest 

8.00 Official welcome by the Deputy Head of the River 

Basin Management and Water Protection Department 

of the Hungarian Ministry of Rural Development - 

Zsuzsa Steindl 

Budapest 

8.00-12.00 Ministry of Rural Development – Technical Budapest 

12.30-14.00 

Presentations and Exchange 

Lunch at the restaurant “Nador” Budapest 

14.30 Official welcome of the Director of the Environmental 

Protection and Water Management Research Institute 

(VITUKI) – Dr. Ferenc László 

Budapest 

14.30-17.00 VITUKI – Technical Presentations and Exchange Budapest 

17.50 Pick-up at the hotel Budapest 

18.00 Dinner at the restaurant “First Strudel House of Pest”; 

Budapest 

Morning 

Private programme: See Danube Study Visit activity 

proposal 

Private programme: See Danube Study Visit activity 

proposal 

Budapest 

12.30 Pick-up the at hotel Budapest 

13.10-20.35 Train from Budapest to Munich Munich 

14.30 Lunch during the train journey to Munich Munich 

21.00 Dinner at the hotel Munich 

10.00-13.00 Meeting with the former Deputy Head of the 

European Commission’s Water Unit at the General 

Directorate of Environment (Helmut Blöch) – 

Technical Presentations and Exchange 

Munich 

[36]

Sunday, 

01.04.2012 

Sunday, 

01.04.2012 

Sunday, 

01.04.2012 

Sunday, 

01.04.2012 

Monday, 

02.04.2012 

Monday, 

02.04.2012 

Monday, 

02.04.2012 

Monday, 

02.04.2012 

Monday, 

02.04.2012 

Monday, 

02.04.2012 

Tuesday, 

03.04 2012 


13.00-14.00 Lunch at the hotel Munich 

Afternoon Private programme: See Danube Study Visit activity 

proposal 

Munich 

18.30 Pick-up at the hotel Munich 

19.00 Dinner at the restaurant “Lenz”; Private programme: 


Munich 

8.30 Pick-up at the hotel Munich 

9.00 - 12.00 Study Visit of the re-naturated stretches of the river 

Isar 

Munich 

12.00-13.30 Lunch at the restaurant “Zum Flaucher” Munich 

14.00-14.20 Official welcome by the Head of the Water Policy 

Department, of the Bavarian State Ministry of the 

Environment and Health – Dr. Ing. Martin Grambow 

and Klaus Schütt – Bavarian State Ministry of the 

Environment and Health, International Relations 

Munich 

14.20-17.00 Evaluation of the MRC Danube Study Visit Munich 

19.00 Joint dinner at the restaurant “Hofbräuhaus” 

End of the MRC Danube Study Visit 

Pick-up from the hotel to the airport 

Flight Munich – Bangkok/Hanoi 

Munich 

Munich 

[37]

10 ANNEX 3: DETAILED PROGRAMME 

Detailed Programme MRC Study Visit 


Day 1 – Saturday, 24 March 2012 


Morning Airport transfer to the hotel according to arrival times of the Danube Study Visit 

participants 

Until 17:30 Private programme: For details and directions take a look at the Danube Study Visit 

activity proposal sheet. Please do not forget to validate your one-day pass, before 

you get on the public transport facilities!! 

17.30 Pick-up at the hotel-lobby (Hotel Ibis Wien Messe, Lassallestrasse 7a, 1020 Vienna) 

18.00 Joint dinner at the restaurant “3 Hacken” (Singerstrasse 28, 1010 Vienna) 

How to get there: 

Get out of the hotel and take a left, turn right at Radingerstrasse, turn left back on 

Lassallestrasse and walk towards the metro (German: U-Bahn) station 

“Vorgartenstrasse”. 

Before you get on the metro, do not forget to validate your day-pass, then take the 

metro “U1” towards “Reumannplatz” and get off at station “Stephansplatz”, follow 

the exit signs “Stephansplatz”, head southwest toward Goldschmiedgasse and turn 

left onto Singerstrasse. 

[38]


To get back to the hotel, walk to Stephansplatz and take the metro “U1” towards 

“Leopoldau”, get off at station “Vorgartenstrasse” and walk back to the hotel. 

Night Daylight saving time: Before you go to bed, please do not forget to change your 

clock (add one hour). 

Day 2 – Sunday, 25 March 2012 

Note: Please wear or take walking/trekking shoes with you. 

