Zagreb - Croatian Parliament Speaker Josip Leko in Budapest on Friday pointed out the importance of implementing all flood defence projects planned by the Danube strategy and of cooperation with neighbours in water management.
Speaking at the Second Danube Parliamentarian Conference, Leko recalled that 14 Danube river basin states signed a convention with the European Commission in 1994 on cooperation in the protection and sustainable use of the Danube, whose implementation is within the remit of the International Commission for the Protection of the Danube River.
Leko said recent climate change had set new challenges for the countries in the Danube river basin and that over the past decade floods had caused human losses and enormous material damage in a majority of them. Croatia experienced a disaster in May, when the flooding of the Sava river caused damage estimated at EUR 300 million, Leko said. Agricultural production needs to be revived there urgently to deal with the damage and create an action plan for future natural disasters, he added. Most watercourses in Croatia are international, Leko said, stressing the importance of implementing bilateral and multilateral water management treaties and conventions.
The recent floods in Croatia have shown why it is essential to establish relations with other states, notably neighbours, on water management. Especially important for taking appropriate flood protection measures is the exchange of data on water levels and early alerting, Leko said, calling on his counterparts from Danube basin countries to continue working together in conceiving flood prevention strategies and projects. (Hina)