The document summarizes the activities and outcomes of the first steering committee meeting of the European Union Water Initiative Plus for the Eastern Partnership held in Brussels on May 16, 2017. It outlines 3 results areas that were discussed: 1) Legislation, policy and institutional strengthening in Armenia, 2) Strengthening of laboratory and monitoring programs, and 3) Development of river basin management plans for the Sevan and Hrazdan basins in Armenia. Specific projects were identified under each result area along with the expected outcomes of those projects.

1. EUROPEAN UNION WATER INITIATIVE PLUSEUROPEAN UNION WATER INITIATIVE PLUS
FOR THE EASTERN PARTNERSHIPFOR THE EASTERN PARTNERSHIP
FIRST STEERING COMMITTEE MEETINGFIRST STEERING COMMITTEE MEETING
1616THTH
MAY 2017, BRUSSELSMAY 2017, BRUSSELS
ARMENIAARMENIA

2. Result 1 Legislation, Policy and Institutional strengthening
Activities streams Project Outcomes
Support to National Policy Dialogue
process
National Policy Dialogue has become an established practice.
1-2 NPD Steering Committee meetings a year
Analysis of “harmful” subsidies in
irrigation sector
Support to development of a draft law “On Irrigation” is provided. The
requirements of the Government Resolution on developing Food
Security Policy in Armenia are met through developing a policy package
to lay down the way towards sustainable water use in irrigation.
Policy package on sustainable water use in irrigation
Development of a policy package on
HPP water use efficiency
Revised and further developed a national policy on water and energy
security.
Policy Package on water use efficiency and energy saving in the water
sector
Support revision of the Water Code
Amendments of Water Code adopted with new chapter on sanitation
(new chapter already drafted by April 2017)
Road map for implementation of the Armenia’s obligations related to the
5 Water Directives is formally adopted (according to the upcoming
Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement with EU).
Review and update implementation
targets of Water and Health Protocol
National targets revised and formally adopted together with the
implementation plan.
Support transboundary cooperation
with Georgia on the Khrami-Debed
and possible bi-lateral agreement
Transboundary basin assessment completed (dependent on will of both
countries to engage)

3. Result 2 Laboratory and Monitoring programme strengthening
Activities streams Project Outcomes
Assessment
• Needs in terms of equipment, infrastructure, trainings towards WFD
compliant laboratory(ies), QM/accreditation and GW and SW
monitoring identified
• training plan developed
Contract document preparation
• Decision on purchase or upgrade of equipment, infrastructure,
consumables
• Technical specifications for procurement agreed
• Tender documentation drafted
Procurement
• Tender published in official journal of European Commission,
Q4/2017
• Procurement process Q1-Q2/2018
Delivery and installation
• Delivery, installation and training on new equipment
• Delivery envisaged end of Q2/2018
Surveys and Training
• Training plan for Environmental Monitoring and Information
Centre (EMIC), State Environmental Inspectorate and other relevant
key personnel (2018 onwards)
• Hands-on trainings and training documentation
• Surveys to practise good use carried out (2018 onwards)

4. Hydrographic districts in Armenia
KURA BASIN
ARAKS BASIN
Debed
Aghstev
Akhuryan
Hrazdan
Sevan
Southern
Ararat
Pilot Basin for
RBMP
implementation
Pilot Basin for
RBMP
development
Pilot action on harmonisation of WB delineation at the AM/GE border

5. Result 2 RBMP development for Sevan and Hrazdan
Activities streams Project Outcomes
Revision of the national model plan
• Model guideline outline, compliant with the WFD and consistent
with national legal framework
• Based on the preliminary assessment, support the refinement of
Akhuryan RBMP compliant with the WFD and the model plan.
Delineation and typology
• Reviewed / revised GWB delineation.
• Re-delineation of SWBs due to shift to WFD system B,
• SW Typology reviewed / revised.
• Revised guidelines to support further national implementation.
Pressures and Impact assessment
• Reviewed GW and SW risk assessment as basis for the programme of
measures and the revision of monitoring networks
Environmental objectives and status
assessment
• Environmental objectives identified.
• Reviewed and revised status assessment procedure towards WFD
compliance.
• Water body status assessed
• Harmonisation of Khrami-Debed planning process on both side of
the border with Georgia (transboundary working groups).

6. Result 2 RBMP development for Sevan and Hrazdan
Activities streams Project Outcomes
Programme of Measures
• Support the development of Hrazdan and Sevan RBMPs compliant
with the WFD and the model plan.
• Updated and improved national guidelines to be in coherence with
the Armenian context.
• Training program established and implemented for up-scaling pilot
experience in the country.
Development of national water
database
• Recommendations about strengthening data management, support
to data management and valorisation (web service, process of data
valorisation, pilot action covering Hrazdan, Sevan and Akhuryan
basins).
Public consultation and adoption
• Consultations on relevant documentation linked to participative
RBMPlanning conducted
• Guidelines on public participation in the relation with the WFD
elaborated

7. Result 2 RBMP Implementation of Akhuryan
Activities streams Project Outcomes
Surveys and EsCS development
• Sufficient monitoring data available (gap filling) to support the
review/update of the existing Akhuryan RBMP respectively the
development of the new RBMPs of Sevan and Hrazdan.
• Ecological status classification system developed for all relevant
biological quality elements.
Development of key selected
measures
• Support for the implementation of selected measures.
• Dashboard (or other tool) for regular monitoring of Programme of
Measures implementation.

8. Result 3 Stakeholder involvement and communication AM
Activities streams Project Outcomes
Development of Communication
Strategy
• Communication strategy in place at basin, national and regional scale
to efficiently support IWRM among main interested parties and up to
the wide public
Implementaion of Communication
Strategy
• Communication activities (Awareness raising events, Information
materials, Websites, Press-releases, Social media, E-learning,
Workshops) at basin, national and regional scale implemented
• External project communication assured and developed in synergy
with the communication strategy implementation
• Mechanism for sharing information among project partners is
developed (e.g. web based EUWIplusEast information exchange
platform, online collaboration tools, etc)
RBC establishment and support
• Development of practices and progressive institutionalisation of
stakeholder involvement mechanisms for implementation of the EU
water-related acquis, IWRM and MEAs
• Methodological and technical support for stakeholder involvement in
River Basin Management Planning provided