Convention on the Protection of the Rhine.

The Convention aims at: (1) promoting the sustainable development of the Rhine ecosystem; (2) ensuring the use of Rhine waters for drinking water purposes; (3) improving the sediment quality; (4) holistic flood prevention and protection; (5) restoration of the North Sea. Further provisions concern the guiding principles established for the Parties, as well as their obligations. Moreover, the Convention regulates the organization, rules of procedure and decision-making procedure of the International Commission on the Protection of the Rhine (ICPR) which has the following assignment: (a) to prepare international monitoring programmes and anlayses of the Rhine ecosystem; (b) to elaborate proposals for different measures and programmes of meaures; (c) to coordinate the contracting Parties' warning and alarm plans for the Rhine; (d) to evaluate the effectiveness of the measures decided on. The Annex to the Convention concerns the arbitration procedures applicable in case of disputes. The Protocol of signature contains a list of conventions, declarations and protocols which remain untouched by the Convention.