The European Environment Agency (EEA) and its European Environment Information and Observation Network (Eionet) today welcomed the Republic of Moldova as a cooperating country, extending the EEA\u2019s country network to 32 member and 7 cooperating countries across Europe. The EEA is one of the first EU agencies to integrate Moldova into its regular activities and operational structures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The EEA Management Board formally endorsed Moldova today as a cooperating country of the organisation. With the Management Board’s endorsement today, Moldova becomes the seventh cooperating country of the EEA, joining the Western Balkan partners Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, North Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia and Kosovo\u00b9.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Moldova\u2019s landscapes and ecosystems form part of wider European ecological systems, and its environmental challenges often mirror those faced across the region. An oil spill, caused by Russian attack on a Ukrainian hydropower complex located on the Dniester River close to the border with Moldova, is currently affecting the wider river basin, including the Moldovan territory. Such incidents show that environment and climate challenges do not stop at national borders.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As Moldova has declared a state of environmental alert due to the oil spill, the Moldovan delegation was prevented from participating in the EEA Management Board meeting. Nevertheless, the moment has been marked by the messages sent by Jessika Roswall, EU Commissioner for Environment, Water Resilience and a Competitive Circular Economy, Gheorghe Hajder, Moldovan minister for the Environment, Leena Yl\u00e4-Mononen, EEA’s Executive Director and Andr\u00e9 Weidenhaupt, EEA chair of the Management Board.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\nMoldova\u2019s cooperation with the European Environment Agency marks an important moment in its European integration journey. It is a concrete step both for Moldova and for the European Union, as we strengthen our cooperation and joint commitment to a healthy and sustainable environment that can strengthen our preparedness, security and resilience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Jessika Roswall,<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
European Commissioner for Environment, Water Resilience and a Competitive Circular Economy<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
\nThe Republic of Moldova welcomes this new stage of cooperation with the European Environment Agency and its Eionet network. Joining this community of partners strengthens our capacity to develop evidence-based environmental policies, improve environmental data systems, and align our practices with European standards. At a time when Moldova is advancing important reforms of its environmental institutions, including the strengthening of the Environmental Agency, the experience and expertise of the EEA and the Eionet network will be invaluable. Access to reliable and comparable environmental data will allow us to better understand environmental challenges and design effective public policies. This cooperation will support our efforts to modernise environmental governance, improve data quality and transparency, and accelerate our alignment with the EU environmental acquis as part of Moldova\u2019s European integration path.<\/p>\n\n\n\n