A number of environment nongovernmental organizations of Moldova, in partnership with the Federal Environmental Agency of Berlin, compiled a guide with recommendations for servants of the local and central public administration with responsibilities in the area of environmental policies, which must be adjusted to the provisions of the Aarhus Convention that was ratified by Moldova’s Parliament in 1999.
In a news conference at IPN, director of the Eco-Tiras International Environmental Association of River Keepers Ilya Trombitsky said that Moldova lacks mechanisms for implementing the provisions of this Convention and national legislation on the environment. There is no political will for putting into practice the Aarhus Convention. Also, the purposes of some of the provisions of the Convention need to be interpreted.
The head of the Chisinau Local Organization of the Ecologist Movement Vladimir Garaba said the launched guide is an updated variant of the guide issued in 2000 and includes the experience of a number of states in the area of environment protection. It is a broad document that can be useful to the public authorities. “The public authorities, besides the Ministry of the Environment, are not well informed about this Convention’s provisions. That’s why we decided to produce a new guide so as to familiarize the authorities with the existing possibilities and their obligations,” he stated.
Independent environment expert Andrei Isac said the old guide wasn’t used appropriately and the authorities didn’t make sufficient effort to implement its provisions, especially at the local level. The central authorities at least drafted laws on transparency in decision making in the area of environment. “The Convention was ratified in 1999, but many governments and functionaries have been changed since then. Training seminars were held to familiarize the functionaries with the provisions of this Convention, but all in vain. That’s why an updated guidebook with definite provisions of the Aarhus Convention is welcome,” he stated.
The representative of the organization “Eco Contact” Irina Punga said the guide will be distributed to all the national and local authorities in a move to raise functionaries’ awareness so that these know how to implement the Convention and what obligations derive from it.