8.00 Pick-up at the hotel-lobby (Hotel Ibis Wien Messe, Lassallestrasse 7a, 1020 Vienna). 

Taxi-transfer to the “Schloss ORTH – Donau-Auen (Danube Wetlands) National Park 

Center”. 

9.00-12.00 Review of the MRC Danube Study Visit learning points 

Introduction to the European Water Framework Directive (EU WFD) 

(Thomas Dworak, Fresh-Thoughts) 

European Water Framework Directive and Hydropower 

(Birgit Vogel) 

12.00-13.30 Lunch at the restaurant “Zum Schauhuber” (Am Markt 1, 2304 Orth an der Donau) 

The restaurant is located only a few minutes walk from the National Park Center. 

[39]


13.30 Pick-up at the restaurant. Taxi-transfer to the excursion meeting point at the parking 

lot of the restaurant “Uferhaus”, Uferstrasse 20, 2304 Orth an der Donau. 

14.00-17.00 Study Visit (boat tour and hiking) to the National Park “Donau Auen” (Danube 

Wetlands). 

17.15 Pick-up at the parking lot of the restaurant “Uferhaus”. Taxi-transfer to the 

restaurant. 

18.00-20.00 Dinner at the restaurant “Heuriger – Haus Schmidt” (Stammersdorferstrasse 105, 

1210 Vienna) 

20.30 Back at the hotel (Hotel Ibis Wien Messe, Lassallestrasse 7a, 1020 Vienna) 

Day 3 – Monday, 26 March 2012 


Please take your passport with you to register for the ICDPR Secretariat at the UN 

Office Vienna and do not forget your ticket for the public transport facilities!! 

How to get to the ICDPR Secretariat: Vienna International Centre, Wagramer 

Strasse 5, A-1220 Vienna (it takes around 10 minutes) 




Before you get on the metro, do not forget to validate your “two day-pass” (it is valid 

for 48 hours), then take the metro “U1” towards “Leopoldau”, get off at station 

“Kaisermühlen-VIC” and then follow the signs to Gate 1 of the VIC, the main 

entrance. 

[40]


9.00 Welcome to ICPDR Secretariat and tour through the offices and facilities of the 

Secretariat – Philip Weller (ICPR Executive Secretary), Benedikt Mandl 

(ICPDR TE for Public Participation) 

9.15 Go to building M, opportunity to have a look at the Vienna International Center and 

to get coffee / snacks – Benedikt Mandl 

10.00 Welcome by ICPDR President & presentation by Mekong Commission – 

Wolfgang Stalzer (ICPDR President) 

10.30 Talk: History, work and objectives of the ICPDR – Philip Weller 

11.30 Talk: Transboundary monitoring and assessment – Philip Weller 

12.30 Lunch at the UN Vienna restaurant 

13.30 Talk: River basin management – Raimund Mair 

14.30 Talk: Flood protection – Philip Weller 

15.30 Questions & opportunity to obtain publications – All 

16.00-17.30 The EU Danube Strategy followed by Q&A – Roland Arbter 

How to get back to the hotel: (it takes around 10 minutes) 

At the station “Kaisermühlen-VIC” take the metro “U1” towards “Reumannplatz” and 

get off at station “Vorgartenstrasse” and walk back to the hotel. 

18.00 Pick-up at the hotel-lobby (Hotel ibis Wien Messe, Lassallestrasse 7a, 1020 Vienna) 

for dinner and classical concert (Strauss and Mozart at the “Kursalon Vienna”). 

How to get to the restaurant “Figlmüller”: (it takes around 15 minutes) 



“Vorgartenstrasse”. Take the metro “U1” towards “Reumannplatz” and get off at 

station “Schwedenplatz.” Turn left onto Rotenturmstrasse, go straight ahead and 

turn left onto Lugeck and continue on to Bäckerstrasse. 

18.15 Joint dinner at the restaurant “Figlmüller” (Bäckerstrasse 6, 1010 Vienna) 

19.45 Walk from the restaurant “Figlmüller” to the concert venue (“Kursalon Wien”, 

Johannesgasse 33, 1010 Wien). 

[41]


How to get there: (It is a 15 minute walk) 

Head southeast on Bäckerstrasse toward Essiggasse. Continue straight onto Doktor- 

Karl-Lueger-Platz and turn right onto Parkring, go straight ahead and turn left onto 

Johannesgasse. 

20.15-22.00 Strauss and Mozart Concert at the “Kursalon Vienna” (Johannesgasse 33, 1010 Wien). 

