Proposal for a COUNCIL DECISION on the conclusion of the Agreement on the Protection and Sustainable Development of the Prespa Park Area
Date: 2010-10-25
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: conservation of resources, environmental protection, transfrontier pollution, water management, water protection, water resources, watercourse

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EUROPEAN COMMISSION 

Brussels, 25.10.2010 
COM(2010) 606 final 

2010/0300 (NLE) 

Proposal for a 

COUNCIL DECISION 

on the conclusion of the Agreement on the Protection and Sustainable Development 
of the Prespa Park Area 

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EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM 

The European Union has a long-standing legislation protecting its waters, starting in 
the1970s  and  culminating  in  the  2000  Water  Framework  Directive  (WFD)1, 
establishing the objective of protection of all waters (rivers, lakes, groundwaters and 
coastal waters) and providing for coordination of efforts within shared river basins, 
across  administrative  and  political  boundaries.  Under  the  WFD,  where  river  basins 
extend beyond the territory of the Union, Member States shall endeavour to establish 
appropriate  coordination  with  the  relevant  non-Member  States,  with  the  aim  of 
achieving  the  objectives  of  the  WFD  throughout  the  river  basin  district.2  Where 
coordination  takes  the  form  of  an  international  agreement,  participation  of  the 
European  Union  as  a  Party  is  necessary  to  the  extent  that  the  agreement  covers 
matters falling within the Union's competence. 

The  Commission  received  an  authorisation  from  the  Council  in  2006,  based  on 
Articles  175 and 300(1) of the EC Treaty to participate, on behalf of the  European 
Community with regard to the matters within the Community's field of competence, 
in the negotiations aiming at the conclusion of international river basin agreements in 
relation to river basins shared amongst others between Greece on the one hand and 
Albania, FYROM and/or Turkey on the other hand.3  

The  Prespa  Park  Area  was  designated  as  a  transboundary  protected  area  under  the 
Declaration  of  2  February  2000  by  the  Prespa  countries,4  and  it  is  the  first 
transboundary  protected  area  in  south-eastern  Europe.  The  Prespa  Lakes  and  their 
surroundings are a unique natural area with high ecological significance, which can 
only be preserved through a holistic approach at basin level. 

Enhanced cooperation through international agreements similar to existing successful 
Conventions,  such  as  those  for  the  Protection  of  the  Danube  River5  and  for  the 
Protection  of  the  Rhine  River6  supports  Member  States  in  their  efforts  to  fully  and 
to  a  common 
effectively 
understanding  and  shared  priorities  with  third  countries  for  the  use  of  available 
funding instruments. 

legislation  and  contributes 

implement  EU  water 

The  Agreement  on  the  Protection  and  Sustainable  Development  of  the  Prespa  Park 
Area  has  been  negotiated  by  the  European  Commission,  Greece,  Albania  and 
FYROM  and  constitutes  an  upgrade  of  the  existing  cooperation  in  the  area  while 
holding the potential to contribute to the successful implementation of the WFD. 

Directive 2000/60/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing a framework for 
Community action in the field of water policy, OJ L327 of 22.12.2000. 
Article 3(5) of Directive 2000/60/EC. 
Council  Decision  of  27  June  2006  on  the  participation  of  the  European  Community  in  negotiations 
aiming  at  the  conclusion  of  international  river  basin  agreements  to  improve  cooperation  in  European 
river basins shared between certain Member States and Third Countries. 
Albania, FYROM and Greece.  
Council Decision of 24 November 1997 concerning the conclusion of the Convention on cooperation 
for the protection and sustainable use of the river Danube, OJ L 342 of 12.12.1997. 
Council Decision of 7 November 2000 concerning the conclusion, on behalf of the Community, of the 
Convention for the Protection of the Rhine, OJ L 289 of 16.11.2000. 

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It is therefore appropriate for the Union to conclude the Agreement on the Protection 
and Sustainable Development of the Prespa Park Area.  

