TRANSBOUNDARY COOPERATIONS
Due to the basin-like geographical location of Hungary in the ring of the Alps and the Carpathians, more than 95% of the surface water resources come from beyond our borders, and a significant part of our groundwater bodies are also divided by borders.
Due to the topographic and hydrographic features, Hungary's flood risk is also outstanding in Europe, thus almost 1/4 of the country's territory is threatened by floods.
In order to ensure the flood safety of Hungary and to ensure an adequate level of water management, the transboundary relations are extremely important. Our co-operation in the field of water management with the seven neighbouring countries is based on and regulated by bilateral, intergovernmental agreements, the so-called “transboundary water conventions”. The practical framework for co-operation is provided by the Joint Water Management Committees established under international treaties. The Committee head and deputy of which are appointed by the Minister for Water Management on behalf of the Government, with the consent of the Minister for Foreign Affairs.
The territorial scope of the conventions covers the so-called area of common interest, which is characterized by the fact that the interventions and changes there can have a relevant cross-border impact.
The task of the Committees established on the basis of the conventions is to coordinate the activities of the water management bodies of the two countries. The Committees normally meet once a year and their sub-committees or expert groups at least twice a year to evaluate the activities carried out in the recent period, discuss current problems, issues and define the work program for the next period.
The work of the Committees is assisted by the Transboundary Secretaries, the sub-committees, the expert groups and working committees operating on a sectoral or territorial (river basin) basis. They are the ones who liaise directly with water institutions in the neighbouring countries and coordinate issues at a professional level.
Experts from the Ministry of Interior, the General Directorate of Water Management and the territorially involved Water Directorates participate in the transboundary water committees, sub-committees and expert groups. Activities are carried out on the basis of jointly developed and agreed regulations. The tasks of transboundary cooperation covering all water management areas are carried out by the regional water management directorates under the professional guidance of the General Directorate of Water Management. Key tasks, flood and inland water protection, transboundary water management developments, maintenance and operation of protection facilities, collection and exchange of hydrographic data, forecasts, joint reviews, water quality protection, joint action on water pollution or other potential water in case of a problem, joint participation in EU projects is a possibility.
ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE OF THE TRANSBOUNDARY COMMITTEES
- Hungarian-Austrian Water Committee
- Hungarian-Austrian Water Subcommittee
- Water Quality Expert Group
- Hungarian-Slovak Transboundary Committee
- Danube Sub-committee
- Ipoly Sub-committee
- Tisza and its tributaries Sub-committee
- Joint Sub-committee on Water Quality protection and Hydrology
- Finance Expert Group
- Hydrological Expert Group
- Water Quality protection Expert Group
- Hungarian-Ukrainian Border Water Management Committee
- Water Damage Prevention Expert Group
- Hydrology and Water Management Expert Group
- Water Quality Expert Group
- Hungarian-Romanian Water Committee
- Sub-committee on Flood and Excess Water Protection
- Sub-committee on Water Management and Hydrometeorology
- Sub-committee on Water Quality
- Sub-committee on Development and Coordination
- Hungarian-Serbian Water Management Committee
- Sub-committee on Water Damage Prevention
- Sub-committee on Water Management
- Sub-committee on Water Quality Protection
- Hungarian-Croatian Water Management Committee
- Danube and Drava River Basin Sub-committee
- Mura Sub-committee
- Sub-committee on Water Quality Protection
- Integrated Sub-committee on Water Management
- Hungarian-Slovenian Water Management Committee
- Water Management Working Group
- Water Quality Working Group
ACTUALITIES:
- For the longitudinal continuity of the section between Ipoly River and Szob-Kalonda (Hungarian-Slovakian settlements), the cooperating water directorates set up fish ladders on Ipoly River between “Ipolytölgyes” and “Tésa” and they are planning to establish two more on Ipoly River along the weir in the area of “Ipolynagyfalu/Veľká Ves nad Ipľom” and „Dejtár” – „Ipolybalog/Balog nad Ipľom”.
- Before the World War I., it was possible to cross Ipoly River by 47 bridges. The rebuilding of the bridges bombed by German forces in the World War II., – which of Hungarian-Slovakian Intergovernmental Agreement, announced by the Hungarian 24th (XXIV) law (year 2012) also states – continues with the aid of European Union funds.
- The Hungarian and Serbian Intergovernmental Bilateral Water Agreement on the cooperation in the field of sustainable water management of transboundary waters and river basins of common interest was undersigned on 15 April 2019, in “Szabadka”, which replaces the agreement in the subject of water management issues between the Government of Federal People's Republic of Yugoslavia and the Government of Hungarian People’s Republic undersigned on 8 August 1955, in Belgrade. In Hungary, the new (renewed) agreement was announced by the governmental regulation no. 97/2019 (IV. 30.) and it is in force from 24 April 2020.
- The Ukraine Government funds the finishing of the dyke development works on the left bank of Tisza River between the settlement called “Tekeháza” („Tekovo”) and „Tiszahetény” („Getenya”), the dyke development works on the left bank of Borzsa River at the settlement called “Ölyvös” (“Vilyhivka”) and „Tiszahetény” („Getenya”) and the inundation mapping of the Ung River basin.
- According to the joint laboratory tests, the quality of Hungarian-Romanian border waters show an improving tendency compared to the period of 2011-2015.
- It is important to highlight that the comparison „0” point of Maros River and White-Körös (Fehér-Körös) River has been changed from the Baltic Sea level to the Black Sea level.
- Hungary, Croatia and Serbia has renewed and ordered the usage of their ice flood prevention regulation for the joint section of the Danube from “Dunaföldvár” (Hungary) to “Vukovár” (Croatia) in a trilateral agreement.