Within the activities of the project "Facilitation of the Republic of Moldova's Integration into the EU in the area of Environmental Protection", dealing with two areas – waste management and protection of biodiversity, at the beginning of October Inese Kukle, the Project Manager and experts of waste management, biodiversity protection and environmental issues from Latvia visited Moldova.

The aim of the visit was to meet the officials of the Ministry of Ecology and Nature Resources of the Republic of Moldova, in order to present the analysis of the Moldova legislation and to reveal the drawbacks and noncompliance to the EU standards in organization of these two sectors in the country.

During the visit meetings with the responsible officials of the Ministry of Ecology and Nature Resources of the Republic of Moldova and its subordinate institutions were organized, to discuss and clarify the unclear issues as well as to decide on recommendations for situation improvement.
Experts saw also some of the problems in real life. Waste landfill in Strasani was visited where major problem is illegal waste dumping (so that to avoid fee), zoning of the landfill and observing it, lack of fencing from the side of the motor road. Visit was done also to a previous pesticide storage place from where pesticide bags were transported to France for incineration, still contamination in soil and ground water is left and no decisions have been taken up to the moment for its removal.

Still experts enjoyed the splendor of the Research Reserve of Strasani – forests of broad-leaved trees, especially stands of elms and hornbeams, also they discussed the management and research of the reserve with its administration and the problems of protection of nature values in Moldova.

Upon return from the visit the experts will prepare a final report on drawbacks and required changes in the strategy, structure and other documents, also will make recommendations for improvement.

Current priority of the Moldova project is development of the strategy for transfer of the EU Directives into the national legislation. Development of a strategy for waste management will be initiated within the project, preparing proposals for strategy plan and activities, that would ensure adoption of the EU requirements into the regulatory acts of Moldova. This work will be logical continuation of the analysis of compliance of Moldova regulatory acts to the EU requirements.

The final report on the analysis shall be submitted to the Ministry of Ecology and Nature resources of the Republic of Moldova.

Additional information:
Inese Kukle, Project Manager, phone 7503544
e-mail: inese.kukle@videsprojekti.lv