Convention on cooperation for the protection and sustainable use of the Danube River (Danube River Protection Convention).

Objectives of the Convention are: (a) the promotion of water management cooperation in the field of water protection and water use; (b) the strengthening of domestic and international measures to prevent, control and reduce adverse transboundary impact form the release of hazardous substances and of nutrients into the aquatic environment within the Danube Basin. It is composed of 31 articles structured into the following Parts: General Provisions (I); Multilateral Cooperation (II); International Commission (III); Procedural and final clauses (IV). The Convention is integrated by five Annexes: Best available techniques (I); Industrial sectors and hazardous substances (II); General guidance on water quality objectives and criteria (IV); Arbitration (V).
Specific provisions concern the cooperation between the Contracting Parties in the form of consultations, joint activities, exchange of information and experiences. Specific provisions are made with regard to the protection of water resources, the inventory of the relevant sources of pollution as a basis for the development of joint action programmes, the implementation of monitoring systems applying stationary or mobile measurement devices, the obligations of the Parties to report to the International Commission. With a view to ensure the proper implementation of the objectives and provisions of the Convention, Part III regulates the establishment of the International Commission for the Protection of the Danube River. If a dispute arises between two or more Contracting Parties about the interpretation or application of the Convention, they shall seek a solution by negotiation; if the parties to the dispute are not able to settle the dispute, the latter shall be submitted for compulsory decision to the International Court of Justice or to arbitration in accordance with Annex V to the Convention.