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2010/0300 (NLE) 

Proposal for a 

COUNCIL DECISION 

of … 

on the conclusion of the Agreement on the Protection and Sustainable Development 
of the Prespa Park Area 

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, 

Having  regard  to  the  Treaty  on  the  Functioning  of  the  European  Union,  and  in  particular 
Article 192 (1) in conjunction with Article 218 (6)(a), thereof, 

Having regard to the proposal from the Commission7, 

Having regard to the consent of the European Parliament8, 

Whereas: 

(1) 

(2) 

(3) 

(4) 

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The EU Water Framework Directive9 requires, where river basins extend beyond the 
territory  of  the  Community,  Member  States  to  endeavour  to  establish  appropriate 
coordination  with  the  relevant  non-Member  States,  with  the  aim  of  achieving  the 
objectives of the Directive throughout the river basin district.  

On  27  June  2006,  the  Council  adopted  a  decision10  authorising  the  Commission,  on 
behalf of European Community, to negotiate the conclusion of international river basin 
agreements  to  improve  cooperation  in  European  river  basins  shared  between  certain 
Member States and third countries. 

The  Prespa  Lakes  and  their  surroundings  are  a  unique  natural  area  with  high 
ecological  significance,  which  can  only  be  preserved  through  a  holistic  approach  at 
basin level. 

The  Agreement  on  the  Protection  and  Sustainable  Development  of  the  Prespa  Park 
Area has been negotiated by the European Commission, Greece, Albania and FYROM 
and  constitutes  an  upgrade  of  the  existing  cooperation  in  the  area  while  holding  the 

OJ C […], […], p. […]. 
OJ C […], […], p. […]. 
Directive 2000/60/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing a framework for 
Community action in the field of water policy, OJ L327 of 22.12.2000. 
Council  Decision  of  27  June  2006  on  the  participation  of  the  European  Community  in  negotiations 
aiming  at  the  conclusion  of  international  river  basin  agreements  to  improve  cooperation  in  European 
river basins shared between certain Member States and Third Countries. 

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potential to contribute to the successful implementation of the EU Water Framework 
Directive. 

(5) 

The Agreement should be concluded; 

HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS: 

Article 1 

The  Agreement  on  the  Protection  and  Sustainable  Development  of  the  Prespa  Park  Area  is 
hereby concluded. 

The text of the Agreement to be concluded is set out in the Annex to this Decision. 

Article 2 

The President of the Council shall designate the person empowered to proceed, on behalf of 
the European Union, to the notification provided for in Article 18 of the Agreement, in order 
to express the consent of the European Union to be bound by the Agreement. 

Article 3 

This  Decision  shall  enter  into  force  on  the  date  of  its  adoption.  It  shall  be  published  in  the 
Official Journal of the European Union. 

The date of entry into force of the Agreement shall be published in the Official Journal of the 
European Union. 

Done at  

For the Council 
The President 
[…] 

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ANNEX 

Agreement on the Protection and Sustainable Development 

of the Prespa Park Area 

The Ministries of the Environment of the three States sharing the Prespa Lakes Area and the 
European Union, hereinafter referred to as “The Parties”, 

Mindful of the Declaration of the Prime Ministers of the three States of 2 February 2000 on 
the  Creation  of  the  Prespa  Park  and  the  Environmental  Protection  and  Sustainable 
Development of the Prespa Lakes and their Surroundings; 

Recalling  the  Joint  Statement  of  the  Prime  Μinisters  of  the  three  States  sharing  the  Prespa 
Lakes basin of 27 November 2009 at Pyli; 

Considering that the Prespa Lakes and their surrounding basin are a unique natural area whose 
geomorphological,  ecological,  biodiversity  and  cultural  significance  is  of  international 
importance, as a vital habitat for the conservation of numerous rare and/or endemic fauna and 
flora species, as a nesting place of globally threatened birds, and as a depository of significant 
archaeological and traditional heritage; 

Recognising  their  common  responsibility  for  the  conservation  of  the  Prespa  Lakes  basin 
ecosystem  and  its  components  as  well  as  for  its  natural  beauty,  as  a  basis  for  the  economic 
and social well being of its inhabitants and for creating economic development opportunities 
(including agriculture, fisheries and tourism); 

Convinced that only through adopting a holistic approach at the basin level can they ensure 
and maintain the biodiversity, the key functions and the human benefits of the Prespa Lakes 
basin; 

