Environmental gap: Moldova faces long road to recovery
Experts believe that the Republic of Moldova is 20 to 30 years behind in terms of environmental protection and will need at least a decade to catch up. They point out that even if the country aligns its environmental legislation with European Union standards, certain sectors, such as waste management and water purification, will require significant investments.
The Republic of Moldova has made partial progress in aligning its environmental legislation with the European acquis communautaire. However, the critical challenge remains the effective implementation of new regulations, as highlighted by environmental expert and former Minister of the Environment, Iuliana Cantaragiu, during the “Public Space” program on Radio Moldova.
According to Cantaragiu, aligning with European standards necessitates significant investments in environmental infrastructure, including wastewater treatment plants, wastewater systems, and waste management facilities. The Republic of Moldova is currently facing notable delays in these areas.
She cited Romania's experience, where failure to meet environmental obligations resulted in financial penalties imposed by the European Union, underscoring the importance of meeting compliance deadlines.
Cantaragiu expressed concern that fully meeting environmental commitments by 2030 will be challenging under the present conditions. This will require extended transition periods and a phased approach to implementing reforms.
"Today, we are in 2026, and even though we have funding to implement the Waste Management Strategy, nearly seven years have passed since 2019. We have one hundred million euros available, yet we have not effectively initiated any projects—no pits have even been dug. These processes are slow, and we must understand that they require time, along with patience and perseverance to achieve our goals," said Cantaragiu.
Environmental expert Vladimir Garaba noted that the Republic of Moldova lags significantly behind European standards in environmental protection. To catch up, the country will need sustained efforts and substantial investments.
"We must ensure rational use of the soil and prevent pollution. As for water quality in rural areas, the issue is well-known—almost every student can attest to it. In about 90% of these areas, there are no treatment plants; only two or three exist. Additionally, around 90% of the regions lack sewage networks, which creates serious problems," Garaba said.
The President of the Academy "AI - Vision, Democracy, and European Integration," Ina Coșeru, stated that the environmental sector has been neglected for years, despite the commitments made during the European integration process. Although there are financial resources and planned projects in place, their implementation is being delayed due to a lack of prioritization at the political level.
Coșeru emphasized that European integration requires the alignment of all national legislation with European Union standards, including in the environmental sector, where the Republic of Moldova has significant shortcomings. She believes that the environmental sector has been marginalized, especially in light of other pressing issues, such as the energy crisis, which have dominated the public agenda in recent years.
"If we ask ourselves why, as a candidate country with open negotiations, we are progressing so slowly in environmental matters, we need to consider the context. For instance, the energy crisis began in Europe in 2021, and the Republic of Moldova was one of the most vulnerable countries, if not the most vulnerable, as it relied entirely on gas supplied by Gazprom. We had to redirect our focus, compensate for rising energy prices, and build resilience and energy independence," the expert explained.
Deputy Prime Minister for European Integration, Cristina Gherasimov, previously mentioned on Radio Moldova that the country could request transition periods for certain areas after joining the European Union, especially in sectors where implementing community standards requires significant investments, such as infrastructure, agriculture, or environmental protection.
World Environment Day, celebrated annually on June 5, is the most important global initiative dedicated to nature protection. Issues such as air pollution, illegal deforestation, and improper waste disposal continue to pose significant challenges that must be addressed by society.
The Republic of Moldova is among the European countries that are vulnerable to the effects of climate change due to its geographical location and the increasing frequency of extreme weather events. Prolonged drought and extreme weather can degrade the quality and availability of water resources, undermine food security, and worsen overall living conditions for the population.
