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History

River waterways are truly a natural treasure. They spur the emergence and growth of social life. States with rich material and spiritual culture are born. The Danube proves a significant example. Even the Romans, when the river was a boundary of the vast Roman empire, cared for its protection and management. Afterwards the navigation regime and fairway maintenance are in the focus of many international legal acts. They are in force in different historical periods and have one purpose only – apply the principle of free navigation but, depending on the political situation, conditions are dictated by varying European powers. As a result, the true proprietors of the river, i.e. riverside states, are neglected. This, however, proves no obstacle for the collection and systematization of hydrographic observations in the 1800s and, by the 19th century, for the establishment of institutes studying the regime of the Danube river.

In Bulgaria meteorology emerges in the distant 1866 when regular meteorological observations take place in the Austrian consulate in Rousse. At the same location and as part of the Danube fleet and naval detail, a Hydro-metric station is established in 1884. Later on surveillance and maintenance duties of the waterway is taken up by the Captain of the port of Rousse, commanders of the Danube fleet, the Hydrographic brigade of the Directorate for Rail-road and Port Buildings, and the Danube Measurement Office in Lom.

The end of World War II changes Europe’s political map and, with that, the attitude towards the European navigation route. To ensure free navigation in accordance with the interests and sovereignty of the Danube countries: Bulgaria, Hungary, Romania, USSR, Czechoslovakia, Ukraine, and Yugoslavia on 18 August 1948 sign in Belgrade a Convention Regarding the Regime of Navigation on the Danube. It comes into effect on 11 May 1949. On 7 January 1960 it is joined by Austria, and by Germany in 1999. In accordance with Art 3 of the Convention, all Danube countries are obligated to maintain their sections navigable by carrying out all activities necessary to ensure and maintain navigation conditions. Under Art 39, regulating interrelations between two countries bordering the Danube, an agreement is signed between the Republic of Bulgaria and the Republic of Romania in 1954 for the Rousse – Giurgiu bridge, and in 1955 an agreement comes into effect that divides the Bulgarian-Romanian section in two. Bulgaria is obligated to maintain navigation conditions from km 610 to km 375. During joint annual sessions information is exchanged, statements are made, initiatives are outlined, and decisions are made mandatory for both sides.

In order to meet the new requirements the Danube Measurement Office walks a difficult path. It becomes part of the Ministry of People’s Defence (1949 – 1952) in order to partake in the de-mining and cleaning up of the Danube. Between 1953 – 1955 under the name of Waterway Directorate it once again falls under the authority of the Ministry of Transport. This enables our country to take over maintenance of half the Bulgarian-Romanian section of the river and obtain equal participation in the Danube Commission.

Short-sightedness on the side of the Ministry of Transport at the end of 1955 contracts operation of the Waterway Directorate to a department of Bulgarian River Shipping – Rousse. Thus Bulgaria is unable to conduct its international obligations of maintaining the fairway and surveying the Danube. Thereafter, following a proposition by the Council of Ministers, steps are taken to study the experience of Danube states and the structure of the offices they established for the maintenance of the waterway and surveying the regime of the Danube. As a result of the study, on 1 April 1956 the Council of Ministers passes Decree No 84 which reorganizes the Waterway Administration into Administration for Waterway Maintenance and Exploration of the Danube River based in Rousse, in the immediate vicinity of the riverside.

The goal is consolidation of activities thus far dispersed among several authorities and ministries, as follows:

Thus the combined waterway administration (UPPD) is established at the Ministry of Transport, with the goal of “... ensuring the continuous study of the water regime and river bank erosion of the Danube, collect data for use in hydro-technical construction, maintain navigability, and fulfil our country’s obligations under the Convention and the other international agreements regarding the regime of navigating the Danube...”.

On the path to improve and perfect its specialized activities, and, given the contemporary model of Danube states, WAD transforms into one of the first executive agencies in the Republic of Bulgaria with CMD No 212/29.11.1999. Through it and its new Rules of procedure the EAEMDR combines:

In the past 67 the agency proved a pro-active link of the Ministry of Transport, Information Technology and Communications, and successfully manages Bulgaria’s international obligations on maintaining the waterway and surveying of the Danube.


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