The European Union is a leader in the promotion of sustainable energy, environmental sustainability and combating of climate change. The Association Agreement with the EU and the projects supported within the Eastern Partnership play an important role in the common efforts for sustainable development. In the course of this year alone, the EU allocated over €800 million for EaP sustainable energy initiatives. Related issues were developed in a public debate staged by the Institute for European Policies and Reforms, IPN reports.
The European Commission has launched an instrument designed to address the environmental challenges: reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, economic growth, etc., said Gintautas Baranauskas, the representative of the EU Delegation to Moldova. According to him, an important role in this regard is played by the common effort of the EU and EaP states. Moldova makes progress in diversifying the energy sources and in ensuring increased energy security.
Gintautas Baranauskas noted that the EU, alongside the EIB and EBRD, prepares an ambitious energy efficiency project for public buildings, especially hospitals, and €50 million is to be invested in the form of a grant. The investments in clean and sustainable energy bring more welfare, jobs. The EU also addresses social and environmental problems in the post-pandemic recovery period.
Christian Ballaro, project manager at the EU Delegation, said the EU invested a substantial sum in the field of energy efficiency. These considerable investments are made because clean energy depends on the quality of people’s lives. The European Union invested also in strengthening the policy formulation and in offering technical assistance. The quality of this support is essential.
According to Christian Ballaro, the EU during the last 15 years offered Moldova over €100 million for improving the energy supply networks. A grant of €40 million is now used to extend the connection at the border with Romania, through the Iasi-Chisinau gas pipeline. A lot was invested in renewable energy, such as biomass, solar energy and photovoltaic panels. Such projects were implemented by UNDP Moldova. Conditions were also created for the local production of biomass and this project goes on. The investments in energy efficiency and renewable energy are a very important driving force.
Călin Negură, division head at the Ministry of Economy and Infrastructure, said the EU is Moldova’s main partner in this field and it offers consistent support for realizing the potential of using renewable energy sources. The authorities aim to develop the legal framework and to align themselves with the European objectives. “In 2020, we celebrate almost ten years of implementation of the national energy efficiency program and also almost ten years of the creation of the Energy Efficiency Agency, which is the main body that implements this state policy. At the start of next year, we will carry out assessments, but estimates show the results are satisfactory,” stated Călin Negură.
The debate “Development of Energy Efficiency Projects: green pact for the Republic of Moldova?” was organized by the Institute for European Policies and Reforms (IPRE) with support from the Hanns Seidel Foundation.
