Many rivers and lakes in Germany are international water bodies, and water resources are shared with neighboring countries. Established in 1950 “The International Commission for the Protection of the Rhine River includes Germany, France, the Netherlands, Switzerland and Luxembourg in the Rhine River basin. Since the 1970s, the Commission has drafted three international treaties on the serious pollution of the Rhine River and established the standards for sewage discharge to the Rhine River. The federal government also cooperates with surrounding countries on the protection of the Ode River, Elbe, Maas River and Danube River. The sea areas shared by Germany and its neighbors have also been Protection through international cooperation.