Agreement between Finland and Sweden concerning Transboundary Rivers.

The purpose of the Agreement between Finland and Sweden is to promote cross-border cooperation in water and fisheries issues and ensure equal opportunities for the two countries to use transboundary rivers for the benefit of the frontier region. Besides this, the Agreement contributes to the efforts to prevent flood and environmental damages. The Transboundary River Agreement creates the conditions for the implementation of the Water Framework Directive and Floods Directive of the European Union in the River Tornionjoki-River Muonionjoki river basin in the frontier region between Finland and Sweden. By the agreement, an international river basin district of Finland and Sweden has been established for this river basin. The Agreement also sets up the Finnish-Swedish Transboundary River Commission as a cooperation body between the two states, which sees to water management and protection, flood risk management and other tasks specified in the Agreement. The Commission works together with the municipalities, business entrepreneurs, public authorities and other actors in the regions covered.
The provisions of the legislation applicable to water resources projects in the River Tornionjoki area and competent authorities are laid down in the national legislation of each country. However, the Agreement provides the residents of the region with extensive rights to participate in the management of water permit issues on the other side of the border as well.
The Fishing Rule for the River Tornionjoki Fishing District, as an integral part of the Agreement, lays down provisions concerning the protected districts, fishing seasons and closed seasons, minimum sizes, and fishing gear and their use. The public authorities specified by the Finnish and Swedish Governments discuss any derogations from the Fishing Rule which may be needed on an annual basis. Such derogations are to be assessed on the basis of changes in the fish populations and they may concern, for example, allowable fishing seasons.