Danubius International Conferences, Dunarea - axa a identitatii europene - prima editie

About New Rules Governing the Legal Regime of the Danube

Constantin Tanase
Last modified: 2011-06-28

Abstract

For the Romanian, the Danube is more than a communication way, a naval border, an energy resource or a means for different industries. It is a symbol of ethnogenesis (Carpatho-Danubian-Pontic), of their continuity and the their future. For these reasons, the Romanians have always sought to be actively involved in establishing a legal regime of the river that would be favorable, even if the originators and those who have decided this arrangement in different historical periods, did not give any interest to take account the wishes of Romanians. The legal instrument of international law regime governing navigation on the Danube is currently thr Belgrade Convention signed on 18 August 1948 by seven riparian states. Besides the fact that some of them do not currently exist (U.R.S.S., Czech Republic and People's Federal Republic of Yugoslavia), during the 63 years there have been political changes and profound economic transformations that require, undoubtedly, a reassessment of the old legal rules and a formal agreement with the new realities. On the other hand, legal provisions have so far primarily considered, shipping, trade, naval presence. Environmental issues were the subject of other documents and it is necessary in our opinion, to unify them as a single act of international law.