Posted on 03 February
2011
Zagreb, Croatia: Newly unveiled plans which
would turn the Danube and Croatia’s other
rivers into little more than regulated canals
have been protested to the European Union
by WWF, Croatian NGOs and EuroNatur.
The plans, released
by the Croatian Water Management Authority
run counter to European water and environmental
regulations – and potentially throwing up
obstacles to Croatia joining the EU.
The proposed river regulation
projects along the Danube, Drava, Mura,
Sava and Neretva Rivers would transform
many natural meandering river stretches
into a unified canal, fixed by stones, groins
and embankments.
In defiance of the EU
Water Framework Directive, the Danube Strategy
and the Danube River Basin Management Plan,
about 440 km of natural river stretches
of the Danube and Sava rivers could be regulated
and destroyed, damaging Europe’s largest
floodplain forests and wetland areas. Also
under threat would be endangered species
such as the Little tern, White-Tailed eagle,
Otter and Sturgeon.
“We are very much concerned
that new planned river regulation projects
along all major rivers in Croatia are threatening
unique natural areas and counteracting efforts
of the EU to bring water management in line
with EU policy and law”, said Arno Mohl,
Freshwater Expert at WWF Austria. “Specifically,
we are concerned about the planned large-scale
river regulation schemes, sediment extraction
and irrigation projects along the Danube,
Drava, Mura, Sava and Neretva Rivers”.
A delegation of Croatian
NGOs , WWF and EuroNatur handed over a protest
letter to Ambassador Paul Vandoren, Head
of the EU Delegation in Zagreb, addressed
to EU Environment Commissioner, Janez Potocnik
and EU Enlargement Commissioner, Stefan
Füle, expressing their deep concern
about the new regulation projects planned
by the Croatian Water Management Authority.
“These are river management
plans of last century,” Arno Mohl said.
“European river authorities are suggesting
ecologically more acceptable methods of
river management that leave more space for
the rivers. They are doing this because
we now realize that a naturally functioning
river not only has more life than a canal,
but it also provides natural mechanisms
to better deal with droughts and floods.”
The regulation plans
“The regulation plans
are the biggest attack on Croatian and European
natural heritage since the country became
independent. The ongoing resistance of the
Croatian Water Management Authority to follow
common European values and standards is
unacceptable. We urge the EU Commission
to help stop this old fashioned way of river
management and urge the Croatian government
to impose a moratorium on these plans”,
say the NGOs.
Given the ongoing resistance
of the water management sector of Croatia
to find an appropriate strategy for the
development of the rivers, the NGOs have
asked the European Commission to immediately
urge Croatia, respectively the Water Management
Authority to:
Refrain from taking
any further decisions or steps in the implementation
of these projects and to impose a moratorium
on these river regulation, sediment extraction
and irrigation projects.
Initiate a round table between all relevant
stakeholders to discuss and review current
projects and practices and find sustainable
alternatives in line with Croatian and EU
law.
According to official
information from the Croatian government
and statements from different European officials,
Croatia has reached the final stage of negotiations
on accession to the European Union. As part
of this process, Chapter 27 (Environment)
has been provisionally closed during the
last pre-accession conference in December
2010.
“We believe that fulfilling
EU environmental obligations is a condition
for Croatia’s further integration into the
EU – and ultimately for EU accession”, Arno
Mohl said.
More about current river
management practice in Croatia
Dates back to the socialist
times of former Yugoslavia and is in clear
contradiction with the principles of sustainable
development and environmental protection
of the EU.
Contravenes EU environmental legislation
(including the Water Framework Directive,
the Habitats and Bird Directives) and Croatian
environmental law (Nature Protection Act).
Threatens European endangered habitats and
species within proposed Natura 2000 sites
and leads to the deterioration of the „ecological
status“ of river ecosystems.
Endangers well preserved river ecosystems,
wetland areas and alluvial forests, including
protected areas and wetland areas of international
importance (Ramsar sites) in Croatia.
