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Moldova accedes to European Union's Programme for Environment and Climate Action LIFE

14:30 | 26.11.2022 Category: Official

Chisinau, 26 November /MOLDPRES/ - Prime Minister Natalia Gavrilita and European Commissioner for the Environment, Oceans and Fisheries Virginijus Sinkevičius had a meeting at the government’s headquarters today. Immediately after the discussions, the officials initialed Moldova’s Agreement on Association to the European Union’s Programme for Environment and Climate Action (LIFE) and gave a joint news conference, the government’s communication and protocol department has reported.  

The Moldovan PM expressed gratitude for the openness and confidence given Moldova by the foreign partners and thus, the sides had managed to negotiate and sign this agreement in a quite short time. Natalia Gavrilita stressed the importance of the LIFE Programme and encouraged the public and private institutions, as well as the civil society’s organizations to access it.   

„This programme will help us implement innovating techniques and good practices in the field of the environment and climate changes, which is to contribute to the development of a circular, resistant and neutral economy from the climatic viewpoint, which will result in the rehabilitation of the environment. Besides, the accession to this programme shows that, although the way of Moldova’s accession to EU is long, we have already made concrete steps towards the integration in numerous sectors,’’ the prime minister.     

At the meeting, the officials referred to the reform of the environment sector and climate politics, which have a priority role in Moldova’s association agenda. Prime Minister Natalia Gavrilita touched upon the attention paid to the European Green Deal and adaptation of the normative framework to its principles. She emphasized also the subjects on the cabinet’s agenda: raising the degree of Moldova’s afforestation and waste management.      

„The climate changes hit us everybody. Therefore, our national goal is to unconditionally reduce the greenhouse gas emissions by 70 per cent till 2030.We made this commitment, as we want to leave our children a greener and cleaner Moldova, as well as given that we understand that, only with sustained global efforts, we will be able to combat the climate crisis which threatens the entire world,’’ the PM stressed.     

The EU Commissioner for the Environment, Oceans and Fisheries welcomed Moldova’s accession to the LIFE Programme, noting the European Union’s openness to work along with Moldova on environmental policies.   

„The challenges you are facing are significant; yet, by joining the LIFE Programme, Moldova proves that it is resolute to transform them into opportunities. The programme will significantly contribute to the transition to a sustainable economy, based on renewable sources of energy, which will protect and improve the quality of environment and will combat the degradation of the ecosystems,’’ Virginijus Sinkevičius.     

The European official enumerated a string of other benefits brought by Moldova’s accession to the LIFE Programme: ‘’The energy crisis, the high level of inflation and Russia’s aggression against Ukraine are constant threats for this region; therefore, the programme will help reduce the dependence, reduce the pollution, improve the health condition and prepare our economy for the future. This is also an opportunity for Moldova’s citizens, who are members of various organizations, to receive support in the implementation of projects concerning the environment and climate changes, as well as a good chance to create relations and exchanges of experience with European Union’s organizations.’’   

The LIFE Programme is the only European Union’s programme dedicated to the environment. Since 1992, LIFE has co-financed more than 5,600 projects and a budget of 5.43 billion euros is meant for the 2021-2027 years, which accounts for 0.48 per cent of EU’s overall budget.

Photo: Government 

 

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