To get back to the hotel: when you get out of the Venue take a left on Johannesgasse 

and head to the metro station “Stadtpark”. Take the metro “U4” towards 

“Heiligenstadt”, get off at station “Schwedenplatz”, at Schwedenplatz change to 

metro “U1” towards “Leopoldau”, get off at station “Vorgartenstrasse” and walk back 

to the hotel. 

Day 4 – Tuesday, 27 March 2012 


Please take your passport with you to register for the ICDPR Secretariat at the UN 

Office Vienna and do not forget your ticket for the public transport facilities!! 

How to get to the ICDPR Secretariat: Vienna International Centre, Wagramer 

Strasse 5, A-1220 Vienna (it takes around 10 minutes) 




[42]


Then take the metro “U1” towards “Leopoldau” and get off at station “Kaisermühlen- 

VIC” and then follow the signs to Gate 1 of the VIC, the main entrance. 

09.00 Presentation on GIS and Information Management – Alex Höbart (ICPDR TE for 

Information Management and GIS) 

10.00 Talk: ICPDR Public Participation – Benedikt Mandl 

10:30 Presentation on hydropower development in Austria and aligning to the 

environmental requirements of the EU WFD (Otto Pirker – Verbund/VGB Powertech) 

11.30 Closing remarks by ICPDR Executive Secretary 

Possibility to obtain further publications – Philip Weller, all 

12.00-13.30 Lunch at the VIC cafeteria 

How to get to the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, Environment and Water 

Management: (Marxergasse 2, 1030 Vienna): 1 st floor, room 126 

At the station “Kaisermühlen-VIC” take the metro “U1” towards “Reumannplatz” and 

get off at station “Schwedenplatz”, at Schwedenplatz change to metro “U4” 

towards Hütteldorf and get off at station “Landstrasse”. Follow the exit sign 

“Gigergasse” and head on Gigergasse toward Henselgasse, finally take a left at 

Marxergasse. (It takes about 20 minutes) 

[43]


14.00-18.00 Welcome by Mr Karl Schwaiger (Head of the Ministry Unit International Water 

Management and tour de table (introduction of participants) 

� Expectations MRC (short overview, what may be of interest taking into 

account discussions of the first day to openly exchange of experiences) 

� Presentation „Water Management in Austria, an Overview“ providing insight into 

relevant key data on Austria, major challenges in the field of water management, 

international coordination at the level of river basins and with neighbouring 

countries 

- Karl Schwaiger 

� Discussion 

� Presentation „Development and Assessment of Basin – Wide Environmental 

Objectives within the Frame of the Danube River Basin Management Plan and 

Implementation of EU WFD seen from a Contracting State’s Perspective” - 

Veronika Koller – Kreimel (Unit National Water Management) 


� Presentation „ Legal Frame for Future Infrastructure Development in the Danube 

Basin, Guidances in Elaboration“ (Presentation of key provisions of the EU Water 

Framework Directive including the „non deterioration principle“ and on-going 

work with regard to hydropower generation) – Karl Schwaiger / Veronika Koller 

Kreimel– 


Around 16:00: Coffee Break (20 minutes) 

How to get back to the hotel: (It takes about 20 minutes) 

Walk back to Station “Landstrasse”, take the metro “U4” towards “Heiligenstadt” and 

get off at station “Schwedenplatz”, at Schwedenplatz change to metro “U1” towards 

“Leopoldau” and get off at station “Vorgartenstrasse” and walk back to the hotel. 

18.40 Pick-up at the hotel-lobby (Hotel ibis Wien Messe, Lassallestrasse 7a, 1020 Vienna). 

How to get to the restaurant “Schweizerhaus”: (it takes around 15 minutes) 

[44]


Get out of the hotel and take a left, walk on Lassallestrasse toward Ernst-Melchior- 

Gasse, Turn right onto Ernst-Melchior-Gasse go straight ahead and continue onto 

Harkortstrasse. Continue straight onto Max-Winter-Platz, than Continue onto 

Molkereistrasse. Still Continue onto Präuscherplatz. Now Turn left onto 

Zufahrtsstrasse and then turn right onto Prater. Finally turn left to stay on Prater and 

follow the street till you reach the “Schweizerhaus”. 

19.00 Joint dinner at the restaurant “Schweizerhaus” (Prater 116, 1020 Vienna) 

Private programme: For details and directions take a look at the Danube Study Visit activity proposal 

sheet. 

