The Mekong River Commission

The Mekong River Commission (MRC) was founded in 1995. The 1995 “Agreement on the Cooperation for the Sustainable Development of the Mekong River Basin” was signed by the four riparian countries, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam, forming the MRC. In this agreement, the countries agreed to cooperate on water-related issues, sustainable development, and environmental protection in the region.

Governance Structure

The new governance structure consists of the four riparian countries, three main bodies, two other coordinating bodies and two dialogue partners, China and Myanmar.

The 1995 Mekong Agreement

Under the 1995 Mekong Agreement, the MRC member countries accepted five transboundary water governance rules. The Procedures for Water Use Monitoring, the Procedures for Data and Information Exchange Sharing, the Procedures for Water Quality, and the Procedures for the Maintenance of Flow on the Mainstream. They are collectively known as the Procedures for Notification, Prior Consultation and Agreement (PNPCA).

The PNPCA requires the four member countries to inform and discuss with the MRC regarding any potential construction of dams that may cause social and environmental impacts along the Mekong River. As this notification is not a legally binding agreement, not all countries reported their hydropower plans to the MRC before construction. Even if notified, the MRC is not able to stop the decision made by the four member countries if they choose to carry out a hydropower project. The MRC can only advise them to consider the possible social and environmental impacts on the Mekong River and ask that they reconsider their decision.