As a follow-up to the National Policy Dialogue on Water in Ukraine (19-20 June), an online meeting between Ukraine and Armenia on the transposition and implementation of Directive 2020/2184/EC on the quality of water intended for human consumption (Drinking Water Directive, DWD) was held on 3 July.

The main points of discussion were the development of the DWD roadmap, similarities and differences between the Directive and the national legislation (SanPIN), exemptions from the provisions of the Directive taking into account military actions, the risk-based approach and links between monitoring under the DWD and the Water Framework Directive 2000/60/EC.

The meeting was attended by Ms Nune Bakunts, Deputy Secretary General of the National Centre for Disease Control and Prevention of Armenia, Mr Oleksandr Shkin, Deputy Head of UkrvodokanalEkologiya, representatives of the Ministry of Health of Ukraine and the Ministry of Communities, Territories and Infrastructure Development of Ukraine.

The online bilateral meeting and the DWD Roadmap for Armenia were developed under the EU4Environment - Water Resources and Environmental Data programme and facilitated by UNECE.

The 11th meeting of the Roundtable on Financing Water took place on 30-31 May and focused on the EU's Eastern Partnership (EaP) countries: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine. Held in Brussels, Belgium, the event highlighted the needs and opportunities for accelerating investment in water-related sectors in line with the priorities of the EaP countries.

Key highlights:

The opening session provided an overview of the achievements and remaining financing challenges in the region, emphasising environmental and climate resilience and the promotion of fair and inclusive societies. The Eastern Partnership Economic and Investment Plan aims to mobilise €17 billion by 2027, and the EU's Global Gateway Initiative targets up to €300 billion to address global challenges, including water management.

Throughout the sessions, discussions focused on improving investment decisions for the implementation of EU water legislation, the enabling environment for water security investments and the use of economic instruments such as taxes and tariffs. Innovative approaches to mobilising finance for sustainable water management and addressing the challenges of river basin management planning were highlighted. The potential of nature-based solutions (NbS) as cost-effective alternatives to traditional infrastructure was also explored, underlining the importance of new knowledge and financing approaches.

The Roundtable underlined the importance of innovative solutions, sound policy frameworks and strategic investments to improve water management and security in the Eastern Partnership countries.

For more information and to download the discussion highlights:  https://www.oecd.org/en/events/2024/05/eleventh-meeting-of-the-roundtable-on-financing-Water.html

The EU4Environment Water Resources and Environmental Data programme recently organized a comprehensive training on surface water data analysis, aligned with the EU Water Framework Directive (WFD). The training sessions, held in Vienna, Austria, were conducted by the Austrian Environment Agency on 21-22 May for Armenian and Georgian professionals and on 28-29 May 2024 for Moldovan and Ukrainian professionals 

The training aimed to equip participants with robust data analysis skills necessary for effective water resource management and compliance with the EU Water Framework Directive (WFD).  

Participants gained insights into the relevance of the EU directive for water quality and environmental monitoring. The training covered key parameters, methods, and sampling techniques used in water quality assessment within the WFD framework.  

Through interactive sessions and practical exercises, participants developed proficiency in various data analysis techniques, statistical tools, and software applications used for evaluating and interpreting water quality data.  

The training enhanced participants' skills in identifying trends, anomalies, and compliance with WFD standards through data analysis. Participants also improved their ability to communicate data analysis results effectively using data visualization techniques. 

As we bid farewell to 2023, a year of transformative progress, we express our heartfelt gratitude to our partners and stakeholders in Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgian, the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine.

In our pursuit of sustainable water management and environmental data excellence, 2023 marked significant milestones. From initiating and further developing River Basin Management Plans (RBMP), to using satellite data for environmental monitoring in Eastern Partner countries to pioneering wastewater-based epidemiology - each step was a testament to our shared commitment.

In 2024 our journey towards a more resilient and vibrant European continent continues, underlining the importance of nature-inspired resource management.

We wish you a joyful holiday season and a prosperous New Year filled with sustainable solutions and harmonious coexistence with nature.

These were some of the questions addressed during a series of hands-on training sessions on the use of satellite data from the Copernicus programme. The series of workshops was organised by the EU4Environment Water and Data programme for experts in Armenia, Georgia and Moldova in December 2023.

The aim of the workshop was to introduce experts from the Eastern Partnership countries to the main characteristics and types of satellite imagery and to provide an overview of the Copernicus programme, its data and services. Participants were introduced to the Copernicus Data Space Ecosystem (https://dataspace.copernicus.eu/), the newly launched portal for visualisation and download of Copernicus products.

Participants actively followed three case studies to understand and explore the potential of satellite data for land monitoring applications and to gain first-hand experience of processing satellite data in QGIS (an open-source geographic information system application that supports the viewing, editing and analysis of geospatial data).

Topics such as  inter-annual variability of vegetation productivity and its response to climatic conditions or forest change were explored. There were also some country specifics, such as a focus on agricultural productivity in Armenia, walnut production in Georgia and the shrinking of Lake Taraclia in Moldova.

The discussions helped to identify different applications that could benefit from the use of satellite data. Several thematic areas were identified, such as agriculture, water resources and climate.

A similar workshop will be held online for Ukraine in 2024.

Mapping land cover and land use is essential to determine what quantity of land is currently being used and for what purpose, and to identify changes in land use from year to year. This knowledge helps develop strategies to balance conflicting uses and nature protection. It helps to assess urban growth, model water quality issues, predict impacts from floods, and track wetland loss and the potential effects of rising sea levels, etc.