[45]

7.00-8.00 Check out at the Hotel 

Day 5 – Wednesday, 28 March 2012 



Please take your luggage with you. Taxi-transfer to Kahlenberg. (Am Kahlenberg 2-3, 

1190 Vienna) 

09.00-12.00 Presentation by the WWF Danube-Carpathian Programme and following discussion 

– Irene Lucius 

12.00-13.15 Lunch at the restaurant “Kahlenberg” 

13.15 Pick-up in front of the restaurant. Taxi transfer to the power house of the Danube 

mainstream dam Freudenau, Praterspitzstrasse 1, 1020 Vienna) 

14.00-17.00 Guided tour of the Freudenau hydropower dam power house (Mr. Wagner – 

Verbund) and of the nature-like fish bypass channel (Dr. Hubert Honsowitz – 

Technical University Vienna) 

17.00 Pick-up in front of the power house. Taxi transfer to the train station “Wien 

Praterkai”. (Handelskai 265, 1020 Wien) 

17.32-18.32 Train to Bratislava 

Please keep your train ticket as it is also valid for the public transport facilities in 

Bratislava 

How to get to the Hotel Mercure Bratislava Centrum (Zabotova 2, 811 04 Bratislava, 

Slovakia): It is a 5 minute walk, see map below. 

19.30 Dinner at the hotel 

[46]


If you want to go downtown after dinner, please do not forget your train ticket, as it is also valid for 

the tram. For directions do not hesitate to ask us or at the hotel reception. 

7.00-8.30 Check-out at the hotel 

Day 6 – Thursday, 29 March 2012 

8.50 Pick-up at the hotel-lobby Hotel Mercure Bratislava Centrum (Zabotova 2, 811 04 

Bratislava, Slovakia). You can leave the luggage at the hotel reception. Taxi-transfer 

to the Slovak Water Research Institute (VYSKUMNY USTAV VODNEHO 

HOSPODARSTVA, Nabrezie arm.G.L.Svobodu 5., Bratislava, the left building) 

09.15 Official welcome by the Director of the Water Policy Department – Ms. Alenka 

Bujnova 

9.30-10.00 Introduction of Slovak Water Management, Questions – Discussion 

10.00-11.30 Presentation in the Danube mainstream hydropower dam Gabčikovo, development, 

experiences. Questions – Discussion – coffee break. 

11.30-14.00 Departure to Čuňovo dam and technical explanations on-site 

14.00 Lunch break in Gabčíkovo hydropower dam and continuation of the field trip 

16.30 End of the Meeting in Bratislava and return to Hotel Mercure Bratislava Centrum 

17.35 Pick-up at the hotel and walk to the train station 

17.54-20.35 Train to Budapest 

20.35 Pick-up in front of the train station. Taxi transfer to the Hotel President Budapest 

(Hold u. 3-5, 1054 Budapest) 

21.00 Dinner at the hotel 

Day 7 – Friday, 30 March 2012 

7.40 Pick-up at the hotel-lobby Hotel President Budapest (Hold u. 3-5., 1054 Budapest) 

Please take your passport with you to register at the Hungarian Ministry of Rural 

Development! 

How to get to the Hungarian Ministry of Rural Development: (Kossuth Lajos tér 11. 

Budapest V), 1 st floor, room 71 (it is a 8 minute walk). Pick up at the reception! 

Head north on Hold utca toward Kiss Ernő utca thenturn left to stay on Hold utca. 

Continue onto Báthory utca and turn left to stay on Báthory utca. Continue straight 

onto Vértanúk tere and finally turn right onto Kossuth Lajos tér. 

[47]


08.00 Official welcome by the Deputy Head of the River Basin Management and Water 

Protection Department of the Hungarian Ministry of Rural Development – Ms. Zsuzsa 

Steindl 

8.00 – 12.30 Meeting in the Hungarian Ministry of Rural Development 

� Introductory lecture on the Hungarian water management with special attention 

to the EU WFD implementation (MS. Zsuzsa Steindl) 

� River basin management planning: experience at the national and international 

levels 

(Ms. Gabriella Jelinek and Ms. Agnes Tahy) 

� Sub-basin level cooperation in the Tisza river basin and bilateral 

cooperation/cooperation with neighbouring countries necessary to achieve 

commonly agreed goals at river basin level ( Ms. Andrea Zagyva) 

� Accidental risk prevention, control and response measures: examples and lessons 

of the Ajka red mud accident (Mr. Gábor Hasznos) 

12.30- 14.00 Lunch at the restaurant “Nador” (Nadorstreet 30, 1053 Budapest) 

14.00 Pick-up in front of the restaurant and taxi transfer to VITUKI. (Kvassay street 1, 1095 

Budapest) 

14.30 Official welcome of the Director of the Environmental Protection and Water 

Management Research Institute (VITUKI) – Dr. Ferenc László 

14.30-17.00 Visit to VITUKI 

� Welcome and introduction of the activities of VITUKI by Dr. Ferenc László 

� Overview on the international monitoring network within Danube basin 

countries under the ICPDR cooperation: TNMN (Transnational Monitoring 

Network) and on the operation of the AEWS (Accident Early Warning System) (Dr. 

