Transboundary waters in focus: a Workshop on cross-border cooperation in water management in Arnhem, the Netherlands

On 10th and 11th July, FiW facilitated a two-day workshop on cross-border water management between NRW and the Netherlands in Arnhem. The event was organized on behalf of the Province of Gelderland, Grenspost Düsseldorf and in close cooperation with the Ministry of the Environment, Nature Conservation and Transport of the State of NRW. The aim was to develop measures to implement the NRW Strategy „Future Water“, in particular focusing on the objective “Embace the transboundary river basin approach! Strengthen close coordination,  joint management and protection approaches”.

The NRW Strategy „Future Water“ pursues 17 overarching objectives that focus on making water management sustainable, climate-resilient and future-oriented. Objective 13 is explicitly dedicated to strengthening close cooperation between NRW and its European neighbours: the focus here is on river basin-related action, the joint development of management and protection approaches and increased coordination. Various committees and working groups already exist in which important and collaborative work is already carried out. Given North-Rhine-Westphalia's location upstream of numerous surface water bodies that flow across the border into the Netherlands, close cooperation with the neighbouring Dutch provinces and water boards is of central importance. Because one thing is clear: water does not stop at the border.

Around 60 participants from ministries, district governments, districts and water boards in NRW as well as Dutch authorities and organisations, came together in Arnhem to work intensively on a common vision and concrete measures.Within several workshops, guiding principles for future cross-border cooperation were developed and existing structures and framework conditions were analysed. The final workshop session focused on identifying concrete measures to improve cooperation.

The suggestions targeted organisational improvements to coordination processes and regular joint events. The workshop was further enhanced by intercultural insights that provided valuable perspectives on cooperation. A joint dinner at  the restaurant of the Province of Gelderland and an evening of team-building activities also offered participants the opportunity to exchange ideas beyond specialist topics.

We would like to thank everyone involved for their commitment and constructive cooperation and look forward to working together to further advance the approaches developed.