Today and tomorrow, on 16 and 17 November, the Seventh Sitting of the Estonian-Russian Joint Commission on the Protection and Sustainable Use of Transboundary Waters takes place in Tallinn. The parties will discuss the condition of the River Narva and Lake Peipsi and the state of water management. At this meeting, Estonia and Russia exchange information about the state of the aquatic environment of transboundary water bodies, water protection measures implemented or planned and investments made for improving the state of the aquatic environment. In addition to this, Estonian-Russian joint monitoring and comparative tests of laboratories are discussed. The parties have been engaged in these activities since 1997 when cooperation between the two countries concerning transboundary water bodies began. Joint monitoring gives a comprehensive picture of the state of Lake Peipsi and the Narva Reservoir. Comparative tests are conducted by laboratories with the objective of ensuring the comparability of the factors analysed. Establishing the rules for utilisation of the Narva Reservoir (Russia being the author of the initial version of the rules and Estonia contributing to the development of the rules) and the consolidated report on the state of the environment of Lake Peipsi and its catchment area are also discussed at this meeting. Besides this, the parties will summarise the work done and introduce international projects administered by them. In Estonia, for example, the water management programme of Lake Peipsi (UNDP/GEF) and the water management plan of Viru-Peipsi sub-basin (EU LIFE), and in Russia, the water resources management project of the Lake Peipsi basin (EU TACIS) are currently under way. In addition, Estonia is going to give an overview of the planned hydropower projects on the River Narva. The intention to restructure the working groups of the Joint Commission will also be discussed at the meeting. For example, there is a plan to form two broad-based working groups instead of the current four working groups. One of the new working groups would be active in implementing the principles of integrated water management and the other would be engaged in monitoring, evaluation and scientific research. The Estonian-Russian Joint Commission on the Protection and Sustainable Use of Transboundary Waters was established in 1997. The Commission gathers once a year. The next meeting will take place next year in Russia, most probably in October. Further information: |
