The third Project Steering Committee (PSC) Meeting of the EU-funded project “Improved Implementation of the EU Floods Directive through Harmonization of National Legislation and Preparation of Flood Risk Management Plans” was held today, 17 October 2025.

In the presence of representatives of key stakeholders, including representatives from the Central Financing and Contracting Department (CFCD), the Crisis Management Centre (CMC), the Hydrometeorological Service (HMS), the Ministry of European Affairs (MEA), the Ministry of Environment and Spatial Planning (MEPP) and members of the project team, the participants reviewed the progress achieved with the project in the period June – September 2025. The participants also discussed the planned activities for the next six months of project implementation.

The project experts provided a detailed overview of the work carried out in the key project activities for the harmonization of the national legislation of North Macedonia with the EU Floods Directive.

The project systematically collected and thoroughly reviewed all available information and national documentation related to flood risk management legislation. Based on this comprehensive review, the project conducted an analysis to assess the level of implementation and enforcement of the existing national flood management legislation, as well as the degree of compliance with the EU Floods Directive. The findings of this analysis are summarized in a detailed, clear and concise table illustrating the (non)compliance between national legislation and EU requirements.

The project also presented the successful Study Visit to Slovenia for the Exchange of EU Best Practices in Flood Management, during which representatives from the Ministry of Environment and Spatial Planning, the Crisis Management Center, AD Vodostopanstvo, the Hydrometeorological Directorate and members of the project team were introduced to Slovenia’s comprehensive system of disaster protection and assistance, which includes natural and other disaster management, provision of assistance to affected communities, damage assessment, fire protection and post-disaster rehabilitation.

During the period June – September 2025, the project continued to develop a methodology for the Preliminary Flood Risk Assessment. According to this assessment, new areas with potentially significant flood risk have been identified for 7 river basins. Work on the remaining three basins is currently in its final phase.

The PSC meeting confirms the commitment of all involved institutions to strengthen North Macedonia’s resilience to flood risks and advance its alignment with European environmental standards.