Easier access to irrigation water with the new changes in the Water Law

The government has approved amendments to the Water Act aimed at reducing administrative burdens and speeding up permit and registration procedures. These changes aim for more efficient access to water resources – a key factor for agriculture in the context of climate change. Read more: Opinion: Budget 2026 lacks funds for irrigation water supply So far, the current provisions in the law provided for a series of complex steps requiring numerous documents and agreements between various institutions. This often led to significant delays and made it difficult for both water users and water resource management. The new rules introduce official information exchange between agencies, eliminate the need for applicants to submit some documents, and set clear deadlines for preparing opinions. One of the key changes is related to water extraction from the Danube River and municipal reservoirs. A notification regime is introduced for water extraction from the Danube for irrigation needs, as ...