Ukraine and Denmark launch practical work on reforming groundwater management
The Ministry of Economy, Environment and Agriculture held the first inaugural meeting of the technical working group on water resources and groundwater within the framework of strategic sectoral cooperation between Ukraine and the Kingdom of Denmark. The focus is on moving from planning to practical implementation of projects aimed at modernising the monitoring system, data management and protection of Ukraine's strategic water resources.
The event was attended by Iryna Ovcharenko, Deputy Minister of Economy, Environment and Agriculture of Ukraine, as well as representatives of relevant authorities and industry institutions. International partners participating in the meeting included Camilla Christensen Rai, Advisor on Water and Environment at the Embassy of the Kingdom of Denmark in Ukraine, and Dorte Lindegaard Madsen, Chief Adviser, Project Manager at the Danish Environmental Protection Agency (DEPA).
The meeting participants discussed the key priorities for the technical working group's work in 2026. These included organisational aspects of the group's functioning, the schedule and frequency of meetings, the format for preparing reporting documentation, and the programme for the next six months.
The parties identified the need to deepen cooperation in the field of groundwater monitoring, improve the data of the State Water Cadastre, as well as implement European standards for water resource protection and the create protected areas (‘sanitary zones’).
"For Ukraine, the issue of water resources, especially groundwater, is of strategic importance. We are talking not only about ecology, but also about water supply security, community sustainability and economic development. Cooperation with Denmark helps us move from fragmented solutions to a systematic, European model of water resource management – with high-quality data, modern monitoring and clear rules," emphasised Iryna Ovcharenko.
Following the meeting, the parties confirmed their readiness for active joint work in 2026, in particular in the areas of strengthening monitoring systems, data management and bringing Ukrainian legislation closer to EU standards.
Background information
Strategic sectoral cooperation between Ukraine and the Kingdom of Denmark in the field of water resources and the environment for 2025-2028 was launched in October 2025 after the signing of the relevant Work Plan in the direction Water and the Environment.