Over the past 20 years, a comprehensive international legal framework for the management of transboundary waters has been developed in the pan-European region and includes EU legislation (in particular the WFD) and UNECE Conventions and Protocols (in particular the Water Convention and its Protocol on Water and Health). This is, undoubtedly, one of the most advanced regional frameworks on the matter of transboundary cooperation. However, there is still room for improvements: many transboundary basins still lack a legal basis for cooperation, existing agreement are not always implemented and joint bodies are often unfit for purpose. Hence, strengthening legal and institutional structures of transboundary water management has to become a top-priority. It implies giving special attention to a wider adoption and implementation of the existing international framework, supporting adequate downscaling of these rules through basin level agreement and looking for ways to ensure their actual enforcement.