Convention for the Protection of the Rhine

SUMMARY OF:

Convention on the Protection of the Rhine — Protocol of Signature

Decision 2000/706/EC concerning the conclusion, on behalf of the Community, of the Convention for the Protection of the Rhine

WHAT IS THE AIM OF THE CONVENTION AND THE DECISION?

The convention is designed to ensure that signatory countries work towards the sustainable development of the Rhine ecosystem on the basis of a comprehensive approach which takes into consideration the natural wealth of the river, its banks and flood plains.
The decision concludes the convention on behalf of the European Community (now the EU).
The convention replaces and repeals:
- the 1963 Agreement concerning the International Commission for the Protection of the Rhine against Pollution,
- the Additional Agreement of 1976 to the Agreement of April 1963 concerning the International Commission for the Protection of the Rhine against Pollution, and
- the 1976 Convention for the protection of the Rhine against chemical pollution.

KEY POINTS

The aims of the convention are as follows:

the sustainable development of the Rhine ecosystem through:
- maintaining and improving the quality of the Rhine’s waters, and its natural function;
- protecting species diversity;
- reducing contamination;
- conserving and improving natural habitats for wild fauna and flora;
- ensuring environmentally sound management of water resources;
- taking ecological requirements into account when developing the waterway;
the production of drinking water;
improvement of sediment quality;
flood protection;
coordination with measures to protect the North Sea.

The riparian countries (the countries through which the Rhine flows) undertake to:

cooperate in taking actions to protect the Rhine;
implement programmes and studies concerning the river;
identify the causes of and parties responsible for pollution;
ensure that technical measures liable to have a serious effect on the ecosystem, as well as discharges of waste water and hazardous substances, are subject to prior authorisation;
reduce the risks of environmental accidents.

The International Commission for the Protection of the Rhine (ICPR) is made up of representatives of the contracting states. It is chaired in turn by these states. It takes decisions unanimously and communicates them to the contracting parties. Its tasks are to:

prepare studies and programmes on the Rhine ecosystem;
make proposals for actions;
evaluate the effectiveness of the actions carried out;
coordinate warnings and alerts;
inform the public as to the state of the Rhine and the results of its work.

Each year, the ICPR draws up an activity report and submits it to the contracting parties.

The contracting parties report regularly to the ICPR on the legislative, regulatory and other measures they have taken to implement the convention and the results of those measures.

In February 2020, at a Ministerial Conference in Amsterdam, the riparian states met to take stock of the implementation of the ICPR’s ‘Rhine 2020’ programme. They also adopted the new ‘Rhine 2040’ programme for the subsequent 20-year period.

ENTRY INTO FORCE

The convention entered into force on 1 January 2003.

BACKGROUND

For more information, see:

Assessment Rhine 2020 — brochure (ICPR)
Ministers continue success story and adopt ‘Rhine 2040’ programme — press release (ICPR).

MAIN DOCUMENTS

Convention on the Protection of the Rhine — Protocol of Signature (OJ L 289, 16.11.2000, pp. 31-37)

Council Decision 2000/706/EC of 7 November 2000 concerning the conclusion, on behalf of the Community, of the Convention for the Protection of the Rhine (OJ L 289, 16.11.2000, p. 30)