Rising energy and food prices, security crisis, reformatting value chains, and climate change have resulted to Moldova’s need to aim for resilience and create the basis for a sustainable and inclusive development trajectory.

As a global leader, the EU continues to lead on international efforts, and in conjunction with Moldova, addresses environmental challenges and promotes the implementation of ambitious climate, environment and energy agendas.

Accompanying Moldova to transition towards a more sustainable development pathway, EU support is channeled towards:

• Adapting to climate change conditions and minimising the impact of anthropogenic activity on the environment, including the promotion of a green economy;
• Increasing energy autonomy, and security by using renewable energy resources, while reducing energy poverty.

Find out more about the tangible results of the EU assistance in the energy sector:

The production and use of energy account for more than 68% of Moldova’s greenhouse gas emissions In Moldova. Decarbonising the Republic of Moldova’s energy system is therefore critical to reach its climate objectives. The European Union remains the most important partner of the Republic of Moldova in provision of the support to tackle the energy crisis in the Republic of Moldova, to support the country in green transition and spur massive investment in renewable energy. The financial support offered by the European Union is directed to improve the energy efficiency, energy security and the diversification of energy supplies of the country.

Energy Efficiency: EU supports to improve the energy efficiency foster in order to foster a low carbon and clean energy in public buildings, such as hospitals, schools, kindergartens and health institutions.

Greater energy efficiency will be achieved by:

• Improving the insulation of buildings, installing more energy-efficient lighting, heating, cooling and ventilation systems.
• Integrating renewable energy sources and introducing efficient energy management practices.
• Installing thermal renovation and biomass boilers for district heating networks.
• Providing advice and financial support to businesses (SMEs and Corporates) in order to become more competitive and households to reduce residential energy costs by investing in high-performance technologies and adopting energy efficiency practices.

Energy Security: In order to enhance Moldova’s energy security and resilience in the face of current and future shocks and prompt the energy transition; the EU provides financial support for the acquiring of much needed energy.

Energy Poverty: The EU also aims to eradicate energy poverty in Moldova by supporting the vulnerable population, such as low-income families in overcoming the energy crisis.

Low living conditions make people unaware of the importance of natural resources and the clean environment for their own health and well-being. Past tradition of having cheap energy, in Moldova, has stimulated wasteful behaviour, and poor environmental education among the population. EU support is directed to improve water supply and sanitation, and environment-related actions towards green transition.

Water: Improve water supply and sanitation, reduce water pollution and conserve the groundwater by implementing efficient management of water resources with a focus on trans-boundary river basin management.

Environment: Conserve natural capital and increase people’s environmental well-being, by supporting environment-related action, demonstrating and unlocking opportunities for greener growth, and setting mechanisms to better manage environmental risks and impacts.

Green Transition: Promote a digital economy in order to bring economic growth, generate more jobs, improve people’s lives and help businesses. Improve local services through application of SMART systems in public services, local government, water and sanitation services, among other.

Climate change has a profound impact on the availability of resources and economic activities. Moldova has experienced a number of extreme events, such as major droughts and floods, which have negative economic consequences and the well-being and health of the population.

EU support is directed towards climate change mitigation and adaptation through the development of low-emissions and climate-resilient economy. Local authorities play a key role in their efforts to implement their commitments to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

The European Sustainable Energy Week (EUSEW), the biggest annual event dedicated to renewables and efficient energy use in Europe. This event brings together Europe’s sustainable energy stakeholders to discuss and debate energy policies and climate change targets, such as achieving climate-neutrality by 2050 as part of the European Green Deal. As 2022 is the European Year of Youth, there is a particular/strong emphasis on involving youth participants and organisations in dialogues.

Every year addresses issues related to the digitalisation and integration of energy systems, energy efficiency, renewables, consumers and a fair energy transition, financing, as well as decarbonisation policies and international cooperation.

The European Union is supporting Moldova’s climate change related actions in all relevant sectors, by improving water supply and sanitation in the regions, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, supporting environment-related action and consolidating climate policies and legislative alignment.

Clean Water: Improve water supply and sanitation situation, as well as to reduce water pollution and preserve the groundwater, in line with the River Basin Management Plan for the Danube – Prut and Black Sea District.

EU4Digital supports the digital reform agenda with a range of actions to promote key areas of the digital economy and energy transition, in order to bring economic growth, generate more jobs, improve people’s lives and help businesses.

Focal Regions: The project aims to improve local services through application of SMART systems in minimum four public services, local government functions such as urban planning, administrative services, water and sanitation, energy, health, etc.

Covenant of Mayors: The aim of the project is to support local public authorities – the signatories of the Covenant of Mayors in their efforts to implement their commitments to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in their territory, (2) increase resilience and prepare for the adverse impacts of climate change, and (3) address energy poverty as a key action in the situation of increasing prices for energy resources.

EU4Climate The project goal is to contribute to climate change mitigation and adaptation and to the development towards a low-emissions and climate-resilient economy in line with the 2015 Paris Agreement on Climate Change in all six EU EaP countries. It will assist respective countries to integrate the low-emissions and climate resilience objectives into development policies and plans, to improve and consolidate climate policies and legislative alignment. Its ambition is to limit climate change impact on citizens lives and make them more resilient to it.

EU4Environment – Water Resources and Environmental Data contributes to the EaP countries’ longer-term environmental, climate, and socio-economic resilience. The programme aims to improve human health and wellbeing, as well as the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine.

EU4Environment Green Economy aims to support the country in preserve its natural capital and increase people’s environmental well-being, by supporting environment-related action, demonstrating and unlocking opportunities for greener growth, and setting mechanisms to better manage environmental risks and impacts. EU4Environment aims to scale-up public and private action on circular economy and sustainable production and lifestyles, improve incentives and governance mechanisms and stimulate resilience.

Construction of Water Supply and Sanitation Infrastructure and Energy Efficiency in public buildings works towards increasing the access of the Moldovan citizens to improved public services in the field of Water Supply and Sanitation and Energy Efficiency in public buildings. As such, the project will construct and put into service 10 Water Supply and Sanitation systems, as well as implement 8 Energy Efficiency projects in schools throughout the country.

Chisinau Water Development Programme aims at modernizing the City’s water supply, sewage collection system and treatment in order to improve living conditions, reduce health risks for the city population and to prevent excessive exploitation of natural resources and environmental pollution.