Project Summary:

The sustainable management of water resources in accordance with the principle of integrated water management is the priority of the Government of the Republic of Moldova, according to the commitments of the Moldova-EU Association Agreement. In addition to further developing water policy and improving the regulatory framework, the Ministry of Environment, with the support of its subordinate institutions, is responsible for ensuring continuous dialogue with neighboring countries on the integrated management of transboundary water resources, with the ultimate goal of ensuring the quantity and the quality of water needed both for sustainable socio-economic development and for a healthy environment. This project aims are to improve the national regulatory framework, harmonize environmental legislation with the provisions of EU directives, develop the 2nd Management Plan for the Nistru river basin district, provide support in the sustainable management of the river, both at the national level, as well as cross-border/international, carrying out the necessary activities to improve the current ecological conditions of the Nistru.

Objectives:

• To ensure that Moldova has sufficient regulatory framework for the sustainable Nistru river basin management based on the EU Water Framework Directive (WFD) provisions;
• To provide the Moldovan Government with an updated comprehensive Management Plan for the Nistru river basin developed in compliance with the WFD;
• To provide continuous support for enhancement of capacities of national authorities responsible for water management, as well as the Moldovan representatives under the joint Moldovan and Ukrainian bodies tasked with cross-border management of the Nistru river;
• To improve environmental conditions of the Nistru river and positively impacting the socio-economic conditions of livelihoods using Nistru resources.

Expected results:

• The Management Plan of the Nistru River Basin District, cycle II, developed in compliance with WFD and approved as a comprehensive policy document guiding the sustainable management of water resources;
• Water related regulatory framework strengthened and harmonised with requirements of EU legislation, a list of methodologies and regulations developed to meet compliance with WFD for better environmental compliance, efficient water resource management, improved water resource monitoring and assessment;
• Capacities of the Apele Moldovei Agency as a key national water management institution enhanced and institutional reform supported;
• Transboundary cooperation for joint management of the Nistru River basin enhanced by the support provided during meetings of the Dniester Commission and its Working Groups;
• A new version of Agreement on the Functioning of the Dniester Hydropower Complex (HPC) ensures a long-term better management of the HPC in view of social and environmental needs downstream;
• Capacities of the Nistru River basin District Committee strengthened by facilitating the meetings with key actors at regional level and by organising two study visits;
• Inventory of Hydrotechnical Infrastructure within the Nistru River Basin District finalized;
• Hydrological monitoring of the Nistru River upgraded by replacement of two outdated automatic water level monitoring stations;
• Basin approach for study of chemical status of surface and ground water refined by implementing a sampling programme, conducting analytical work and other support provided to water quality laboratory;
• Effectiveness of environmental releases assessed and objective criteria for making decisions about the optimal timing and hydrographs for spring discharge set;
• Potential of environmental authorities in fishery strengthened by conducting a legal gap analysis, revision of national legislation, providing training and equipment to inspectors for recording of violations and detection of poachers.  

Accomplishments:

• Amendments to Water Law No. 272/2011 for further approximation to EU directives and addressing a series of legal gaps developed with support of the project and approved by the Parliament;
• Regulation on assignment for use of water bodies of public ownership was developed and approved by Government;
• The Nistru River Basin District Management Plan, cycle II (2025-2030) was developed and approved by Government and the Roadmap for priority measures lacking financial coverage was developed and approved by the Dniester River Basin District Committee;
• Support provided to Moldovan authorities in the preparation for and participation in the 4th meeting of the Moldovan-Ukrainian Joint Commission held during 22-23 November 2023 in Ivano-Frankivsk (Ukraine);
• The 5th Meeting of the Moldovan-Ukrainian Joint Commission, held on November 28-29, 2024, in Costești, Ialoveni District was organised with the project support;
• Nistru River Spring Ecological Discharge Optimization Studies conducted in 2022,  2023 and 2024;
• Amendments to Regulation on the procedure for the development and revision of the River Basin District Management Plan, aimed at its further aligning with the requirements of the EU WFD, were developed and approved by Government;
• Methodology for pressure analysis and assessment of anthropogenic risks within river basin districts in line with EU WFD provisions was developed and approved by Government;
• Methodology on hydro-morphological alterations, monitoring and assessment in line with EU WFD provisions was developed and approved by Government Decision;
• Methodology for identifying hydromorphological alterations, monitoring, and assessing surface water bodies in line with EU WFD provisions was developed and approved by Government Decision;
• Methodology addressing classification of ecological status and ecological potential and establishment of reference conditions for surface water bodies in line with EU WFD provisions was developed and approved by Government Decision;
• Nistru Youth Summer School 2024, engaging 70 young participants from both banks of the Nistru and Ukraine, was organised with the support of the project;
• Eco-Media Academy - a training programme for aspiring journalists in Moldova, focused on environmental and water protection, was organized and engaged 140 students across five universities from September to November 2024;
• Nistru Day Fest 2024 under the theme "Nistru that Unites Us", was organised on 24-26 May 2024;
• Three regional meetings of the Dniester River Basin District Committee were organized in 2024 in the northern, central, and southern regions of the Republic of Moldova;
• A study visit focused on good practices in water resources management, implemented by the Artois-Picardie Basin Committee and water authorities from the Picardy Region, France, was organized in 2024 for the members of the Dniester River Basin District Committee;
• An awareness campaign titled "Protecting Small Rivers, Protecting Our Future!" was organized in September 2024 to highlight the risks facing the tributaries of the Nistru River due to climate change, pollution, deforestation, and damming.