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Environmental information systems
EN
Today, I had the honour to officially welcome the Republic of Moldova as a cooperating country of the European Environment Agency (EEA) and the European Environment Information and Observation Network (Eionet). This milestone marks our shared commitment to tackling our common challenges to achieve our shared objectives to safeguard our natural environment in Europe.
Environmental challenges do not stop at national borders. Air pollution travels across regions, rivers connect countries, biodiversity stretches across landscapes, and the impacts of climate change are felt by us all. Moldova’s landscapes and ecosystems form part of wider European ecological systems, and its environmental challenges often mirror those faced across the region.
The recent oil pollution, caused by a Russian attack on the Novodnestrovsk hydropower complex in Ukraine, located on the Dniester River close to the border with Moldova, is currently affecting the wider river basin, including the Moldovan territory. The clean-up efforts entail close collaboration with Romania — an EU Member State. This incident is a testimony not only to common challenges we face, including those caused by war, but also to the solutions we can develop together.
Leena Ylä-Mononen
EEA Executive Director
A network of 39 countries
As the 39th member of Eionet, Moldova joins 32 member and six cooperating countries in our network. This milestone also makes the EEA one of the first EU entities, which Moldova has joined.
The EEA has been cooperating with Moldova for decades through various EU funded initiatives, including the European Neighbourhood Instrument (ENI – SEIS) projects and, since 2023, the roll-out of the EU climate action governance model by the Energy Community Treaty Contracting Parties. Moldova’s cooperating country status will now open new doors and further expand the scope of our cooperation and strengthen our collective knowledge base.
Established alongside the EEA, Eionet connects hundreds of institutions and thousands of experts who work together to collect, analyse and exchange knowledge, methodologies and practical experience. Experts collaborate on topics ranging from air quality monitoring and health impacts, protected areas to climate adaptation and the circular economy. This collaboration allows countries to learn from one each other and build a clearer picture of Europe’s environment.
Reliable environmental and climate information is the foundation of sound policy. By compiling and quality assuring data, aligning methodologies and working through common platforms, Eionet ensures that environmental assessments across Europe are robust, comparable and policy-relevant. This helps policymakers make informed decisions and enables citizens to better understand the state of their environment.
Benefits for Moldova and EEA
As a cooperating country, Moldova will bring its expertise and strengths, and start contributing to and benefitting from the collective know-how that the network generates and thrives on. Moldovan experts will work alongside colleagues from across Europe, helping to expand the evidence base that supports environment and climate policy. At the same time, they will gain access to tools, methodologies and shared practices that can support national policies and strengthen institutional capacity.
As an EU candidate country, Moldova will need to comply with EU environmental and climate legislation and its data reporting obligations. But, at its core, joining the EEA and Eionet means much more than data reporting. This cooperation reflects a shared commitment to safeguarding our natural environment for current and future generations. This cooperation — built on science, transparency and a shared vision — delivers tangible benefits for people and nature alike.
By welcoming Moldova, the EEA and Eionet have taken another step towards contributing to a healthier environment, more resilient ecosystems and a more sustainable future for all Europeans.
We look forward to working closely with our Moldovan partners.
