COMMUNICATION AND PUBLIC PARTICIPATION IN INTEGRATED WATER RESOURCES MANAGEMENT IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE EUROPEAN WATER FRAMEWORK DIRECTIVE (POLAND)

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1 COMMUNICATION AND PUBLIC PARTICIPATION IN INTEGRATED WATER RESOURCES MANAGEMENT IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE EUROPEAN WATER FRAMEWORK DIRECTIVE (POLAND) Jacek Makinia Gdansk University of Technology Faculty of Civil and Environmental Engineering ul. Narutowicza 11/12, Gdansk, POLAND

2 Public access to information related to water resources and public participation in the decision making process principal legal documents International level Aarhus Convention (1998) on Access to Information, Public Participation in Decision-Making and Access to Justice (ratification in Poland 2001) Water Framework Directive (2000/60/EC) National level Constitution of the Republic of Poland (1997) II State Ecological Policy (2000) Act on the Environmental Protection Law (2001) Act on the Water Law (2001)

3 Forms of public participation in accordance with the WFD PROVIDING INFORMATION PUBLIC CONSULTATIONS ACTIVE INVOLVEMENT should be ensured should be encouraged

4 Program of public participation in the implementation of the WFD in Poland - 43-page document prepared by the Department of Water Resources of the Ministry of Environment, - Accepted by the Ministry authorities on 19 August 2005, - Adopts the WFD requirements concerning public participation to the conditions of water management planning in Poland and the Polish legislation, - Addressed to the institutions responsible for implementing the WFD in Poland.

5 Program of public participation in the implementation of the WFD in Poland Part I. General context - public participation in the EU and Polish legislation, - analysis of the current state of public participation in Poland, - schedule of public participation according to the WFD and its adoption in Poland, - levels of public participation (national and regional), role of public organizations

6 Program of public participation in the implementation of the WFD in Poland Part II. Program of public participation - aims, - forms, - stakeholders, - measures of collaboration and communication Part III. Implementation process of public participation in Poland in accordance with the WFD (at the national and regional levels) - organizational structure, - instruments, - evaluation and results of the implementation process

7 Public information and consultation according to Article 14 of the WFD Schedule of the subsequent steps in public information and consultation in relation to the river basin management plans according to Article 14 of the WFD Available for Timetable and work program comments to the public Interim overview of the significant WM issues Draft copies of the river management plans Available for comments to the public Available for comments to the public

8 Organization of public participation in Poland in accordance with the WFD MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT National level DEPARTMENT OF WATER RESOURCES NATIONAL COUNCIL FOR WATER MANAGEMENT WATER MANAGEMENT OFFICE NATIONAL WATER FORUM OF THE ODER AND VISTULA RIVER BASINS Representatives of organizations, institutions, unions, associations, etc. Regional level REGIONAL BOARDS FOR WATER MANAGEMENT WATER MANAGEMENT COUNCILS OF WATER REGIONS COMMISSIONS FOR PUBLIC PARTICIPATION Representatives of local governments, various organizations, water users Representatives of target groups GENERAL PUBLIC

9 Water Management Office (WMO) The process of public participation is coordinated by the Water Management Office under the supervision of the Minister of Environment, with the Department of Water Resources acting on his behalf. Public participation in the implementation of the WFD

10 National Water Forum (NWF) Objectives of the NWF will contribute to democratisation of the decision making process which can be understood as obtaining the public acceptance for decisions regarding water management, encourage public to participate in solving significant problems of water management. Organization of the NWF meetings (as an instrument of public participation) number of participants: duration: 1-2 days frequency: 1-2 per year form: plenary sessions or panel discussions open for media available on internet

11 Regional Boards for Water Management The area of the Upper Vistula pilot basin program RBWMs are responsible for ensuring public participation in the implementation of the WFD on the level of water regions new departments for public participation will be established and their tasks will comprise information provision and dissemination as well as organization and coordination of various forms of public participation Source:krakow.rzgw.gov.pl/download/streszczenie_raportu.pdf

12 krakow.rzgw.gov.pl Regional Boards for Water Management Involve yourself in the decision making on water Public consultation of important problems related to water management Pilot program

13 Commissions for Public Participation (CPP) Objectives of the CPP to obtain the optimal representation of the principal social groups interested in water management issues in the scale of water regions. Tasks of the CPP (as an instrument of implementing the WFD) discussing and reviewing results of the reports required in Article 5 of the WFD and the documents presented at the three stages of public consultations, commenting on the organization of public participation in the water region

14 Components of the Upper Vistula pilot basin program Source:

15 The Upper Vistula pilot basin The area of the Upper Vistula pilot basin program Source:krakow.rzgw.gov.pl/download/streszczenie_raportu.pdf

16 Survey concerning important problems of water management

17 Survey concerning important problems of water management (cont.) A content of the questions included in the survey refers to several important issues for the region: identification of water-related problems which can affect human life and regional development, definition of principal activities which, in the opinion of ordinary citizens and water users, can improve the current situation or eliminate the identified problems, estimation of costs, which may be borne by ordinary people, to accomplish activities leading to improvement of the current situation, estimation of the way in which various stakeholders, including ordinary people, can be involved in the planning process of problem solutions.

18 Survey concerning important problems of water management (cont.) The aims of the survey were as follows: to obtain information on perception of local water problems (inhabitants), to evaluate use of water in the everyday life and to increase awareness of water conservation in households (students and their parents), to examine experiences with identification of water problems and public participation in the solution of these problems (representatives of local government).

19 Conclusions Public participation is crucial for achieving the goals of the WFD.This requires the acceptance, willingness and active involvement of as large as possible groups of the society. The process of public participation is not easy and many techniques have to be used to make it successful. There is no universal, effective solution for public participation and several factors should be taken into consideration including cultural, socio-economical, democratic and administrative ones. Plans for the nearest future in Poland should include the implementation of the Program of public participation... on the national and water regions levels.

20 Thank you for your attention!