Aware that individual actions of countries are not sufficient to bring about conservation of the 
ecosystems  of Prespa and its cultural heritage, while improving the standard of living of its 
inhabitants; 

Wishing  to  enhance  cooperation  among  competent  authorities  and  stakeholders  in  the  three 
States in order to maintain and protect the unique ecological values of the Prespa Lakes basin 
and  prevent  and/or  reverse  the  causes  of  its  habitat  degradation,  as  requested  by  the 
Declaration of the Prime Ministers of 2 February 2000; 

Resolved to explore appropriate management methods for the sustainable use and protection 
of the Prespa Lakes water and freshwater ecosystems, as requested by the Declaration of the 
Prime  Ministers  of  2  February  2000,  and  in  accordance  with  the  requirements  of  the  EU 
Water Framework Directive 2000/60/EC and related Directives; 

Aware of the long history of human use of the area and the compatibility of traditional uses 
with nature conservation; 

Confirming their commitment to the sustainable development of the Prespa Lakes basin that 
can  be  brought  about  in  a  coherent  way  through  transboundary  cooperation,  in  accordance 
with the principles of the European Union’s integration process; 

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Taking  note  of  the  Drin  dialogue  initiated  in  2009  amongst  competent  authorities  and 
stakeholders towards the development of a shared vision for the sustainable management of 
the Drin basin and the promotion of transboundary cooperation; 

Bearing in mind the relevant provisions of international legal instruments in force in the field 
of environmental protection to which they are parties or signatories; 

Recalling the bilateral agreements in force between the Parties concerning co-operation in the 
field of environmental protection and sustainable development; 

Bearing  in  mind  that  one  of  the  Parties  is  a  Member  State  of  the  European  Union,  one  is  a 
candidate  country  for  EU  membership  and  one  is  potential  candidate  country  for  EU 
membership  and  that  the  latter  two  have  also  concluded  a  Stabilization  and  Association 
Agreement with the EU;  

Recognising  the  differentiated  but  complementary  capacity  of  governmental  and  non-
governmental  organisations  in  the  three  State  Parties  with  respect  to  the  conservation  and 
management of the Prespa area; 

Taking into account the experience gained from the trilateral cooperation in the framework of 
the Prespa Park since 2000 through the operation of the interim Coordination Committee and 
its Secretariat; 

Taking into account the Strategic Action Plan for the Sustainable Development of the Prespa 
Park  elaborated  within  the  framework  of  the  interim  Coordination  Committee  and  its 
Secretariat; 

Have agreed as follows: 

Part One - General Provisions 

Article 1 – Definitions 

For the purposes of this Agreement: 

-  The  "Prespa  Park  Area"  (the  "Area")  is  the  geographical  area  in  the  territory  of  the  three 
States  included  in  the  basin  of  the  Prespa  Lakes,  comprising  surface  and  properly  assigned 
groundwaters,  and  designated  as  a  transboundary  protected  area  under  the  Declaration  of  2 
February 2000. 

-  "Transboundary  Impact"  means  any  effect  on  the  environment  within  an  area  under  the 
jurisdiction of a Party, including adverse effects on human health and safety, flora, fauna, soil, 
air,  water,  climate,  landscape  and  historical  monuments  or  other  physical  structures  or  the 
interaction  among  these  factors,  as  well  as  effects  on  cultural  heritage  or  socio-economic 
conditions, resulting from alterations to those factors, caused by a change the physical origin 
of which is situated wholly or in part within the area under the jurisdiction of another Party. 

Article 2 - Objective of the Agreement 

The Parties shall cooperate in order to ensure an integrated protection of the ecosystem and 
the sustainable development of the Prespa Park Area, including the development of integrated 
river basin management plans, according to international and European Union standards. 

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Part Two - Principles of Cooperation 

Article 3 - Basic obligations 

1. 

