Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources of Ukraine Ruslan Strilets and EU Commissioner for Environment, Oceans and Fisheries Virginijus Sinkevičius visited the Northern Water Quality Laboratory.

According to the Minister, soviet-era methods and outdated equipment used to prevail here. When Ukraine signed the Association Agreement with the European Union, it undertook to reform water monitoring. The European Union has funded EUR 400,000 for providing equipment and training for the specialists of this laboratory. A UAH 9 million resourse was provided from the Ukrainian budget. Today it is one of the four best laboratories in Ukraine. According to researchers, water quality in the region has not deteriorated, despite fighting.

EU experts say Ukraine has met the requirements for the creation of the laboratory best among the Eastern Partnership countries.