Elements of Stage 1

This initial stage will consist of the countries meeting and starting to accept the problem, committing to working on a solution to reduce nutrient loads, and developing a starting point for implementing a solution.  The following elements must be considered and organized within this treaty and include the following: 

1. Define the economic stake for cooperation

          -How much are the lower-basin countries affected by nutrient pollution?

               -Monetary/quantitative value

          -If the solution were to be resolved, how will each country benefit: socially, economically, environmentally.  

2. Develop strategies for cooperation

          -Requires that macro-regions work together within the Basin 

          -Better the economic market of surrounding areas 

               -fish market

               -downstream agriculture

               -impacts surrounding countries might have on one individual country

The most important feature of this stage is defining the economic stake for cooperation.  Currently, the upper basin countries do not directly see the results of their pollution in the river.  In order to motivate the upper basin countries to assist with solving the nutrient level problem, they need see how they are directly affected.  Statistics will be provided with information on imports, reliance on foreign goods, and other factors that will directly effect the upper basin.  For example, Germany is the fourth largest importer in the world, and is also the start of the river.  With the large populations in countries such as Germany, Austria, and other upper basin countries, they rely on imports from the lower basin.  Other connections will be made between upper and lower countries, focusing mainly on economic importance, along with social and political factors.

The rest of this agreement will specify how they plan on working together.  Considering that not all of the countries are EU member states or have any common ground, the Tisza River Basin Management Plan will be used as an example for how to work together.  This exemplifies multiple counties on the Danube cooperating to better the water quality and manage nutrient levels.  Regulations and guidelines from this management plan will be used in the larger scale agreement for the entire Danube.  By splitting it up into smaller macro-regions, it will be easier to mediate and control regional pollution.   

Previous                                                                                                                       Back to Main Page                                                                                                                 Next