For the fulfilment of the objectives of Article 2, the Parties shall take the necessary 
measures and apply best available techniques, individually and in cooperation on the 
basis of sovereign equality, territorial integrity, mutual benefit, and good faith, to: 

(a)  Manage  prudently  the  water  quality  and  quantity  of  the  Prespa  Lakes  giving 

special attention to the water level of both lakes; 

(b)  Prevent, control and reduce pollution of the waters in the Prespa Lakes Area; 

(c)  Protect and conserve the biodiversity of the Area by protecting especially the 
endemic,  rare,  threatened  or  endangered  species  of  flora  and  fauna  and  by 
restoring and managing sensitive habitats as well as ecosystems and ecosystem 
services,  on  the  basis  of  international  and  EU  legislation  including  Directive 
92/43/EEC and Directive 2009/147/EC, and EU Biodiversity Policy; 

(d)  Protect the soil from erosion, depletion, infections and pollution; 

(e)  Ensure,  promote  and  control  the  prudent  use  of  natural  resources  and  the 

sustainable development of the Prespa Park Area; 

(g)  Prevent introduction and breeding of alien animal and plant species; 

(h)  Effectively regulate the activities which cause or may cause negative impact in 

the Prespa Lakes Area in order to prevent or minimise such effects. 

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To this end, the Parties shall: 

(a)  Design  and  implement  integrated  management  plans  and  programmes  for  the 
protection  and  sustainable  development  of  the  Area,  in  accordance  with  the 
Strategic Action Plan for the Sustainable Development of the Prespa Park; 

(b)  Develop coherent strategies for spatial, urban and other land-use plans as well 
as  protected  area  management  plans,  in  order  to  ensure  the  watershed's  land 
management according to the principle of sustainable development and to the 
increased protection required for the Area, on the basis of international and EU 
legislation including Directive 92/43/EEC and Directive 2009/147/EC; 

(c)  Approve  and  apply  faithfully  the  environmental  standards  and  criteria  for  the 

watershed as described in Article 4; 

(d)  Adopt  and implement legal, administrative,  economic,  financial  and  technical 

measures in order to ensure: 

i 

ii 

the  maximum  possible  extent  of  sustainable 
The  application 
agriculture and low-impact animal breeding based on the Area's carrying 
capacity and fishing rules compatible with the prudent use concept; 

to 

The  management  of  household  and  agricultural  waste  according  to  best 
available techniques; 

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The  amelioration  and  modernisation  of  road  and  communication 
networks  and  other  social  infrastructure  and  services  in  a  manner 
consistent  with  the  protection  of  biodiversity,  the  conservation  of  the 
protected areas and the sustainable development of the Prespa Park Area. 

(e)  Facilitate the regular exchange of ideas among the Parties, conserve traditional 
architecture  and  monuments,  develop  and  implement  a  joint  strategy  for  the 
touristic  development  of  the  Area,  and  promote  public  awareness  and 
environmental education as a means for reaching local solutions; 

(f)  Expedite  the  full  and  effective  realisation  of  the  watershed  community 
individuals' rights of access to environmental information, public participation 
in  decision-making  in  environmental  matters,  and  access  to  justice  in  such 
matters; 

(g)  Establish and maintain an effective, common standard system of monitoring in 
order to observe, manage and control the environmental state of the Lakes and 
their watershed; 

(h) 

In  case  of  contingencies,  adopt  common  measures  to  quickly  evaluate  and 
mitigate them. 

Article 4 - Environmental standards and criteria 

1. 

The  Parties  to  this  Agreement,  with  the  assistance  of  the  Committee  described  in 
Article  10,  shall  set  out  the  exact  criteria,  standards,  limits  and  objectives  for  the 
protection,  conservation  and  development  of  the  Area  in  accordance  with  the 
objectives of Article 2. 

2. 

For this purpose, the Parties shall take appropriate steps to: 

(a) 

Implement the legal commitments stemming from international and EU norms 
and  standards  for  the  protection  and  conservation  of  the  Lakes  and  their 
watershed; 

(b)  Adjust  relevant  national  environmental  standards  and  criteria  to  local 

conditions and requirements of the watershed; 

(c)  Require 

the  use  of 

the  best  available 

technology  and  contemporary 

environmental practices. 

