Doc. 8684

31 March 2000

European charter of the Danube basin

Implementation of Recommendation 1330 (1997) of the Parliamentary Assembly

Motion for a recommendation

presented by Mr Zierer and others

This motion has not been discussed in the Assembly and commits only the members who have signed it

1.       The Assembly is extremely concerned by the recent accidental cyanide and heavy metal pollution which has seriously affected the Danube basin.

2.       These accidents, the result of inadequate safety measures and insufficient monitoring of dangerous industrial plant in Romania, have further damaged the environmental situation in the Danube basin, which is already subject to continuing industrial, agricultural and domestic pollution and has been seriously affected by the armed conflicts in the region.

3.       Setting aside the immediate consequences, the contamination of the waters of the Danube and its tributaries poses a lasting threat to the survival of the river's and river bank's ecosystems, which could have serious repercussions on the ecological balance and the economic activities of the regions concerned.

4.       The health and well-being of the local population are also threatened by an accumulation of dangerous substances in underground water sources and the food chain.

5.       Moreover, the waters of the Danube are responsible for 80% of the pollution of the Black Sea and make a substantial contribution to environmental damage in the eastern Mediterranean.

6.       Having regard to the Danube basin's importance for central and south-east Europe and with a view to contributing to the region's sustainable and balanced development, the Assembly adopted Recommendation 1330 (1997), in which it advocated the adoption of a European charter of the Danube basin, which could serve as a framework for a comprehensive and integrated approach to all the problems of the Danube region and for practical co-operation at all levels.

7.       The Assembly regrets that its Recommendation 1330 has not been given practical effect. It is convinced that its proposal remains valid today and that it would provide an instrument for drawing the attention of the Danube basin's political authorities to the relevant environmental challenges and their responsibilities in this field, which could help to reduce the risk of accidents in the future.

8.       The Assembly also believes that the charter would help to develop a spirit of shared responsibility, partnership and co-operation at the national, regional and local levels, thus reflecting the objectives of the Stability Pact for South-Eastern Europe.

9.       The Assembly therefore recommends that the Committee of Ministers reconsider the draft European charter of the Danube basin, with a view to its early adoption.

Signed : ¹

Zierer, Germany, EPP/CD

Adamczyk, Poland, EPP/CD

Akçalı, Turkey, EDG

Akgönenç, Turkey, EDG

Bal, Turkey, EDG

Barsony, Hungary, SOC

Besostri, Italy, SOC

Briane, France, EPP/CD

Diana, Italy, EPP/CD

Dromberg, Finland, EDG

Gülek, Turkey, SOC

Gürkan, Turkey, SOC

Ivanov, Bulgaria, EPP/CD

Kalkan, Turkey, EDG

Luczak, Poland, EPP/CD

Mutman, Turkey, SOC

Prokes, Slovakia, NR

Rakhansky, Ukraine, UEL

Sağlam, Turkey, EPP/CD

Telek, Turkey, EDG

Tiuri, Finland, EDG

Toshev, Bulgaria, EPP/CD

Yürür, Turkey, EDG

¹        SOC: Socialist Group

      EPP/CD: Group of the European People’s Party

      EDG: European Democratic Group

      LDR : Liberal, Democratic and Reformers’ Group

      UEL: Group of the Unified European Left

      NR: not registered in a group