Preface

Executive Summary

Introduction

• History of the project
  
• Goals and objectives of the Initiation Phase of the TRB SDP
• Description of the natural environment of the project area
  
• Socio-economic conditions of the watershed
• Methodology of the work
• Findings
  

Country Report - Romania

Country Report - Ukraine

Country Report - Slovakia

Country Report - Hungary

Country Report - Yugoslavia

Annexes, appendices, references

• Summary
• Country Chapters

History of the project

In recent years, the Tisa/Tisza river basin has been on the forefront of international attention due to a sequence of major flood events and environmental disasters with the Baia Mare cyanide spill leading the headlines. The river and its catchment are shared by five countries: Hungary, Romania, Slovakia, Ukraine and FR Yugoslavia.

Following the Baia Mare spill, the European Commission established the "Baia Mare Task Force" in order to assess the reasons for the disaster and to recommend possible future actions. Among others, the Task Force found that the response to the cyanide spill was a positive example of cooperation among the countries. It also concluded that a regional integrated programme for the sustainable development of the river basin was necessary to create jobs and future prosperity for those living in the river basin and to minimise the risk of future similar accidents. At the same time, the water and environmental authorities of the five countries strengthened their cooperation by signing a Memorandum of Understanding.

Several other initiatives have been taken that contribute to the objectives stated above, including:

• International Convention for the Protection of the Danube River and related activities;
• Floor Control Concept of the Tisza Valley (7 working groups for 5 countries on the watershed)
• Floor protection Forum to the Tisza/Tisa valley
• Environmental Protection Programme for the Tisza/Tisa River Basin
  
• Carpathian Euro Region;
  
• Carpathian Programme of the WWF;
  
• Integrated Management of Carpathian River Basins study prepared by UNEP and REC for the Ministry of Environment Slovakia;
  
• Rapid Risk Assessment by WHO Euro and REC, sponsored by Italy;
  
• Integrated Rehabilitation and Management of Tisza River Oxbows, GEF project proposed by Hungary;
  
• An ongoing study conducted by REC Country Office Hungary, financed by the British Embassy providing an overview of the facts and consequences of the cyanide pollution and the resulting floods, from a technical, social and economic viewpoint - an effective emergency planning and action framework and system are to be developed for civil societies and municipalities along the Tisza river to enable them to respond to possible future incidents more quickly and efficiently;
  
• Study on international legal aspects of the Baia Mare accident conducted by the REC with support of the UK;
  
• Inventory, Regulations and Environmental Impact of Toxic Mining Wastes in Pre-Accession Countries conducted by the EU Joint Research Centre (Ispra);
  
• Emergency grants to NGOs and local governments following the spill, managed by REC country offices in Hungary, Romania and Yugoslavia, and follow-up grants for local nature conservation and wetland protection projects - these activities were conducted by REC Country Office Hungary with the financial support of the governments of the Netherlands, the UK, Japan and the USA.
  

A number of donors and international organisations have expressed their interest in helping to solve the environmental and social problems along the Tisa/Tisza river. Three of the five countries in the river basin are in the process of accession to the European Union, which is presenting a major opportunity and driving force for changing the development patterns in the region. The border regions of neighbouring countries will also benefit from EU cross border cooperation (CBC) programmes in future. The Global Environment Facility has recently initiated the Operational Programme for Integrated Ecosystem Management Projects, providing a comprehensive framework to manage natural systems across sectors, and political or administrative boundaries in the context of sustainable development.

The initiation and conceptual development of the Tisa/Tisza River Basin Sustainable Development Programme was initiated by REC and UNDP/RBEC Regional Support Centre in Bratislava. The Initiation Phase of the TRB SDP was implemented by the REC and the Tisza-Szamos Kht., Budapest and supported by the UK FCO (British Embassy, Budapest) as well as UNDP.

This initiation phase was also feeded by the UNDP Emergency Response Unit, Geneva, which provided resource to Hungary to promote flood defence facilities after heaviest flood in the Tisza/Tisza River at 2001. Additional resources from the Hungarian government made possibility for the development of the TRB SD based on two projects: Tisza River Basin Integrated Sustainable Development Programme-Initiation Phase and the preparatory Assistance to Hungary for an Integrated Disaster Preparedness and Sustainable Development Programme.These would also be good bases for the future "Agreement on Sustainable Development of the Tisa/Tisza River Basin" inisiated by the Councile of Europe, Strassbourg.

Goals and objectives of the Planning and Initial Phase of the TRB SDP

Description of the natural environment of the project area

Socio-economic conditions of the watershed

Methodology of the work

Findings