Article 5 - Sustainable water management 

The Parties agree to cooperate on the management of the waters of the Prespa Park Area in a 
sustainable  manner.  This  includes  integrated  management  of  surface  and  groundwater 
resources  at  basin  level,  on  the  basis  of  Directive  2000/60/EC  and  related  Directives,  that 
shall provide for: 

(a)  Water in sufficient quantity and of appropriate quality for drinking purposes; 

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(b)  Water  in  sufficient  quantity  and  of  appropriate  quality  for  the  preservation, 
protection,  and,  if  necessary,  restoration  of  natural  aquatic  ecosystems, 
including wetlands, and their functions; 

(c)  Water in sufficient quantity and of appropriate quality for other legitimate uses 
contributing to sustainable economic and social development of local societies, 
taking into account the need to adapt to possible impacts of climate change; 

(d)  Rehabilitation  or  alleviation  of  the  negative  impacts  of  past  hydrological 
interventions, with special emphasis on the River Devolli - Lake Micro Prespa 
system; 

(e)  Protection  against  detrimental  effects  of  water  (flooding,  erosion  etc)  using 

best available techniques; 

(f)  Resolution of conflicts of interest caused by different uses; and 

(g)  Effective control of the water management regime that shall be established. 

To that effect, the Parties will set up the Working Group on Water as laid down in Art. 14. 

Article 6 - Exchange of data and information 

The  Parties  will  organise  a  formal  system  for  regular  exchange  of  information  among  their 
competent  authorities  in  order  to  assist  in  achieving  effective  protection  of  the  Prespa  Park 
Area, including exchange of: 

(a) 

(b) 

qualitative  and  quantitative  data  on  water,  aquatic  ecosystems,  and  important 
habitats and species; 

experience  gained  through  the  application  of  best  available  techniques  and 
results of research and development in the fields of wetland protection, water 
management, and measures for prevention, reduction and control of pollution. 

Article 7 - Transboundary impact 

The Parties shall cooperate with a view to agree measures aimed at securing the integrity of 
the  environment,  and  especially  water,  in  the  Area  and  the  elimination  or  reduction  of 
transboundary  impacts  on  the  environment  caused  by  human  activities.  In  particular,  they 
shall  cooperate  on  developing  and  applying  appropriate  environmental  impact  assessment 
procedures  in  the  Area,  in  accordance  with  the  Espoo  Convention  on  environmental  impact 
assessment in a transboundary context, to which they are parties. 

Article 8 - Cooperation with international organisations and donors 

In  implementing  this  Agreement,  the  Parties  shall  seek  partners  locally,  nationally  and 
internationally, and will especially cooperate with: 

– 

– 

– 

The Ramsar Convention and the MedWet Initiative; 

UNDP; 

GEF; 

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– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

Bilateral donors active in the region, such as KfW, GTZ and SDC; 

UNESCO;  

IUCN; 

Institutions of the European Union; 

and others 

Part Three - Mechanisms of Cooperation  

Article 9 - High-level segment 

The Ministers of Environment of the three State Parties and the representative of the EU shall 
meet regularly to review progress in the implementation of this Agreement and in achieving 
the  objectives  of  Article  2,  to  review  the  work  of  the  Prespa  Park  Management  Committee 
and  subsidiary  organs,  to  set  the  agenda  of  joint  activities  in  the  Prespa  Park  Area  for  the 
coming period, and to provide political guidance. These meetings will take place at least once 
every  two  years,  unless  otherwise  decided  by  the  Parties,  or  at  the  written  request  of  any 
Party, at a venue rotating between the three State Parties. 

Article 10 - Prespa Park Management Committee 

1. 

2. 

In  order  to  ensure  effectiveness  in  the  achievement  of  the  objectives  and 
commitments  specified  in  this  Agreement,  the  Parties  hereby  establish  the  Prespa 
Park Management Committee. 

The Prespa Park Management Committee shall have the international legal capacity 
of  a  plurilateral  institution  necessary  for  the  exercise  of  its  functions,  including 
keeping relations with donors in order to secure projects and  donations,  which will 
be used for the implementation of this Agreement. 

3. 

