River basin management River basin management Rhine river basinRhine river basin

Mark Wiering Mark Wiering

Political Sciences of the EnvironmentPolitical Sciences of the Environment

(Faculty of Management Sciences) (Faculty of Management Sciences)

River RhineRiver Rhine

The River RhineThe River Rhine

Rhein (in Germany ) Rhein (in Germany ) Rijn (in Dutch) Waal –Nederrijn –IjsselRijn (in Dutch) Waal –Nederrijn –Ijssel France ; RhinFrance ; Rhin Suisse: Rein, Rhy and Rhing Suisse: Rein, Rhy and Rhing (re/ ri = to flow) (re/ ri = to flow)

RhineRhine

Springs at the Suisse AlpsSprings at the Suisse Alps Important tributaries: Moselle river (left) and Important tributaries: Moselle river (left) and

right: Neckar, Main, Lahn, Sieg, Ruhr, Lipperight: Neckar, Main, Lahn, Sieg, Ruhr, Lippe 1320 km (fourth river of Europe, after Volga, 1320 km (fourth river of Europe, after Volga,

Danube, Dnieper) Danube, Dnieper) Waterway, river ecosystem, also border Waterway, river ecosystem, also border

between countries – Suisse and Austria; between countries – Suisse and Austria; Suisse and Germany, France and Germany Suisse and Germany, France and Germany (sometimes at war) (sometimes at war)

International Co-operation for the International Co-operation for the Protection of the Rhine (ICPR)Protection of the Rhine (ICPR)

Problems:Problems: Chemical pollutionChemical pollution

– From industriesFrom industries

– From agricultureFrom agriculture

Salination (salt), (French salt mines)Salination (salt), (French salt mines) Temperature of the Rhine (also climate change!)Temperature of the Rhine (also climate change!) General ecology of the Rhine ecosystemGeneral ecology of the Rhine ecosystem (later Flooding issues)(later Flooding issues)

Development of the Rhine regimeDevelopment of the Rhine regime

Five turning points (Dieperink, 1998):Five turning points (Dieperink, 1998):– 1949: first informal consultative body for Rhine 1949: first informal consultative body for Rhine

river basin (initiative of Netherlands and Suisse)river basin (initiative of Netherlands and Suisse)– Treaty of Bern (1963): formalising co-operationTreaty of Bern (1963): formalising co-operation– Ministerial Conference riparian states Rhine Ministerial Conference riparian states Rhine

(1972)(1972)– 1976: The Rhine Treaties on chloride and 1976: The Rhine Treaties on chloride and

chemical pollutionchemical pollution– 1986 : Rhine Action Program/ new Treaty on the 1986 : Rhine Action Program/ new Treaty on the

protection of the Rhineprotection of the Rhine

Characteristics of the regimeCharacteristics of the regime

Generally viewed as succesful co-operation. Generally viewed as succesful co-operation. Why?Why?

From bilateral conflicts to the river basin as a From bilateral conflicts to the river basin as a whole: increases ‘problem symmetry’whole: increases ‘problem symmetry’

Increasing knowledge of river basin, ecology, Increasing knowledge of river basin, ecology, creating epistemic community, creating epistemic community, professionalisation of involved partiesprofessionalisation of involved parties

Increasing homogeneity of societal valuesIncreasing homogeneity of societal values

Characteristics of the regimeCharacteristics of the regimepart 2part 2

Options for trade offs in negotiationOptions for trade offs in negotiation A downstream state (NL) that is active and A downstream state (NL) that is active and

alert, and that has ‘something to offer’ alert, and that has ‘something to offer’ – Financial compensation, or otherwise Financial compensation, or otherwise

compensationcompensation

Safe platform for knowlegde exchange and Safe platform for knowlegde exchange and political negotiationpolitical negotiation

Comprehensive regime: all of the basin, and Comprehensive regime: all of the basin, and different topics discussed. different topics discussed.

What is River basin Management?What is River basin Management?

Three ambitions Three ambitions 1. Integrating elements of the water system1. Integrating elements of the water system

Water quality- water quantity Water quality- water quantity Flooding and droughtFlooding and drought Ground water – Surface water Ground water – Surface water Water chain managementWater chain management

= Internal integration= Internal integration

What is River basin Management?What is River basin Management?

