On 18 December 2025, Ukrainian authorities convened the 4th interdepartmental event on River Basin Management Plan (RBMP) implementation, focusing on the Vistula River Basin. Organized by the State Agency of WaterResources of Ukraine (SAWR), the event brought together the Ministry of Economy, Environment and Agriculture and theMinistry of Development of Communities and Territories of Ukraine,the Ukrainian Geological Survey, State Forestry Agency, State Fisheries Agency (State Agency of Ukraine for the Development of Land Reclamation, Fisheries and Food Programmes), basin water resources management departments, and basin councils to review progress, exchange experiences, and strengthen inter-basin coordination for the implementation of the first cycle of River Basin Management Plans (RBMP) (2025–2030), developed with EU support.
Participants discussed the current status of Vistula RBMP implementation (the Vistula basin is composed of the Western Bug and Syan sub-basins), measures to reduce pollution and hydromorphological impacts, and plans for the next phase. Highlights included updates on wastewater treatment projects in Lviv, other EU Interreg Next Poland-Ukraine 2021–2027-funded wastewater projects, ecosystem restoration initiatives such as Lake Svityaz, and local urban water management strategies, including the Water Vision of Lviv until 2100.
Given the transboundary nature of the Vistula basin, the event also provided a platform for international exchange. Contributions came from Polish Waters, sharing experience in implementing the Vistula RBMP on the Polish side, as well as from the UNECE and UNICEF Ukraine, highlighting lessons from transboundary water management.
On 19 December, participants visited the Zubra River, showcasing practical examples of river revitalization and water management in action.
This series of inter-basin meetings reflects Ukraine’s commitment to effective coordination between river basins, ensuring the sustainable management of its diverse water resources. The previous meetings focused on the Danube, Upper Dnipro and Desna, and Dnipro sub-basins, with this fourth meeting dedicated to the Vistula River sub-basin.
