JOINT MANAGEMENT OF THE DNIESTER: UKRAINE AND MOLDOVA HELD NEGOTIATIONS WITHIN THE FRAMEWORK OF THE DNIESTER COMMISSION

On 2–3 October 2025, regular meetings of the Working Groups of the Commission on the Sustainable Use and Protection of the Dniester River Basin (the Dniester Commission) were held in Chișinău, Republic of Moldova.

The Ukrainian delegation included representatives of the State Agency of Water Resources of Ukraine, basin water management authorities, and members of national working groups. The Basin Department of Water Resources of the Rivers of the Black Sea Region and Lower Danube was represented by Tetiana Salimon, Head of the Southern Region Water Laboratory, and Oleh Romanchuk, Head of the Department for Water Relations and Basin Cooperation.

Monitoring and Information Exchange

During the meeting of the Working Group on Water Monitoring and Information Exchange, the following issues were discussed:

• presentation of up-to-date information on the monitoring of surface and groundwater in the Dniester Basin by both parties;
• assessment results of the chemical and ecological status of water bodies;
• joint sampling of water at the transboundary section of the Dniester and comparative analysis of laboratory results;
• presentation of national reports on the state of water bodies in the basin for the year 2024.

The parties also agreed to introduce regular reciprocal visits and exchanges of experience between Ukrainian and Moldovan laboratories involved in the monitoring of biological and chemical water indicators.

Basin Planning and Management

Within the framework of the Working Group on Basin Planning and Management, the participants:

• reviewed the progress in implementing River Basin Management Plans and Flood Risk Management Plans on both sides;
• discussed the hydrological regime of the Dniester in 2024, including fluctuations of water levels downstream of hydropower plants;
• examined the issue of ecological releases during 2022–2025;
• presented key directions for the development of methodologies for determining environmental flow (e-flow);
• heard reports on the activities of the Dniester Basin Council, the Basin District Committee, and the results of the annual contest “Colors of the Dniester”.

Following the sessions, the Working Groups approved the results of ongoing plans and identified priority areas for cooperation for 2025–2026, as well as issues requiring further discussion at the Commission level.

Legal and Institutional Coordination

The parties exchanged experience regarding participation in bilateral consultations with the European Commission within the screening of Chapter 27 of EU accession negotiations.
Special attention was given to ensuring alignment of national legislation of Ukraine and Moldova with the requirements of the EU Water Framework Directive (2000/60/EC) and the Environmental Quality Standards Directive (2008/105/EC) in the field of water policy.

Background Information

The Dniester Commission is an interstate body for cooperation between Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova in the field of protection and sustainable use of the Dniester River Basin’s water resources.
Established under the Agreement between the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine and the Government of the Republic of Moldova, the Commission coordinates joint efforts of both states to ensure rational, environmentally sound, and balanced management of water and natural resources for the benefit of local populations and sustainable regional development.