The Framework Agreement on the Sava River Basin –FASRB, signed on 3 December 2002, is the first international agreement on the Sava river basin and a reflection of the consensus existing between the signatory States (Bosnia and Herzegovina, Republic of Croatia, Republic of Slovenia and the Republic of Serbia) on the cooperation among them in the establishment of the international navigation regime, sustainable water management and protection from harmful effects of water, water regime and ecosystem.

FASRB came into force on 29 December 2004. The Republic of Serbia became a State Party to the Framework Agreement on the Sava River Basin and to the Navigation Protocol by passing the Law on Ratifying the Framework Agreement on the Sava River Basin and the Navigation Protocol thereto (Official Gazette of Serbia and Montenegro, International Agreements, No. 12/04).

The International Sava River Basin Commission (Sava Commission) based in Zagreb, as an international body charged with the implementation of FASRB, is pivotal in FASRB operation.From January 2006, a representative from the Republic of Serbia, Prof. Dr. Dejan Komatina, has been the Secretary General of the Sava Commission, and he was re-elected Secretary General in 2010.

The Protocol on Flood Protection to the Framework Agreement on the Sava River Basin was signed in June 2011, as well as the Strategy for the Implementation of the Framework Agreement on the Sava River Basin and the Action Plan for 2011-2015. Draft texts of a Protocol on Emergencies, Protocol on Fluvial Deposits Management and Protocol on Transboundary Effects have been drawn up and are expected to be signed in the coming period.

A Declaration was adopted establishing guidelines for the further implementation of the FASRB. Navigation development, tourism and use of hydroelectric power plants as a renewable energy source were identified as priorities in the field of sustainable growth in the Sava river basin. In this regard, there is also a need for further integration of water protection and protection from floods and climate change.

ISRBC activities are compatible with the objectives of the EU 2020 Strategy. In addition, the ISRBC is becoming partly involved in the activitiesrelated to the implementation of the EU Strategy for the Danube Region

. The Republic of Serbia presided over the Sava Commission from June 2012 to June 2013.

Slovenia took over the Presidency at the end of June 2014 for a three-year period from 2014-2017.

The Water Directorate in the Ministry of Agriculture, Trade, Forestry and Water Management is in charge of coordinating activities with the International Sava River Basin Commission.

Presentation is available at:
http://www. savacommission.org