"Vides projekti" Ltd. continued cooperation with the Ministry of Ecology and Nature Resources of the Republic of Moldova within the framework of the project "Facilitation of the Republic of Moldova's Integration into the EU in the area of Environmental Protection". The goal of the project was to facilitate environmental protection in Moldova, simultaneously contributing also to the development of the state administration and to the process of European and transatlantic integration.

The project was implemented from August until November 2007. It comprised three consequential and inter-related phases.

The first two phases presented in the Project Proposal were implemented in accordance with the time schedule. On the third phase, as priorities of the Ministry of Ecology and Nature Resources of the Republic of Moldova had changed, the activity "Implementation of "Project management" Training and Development of Further Cooperation Strategy" was replaced by "Development of the Strategy for Introduction of EU Directives Regulating Waste Management in Moldova and Identification of Further Cooperation Directions for Assistance to Moldova". At that moment the key priority was development of strategies for transposing the EU directives.

During the first phase of the project regulatory acts and development strategies of the Ministry of Ecology and Nature Resources of the Republic of Moldova in two sectors of environment protection were analyzed: the first one – waste management, the second – preservation of biodiversity and nature protection. As project was consulted by the experts who had worked on cooperation project with the Republic of Moldova before, the begun work was promptly continued. The first activity was as a direct continuation of formerly started self-analysis of the Ministry of Ecology on compliance of strategies and documents to the EU requirements. Four qualified project experts having experience in introduction and implementation of regulatory documents, strategies and legislation requirements were involved in the activity. were involved in the activity: two experts of waste management and two of biodiversity and nature protection issues. A list of regulatory documents of the Republic of Moldova was drafted, that should be analyzed, in order to acquire general understanding of current situation in introduction of the EU requirements. In total, following common approach, more than 20 strategic documents and legislation acts of the Republic of Moldova were analyzed.

On the second phase of the project, after the analysis of regulatory acts and development strategies, the experts summarized identified drawbacks and noncompliance to the requirements of EU directives as refers administration of two particular environment protection areas in the country. Recommendations were prepared how to improve integration of the EU requirements into national legislation and general conclusions are done.
Also a week’s visit was organized to the Republic of Moldova (1 – 5 October, 2007), in order to discuss prepared recommendations with the responsible officials of the ministry and subordinate institutions. During the visit results of the analysis of legislation documents were presented and remaining issues were identified, so that to ensure best accomplishment of the final report. Experts saw also some of the problems in real life. Waste landfill in Strasani was visited, where major problem is illegal waste dumping nearby, zoning of the landfill and observing it, lack of fencing. Also a previous pesticide storage place was visited, from where pesticide bags were removed, still contamination in soil and ground water is left but no decisions have been taken for its abstraction. Experts also went to the Research Reserve of Strasani, where discussed the organization of management and research of the reserve with its administration. During the visit the experts shared their experience and recommended solutions for problems of waste management and protection of nature values.

After the end visit the experts prepared Final Report on (in)compliance of the situation in Moldova to the EU requirements, on required amendments to the strategy and other documents and structure, comprising also recommendations for developing them compliant to the EU standards. Suggestions for procedures of introduction and implementation of the EU standards in two sectors of environment protection are made. The Final Report were drafted for submitting to the Ministry of Ecology and Nature resources of the Republic of Moldova.

On the third – ending – phase of the project development of the strategy was initiated, on integration of the EU requirements for waste management into regulatory acts of Moldova. For implementation of the third phase the project manager and the chief project expert of waste management were involved, who already have been involved in completion of the first and the second phase of the project.

After preparing proposals for the strategy plan and activities, a visit of two experts from Moldova to Latvia was organized to deal with issues of waste management (23-28 October) During the visit the Final Report, prepared by the Latvian party, on compliance of current legislation of Moldova to the EU directives was evaluated, proposals for the strategy (plan and activities) for integration of the EU directives, regulating waste management, into regulatory acts of Moldova were discussed and improved. The experts from Moldova were also familiarized with the procedure of establishing waste management regions and organization of waste management on regional level, with distribution of competencies in the sector of waste management, set by Latvian regulatory acts, with waste management planning system in Latvia, also with requirements for content / development of regional and national waste management plans. During the visit a trip to the North Vidzeme Waste Management Region was organized, to see a landfill and to learn about separate waste collection system. At the end of the visit both parties negotiated on further cooperation options.

Latvian experts prepared the Final Report and proposals for strategy plan and activities, which ensure integration of the requirements of EU directives into the regulatory documents of Moldova after the visit. Documents were sent to the Ministry of Ecology and Nature Resources of the Republic of Moldova. The Ministry of Ecology and Nature Resources described their necessities as refers future cooperation, which the Project Manager included in the report "Achievements in the Area of Cooperation with the Republic of Moldova and Further Prospects of Cooperation".

Additional information:
Inese Kukle, Project Manager, phone 67503544
e-mail: inese.kukle@videsprojekti.lv