PROGRESS IN GRADUAL APPROXIMATION OF UKRAINE’S LEGISLATION TO THE EU LEGISLATION IN THE SECTOR OF WATER QUALITY AND WATER RESOURCE MANAGEMENT, INCLUDING MARINE ENVIRONMENT

Abstract

The article provides an overview and analysis of the progress made by Ukraine in gradual approximation to the EU directives in the sector of water quality and water resource management, including marine environment, listed in Annex XXX to the EU-Ukraine Association Agreement. The research concludes that for the most part the transposition of the respective directives is complete. It is argued, however, that extra effort is required under the Nitrates Directive and the Drinking Water Directive. notwithstanding tangible gains in the development of River Basin Management Plans, the approval of Flood Risk Management Plans, the adoption of the 2050 Water Strategy and the Marine Environmental Strategy of Ukraine, the implementation of the State Water Monitoring Program suffers obvious difficulties caused by the unprovoked and unjustified russia’s military aggression against Ukraine, especially in the areas of active warfare. Massive destruction of infrastructure including centralized water supply and sewerage systems is likely to hinder implementation of the Drinking Water Directive and the Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive in Ukraine