2. water management and other policy fields2. water management and other policy fields Water management and land useWater management and land use Water management and recreationWater management and recreation Water management and housing Water management and housing Water management and nature, etc. Water management and nature, etc.

Policy fields: Policy fields:

Spatial planning; agriculture; housing; nature conservationSpatial planning; agriculture; housing; nature conservation

= External integration= External integration

What is River basin Management?What is River basin Management?

3. Cross border water management3. Cross border water management- geographical borders- geographical borders- administrative borders (regions, administrations)- administrative borders (regions, administrations)

““rivers are not impressed by geographical boundaries”rivers are not impressed by geographical boundaries”ButBut

““Administrations do not always care much about rivers”Administrations do not always care much about rivers”

=cross border integration =cross border integration

RBM and institutionsRBM and institutions

RBM = a policy concept (the three RBM = a policy concept (the three ambitions; part of new discourse) ambitions; part of new discourse)

RBM = new ‘rules of the game’RBM = new ‘rules of the game’ RBM = new policy organisations”? RBM = new policy organisations”? RBM = new policy resources? RBM = new policy resources?

Reasons for RivercrossReasons for Rivercross

Why co-operation in water management?Why co-operation in water management? Safety issues/ Flooding management/ Risk Safety issues/ Flooding management/ Risk

Management Management Water quality issues and Hydro-morphology in Water quality issues and Hydro-morphology in

River Basin ManagementRiver Basin Management [Water Framework Directive][Water Framework Directive] [Flooding Management Directive?][Flooding Management Directive?] Nature conservation/ Landscape/Spatial Nature conservation/ Landscape/Spatial

Planning/Tourism? Planning/Tourism?

Partners in Rivercross (2)Partners in Rivercross (2)

Netherlands-Germany:

• Water quality (Twente)

• River restoration (UDE)

• Flooding (Nijmegen)

Objectives of RivercrossObjectives of Rivercross

To investigate success and failure of regional cross-To investigate success and failure of regional cross-border co-operation throughout Europeborder co-operation throughout Europe

To improve scientific knowledge on the To improve scientific knowledge on the determinants of successful cross-border co-determinants of successful cross-border co-operationoperation

To formulate policy advice on how to improve cross-To formulate policy advice on how to improve cross-border river basin managementborder river basin management

To exchange experiences in cross-border river To exchange experiences in cross-border river basin management and to build networks of water basin management and to build networks of water managersmanagers

Analysis using the policy Analysis using the policy arrangements approach (2)arrangements approach (2)

ActorsActors Interests of these actors (both water Interests of these actors (both water

related as well as other interests)related as well as other interests) Resources of these actors (money, Resources of these actors (money,

knowledge, manpower etc)knowledge, manpower etc) LegislationLegislation Political culture (policy styles, Political culture (policy styles,

organisational styles)organisational styles) Discourse (policy concepts used)Discourse (policy concepts used)

Regional cross-border co-operation Regional cross-border co-operation in the river Rhinein the river Rhine

An example

Gelderland-North Rhine Westphalia Gelderland-North Rhine Westphalia border areaborder area

River Rhine Dutch-German cross-

border area

New initiatives after flood threats New initiatives after flood threats of 1995of 1995

International Commission for the International Commission for the Protection of the Rhine installs Protection of the Rhine installs Working Group on FloodingWorking Group on Flooding

Regional Dutch-German Working Regional Dutch-German Working Group on High WaterGroup on High Water

Working Group High WaterWorking Group High Water

Dutch participantsDutch participants Province GelderlandProvince Gelderland Rijkswaterstaat Eastern Rijkswaterstaat Eastern

NetherlandsNetherlands Waterschap RivierenlandWaterschap Rivierenland Union of Dutch River Union of Dutch River

MunicipalitiesMunicipalities RIZARIZA

German participantsGerman participants Dep. Environment Dep. Environment

NRWNRW District DüsseldorfDistrict Düsseldorf LUA NRWLUA NRW StUA KrefeldStUA Krefeld Kreis ClevesKreis Cleves Union of Union of

DeichverbändeDeichverbände

Activities of the Working GroupActivities of the Working Group Joint researchJoint research

– Effects of extremely high water Effects of extremely high water on Lower Rhineon Lower Rhine