The Prespa Park Management Committee shall have the following composition: 

(a)  One representative of the Ministry of Environment of each State Party and one 

representative of the European Union; 

(b)  One representative from the local communities in the Prespa region from each 

State Party; 

(c)  One  representative  of  the  environmental  non-governmental  organisations 
(NGOs)  from  each  State  Party,  with  significant  local  activities  in  the  Prespa 
area; 

(d)  One  representative  of  the  local  protected  area  management  authorities  from 

each State Party; 

(e)  One  permanent  observer  from  the  MedWet  Initiative  of  the  Convention  on 

Wetlands (Ramsar); 

(f)  One permanent observer from the Ohrid Management Committee. 

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4. 

5. 

6. 

7. 

8. 

9. 

The  Parties’  representatives  in  the  Committee  shall  be  formally  nominated  within 
three months from the entry into force of this Agreement. 

The  Committee  shall  meet  on  a  regular  basis  (twice  a  year).  An  extraordinary 
Committee meeting shall be called at the request of any of the Parties.  

Each  calendar  year  the  venue  of  the  regular  meetings  will  rotate  among  the  three 
State Parties. Therefore, two consecutive ordinary meeting will be held in each State 
every three years. Preferably, regular meetings should be held in the Prespa region. 

The meetings shall be chaired by the representative of the State Party in which they 
are held. The term of the chair follows the annual rotation of paragraph 5. 

The work of the Committee will be carried out in English.  

At its first meeting, the Committee shall approve its internal rules of organisation and 
procedure. 

The  Committee  may  invite  experts  to  participate  at  its  meetings,  depending  on  the 
theme of the meeting, and may form working groups on specific issues composed of 
experts  and  officials.  The  first  working  group  is  established  under  this  Agreement 
(Art. 14) on water management issues. 

10. 

Four years after the beginning of its operation, the functioning and effectiveness of 
the  Prespa  Park  Management  Committee  will  be  reviewed  by  the  High-level 
Segment of Article 9 and, if necessary, its composition and terms of reference will be 
adjusted in accordance with Article 17 of this Agreement. 

Article 11 - Functions of the Management Committee  

The Prespa Park Management Committee shall: 

1. 

2. 

Monitor  and  coordinate  the  activities  carried  out  for  the  protection  and  sustainable 
development of the Prespa Park Area in the implementation of this Agreement and of 
the Strategic Action Plan for the Sustainable Development of the Prespa Park. 

Identify  and  recommend  to  the  Parties  and  other  interested  actors  next  steps  and 
necessary actions, measures and activities for the implementation of this Agreement, 
and  invite  them  to  cooperate,  to  coordinate  and  carry  out  joint  projects.  More 
specifically, the Committee shall assist the Parties in implementing and strengthening 
the effectiveness of this Agreement by providing recommendations and opinions on: 

(a)  The  drafting  and  application  of  standards,  environmental  criteria  and 
requirements,  which  will  serve  as  the  basis  for  accomplishing  integrated 
protection and sustainable development of the Lakes and their watershed; 

(b)  The completion of the regulatory framework of  the watershed  area,  including 

spatial plans and protected area regulations and management plans; 

(c)  The  drafting  and  application  of  strategies,  integrated  management  plans  and 
programmes to be implemented in the Prespa Park Area, which affect or may 
affect the achievement of the objectives of this Agreement; 

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(d)  The  application  of  a  programme  of  effective  monitoring  in  order  to  observe, 
manager  and  control  the  state  of  environment  and  the  status  of  surface  and 
ground water bodies; 

(e)  The  definition  of  priority  directions  and  programmes  of  scientific  study  and 
research  for  the  protection  and  sustainable  development  of  the  Prespa  Park 
Area and the promotion of publication of expert information; 

(f)  The gathering, elaboration and publication of environmental information on the 

Prespa Lakes Area; 

(g)  The  promotion  of  public,  NGO  and  other  stakeholders'  participation  in  the 

protection of the Lakes and their watershed. 

Facilitate the coordination of planning and activities with transboundary relevance by 
local protected area management bodies in the three States involved. 

Evaluate the results of ongoing actions according to the objectives of Article 2, and 
disseminate its findings widely. 

Serve  as  the  steering  body  for  GEF  and  other  similar  programmes  and  projects 
concerning the Area. 

