European Water.

international | environment | news report

Sunday July 18, 2004 13:44

by iosaf in his welly boots.

The Nederlander EU presidency is laying out a Pan-European approach to Water for the first time.

Not suprisingly for a nation associated with little boys fingering dykes in times of trouble, the Dutch are concerned with the annual disasters cuased by Flooding in Europe.

To which end they've organised a Euro-Water conference between governments, water industry directors and those who contribute to river safety both transport and flood mitigation in Maastricht this last weekend.

This morning, Sunday, 18 July, the European ministers have discussed a joint approach to the European high-water problem. The path from proposal to concrete agreements is long, but the results of this morning’s meeting could form the basis for a future European programme of action.
An informal meeting of Environment Ministers was chaired by State Secretary Pieter van Geel of Environment, and was organised by the Ministry of Housing, Spatial Planning and the Environment (VROM). The theme was 'Environment as Opportunity'. Examples of innovations that are good for both the environment and the economy and the circumstances under which they thrive, were presented on Friday 16 July and Saturday 17 July. The examples came from a number of Member States, represent different sectors and have been tested for their feasibility. "The innovations illustrate that the environment can contribute to a growing economy and to employment".

In addition to the Environment Ministers from the 25 Member States, the Environment Ministers of the candidate Member States – Rumania, Bulgaria and Turkey – were invited to attend, as well as representatives from the European Commission, the European Parliament and the European environmental organisation, European Environmental Bureau. Representatives from industry were also welcome on the Friday and Saturday.

here you may read the July 12th proposals-
http://www.verkeerenwaterstaat.nl/object/?lc=uk&tb=Object&id=143

it should be noted that it is important for the Netherlands – given its downstream position – that preventive measures are taken at the river-basin level, in order to protect us from floods. A central issue here is the principle of non-transference, which means that no measures are taken in one river basin that could have a negative impact on another part of the river basin. In addition, efforts will be made to increase awareness by generating understanding of the risks, interacting with Spatial Development, promoting the exchange of information, ensuring the best possible exchange of data and – possibly jointly – predicting high water in the river basin.

Other areas of Europe which are effected by such flooding are Galway in Ireland, the Bristol Channel in England, The Rhine valley in germany and a great deal of the Danube to the east.

information links -
http://www.eu2004.nl/default.asp?CMS_ITEM=1A9364F94D3D437EBDB88DFEC3D4DB38X1X46491X82
http://www.verkeerenwaterstaat.nl/?lc=uk&page=133
For more information on the problem of high water, see www.verkeerenwaterstaat.nl, click on the EU2004 logo and look under “water and the EU”.

or call Little Miss Merrovingjinvanjan Welly Boots, Yvonne de Keulenaar, on 0031 651782621
:-)

Here you may read the EU Dutch Presidency's report on "Best practices of Flood prevention, protection and mitigation"
http://www.verkeerenwaterstaat.nl/object/?lc=uk&tb=Object&id=122

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Comments (1 of 1)

The Presidency concludes:-

by -

Sun Jul 18, 2004 21:18

The Presidency concludes that in developing flood risk management plans the following issues/principles should be considered:
- The solidarity principle: measures taken in one area should not have a significant negative effect on another (upstream or downstream) area.
- An interdisciplinary approach in which all relevant aspects of water management, spatial planning, land use, agriculture, transport and urban development and nature conservation are taken into account.
- The integration with the river basin management plans and programmes of measures developed in accordance with the Water Framework Directive and the possibility of developing risk management plans for coastal areas within the same time frame as far as possible.
- A long term strategic approach, including developments that are expected in the long term.
- All elements of flood risk management should be covered in the flood risk management plans: prevention, protection, preparedness, emergency response, recovery and evaluation (lessons learned);
A continuing research regarding flood risk management.

The Presidency is aiming for Council Conclusions to be adopted in one of the Environmental Councils during the Dutch Presidency.

In the next few months the Dutch Presidency would like to discuss together with Member States the possibilities for further elaborating this European Action Programme. The Presidency expects a constructive contribution from all member states. The different interests will be taken into account.

*********************************************
aren't they business like? the Merrovinginvanjans, you never saw that sort of stern teacher type end to the Irish €U presidency statements. It's the tone of the Nederlanders. "expect a constructive contribution from everyone".

Yes Indeed, even if Japanese kids were into fingering dykes it wouldn't have helped them fight Nature this weekend would it?

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