Water is a shared resource — and a shared responsibility.
Across the Eastern Partnership countries Armenia, Moldova and Ukraine, water systems face common challenges: ageing infrastructure, limited financial resources, and the need for stronger monitoring and cross-sectoral cooperation (agriculture, industry, health, environment).
The recent pollution of the Nistru River have further highlighted how vulnerable water resources can be, and how critical preparedness, monitoring, and institutional cooperation are in protecting public health and ecosystems.
Building on strong foundations
Since 2016, the European Union has supported water sector reforms in the region. With assistance of the predecessor programme EU4Environment – Water Resources and Environmental Data (2021–2024), key achievements in the Eastern Partnership countries, include:
- Adoption of major policy frameworks, such as Armenia’s amended Water Code and Ukraine’s National Water Strategy;
- Development of 12 river basin management plans, including nationwide coverage in Ukraine;
- Strengthened transboundary cooperation, notably through the Prut River Declaration;
- Improved water monitoring systems, laboratory accreditation, and pollutant analysis capacity;
- Enhanced data transparency, including public environmental data portals;
- Promotion of nature-based solutions for water management.
Learn more about EU4Environment-Water and Data key results: https://eu4waterdata.eu/en/products-library/key-results.html
Scaling up with EU4Green Recovery East
Building on these results, the EU4Green Recovery East programme (2025–2028) supports countries in advancing towards sustainable, resilient, and EU-aligned water management systems. Key areas of support include:
Strengthening water governance and coordination
National platforms for implementing the EU Water Framework Directive have been launched in Armenia, Moldova and Ukraine in October 2025, improving coordination across institutions and sectors. Follow-up country support is ongoing as of 2026.
Strenghtening flood risk management
In Armenia, work has started on a Flood Risk Management Plan for basin, improving preparedness and risk assessment. In Ukraine, initial steps have been launched towards an integrated Prut River Basin and Flood Risk Management Plan, supporting coordinated action at a transboundary level (Moldova-Ukraine).
Enhancing monitoring and laboratory capacity
Partner laboratories participate in international proficiency testing schemes and receive targeted support to improve data reliability and pollutant detection (metals, basic physico-chemical parameters and pesticides).
Improving wastewater treatment
Baseline assessments conducted in 2025 analyse infrastructure performance, energy use, and regulatory frameworks, highlighting opportunities to boost performance and energy efficiency. Pilot sites in Moldova and Ukraine are being assessed for energy efficiency and performance improvement.
A regional webinar held in December 2025 brought together over 200 participants from across the region, providing an overview of EU policies and future directions for urban wastewater collection and treatment. This marked the launch of dedicated capacity-building activities under EU4Green Recovery East.
In parallel, a regional reference catalogue of EU best practices is being developed, showcasing solutions for energy efficiency, energy recovery, and by-product valorisation. This tool will support long-term infrastructure planning, investment prioritisation, and policy development in partner countries.
Supporting sustainable financing
Discussions on economic instruments, including water tariffs, abstraction fees and pollution charges, aim to ensure long-term financial sustainability of water services.
A shared pathway forward
Ensuring water security in the region requires long-term investment, strong institutions, and reliable data.
EU4Green Recovery East continues to support Armenia, Moldova and Ukraine in strengthening their water systems — helping to protect ecosystems, safeguard public health, and build resilience in an increasingly uncertain context.