Identify  and  propose  possible  funding  sources  at  a  national,  European  and 
international level for necessary actions, measures and projects. 

Gather  any  available  information  related  to  the  Lakes  and  their  watershed,  ask  for 
and receive proposals from governmental institutions, bodies and NGOs in order to 
improve  its  work  and  to  increase  the  commitment  of  the  Parties  to  the 
implementation of the Agreement. 

Prepare and publish an annual report on the state of the environment for the Prespa 
Park  Area,  which  will  include  one  section  where  the  Committee's  work  would  be 
described. 

Liaise  with  the  Ohrid  Management  Committee,  acquire  observer  status  at  its 
meetings and coordinate action in order to achieve the best results in the protection 
and sustainable development of the wider region.  

Contribute  as  appropriate  to  the  process  for  the  sustainable  management  of  the 
extended Drin basin dialogue. 

Contribute  to  the  mobilisation  of  resources  of  the  Parties  and  the  international 
community, as appropriate, to manage the risks and mitigate the negative impacts, in 
case  of  unexpected  events,  such  as  floods,  forest  fires  and  other  natural  or 
anthropogenic  catastrophes  as  well  as  to  protect  the  vulnerable  ecosystems  of  the 
Area and their functions and services from the effects of climate change. 

3. 

4. 

5. 

6. 

7. 

8. 

9. 

10. 

11. 

Article 12 - Decisions of the Management Committee 

1. 

The Committee shall decide by consensus. In case consensus is not reached, the issue 
shall be referred for settlement to the High-level Segment. 

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2. 

3. 

4. 

The Committee shall address its recommendations to the Parties. 

Each  Party  shall  implement  the  Committee  recommendations  in  accordance  with 
domestic law and shall report regularly to the Committee on measures taken for their 
implementation. 

In  the  event  that  a  Party  is  unable  or  only  partly  able  to  implement  a  Committee 
recommendation, it shall inform the Committee to this effect, explain the reasons for 
the  non-implementation  and  propose 
for 
implementation. 

the  modalities  and 

timing 

the 

5. 

The Committee shall keep a register of the decisions taken. 

Article 13 – Secretariat 

1. 

2. 

3. 

4. 

The  Committee  is  assisted  by  a  subsidiary  technical  organ,  the  Secretariat,  in 
fulfilling its duties. 

The Secretariat will consist of three persons, one from each State Party, appointed by 
the Ministry of Environment and headed by an expert in transboundary cooperation 
on  protected  areas  and  river  basin  management  to  be  chosen  by  the  Committee 
through an international call for applications.  

The  work  of  the  Secretariat  shall  be  guided  by  the  decisions  of  the  Management 
Committee and shall be supervised by the Chairperson of this Committee. 

The Secretariat shall have the following specific tasks to be performed with the limits 
of budget availability: 

(a)  Preparation  of  the  yearly  work  plan  of  the  Prespa  Park  Management 
Committee  with  detailed  budget,  and  of  issue-related  work  plans  (e.g.  a 
their 
communication  plan)  with  detailed  budgets  and 
implementation; 

follow-up  of 

(b)  Preparation or assistance in the preparation of meetings held in the framework 

of this Agreement; 

(c)  Facilitation of consultations on policy and other relevant matters related to this 
Agreement  between  stakeholders,  and  consultations  at  the  policy-making  and 
technical level by working groups and/or expert groups; 

(d)  Collection,  assessment  and  dissemination  of  data  and  information  on 
legislation, measures and activities that have or may have significant effects on 
the achievement of the objectives of Article 2; 

(e)  Follow-up of joint projects; 

(f)  Compilation,  evaluation,  publication  and  promotion  of  scientific  research  and 

cooperation in the Prespa Park Area; 

(g)  Contacts and meetings with donors; preparation or assistance in the preparation 

of project documents; 

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(h)  Translation  of  key  documents;  technical  and  secretarial  support  to  the  local 

community representatives; 

(i)  Representation of the Committee in international fora; 

(j)  Any other duty assigned to it by the Committee.  

5. 

6. 

The seat of the Secretariat shall be located in Aghios Germanos, Greece, for a period 
of four years, on rotating basis, or until it is otherwise decided by the Committee. 

