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Legal Framework
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4.1. Legal Framework
Existing legal framework: The riparian countries of the Dnipro Basin are parties to a
number of global and regional UN Conventions that define the approaches towards
(see Annex 2):
- Ensuring sustainable nature use and environment protection in the Dnipro Basin;
- Achieving environment quality that is safe for human health;
- Ensuring conservation and protection of biological and landscape diversity
To facilitate the fulfilment of their international obligations, the riparian countries of the Dnipro Basin have developed and are implementing the relevant bilateral agreements (see Annex 2).
In order to provide an adequate framework for the implementation of provisions set forth in the global/regional UN Conventions and relevant bilateral agreements, the riparian countries of the Dnipro Basin will draft and adopt appropriate national by-laws and regulations.
During the 5th Pan-European Conference “Environment for Europe”, held on 22-24 May, 2003 in Kyiv, the Ministerial Declaration on Cooperation for Environmental Rehabilitation of the Dnipro Basin was signed by the riparian countries of the Dnipro Basin. In this Declaration, the Ministers of Environment expressed their “willingness and preparedness to develop the international agreement that will provide a common framework for ensuring the sustainability of international cooperation between the riparian countries of the Dnipro Basin, and establishing the common principles, objectives, tasks and obligations of the parties in the field of environmental rehabilitation of the Dnipro Basin”.
The National Action Plans (NAPs), to be endorsed by the relevant by-laws adopted by the Governments of the riparian countries of the Dnipro Basin, represent the major tool that shall facilitate the implementation of the SAP.
Proposed options for improving the legal framework: Taking into account international experience and best practice in the management of international freshwater resources, the riparian countries of the Dnipro Basin have committed themselves to take the necessary action in order to establish an adequate legal framework for managing the Dnipro Basin on a multilateral basis. This in itself represents an unprecedented step forward in developing their international cooperation. This would provide a comprehensive and integrated framework for the riparian countries to address and resolve the transboundary environmental issues existing in the Dnipro Basin, and improve the efficiency of their joint effort in fulfilling and implementing their international obligations at the global and regional level.
A practical step towards a regional policy is the development, endorsement and approval of the Agreement on Cooperation on the Management and Protection of the Dnipro Basin by the respective Governments of the riparian countries of the Dnipro Basin. The present SAP document constitutes an integral part of this Agreement.
In order to ensure the sustainable implementation of the SAP, the parties to this Agreement shall implement the Transboundary Monitoring Programme (TMP) and facilitate the international exchange of environmental information in accordance with the agreed Rules and Procedure of the Interstate Dnipro Basin Environmental Data Base. These provisions of the Agreement shall be implemented at the national level.
