The 25 000 km² Vardar/Axios River Basin is shared by Kosovo, Serbia, the Republic of Macedonia and Greece. Water body
delineation and River Basin characterisation are initial steps of the Water Framework Directive (WFD). For this purpose, shape
files representing rivers and catchments are necessary. In riparian countries Digital Elevation Models (DEM) are regularly
updated using aerial photos, satellite imagery and other sources. The accuracy of the DEM derived shape files is an issue. From
the CCM2 (Catchment Characterisation and Modelling) of the EU Joint Research Centre (JRC) was derived the ECRINS
(European catchments and RIvers network System) shape files for River Systems, Lakes and Elementary Catchments. They
offer interesting information River Basin characterisation and mapping. However, when delineating water bodies in flat areas
many errors of confluence were detected in the ECRINS river features. Therefore, in the Republic of Macedonia, more accurate
River and Catchment shape files were produced in June 2015, by using a 5 meter resolution national DEM. These files were
introduced in a Water Information System (WIS). River segments were attributed Pfafstetter codes for the Vardar River Basin
within the territory of the Republic of Macedonia. The precise River and Catchments files serve as basis for Water Body
delineation. But, as the GIS files of riparian countries do not match between them, ECRIN files were used to map
transboundary watersheds in border areas. More accurate CCM2 and ECRINS files would enable correspondence with rivers
and catchments for better water management within transboundary River Basins.