Ferenc László) 

� Presentation with special focus on activities relevant to Hungarian hydrological 

information system, its communication center and prognosis services (EFAS 

adaptation) (Dr. Gábor Bálint/ András Csík) 

� Special projects with participation of VITUKI related to climate change issues: 

Carpathian Climate Change Project (Dr. Gábor Bálint) 

17.00 Pick-up in front of VITUKI and taxi transport back to the hotel President. 

[48]


17.50 Pick-up at the hotel President. Short walk to the restaurant “First Strudel House of 

Pest” 

How to get to the restaurant “First Strudel House of Pest”: (Október 6. street 22., 

1051 Budapest) (It is a 4 minute walk) 

Head south on Hold utca toward Bank utca and turn right onto Bank utca. Turn left 

onto Hercegprímás utca, then turn right onto Arany János utca. Finally turn left onto 

Október 6. Utca. 

18.00 Dinner at the restaurant “First Strudel House of Pest” 


sheet. 

Day 8 – Saturday, 31 March 2012 

7.00-10.00 Check out at the hotel 

Morning Private programme: For details and directions take a look at the Danube Study Visit 

activity proposal sheet. 

12.30 Pick-up at the hotel-lobby Hotel President Budapest (Hold u. 3-5., 1054 Budapest). 

Taxi transfer to the train station. 

13.10-20.35 Train to Munich 

14.30 Lunch during the train journey to Munich 

How to get to the Intercity Hotel Munich (Bayerstraße 10, 80335 München): 

The hotel is opposite the train station. When you check in at the hotel, you will 

receive a ticket for the public transport facilities in Munich, which is valid for your 

whole stay in Munich! 

[49]

21.00 Dinner at the Intercity Hotel Munich 

Day 9 – Sunday, 1 April 2012 


10.00-13.00 Meeting with the former Deputy Head of the European Commission’s Water Unit at 

the General Directorate of Environment (Helmut Blöch) – Technical Presentations 

and Exchange at the hotel conference center 

13.00-14.00 Lunch at the hotel 

14.00-18.30 Private programme: For details and directions take a look at the Danube Study Visit 

activity proposal sheet. Sight-seeing can be arranged. Please do not forget your 

ticket for the public transport facilities! 

18.30 Pick-up at the Intercity Hotel Munich. 

How to get to the restaurant “Lenz” (Pettenkoferstraße 48, 80336 München): (It is a 

12 minute walk) Get out of the hotel and walk toward Goethestraße. Turn left onto 

Paul-Heyse-Straße then take a slight right to stay on Paul-Heyse-Straße and turn right 

onto Pettenkoferstraße. 

[50]


Or take at the station “Hauptbahnhof” (opposite the hotel) one stop with the “U5” 

towards Laimer Platz and get off at the station “Theresienwiese”. Please do not 

forget your ticket for the public transport facilities! 

19.00 Dinner at the restaurant “Lenz” 

You can either take a walk back to the hotel, or walk to the metro station 

“Theresienwiese” and take the “U5” towards “Neuperlach Süd” to station 

“Hauptbahnhof” and walk back to the hotel. 


sheet. 

Day 10 – Monday, 2 April 2012 

Note: Please wear or take walking/trekking shoes with you. 

8.30 Pick-up at the InterCity Hotel Munich. Please do not forget your ticket for the public 

transport facilities! 

How to get to the German Museum: (Museumsinsel 1, 80538 München). Meeting 

point for the Study Visit to the River Isar (It takes around 20 minutes): 

Get out of the hotel and head east on Bayerstraße toward Bahnhofplatz. Turn left 

onto Bahnhofsplatz and walk to the tram station “Hauptbahnhof”. Take the tram 

“16” towards “St.Emmeram” and get off at the station “Deutsches Museum”. And 

walk to the Atrium at the Museum. 

