The European Union supports the Republic of Moldova in promoting eco-labeling and the sustainable public procurement process.

The European Union for Environment / EU4Environment project supports the Ministry of the Environment in developing the Regulation on the transposition of EU Regulation 66/2010 (Regulation on the EU Ecolabel) in Moldova and the Ecolabel Guide. One of the challenges of creating and applying an eco-labeling system in the Republic of Moldova by transposing Regulation no. 66/2010 on the EU Ecolabel in national legislation consists in the impossibility of directly applying the European logo, which is applied only by the EU Member States. However, given that the environment and the economy are part of the same system, well-established consumption habits and preferences in the Republic of Moldova must and can be changed by creating and implementing a national eco-labeling mechanism similar to the European Union. It will reduce and stop current practices of irrational use of natural resources and the use of polluting technologies.

At the same time, sustainable public procurement is promoted, which has become more than a necessity in the context of the rational use of resources that are in a continuous process of irrecoverable consumption. Over time, the acquisition of sustainable goods and services could contribute to progress in social, environmental and economic terms, leading to efforts to reduce poverty, improve social equity, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, increase energy and resources efficiency, etc. Thus, sustainable public procurement could become a key tool in implementing sustainable development policies, designed to ensure a smooth transition to a green economy.

Under the EU-funded EU4Environment Program, the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) aims to strengthen Moldova’s capacity for sustainable public procurement and eco-labeling. This is done through the provision of technical assistance, consultancy services and capacity building/training for policymakers, procurement practitioners, businesses and business associations, as well as NGOs and other stakeholders.