Second meeting of the national inter-agency committee managing EUWI+ implementation in Belarus, 5 December 2019. © OIEau
On 5 December, the 2nd meeting took place of the national inter-agency committee managing EUWI+ implementation in Belarus, the main platform to facilitate reform of water policies. The event marked several significant milestones in the EUWI+ programme and discussed the next steps to improve water management.
The meeting was hosted and chaired by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Protection (Minprorody) of the Republic of Belarus.
Celebrating key milestones in EUWI+ project implementation
Participants presented recent developments in implementing the water policy in Belarus, including the establishment of BelVodokanal. They also observed progress in co-operation on transboundary rivers between Belarus and its neighbours (Russia, Ukraine, European Union Member States).
The meeting showcased examples of support provided to Belarus for capacity development to improve the technical skills of national experts (e.g. economic instruments for water resources management) and implement Multilateral Environmental Agreements (e.g. adoption of methodologies to monitor nationalised Sustainable Development Goals indicators).
The event was an occasion to celebrate the adoption of the Upper Dnieper River Basin district Management Plan prepared with support from EUWI+, and took stock of progress in drafting RBMP for the Pripyat river basin district. Participants also welcomed important progress in developing laboratories’ capacity to monitor water quality.
“The exchange of experience that comes with [this project] is priceless”
Lyudmila Nuprienok works for the National Centre for Analytical Monitoring in the area of environmental protection. In the video interview, she tells us about the European Union’s support to Belarus to develop national experts’ technical skills in order to improve sustainable management of water resources.
National Center for Analytical Monitoring in Belarus from Yunona Videnina on Vimeo.
About 30 participants took part in the discussions
Mr Andrei Khmel, Deputy Minister, Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Protection of the Republic of Belarus, Chair of the Inter-agency Committee managing EUWI+ implementation in Belarus, and Ms Tatiana Slizh, Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Protection of the Republic of Belarus were present at the meeting.
Participants in the discussions included representatives of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Protection (Minprirody) and the Ministry of Housing and Communal Services (Minzhilkomhoz), other institutions involved in water management, the administration of the Kopyl rayon of Minsk oblast where local actions are piloted, local water experts from academia and NGOs, as well as representatives from the European Commission, international organisations and international financial institutions.
More pictures on the EUWI+ Facebook Page
Background Info: Established as part of the European Union's Water Initiative, the national inter-agency committee meeting provides a platform for key stakeholders to identify, prepare, and implement reforms in the field of water policy. It also helps to coordinate donor activities and enhance international cooperation.
Official Cinclusions of the NPD meeting Belarus (RU)