Rivers and streams
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Introduction
Water does not recognise national boundaries. For a long time, cross-border rivers were the main communication routes between countries and, when they formed the border itself, they allowed the emergence of veritable cultural melting pots, such as in the Upper Rhine region.
Rivers in France, as in the rest of Europe and the world, can also cross borders and require strong cross-border cooperation to fairly address upstream-downstream water management issues. The concept of a watershed is essential to consider in the context of cross-border cooperation, beyond cases of border rivers. Indeed, upstream-downstream water management reminds the different stakeholders of the importance of communication and regulation of river uses.
Challenges of transboundary river basins
There are 260 transboundary river basins worldwide, shared by at least two countries. In 15% of countries around the world, more than 50% of water resources depend on another neighbouring country.
Beyond the growing challenge of water scarcity, rivers and waterways are now a major environmental concern due to the fragility of their ecosystems. Indeed, they are particularly vulnerable to discharges from mining, oil and, more broadly, industrial sites. This highlights the relevance of transboundary water management from upstream to downstream when at least two States share the river basin.
River basins represent significant economic, social and environmental challenges, affecting a wide range of activities, including transport, energy, industry, agriculture, tourism and culture.
There are numerous transboundary conflicts related to water resources. Pollution of rivers and waterways systematically affects territories on both sides of national borders. While, for several centuries, numerous agreements have been signed between riparian countries to ensure freedom of navigation on transboundary rivers, and, since the late 19th century, to facilitate the construction of hydroelectric dams, there are still too few agreements, conventions or treaties addressing pollution control, aquifer management and, even more importantly, the integrated management of shared river basins.