[51]


09.00-12.00 Study Visit of the re-naturated stretches of the River Isar. (3 hour walking tour) 

12.00-13.30 Lunch at the restaurant “Zum Flaucher” (Isarauen 8, 81379 München) 

13.30 Pick-up in front of the restaurant and taxi transport to the Bavarian State Ministry of 

the Environment and Health. (Rosenkavalierplatz 2, 81925 München) 3 rd floor, room 

3025 

14.00-14.20 Official welcome by the Head of the Water Policy Department, of the Bavarian State 

Ministry of the Environment and Health – Dr. Ing. Martin Grambow and Klaus Schütt, 

Bavarian State Ministry of the Environment and Health; International Relations. 

Introduction of the Mekong River Commission Delegation 

14.20.-17.00 Evaluation of the MRC Danube Study Visit 

How to get back to the InterCity Hotel München: (It takes around 20 minutes) 

Head east on Rosenkavalierplatz toward Elektrastraße and Turn left onto 

Elektrastraße. Follow the street and Turn right onto Englschalkinger Straße. Take the 

metro “U4” at the station “Arabellapark” towards “Westendstraße”, get off at the 

station “Hauptbahnhof” and walk to the hotel. 

18.30 Pick-up at the InterCity Hotel Munich 

How to get to the restaurant “Hofbräuhaus” (Platzl 9, 80331 München): (It takes 

about 15 minutes) Get out of the hotel and take a left and walk toward 

Goethestraße. 2. Make a U-turn at Goethestraße and walk to the tram station 

“Hauptbahnhof Süd”. 

[52]


Take the tram “19” towards “St.-Veit-Straße” and get off at the station 

“Nationaltheater”. Head south on Residenzstraße toward Hofgraben. Turn left onto 

Hofgraben and continue onto Pfisterstraße. Follow the street and Turn right onto 

Platzl. 

19.00 Dinner at the restaurant “Hofbräuhaus” 

To get back to the hotel, walk back to the station “Nationaltheater” and take the 

tram “19” towards “Pasinger Marienplatz” and get off at the station “Hauptbahnhof 

Süd” and walk back to the hotel. If you leave later then 21.00 walk to S-bahn station 

“Marienplatz”. Head southwest on Platzl toward Bräuhausstraße and turn right onto 

Münzstraße. Turn left onto Sparkassenstraße and then turn right onto Marienplatz. 

Take the S-Bahn to the station “Hauptbahnhof Munich”. Walk back to the Hotel. 

[53]

Day 11 – Tuesday, 3 April 2012 


Morning Check out at the hotel and taxi transfer to the airport (Name of the taxi company: 

Flughafen München Taxi) 

7.00 Pick-up from the InterCity Hotel Munich to the airport for the delegation of Viet Nam 

16:30 Pick-up from the InterCity Hotel Munich to the airport for the delegation of Thailand 

19:15 Pick-up from the Inter City Hotel Munich to the airport for the delegation of 

Cambodia, Lao PDR and the MRC Secretariat 

Have a save trip back home! 

[54]

11 ANNEX 4: LIST OF PARTICIPANTS 

No. Names Position 

Cambodia 

List of participants 

1 H.E Mr. Te Navuth Secretary General of CNMC 


2 H.E Mr. Watt Botkosal Deputy Secretary General of CNMC and National BDP Coordinator 

3 Mr. Chea Chhunkeat Director of Planning and International Cooperation, MOWRAM 

4 Mr. Hell Tony 

Lao PDR 

Director of Administrative Planning and Cooperation Department 

Tonle Sap Authority (TSA) 

