Article 16
Communication, warning and alarm systems, emergency plans
(1) The Contracting Parties shall provide for coordinated or joint communication, warning and alarm
systems in the basin-wide context to the extent this is necessary to supplement the systems established and
operated at a bilateral level. They shall consult on ways and means of harmonising domestic communication,
warning and alarm systems and emergency plans.
(2) The Contracting Parties shall in the framework of the International Commission inform each
other about competent authorities or points of contact designated for this purpose in case of emergency events
such as accidental pollution, other critical water conditions, floods and ice-hazards. Accordingly the
competent authorities shall cooperate to establish joint emergency plans, where necessary, supplementary to
existing plans on the bilateral level.
(3) If a competent authority identifies a sudden increase of hazardous substances in the Danube River
or in waters within its catchment area or receives note of a disaster or of an accident likely to cause serious
impact on the water quality of the Danube River and to affect downstream Danubian States this authority shall
immediately inform the contact points designated and the International Commission according to the way of
procedure introduced by the Commission.
(4) In order to control and reduce the risks originated from floods including ice-hazards, the
competent authorities shall immediately inform the down-stream Danubian States likely to be affected and the
International Commission on the occurrence and run-off of floods as well as on forecasts of ice-hazards.