The Committee is authorised to conclude a Seat Agreement with the host country on 
the exercise of its functions.  

Article 14 - Working Group on Water Management  

1. 

2. 

3. 

4. 

5. 

The Prespa Park Management Committee will establish a Working Group on Water 
Management, according to the provisions of Article 10. 

The State Parties, after consultation, shall nominate authorities and bodies competent 
for  water  management  in  the  part  of  the  Prespa  Park  within  their  territories  as 
members of this Working Group and inform on such nomination the chairperson of 
the Prespa Park Management Committee. 

The Working Group on Water Management will propose recommendations based on 
the  principles  of  integrated  river  basin  management,  as  reflected  in  the  EU  Water 
Framework Directive (2000/60/EC), for the adoption of the Management Committee. 

The  specific  tasks  and  mandate  of  the  Working  Group  will  be  defined  through 
consultations between the State Parties. 

The operational costs of the Working Group on Water Management (participation in 
and  organisation  of  meetings)  shall  be  covered  for  a  period  of  four  years  after  the 
entry into force of this Agreement, by the Hellenic Ministry of Environment, Energy 
and Climate Change. 

Article 15 – Expenses of Joint Bodies 

1. 

2. 

3. 

4. 

The  implementation  of  the  work  plan  of  the  Prespa  Park  Management  Committee 
shall  be  financed  by  regular  annual  contributions  of  the  Parties  and  from  other 
sources. 

Each Party shall in principle bear the expenses associated with the participation of its 
national  members  in  the  meetings  of  the  Committee,  the  Secretariat  and  working 
groups, with the exception of article 14 (5). 

The  Party  in  whose  territory  a  Committee  meeting  will  be  organised  shall  bear  the 
cost of organising the meeting. 

The  Secretariat  will  prepare  an  annual  budget  covering  its  costs  and  submitted  for 
approval to the Committee, which shall be financed by regular annual contributions 
of the State Parties and from other sources. Office facilities will be provided by the 
Party where the Secretariat is located, normally outside the budget.  

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Part Four – Dispute Settlement 

Article 16 

In  case  of  a  dispute  between  the  Parties  regarding  the  interpretation  or  application  of  this 
Agreement,  the  Parties  shall  seek  a  solution  by  negotiation  or  by  any  other  means  of 
international dispute settlement acceptable to them. 

Part Five - Final Provisions 

Article 17 - Amendments to the Agreement 

1. 

2. 

Any Party may propose amendments to the present Agreement. 

Any  amendment  to  the  present  Agreement  shall  be  agreed  by  consensus. 
Amendments  shall  enter  into  force  in  accordance  with  the  procedure  set  forth  in 
paragraph 2 of Article 18. 

Article 18 - Entry into force 

1. 

2. 

This Agreement will be subject to ratification according to the domestic procedures 
of each Party. 

This  Agreement  shall  enter  into  force  on  the  day  of  reception  of  the  last  written 
notification  by  which  the  Parties  shall  notify  each  other  the  ratification  of  the 
Agreement. 

Article 19 - Relation with other Agreements 

1. 

2. 

Nothing  in  the  present  Agreement  shall  affect  the  rights  or  obligations  of  a  Party 
arising  from  any  agreement  that  is  in  force  on  the  date  on  which  this  Agreement 
comes into force. Nothing in this Agreement shall affect the rights or obligations of a 
Party arising from EU law. 

For the implementation of this Agreement the Parties may enter into bi- or trilateral 
agreements or arrangements, which shall not be in conflict with this Agreement. 

Article 20 - Duration and Withdrawal 

This  Agreement  shall  remain  in  force  indefinitely  unless  one  of  the  Parties,  through 
diplomatic channels, notifies its wish to withdraw from it, in which case the Agreement shall 
be terminated six months after the date of such written notification. Unless otherwise agreed, 
such a termination shall not affect the validity of any ongoing arrangements or projects made 
under this Agreement, 

Done at Pyli, on the 2nd of February 2010, in four original copies in the English language, all 
being equally authentic.  

IN  WITNESS  THEREOF  the  undersigned,  being  duly  authorised  thereto,  have  signed  this 
Agreement. 

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