International Commission on the Protection of the Danube River (ICPDR)

The basis for all activities of the ICPDR derives from the Convention to be implemented, in particular from the objectives and principles of cooperation and the additional scope relating to planned activities and ongoing measures. The main objective is to achieve close cooperation of all Contracting Parties aiming at the protection and sustainable use of the Danube River and all waters within its catchments, particularly in the transboundary context. The Contracting Parties have committed themselves to take all appropriate legal, administrative and technical measures to maintain and improve the current environmental and water quality conditions. The ICPDR, through its activities and decisions, has to steer, develop and coordinate this implementation including the possibilities for the enforcement of compliance. To this end the legal and administrative basis is specified according to the DRPC provisions through regulatory key documents such as the Rules of Procedure and the Financial Rules. Institutional framework conditions are created in order to support the implementation and to assist the ICPDR in coping with its tasks and responsibilities. The progress already made in implementing the DRPC was achieved thanks to both the efforts made by the Contracting Parties for joint cooperation and domestic execution as well as to the substantial external support provided by donors and International Organizations (UNDP/GEF, EU Phare/Tacis)