International cooperation on water resources

Abstract

In international law, cooperation is a general and fundamental principle designed to facilitate the fulfilment of more specific obligations. The purposes and concrete applications of cooperation have been identified in several instruments in the context of the law of international water resources. This chapter identifies the different forms and levels of cooperation concerning water resources: from the minimum form of direct exchange of fundamental data and information to the establishment of joint development commissions or other institutional mechanisms for the integrated management of a river basin. It shows that the obligations to undertake specific cooperative actions in international law vary significantly. Furthermore, the important role played by international institutional arrangements and by international organizations in promoting cooperation on water resources is analysed. This chapter aims to understand the various modalities of cooperation and to concretise this all embracing, abstract concept. © 2009 Springer Netherlands.