Civil society and government pledge to cooperate to solve environmental problems

A number of NGOs and the Ministry of Environment on Friday signed a memorandum pledging to work together to solve environmental issues, Info-Prim Neo reports. The document was signed at a forum organized by Milieukontakt International, a Dutch organization supporting the development of environmental NGOs in Central and Eastern Europe. Rodica Iordanov, representative of Milieukontakt International, said the event aimed to create a platform for communication and establish a dialogue between the environmental NGOs and the public authorities, in particular the Ministry of Environment and the Ecology Inspectorate. “In fact, there is some cooperation between civil society and the authorities, but it is fragmentary; it's not a consolidated force”, said Rodica Iordanov. The forum was attended by over 120 environmental NGOs from the country. The agenda includes a two-day session of debates between NGO members, the academic community and journalists on the role of environmental NGOs on local level, the level of regional and international cooperation, promotion of new approaches in waste management, water and soil issues, capacity strengthening, etc. Deputy Environment Minister Rodion Bajureanu said: “The NGOs' participation in social life is very important, because they express the voice and interests of the citizens”. Milieukontakt International is a Dutch organization founded in 1988 to help NGOs consolidate capacities so that they are able to influence environmental policies and public attitudes in society.