– Cross-border coordination of Cross-border coordination of measures to reduce flood risks measures to reduce flood risks

– Risk analysis of cross-border dike Risk analysis of cross-border dike rings at the Lower Rhinerings at the Lower Rhine

CommunicationCommunication– Regular meetingsRegular meetings– MagazineMagazine– Two yearly conferenceTwo yearly conference

Joint projectsJoint projects– Might be started in the futureMight be started in the future

Extent of co-operation in the Extent of co-operation in the Working GroupWorking Group

Extent of co-operation in the Working GroupExtent of co-operation in the Working Group– Difficult to judge effects on flood protectionDifficult to judge effects on flood protection– Considerable output (research, Considerable output (research,

communication)communication)– Participant’s opinion: high levels of Participant’s opinion: high levels of

satisfactionsatisfaction

Possibilities for improvementPossibilities for improvement– No focus on related issues yet (e.g. disaster No focus on related issues yet (e.g. disaster

management)management)– No joint projects yetNo joint projects yet

Helpful regarding the Dutch Helpful regarding the Dutch policy arrangementpolicy arrangement

Positive:Positive:– Dutch organisations share the water system with their Dutch organisations share the water system with their

upstream neighbours from North Rhine Westphalia and upstream neighbours from North Rhine Westphalia and depend on the organisations from North Rhine depend on the organisations from North Rhine WestphaliaWestphalia

– Large availability of resources especially money and Large availability of resources especially money and manpowermanpower

– German knowledge is made available for Dutch German knowledge is made available for Dutch organisationsorganisations

– Cross-border co-operation has always been an Cross-border co-operation has always been an important theme in the Netherlandsimportant theme in the Netherlands

Helpful regarding the NRW Helpful regarding the NRW Policy ArrangementPolicy Arrangement

Positive:Positive:– The organisations in North Rhine Westphalia The organisations in North Rhine Westphalia

are dependent on the organisations in upstream are dependent on the organisations in upstream German states and stress a discourse of German states and stress a discourse of solidarity between upstream and downstream solidarity between upstream and downstream neighboursneighbours

– Cooperation with the Dutch also makes it Cooperation with the Dutch also makes it possible for them to strengthen their position by possible for them to strengthen their position by using Dutch resources (especially knowledge, using Dutch resources (especially knowledge, but also money and manpower)but also money and manpower)

the NRW Policy Arrangement (2)the NRW Policy Arrangement (2)

Problematic:Problematic:– There is no representative from the Federal There is no representative from the Federal

Navigation AuthorityNavigation Authority– Low availability of resources especially money Low availability of resources especially money

and manpowerand manpower

Differences and similarities Differences and similarities between Policy Arrangementsbetween Policy Arrangements

Positive:Positive:– Similar policy styles in both countriesSimilar policy styles in both countries– Large similarities between the national Large similarities between the national

discourses (‘Space for the River‘)discourses (‘Space for the River‘)

ProblematicProblematic– Large differences between legal Large differences between legal

frameworks (e.g. expropriation is much frameworks (e.g. expropriation is much more difficult in Germany)more difficult in Germany)

characteristics of the initative itself characteristics of the initative itself (Working Group)(Working Group)

Positive:Positive:– All organisations have a regional backgroundAll organisations have a regional background– Low involvement of politiciansLow involvement of politicians– Preference to discuss technical topicsPreference to discuss technical topics– Informal meeting habits during co-operationInformal meeting habits during co-operation

Problematic:Problematic:– Low involvement of politiciansLow involvement of politicians– In formal legal status / restricted mandateIn formal legal status / restricted mandate

FazitFazit Co-operation is easier when differences between the countries Co-operation is easier when differences between the countries

involved are not too big (similar arrangements)involved are not too big (similar arrangements)

Start with Start with low profilelow profile co-operation co-operation– Low level of engagement of politiciansLow level of engagement of politicians– Priority for technical topicsPriority for technical topics

Stress shared interestsStress shared interests– Try to contact organisations with a similar regional backgroundTry to contact organisations with a similar regional background– Make knowledge, money and other resources available for Make knowledge, money and other resources available for

organisations in the other countryorganisations in the other country

Carefully create a discourse that stresses the importance of cross-Carefully create a discourse that stresses the importance of cross-border co-operationborder co-operation