5 Mr. Aloune Sayavong Director of Mekong Affairs Division and National BDP Coordinator 

6 Dr. Daovong Phonekeo Director General, Department of Energy Policy and Planning, MEM 

7 Mr. Virana Sonnasinh Acting Director of Planning and Cooperation Division, Cabinet of MONRE 

8 

Thailand 

9 

10 

11 

Mr. Phonepaseuth 

Phouliphanh 

Mrs. Pakawan 

Chufamanee 

Mr. Apinan 

Wathanarat 

Mrs.Ruamporn 

Ngamboriruk 

12 Mr. Chatchai Nakkaew 

Acting Director of Planning and Cooperation Division, Department of Water 

Resources, MONRE 

Director, Bureau of Mekong Management, DWR and Head of TNMC BDP Unit 

Director, Department of Water Resources Regional Office 3 

National Environmental Coordinator 

Director, Coordination and Management Branch of Kok and Khong River Basin, 

DWR 

13 Dr. Chaiyuth Sukhsri Thai National Mekong Committee Member 

Viet Nam 

14 Dr. Nguyen Anh Duc 

Director of Centre for Mekong River Basin Development Promotion, Viet Nam 

National Mekong Committee - National M-IWRM-P coordinator 

15 Mrs. Le Thi Toan Huyen Senior Official, Department of Public Expenditure, Ministry of Finance 

16 Mrs. Vu Thi Bich Ngoc 

17 

Mrs. Nguyen Thi Hong 

Minh 

MRC Secretariat 

18 Mr. Satit Phiromchai Director of Planning Division 

19 

20 

Mr. Phetsamone 

Southalack 

Mr. Voradeth 

Phonekeo 

21 Mr. Phoumin Han 

Senior Official, Department of Planning, Ministry of Natural Resources and 

Environment 

Senior Official, Department of Personnel and Organisation, Ministry of Natural 

Resources and Environment 

Officer-In-Charge of BDP Programme 

Team Leader of Initiative on Sustainable Hydropower (ISH) 

Coordinator of Mekong Integrated Water Resources Management Project 

(MIWRMP) 

[55]

12 ANNEX 5: WEBLINK TO THE PRESENTATIONS 


Under this link you can find a list of the presentations that were given during the Study Visit (in 

chronological order): 

http://www.fresh-thoughts.eu/events.php?eventid=47&site=material 

[56]

13 ANNEX 6: EVALUATION MATERIAL 


EVALUATION OF THE STUDY VISIT – OUTLINE OF QUESTIONS 

All presentations that were presented during the Danube Study Visit can be downloaded under: 

www.fresh-thoughts.eu/events.php?eventid=47&site=material 

(Please use the little green dot on the right side for scrolling) 

1) The EU Water Framework Directive and the Preparation of River Basin Management Plans 

� What are the main objectives of the EU Water Framework Directive? 

� What role does the EU WFD play in Europe? 

� What are the rough milestones of the EU WFD and the related Common Implementation 

Strategy to elaborate River Basin Management Plans? 

� Describe the inter-linkage between the national and international River Basin 

Management Plans? 

� Can you list the key pressures/impacts to water quality in European waters taken? 

� What kind of information can be found in a River Basin Management Plan according to 

the WFD? 

� What is the role of public participation in the WFD? What are the main benefits from 

public consultation? 

MRC Link and Learning Points 

� Could a similar approach as followed by the EU WFD be taken in the Mekong region? 

� If yes, what would be the RBM points to be adapted specifically to the Lower Mekong 

region? 

2) The International Commission for the Protection for the Danube River (ICPDR) 

� What is the role of the ICPDR? 

� How many countries are cooperating in its framework 

� Briefly describe the organizational structure of the ICPDR (staffing, budget, experts 

groups, etc.)? 

� What are the main issues/topics addressed by the ICPDR? 

� How does the ICPDR approach and integrate stakeholders in its work? Do NGOs feel 

integrated? 

� What future infrastructure development is most relevant in the DRB? 


� What are the differences and similarities between the ICPDR and the MRC? 

� Can the MRC learn from the ICPDR? If so, what? 

� What can be learned from the ICPDR’s working structure for the MRC decentralization? 

3) Preparation and implementation of the Danube River Basin Management Plan (DRBM 

Plan) 

� What is the purpose of the Danube River Basin Management Plan and what is its main 

content? 

� How was the DRBM Plan coordinated between all countries? 

� What are the 4 Significant Water Management Issues in the Danube River Basin? 

� How are the required data collected and managed by the ICPDR for the DRBM Plan? 

[57]


� How were climate change impacts considered in the Plan? 

� Could the public provide comments on the DRBM Plan? If so, how? 

� Does the DRBM Plan include basin-wide measures and how are these implemented? 

� What are the current and further River Basin Management challenges in the DRB? 


� What are the main differences between the MRC’s BDP and the DRBM Plan? 

� What ‘lessons’ can be learned from basin planning in Danube River Basin for the 

Mekong Basin? 

� Can BDP2 apply approaches from the ICPDR DRBM Plan? If yes, what are the issues? 

4) Development of basin-wide environmental objectives and baseline indicators. 

� What are the key components of water status assessment according to the EU WFD? 

� How is the Danube River Basin transboundary monitoring organized and which quality 

parameters are assessed? 

� How will ‘environmental baselines’ be used for land and water related planning and 

management at the various basin scales (sub-basin, national and basin-wide levels)? 

� Is the baseline used also to assess major proposed infrastructure projects, such as dams 

and deepening of river sections for navigation? 

� How do the ICPDR and European Commission ensure compliance with the adopted 

environmental baselines and objectives? 


� Could the MRC/BDP learn from the monitoring and water assessment approaches in 

the DRB and of its countries? 

