Principles For Effective Joint Bodies For Transboundary Water Cooperation Under The Convention On The Protection And Use Of Transboundary Watercourses And International Lakes

The Principles for Effective Joint Bodies for Transboundary Water Cooperation, presented in this publication, distil valuable lessons from the experiences of joint bodies worldwide, Parties to the Water Convention and other States, as well as other stakeholders. These experiences were gathered through an extensive consultation process under the Water Convention. At its seventh session (Budapest, 17-19 November 2015) the Meeting of the Parties to the Water Convention formally adopted the principles and encouraged countries to use them. The principles seek to facilitate the establishment and work of joint bodies and ultimately to contribute to reaching a high level of cooperation between riparian States. The principles are highly relevant in the light of the opening of the Water Convention to all United Nations Member States and can assist countries in implementing one of its main obligations.

This publication presents the Principles for Effective Joint Bodies for Transboundary Water Cooperation that were formally adopted by the Meeting of the Parties to the Water Convention at its seventh session (Budapest, 17-19 November 2015). Countries sharing transboundary waters worldwide are encouraged to make use of them when establishing new joint bodies or strengthening existing ones. The principles seek to synthesize valuable lessons from the collective experience of joint bodies for transboundary water cooperation, Parties to the Water Convention and other States, as well as other stakeholders. The principles are classified in two main categories. The first category presents principles related with the establishment of joint bodies, their structure and functions, including issues such as their tasks, their competence and mandate. The second category describes principles related with the operational aspects of joint bodies such as procedural considerations, financial and human resources.

The publication presents and analyses the findings of the first pilot reporting exercise under the Water Convention, which was carried out in 2017. Progress made in the implementation of the Convention is reviewed and summarised, together with the identification of significant trends, success, challenges and opportunities concerning transboundary water cooperation. The reporting mechanism under the Convention was formally adopted (decision VII/2) by the Meeting of the Parties to the Water Convention at its seventh session (Budapest, 17-19 November 2015).

This publication presents the Principles for Effective Joint Bodies for Transboundary Water Cooperation that were formally adopted by the Meeting of the Parties to the Water Convention at its seventh session (Budapest, 17-19 November 2015). Countries sharing transboundary waters worldwide are encouraged to make use of them when establishing new joint bodies or strengthening existing ones. The principles seek to synthesize valuable lessons from the collective experience of joint bodies for transboundary water cooperation, Parties to the Water Convention and other States, as well as other stakeholders. The principles are classified in two main categories. The first category presents principles related with the establishment of joint bodies, their structure and functions, including issues such as their tasks, their competence and mandate. The second category describes principles related with the operational aspects of joint bodies such as procedural considerations, financial and human resources.

In The Community of Interest Approach in International Water Law, Julie Gjørtz Howden identifies the normative elements of the community of interest approach, and how the approach provides a legal framework for common management of international watercourses.

This publication is the main output of the "Transboundary Water Cooperation in the Newly Independent States" project. It aims to define the status, trends and further needs with regard to transboundary water cooperation in the Newly Independent States (NIS), and between NIS and their neighbours. The analysis and recommendations will provide a basis for future actions and projects for the development of cooperation in the NIS on transboundary waters, in particular within the work programme of the UNECE Convention on the Protection and Use of Transboundary Watercourses and International Lakes (Water Convention) and the Strategic Partnership on Water for Sustainable Development.