New momentum for the protection of the Danube River and Black Sea
Environment ministers from 16 Danube and Black Sea countries will meet tomorrow (Friday 23rd February) in Bucharest. The conference will discuss the opportunities and challenges for the protection of the Danube River and the Black Sea arising from the accession of Rumania and Bulgaria to the EU. "In the framework of the EU Presidency, we will support the significant expansion of EU cooperation with the Black Sea countries," said Matthias Machnig, State Secretary in the Federal Environment Ministry, who will participate in the conference on behalf of Federal Environment Minister Sigmar Gabriel.
The accession of Rumania and Bulgaria to the European Union on 1 January 2007 means that two more Danube countries have joined the EU. For the first time, the EU has a direct border with the Black Sea. In the course of implementing the EU Water Framework Directive, up to 2012 the Danube riparian countries will initiate a number of measures with regard to municipal wastewater treatment plants as well as the industry and agriculture sectors. "This will considerably reduce nutrient loads in the Black Sea", said Machnig. For in future, all the EU states in the Danube region will have to meet more stringent requirements for wastewater treatment. This includes, for example, the broadest possible introduction of phosphate-free detergents. "However," Machnig stressed, "together we must persuade the other Black Sea riparian countries to intensify their efforts as well."
A joint declaration by the ministers aims to acknowledge the progress made in water protection since the fall of the Iron Curtain and the positive role of international financing institutions. It will call for a consistent implementation of the 2004 Danube Flood Action Programme.