This document summarizes participatory approaches to water management in the transboundary River Lielupe between Latvia and Lithuania. It describes the Baltic Environmental Forum (BEF), an NGO that works to enhance cooperation and public participation in environmental management. The BEF is working on a project to involve NGOs in water management policy according to the EU Water Framework Directive and national legislation. Tools for public participation discussed include networking NGOs, developing a joint vision and action plan, and building dialogue between NGOs and authorities for the River Lielupe basin, which is at risk for eutrophication and lacks proper waste and drinking water management in some areas. The main conclusions are that long-term partnerships and a permanent structure are

1. www.bef.lv
“Participatory approaches
towards water management:
transboundary cooperation in the
River Lielupe (Latvia/Lithuania) ”
9 June 2005, St. Petersburg, Russia
Kristina Veidemane

2. www.bef.lv
Content of the presentation
• About the BEF
• Legal bases on water
management
• Transboundary river Lielupe
• Tools for public
participation

3. www.bef.lv
BEF - WHO ARE WE?
• Non-governmental organisations in Latvia,
Estonia, Lithuania and Germany;
• Established in 2003;
• Formed from the Team of the Technical
Assistance Projects to the Baltic MoEs to
support EU accession process 1995-2004

4. www.bef.lv
GOAL OF THE BEF
• Networking of different stakeholders by
enhancing co-operation and capacity
building on environmental management:
– Vertical cooperation: international, Baltic Sea
region, national, local
– Horizontal cooperation – different interest groups

5. www.bef.lv
Legal bases for water policy
• Water Framework Directive
gives a frame for public
participation
• National legislation gives
procedures
• Bi-lateral agreements
on cooperation between
countries

6. www.bef.lv
Water Framework Directive
• Art. 14: “Member States shall encourage the active
involvement of all interested parties in the
implementation of this Directive, in particular in the
production, review and updating of the river basin
management plans.”
• Public participation:

7. www.bef.lv
National Procedures in Latvia
• Law on Water Management, Article 23
• Regulations of the Cabinet of Ministers No
283 “On river basin district management
plans and programmes of measures”
• Regulations of the Cabinet of Ministers No
681 “On statutes of river basin district
advisory board”

8. www.bef.lv
Bilateral agreement between Latvia
and Lithuania
• Signed on October 24, 2003 Palanga,
Lithuania
• Legal form for cooperation among the state
authorities of two countries
• Article 3: Exchange of Information, Monitoring
and Harmonising Activities
• Does not address public participation

9. www.bef.lv
Transboundary River Lielupe
• About 843 000
inhabitants live in the
river basin district
(~355 000 in Latvia
and ~485 000 in
Lithuania)
• Covers 17 633 km2
in
Latvia and Lithuania

10. www.bef.lv
Transboundary River Lielupe
• High intensity of agriculture resulting in
pressure to ecosystem
• Assigned as risk area for eutrophication
• Specific industrial branches discharging
hazardous substances
• Many settlements lack a proper waste
water treatments and drinking water
supply

11. www.bef.lv
PHARE project
“Involvement of NGOs in the new water
management policy in Latvia” (October 2004 –
July 2005)
Funded by Phare Programme “Development and
Strengthening of Civil Society” administered by
Society Integration Fund in Latvia

12. www.bef.lv
Tools for public participation
• Networking of NGOs for commonly shared
waters
• Developing joint vision and action
programme
• Building dialogue between NGOs and
authorities

13. www.bef.lv
Networking in Lielupe river basin
• Identification of NGOs active in water
management, catalogue of contacts;
• Meetings, international workshops;
• E-mail lists;
• Discussion forum at the web site:
http://river.bef.lv
• Information brochures

14. www.bef.lv
Developing common vision and
action programme
• Defining goals and tasks for cooperation
• Agreeing on common areas of
cooperation
• Identifying first joint actions
• Identification needs to strengthen NGO
and public participation

15. www.bef.lv
Dialogue with authorities
• Ministry of the Environment
• Latvian Environment, Geology and
Meteorology Agency Water Management
Unit
• Getting acquainted with each other
• Discussions on progress in implementation
of the requirements
• Exchanging positions, opinions on situation

16. www.bef.lv
Main conclusions
• It is necessary to create partnerships between
NGOs, municipalities and businesses to ensure
long-term NGO& public involvement
• Dialogue creation between NGO and decision
makers is a long process, therefore there is
need for a permanent structure (e.g. Secretariat)
• NGOs (local) need capacity building on water
issues to be able to act as multipliers
• There is lack of clear and concise materials for
wider public on water issues