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CONVENTION ON THE PROTECTION AND USE OF TRANSBOUNDARY
WATERCOURSES AND INTERNATIONAL LAKES
Objectives
==========
To strengthen national and international actions aimed at the
protection and ecologically sound management of transboundary
waters.
Summary of provisions
=====================
(a) Definition of important terms used in the Convention,
such as "transboundary water", "transboundary impact", "Riparian
Parties" (art. 1);
(b) Statement of provisions of common application to parties.
These include the duty to prevent, control and reduce pollution of
waters which have a transboundary range; to exercise economy and
rational management in respect of such waters; to practice equity
in the use of transboundary waters; and to avoid the transfer of
pollution from one location to another; to undertake precautionary
measures, so as to avert possible pollution of transboundary waters;
to employ the polluter-pays principle as one measure to discourage
the pollution of transboundary waters; to employ cooperative
endeavours among Riparian Parties, in the control of water pollution
(art. 2);
(c) Specification of prevention, control and reduction
measures in respect of transboundary water pollution. The relevant
provisions (art. 3) impose obligations in relation to the emission
of pollutants, the management of point sources of pollution, the
application of suitable technology to discharges of hazardous
substances, the treatment of municipal waste water, the control of
deposits of noxious matter from diffuse sources affecting water, and
the adoption of environmental impact assessment as part of a
strategy to maintain the ecological balance;
(d) Requirement of cooperation in research and development,
among the Parties, to bring about effective measures of control for
transboundary water pollution (arts. 5 and 12);
(e) Requirement of bilateral and multilateral cooperation
among Riparian Parties, so as to facilitate control of transboundary
water pollution (art. 9);
(f) Prescription of effective monitoring of measures for the
control of transboundary water pollution (arts. 4 and 11);
(g) Stipulation of the duty to consult and to give warning,
among the Parties, in relation to transboundary water pollution
(arts. 6, 10, 13, 14 and 16), and to assist one another in effecting
control of such pollution (art. 15);
(h) Provision of machinery for review of measures taken under
the Convention, and for its administration (arts. 17, 18 and 19);
(i) Provision for the settlement of disputes (art. 22).
The Convention has the following annexes:
Annex I: Definition of the term "best available technology";
Annex II: Guidelines for developing best environmental
practices;
Annex III: Guidelines for developing water-quality
objectives and criteria;
Annex IV: Arbitration.
Membership
==========
This Convention is open to States members of the Economic
Commission for Europe, as well as States having consultative status
with the Economic Commission for Europe pursuant to paragraph 8 of
Economic and Social Council resolution 36 (IV) of 28 March 1947, and
also to regional economic integration organizations constituted by
sovereign States members of the Economic Commission for Europe.
This is subject to ratification, acceptance or approval.
Date of adoption 17. 3.1992
Place of Adoption Helsinki, Finland
Date of entry into force
(or conditions for entry
into force) On the ninetieth day after the date
of the sixteenth instrument of
ratification, acceptance, approval
or accession
Languages English, French, Russian
Depositary Secretary-General of the
United Nations
Participant Signature
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Albania 18. 3.1992
Austria 18. 3.1992
Belgium 18. 3.1992
Bulgaria 18. 3.1992
Denmark 18. 3.1992
Estonia 18. 3.1992
Finland 18. 3.1992
France 18. 3.1992
Germany 18. 3.1992
Greece 18. 3.1992
Hungary 18. 3.1992
Italy 18. 3.1992
Latvia 18. 3.1992
Lithuania 18. 3.1992
Luxembourg 20. 5.1992
Netherlands 18. 3.1992
Poland 18. 3.1992
Portugal 9. 6.1992
Romania 18. 3.1992
Russian Federation 18. 3.1992
Spain 18. 3.1992
Sweden 18. 3.1992
Switzerland 18. 3.1992
United Kingdom of
Great Britain and
Northern Ireland 18. 3.1992
Convention Secretariat
======================
United Nations Economic Commission for Europe
Palais des Nations
CH-1211 Geneva 10
Switzerland
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