The Verkhovna Rada has registered draft law No. 13201, which provides for the implementation of EU legislation on water protection from pollution.
The card of the document has already appeared on the parliament's website, but its text and all related documents are not available here or on the government's website.
This draft law is entitled “On Amendments to Certain Legislative Acts of Ukraine in Terms of Implementation of the Provisions of the EU Legislation on Water Protection from Pollution.” It was initiated by the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine.
It is worth reminding that consideration of this document is specified in the Government's Priority Action Plan for 2025. The Ministry of Environmental Protection and Natural Resources of Ukraine, the State Agency of Water Resources and the State Service of Geology and Subsoil are responsible for its development.
It should be noted that the Cabinet's consideration was almost a month late: the deadline for the Plan is March, but the actual approval took place on April 18.
Why was draft law No. 13201 developed?
The expected results include the following:
- reduction of water pollution by nutrients;
- prevention of eutrophication;
- implementation of the provisions of Annex I to Council Directive 91/676/EEC of December 12, 1991 on the protection of waters against pollution caused by nitrate pollution from agricultural sources.
We also remind you that its adoption is part of the Ukraine Facility Plan.
What changes will take place
According to the information released by the government's representative in the Verkhovna Rada, Taras Melnychuk, Draft Law No. 13201 provides for amendments to the following documents
1. Water Code of Ukraine:
- defines the terms “fresh water”, “sea water”, and brings the terms “water pollution”, “transitional waters”, “coastal waters” into line
- clarifies the competence of the Ministry of Ecology to approve the methodology for determining areas vulnerable to (accumulation of) nitrates;
- clarifies the competence of the State Agency of Ukraine for Water Resources to determine the surface water bodies that are affected or may be affected by pollution caused by nitrates as a result of agricultural activities;
- clarifies the competence of the State Service of Geology and Subsoil of Ukraine to identify groundwater areas affected or likely to be affected by pollution caused by nitrate intake as a result of agricultural activities;
- clarifies the set of measures regarding the obligations of water users to preserve water content of rivers and protect them from nitrate pollution as a result of agricultural activities;
- clarifies the terminology of inland waters in accordance with the Law of Ukraine “On the State Border of Ukraine” and the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea.
2. The Subsoil Code of Ukraine:
- defines the main requirements in the field of subsoil protection in terms of preventing subsoil pollution during underground storage of oil, gas and other substances and materials, disposal of harmful substances and production waste, wastewater discharge, as well as the flow of nitrogen compounds as a result of agricultural activities.
3. The Law of Ukraine “On Pesticides and Agrochemicals”:
- clarifies the scope of activities of the State Service of Ukraine on Food Safety and Consumer Protection.
4. The Law of Ukraine “On Environmental Protection”:
- clarifies the terminology of inland waters in accordance with the Law of Ukraine “On the State Border of Ukraine” and the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea.
5. Land Code of Ukraine:
- clarifies the terminology in restricting the use of land plots of coastal protection strips along seas, bays and estuaries and on islands in inland sea waters in accordance with the Law of Ukraine “On the State Border of Ukraine” and the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea.
In late March, EcoPolitic reported that the Cabinet of Ministers had approved the Procedure for Restricting the Rights of Water Users Carrying Out Special Water Use, in Particular During Low Water.
We also informed that the EU is investing €86 million in projects to improve climate resilience and water security.
