National round table and training on drinking water issues and priorities in Macedonia

On 7th of June 2018, a training on water quality took place at the Continental Hotel in Skopje. The seminar was organised within the Work Package 2 – Educational measures for responsible institutions and drafting of regulations, as part of the on-going project “Water and Sanitation Safety Planning in Romania, Albania, and FYR Macedonia” funded by the German Ministry of Environment.

More than 30 participants from different institutions such as health authorities, water operators, members of the hygiene centre at the Faculty of Medicine in Skopje and journalists, as well as representatives from Centers for Public Health from the municipalities of Kumanovo, Skopje Veles, and Tetovo, the Agency for Food and Veterinary, the Ministry of Environment and Spacial Planning, the Statistics Office, Public Enterprise Water and Sanitation Skopje, Public Sanitation Enterprise Kozjak – Staro Nagoricane, and representatives of GEF SGP in Macedonia attended the meeting. NGOs Eko vita, Florozon, Radar, Eko zvon, 4x4x4 Balkan bridges, and Impact net were also represented.

Associated Prof. Mihaela Vasilescu held the training and presented the Romanian experience concerning the EU Drinking Water Directive’s transportation and implementation – main part was introduction to the legal frame and methodological approach of the Water Safety Plans, as well as discussions concerning the updating the Directive in terms of the needs in the country. The involvement of the relevant Romanian Institutions and their experience in adaptation and implementation of the directive was shared and discussed. Prof. Mihail Kochubovski from the Institute of Public Health spoke about the regulation and the status of the drinking water sector in Macedonia, and our Bistra Mihaylova shared examples of successful implementations of Water and Sanitation Safety Planning in different countries and regions in Eastern Europe.  Natasa Dokovska from Journalists for Human Rights presented the current status of the implementation of the project and stressed on the up-coming activities which will take place until the end of the year. After each presentation, the participants and lecturers engaged in extensive discussions.

Please find the agenda here.