Seventh Session of the Meeting of the Parties to the UN Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) Convention on the Protection and Use of Transboundary Watercourses and International Lakes

On Wednesday, MOP7 delegates began the day with a discussion of the past and future three-year programme on assessing the benefits of transboundary water cooperation, which noted that the work had highlighted a need to bridge the gap between the water and foreign policy communities, and to mainstream water diplomacy into foreign policy. River basin management practitioners presented experiences from the Sava River Basin Commission, the Mekong River Commission and the Okavango Basin Commissions.

Delegates then heard a report from the Implementation Committee, and elected four members to the Committee – three returning members from Germany, Italy and the Netherlands, and a new member from Uzbekistan.

They also discussed ‘Support to Implementation through Capacity-Building and Assistance on the Ground’, and heard a report-back on the ‘Exchange of Experience of Joint Bodies,’ which had resulted in compilation of Draft Principles for Effective Joint Bodies for Transboundary Water Cooperation.

Delegates also addressed: the need for joint reporting under the Water Convention; water and industrial accidents; and the thematic assessment of the water-food-energy-ecosystems nexus. On assessment of transboundary waters, they agreed to carry out preparatory work and launch preparations for a third assessment of transboundary waters from 2018.

Participants praised the achievements of the National Policy Dialogues (NPDs) taking place under the EU Water Initiative, which have become a platform for addressing a range of water-related issues. Finland announced funding of €400,000 for the NPDs in Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, and the EU announced funding of €23 million for the 'EU Water Initiative Plus East' programme to strengthen the water policy framework in five countries.

Five side events took place during the day, including two lunchtime events on next steps of the UN Watercourses Convention (UNWC), and nexus and water allocation in transboundary basins.

On Thursday morning, MOP7 participants resumed discussions on the water-food-energy-ecosystems nexus. They welcomed the publication “Reconciling Different Resource Uses in Transboundary Basins: Assessment of the Water-Food-Energy-Ecosystems Nexus” and encouraged countries to apply the nexus approach.

In discussion of the global opening of the Water Convention, delegates heard that more than 60 non-UNECE countries have participated in Water Convention activities, including regional events and national workshops. Several delegates from non-UNECE countries expressed interest in acceding to the Convention or ratifying it. Many delegates requested support for capacity building, and cooperation to organize regional workshops in Latin America and Africa.

Delegates adopted the programme of work for 2016-2018 and approved the requested budget of US$ 8.7 million. They discussed cooperation with partners and achievements under the Protocol on Water and Health, and heard a report on the informal gathering of parties to the UN Watercourses Convention in Paris in September 2015.

Kazakhstan announced its preparations to host the International Water Assessment Center, and offered to host MOP8.

At the close of the meeting, delegates adopted a package of decisions by acclamation and elected the new Chair, Vice-Chairs and bureau members. Outgoing MOP Chair Massimo Cozzone expressed his appreciation to all colleagues for their contributions, and to the Convention secretariat and the Hungarian hosts.

Incoming MOP Chair Peter Kovacs (Hungary) noted that MOP7 was a milestone in the history of the Convention as it marked the starting point of the global opening of the Convention. He welcomed the solutions offered by countries outside the UNECE region who have a strong commitment to implementing the Convention, highlighting the shared objective of improving transboundary cooperation. He closed the meeting at 4:52 pm.