France and Switzerland reach accord on water control for Rhone River and Lake Geneva

The Rhone, a river that originates in a Swiss Alpine glacier and flows into Lake Geneva before exiting at the western end and entering France, will be the subject of a new cooperation agreement between France and Switzerland. This agreement, signed in 2023, establishes a Bilateral Cooperation Commission to manage the shared waters of the Rhone.

Lake Geneva, the largest natural lake in Western Europe, is used for various purposes, including fishing, agriculture, recreation, drinking water, and cooling French nuclear reactors. The gradual disappearance of glaciers will make the Rhone more dependent on rainwater, leading to greater "unpredictability" in the river flow. This dependency on rainwater will increase the risk of flooding and low water levels.

The president of the Bilateral Cooperation Commission for the cross-border waters of the Rhône is Jean-Yves Le Drian, while France's deputy foreign trade minister, Laurent Saint-Martin, warned about the increased risks at a signing ceremony in Geneva. The Commission will provide a common vision and facilitate the transboundary water management between existing bodies.

Switzerland's Geneva canton has been managing the flow of the River Rhone via a dam, based on hydroelectricity needs and lake levels defined in an agreement with other Swiss cantons. The more operational agreement on the regulation of Lake Geneva's waters will establish Franco-Swiss crisis management units, which will be activated when lake levels or the flow of the Rhone approach certain thresholds.

The signing of these agreements aims to improve crisis management and transboundary water management between France and Switzerland. More than a decade prior, in 2012, France asked Switzerland to develop a framework for integrated water management between the two countries due to a severe drought. Climate change is taking a toll on the shared waters of Lake Geneva and the River Rhone, making the management of these waters increasingly pressing.

The Commission will be tasked with managing the shared waters of the Rhone, following the signing of the agreements in 2023. The Bilateral Cooperation Commission will have a presidency that alternates between the two countries. The Commission will also aim to provide a unified vision and facilitate the management of the shared waters of Lake Geneva and the River Rhone, ensuring the continued use of these vital resources for the benefit of both nations.

France and Switzerland reach accord on water control for Rhone River and Lake Geneva