ABSTRACT: Setting up a European Great Rivers and Waterways Community, means creating a supranational Authority to run, at an economic and environmental level, the vast system of waterways which pivots on the Danube. This is a top-priority objective which could act as the driving force behind a process of economic development, environmental protection, and civil and political progress in the whole of Eastern and Central Europe.

(THE PARTY new, N. 11, 27 july 1993)

Introducing "ecologically sustainable" laws

The new trends sanctioned by the UN in the Declaration of Rio, in "Agenda 21" and in other programme-related documents will impose, despite certain inadequacies, radical changes in national and international policy regarding the environment and "sustainable development", both in industrialized areas and in less-favoured zones: in short, environmental problems are no longer approached with regard to specific sectors but are essentially viewed as part of the international system of security, development and democracy which constitutes the principal challenge of our times. Neverthless these problems, like many others, are destined to remain declarations of good intent and there is no appreciable follow-up in the form of declared objectives, resources, instruments and commitments. Above all, there is no legal system capable of dealing with the complexity of the problem - if one exists at all! Therefore, in this area too, the Radical Party's commitment must take the form of initiatives with precise deadlines, sta

rting in those parliaments where there are members of the Radical Party.

Beginning with Central and Eastern Europe, the Radicals intend to pursue a number of projects, ranging from the institution of a European Great Rivers and Waterways Community to the affirmation of a right to information; from an action for the urgent closure of the most dangerous nuclear power-stations to the development of efficient energy networks.

The creation of a supranational Authority empowered to run, at an economic and environmental level, the enormous waterway system that pivots on the Danube, is one of the most committed and important projects involving the countries of the former Soviet bloc. It is a global project which focusses on the protection and expansion of one of Europe's most vital ecosystems.

Equally important is the campaign for the citizen's right to information concerning the environment. The recognition of this right would constitute a new and significant development in the relationship between the ordinary citizen and public administration, also in the sense that it would accelerate the streamlining of administrative bodies and render them more efficient.

In Eastern Europe there are at least thirty nuclear power stations which fall below minimum safety standards and employ incredibly outdated technologies.

In this framework, we have developed two initiatives: on the one hand, the promotion of national energy programmes that give priority to the achievement of satisfactory levels of efficiency; and, on the other hand, the closure of the most dangerous nuclear power stations, within the sphere of programmes devised in the interests ofinternational co-operation.

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THE DANUBE

The Danube is the main axis of a waterway system which through links with the Main and the Rhine, crosses or runs along the borders of ten countries: Holland, Germany, Austria, Slovakia, Hungary, Croatia, Serbia, Romania and the Ukraine (with Rotterdam on the North Sea and the Danube estuary on the Black Sea as terminals). This navigable axis considerably reduces (by more than 2,500 km.) the ocean shipping routes, from Rotterdam to the Suez canal. There are short-term and mid-term plans for extensions which would involve France, Italy and Slovenia; whilst in the long-term there are plans for a link with the great Russian waterway, which already connects the Baltic Sea with the Sea of Azov and the Black Sea, crossing the whole of Russia from north to south.

This is the most serious and important project involving the countries of the former Soviet bloc. The creation of a unified and integrated transport system in Central and Eastern Europe would, in fact, revolutionize the trade and economy of the entire continent, providing former Communist countries with enormous opportunities for development and for integration with Western countries.

However, it will be impossible to achieve this if the economic plan is not supported by supranational institutions and instruments for running the waterway system; indeed, it is easy to see that the continuation of rivalries between states will cause conflicts and crises that will be difficult to control. This problem will be encountered to an even greater degree when it comes to protecting the environment.

So far, in the construction of this enormous transport system, environmental issues have been neglected or entirely overlooked, which has caused irreparable damage to the environment and the landscape; the future development of traffic and productive activities will bring even greater risks.

The natural environment surrounding much of the waterway system is amongst the most beautiful in Europe, with many unique ecosystems and important historical sites. Without supranational instruments and policies for their safeguard, the increase in river transport will cause the gradual pollution of the surface and the entire bed of the waterways as far as the outlets to the sea. This is added to by atmospheric pollution which, through rainfall, filters into the land, pollutes the river bed and partly flows into the rivers. Finally, there is the problem of solid and liquid waste, from industrial, agricultural or urban sources, which is already extremely worrying.

These problems can only be tackled and solved by setting up an Authority with supranational powers. The latest confirmation of this is the controversy which has arisen between Hungary and Slovakia cover the construction of a dam on the Danube, on the border between the two countries, for the Gabcikovo hydro-electric power station (Slovakia).

It is therefore necessary to take this opportunity, which is not likely to occur again in Europe, to put into practice the new politico-cultural approaches formally ratified at the Rio de Janeiro Conference, approaches based on the protection of the environment, ecologically sustainable development, and the respect of cultural differences and of the civil rights of the various populations.

An international Convention regulating navigation on the Danube is currently in force. It was signed in Belgrade in August 1948 by the Soviet Union, Bulgaria, Hungary, Romania, the Ukraine, Czechoslovakia and Yugoslavia; the events of the last few years have undermined it, and a new form of agreement is now essential. It should also be noted that navigation on the Danube has been subject to an international statute for about one hundred and fifty years, and that every important hisjtorical change has prought about a renegotiation of this statute; the last time this happened, in 1948, the Soviet Union was the dominant force.

The aim of our campaign is, therefore to achieve the institution of a European Great Rivers and Waterways Community, along the lines of the European Coal and Steel Community, and to make this body, as happened with the ECSC, the driving force behind the economic and political integration of Eastern Europe.

To this end, bills and resolutions will be drawn up for presentation in national parliaments and in the European Parliament, and a long-term programme of initiatives in support of the campaign will be realized: popular petitions, international meetings and demonstrations, and the publication of specific studies and reports.