Strasbourg, 8 October 2009 T-PVS/Files (2009) 20
[files20e_2009.doc]
CONVENTION ON THE CONSERVATION OF EUROPEAN WILDLIFE
AND NATURAL HABITATS
Standing Committee
29th meeting
Bern, 23-26 November 2009
__________
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Implementation of Recommendation No. 111 (2004) for the Ukrainian Danube-Black Sea Navigation Route Restoration Project
Document prepared by
Multilateral Environmental Agreements and Intergovernmental Organisations
Current activities related to the Bystroe Canal Project under multilateral environmental agreements and by intergovernmental organizations
28 September 2009
1. Intergovernmental organizations concerned by the developments related to the construction of the Danube-Black Sea Deep-Water Navigation Canal in the Ukrainian Sector of the Danube Delta (the “Bystroe Canal Project”) met for a second time informally in Geneva on 23 June 2009. The meeting provided an opportunity for the organizations to exchange information and experiences on their activities with regard to the project.
2. The following organizations were represented: Permanent Secretariat of the International Commission for the Protection of the Danube River (ICPDR); Secretariat of the Convention on the Conservation of European Wildlife and Natural Habitats under the Council of Europe (Bern Convention); Secretariat of the Convention on Wetlands (Ramsar Convention), European Commission (EC); UNEP (Regional Office for Europe), the UNECE secretariats of the Convention on Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) in a Transboundary Context (Espoo Convention), the Convention on the Protection and Use of Transboundary Watercourses and International Lakes (Water Convention) and the Convention on Access to Information, Public Participation in Decision-making and Access to Justice in Environmental Matters (Aarhus Convention) and the UNECE Transport Division.
3. The secretariats of the intergovernmental organizations exchanged information about activities addressing the Bystroe Canal Project under multilateral environmental agreements and by intergovernmental organizations. They noted that the decision by Ukraine to implement the Project in full might be contrary to Ukraine’s obligations under various international conventions and agreements, unless steps were taken to implement these obligations. The organizations agreed on the following joint statement as the outcome of this meeting:
Joint Statement
The organizations agreed: (a) to continue to work together; (b) each to notify the other organizations on the outcomes of key events in the following months (including meetings of Parties); (c) to meet again within one year to continue to exchange information and experiences on specific issues common to the agreements and also to review developments on the matter discussed at the present meeting. The organizations noted with concern the recent developments related to the construction of the Bystroe Canal, which seem to contradict the formal communications from the authorities in Ukraine and may lead to breaching provisions of relevant multilateral environmental agreements. The organizations agreed to discuss at the next meeting possible concerted actions to ensure compliance by the Government of Ukraine with relevant international agreements and decisions taken by international organizations.