Progress on transboundary water cooperation under the Water Convention

Description

"The Convention on the Protection and Use of Transboundary Watercourses and international Lakes (Water Convention), serviced by the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (ECE) requires Parties to prevent, control and reduce transboundary impact, use transboundary waters in a reasonable and equitable way and ensure their sustainable management. Parties bordering the same transboundary waters have to cooperate by entering into specific agreements and establishing joint bodies. As a framework agreement, the Convention does not replace bilateral and multilateral agreements for specific basins or aquifers; instead, it fosters their establishment and implementation, as well as further development. In 2003, the Water Convention was amended to allow accession by countries outside the ECE region. The amendment entered force on 6 February 2013, turning the Water Convention into a legal framework for transboundary water cooperation worldwide. As of 1 March 2016, all Member States of the United Nations can accede to the Convention. Another important step in the evolution of the Water Convention, was the decision taken by the Parties in 2015 to introduce a reporting mechanism by which to monitor and assess progress in the implementation of the Convention. A pilot reporting exercise took place in 2017 and 2018, the results of which are presented in this synthesis report. The report closely mirrors the structure of the reporting template. The introduction provides the context to the reporting process and its results, after which the report summarizes the responses to the main parts of the reporting template, namely: on transboundary water management at the national level; transboundary agreements and arrangements for transboundary waters; joint bodies for transboundary waters; and activities related to the implementation of transboundary water cooperation. In addition, a summary of responses to the questions related to the general challenges and achievements in implementing the Water Convention and transboundary water cooperation is provided"--Page 4 of cover.

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