After the parliamentary ratification was recently completed by the four countries involved (Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia, Serbia-Montenegro and Slovenia) the ground for the Sava River Commission was laid at a ceremony called Sava Day in Belgrade 1 June 2004.  Talking on behalf of the Stability Pact, which brokered the agreement and was instrumental in fundraising for the establishment of the commission and secretariat, Special Co-ordinator Erhard Busek commended the countries for this achievement.

The legal framework on the Sava River Commission was signed in Kranjska Gora (Slovenia) in December 2002.  It is a very comprehensive river basin management concept addressing the needs of navigation, sustainable water management, hydro-electricity and environmental protection.  The Sava countries signed legal documents, which state that the Republic of Slovenia will serve as depositary for the Sava Commission’s legal instruments.  The seat of the Sava River Commission is in Zagreb.