� How could such monitoring and assessment approaches be used in MRC basin planning 

and project assessment? 

� What would be the value of establishing environmental baselines in the Mekong basin? 

� Would environmental baselines be feasible for the Mekong Basin (provision of an 

acceptable boundary of DOS, PMFM, PWQ)? Would these improve international 

cooperation regarding infrastructure development (including hydropower)? 

5) Transboundary issues and conflict management 


� Which lessons can be learned from the DRB for conflict prevention and management in 

the Mekong Basin? 

� What lessons can be drawn for promoting consensus between the LMB countries on the 

development of the Mekong mainstream and individual projects? 

6) Transboundary assessment of significant water infrastructure projects 

� How is the impact assessment of large development proposals and related mitigation 

measures addressed by the WFD, other European Directives and international 

Conventions and in the specific case of the Danube River Basin Management Plan? 

� What is the role in this of the ICPDR? How do the ICPDR countries cooperate on future 

infrastructure development? 

� Have SEA/TbEIA been applied in by the ICPDR member countries? 

� How does the ICPDR handle and manage accidental pollution problems that can be 

transboundary? 

[58]



� Which lessons can be learned for the improved implementation of the Procedures for 

Notification, Prior Consultation and Agreement (PNPCA) in the Mekong Basin? 

7) Flood and drought forecasting and control 

� How are Flood Protection and Management issues addressed in the Danube River Basin 

and within the ICPDR framework? 

� How do the ICPDR member countries share hydro-meteorological data? 


� Which lessons can be learned for the improvement of flood management as well as 

forecasting and warning and drought management in the Mekong River Basin? 

[59]


EVALUATION OF THE STUDY VISIT – WRITTEN QUESTIONS FOR 

GROUP WORK 

PLEASE ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS IN WRITTEN 

(NO ANSWER SHOULD BE LONGER THAN A QUARTER OF A PAGE) 

1) Briefly describe the key aims of the EU Water Framework Directive. 

2) Briefly describe (i) the key content of the Danube River Basin Management Plans, (ii) what 

are its agreed Significant Water Management Issues and (iii) its basin-wide role. 

3) Briefly describe the (i) structure of the ICPDR and (ii) list 3 cooperation key issues between 

the contracting parties of the ICPDR? 

4) Briefly describe what are the key learning points of this Danube Study Visit for you? 

Could some river basin management issues/approaches be applied in the LMB? Which 

ones? 

[60]

14 ANNEX 7: PHOTO DOCUMENTATION 


The following includes a photo documentation of the MRC Danube Study visit for each venue of the 

Programme (see Annex 2). 

25 March 2012 - Study Visit of the National Park “Donau Auen” (Danube Wetlands). After extensive 

lectures in the EU WFD, the study visit delegates visited the Nationalpark, the Danube River banks 

and side-arms: 

26 -27 March 2012 - Meetings with representatives of the International Commission for the 

Protection of the Danube River (ICDPR), Technical Presentations and Exchange. The pictures show 

the official delegation welcome with both the ICPDR President (Woflgang Stalzer) and the ICPDR 

Executive Secretary (Philip Weller) as well as a group photie: 

[61]


27 March 2012 - Meeting with representatives of the Austrian Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, 

Environment and Water Management including the Head of the Department of International Water 

Management (Karl Schaiger), Technical Presentations and Exchange: 

28 March 2012 - Presentation by Ms Irene Lucius (WWF Danueb Carpathian Programme) at 

Kahlenberg Vienna: 

[62]


29 March 2012 - Meeting with representatives of the Slovakian Ministry of Environment and Water 

Research Institute, Technical Presentations and Exchange: 

29 March 2012 - Study Visit to the Danube mainstream hydropower dam Gabcikovo: 

30 March 2012 - Meeting with representatives of the Hungarian Ministry of Rural Development, 

Technical Presentations and Exchange: 

[63]

30 March 2012 - Meeting at VITUKI, Technical Presentations and Exchange: 


01 April 2012 - Meeting with the former Deputy Head of the European Commission’s Water Unit at 

the General Directorate of Environment (Helmut Blöch), Technical Presentations and Exchange: 

02 April 2012 - Study visit of the re-naturated stretches of the River Isar in Munich (DE): 

02 April 2012 - Meeting and evaluation of the study visit at the Bavarian State Ministry of the 

Environment and Health: 

[64]


02 April 2012 - The participants in front of the Bavarian State Ministry of the Environment and 

Health: 

[65]

evaluation of the study visit - Mekong River Commission

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