VIDEO, PHOTO // Young Moldovan lawyers preparing to implement European environmental standards in context of EU accession

The future of environmental justice in the Republic of Moldova is taking shape through the academic training of young specialists. Between 29–30 April 2026, 50 students from five universities across the country strengthened their legal competencies as part of the fifth edition of the Academic School of Environmental Education for Young Lawyers.

The event was organized by the NGO EcoContact in partnership with the Ministry of Environment and the Faculty of Law of Moldova State University, with financial support from Sweden. The training program brought together young people from Moldova State University, Alecu Russo State University of Bălți, Ștefan cel Mare Academy of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, Bogdan Petriceicu Hasdeu University Center in Cahul, and the Free International University of Moldova.

Green justice, a central pillar in EU accession

The specialization of young lawyers in applying environmental standards is considered essential for the process of legislative harmonization with the requirements of the European Union. The Secretary General of the Ministry of Environment, Petru Tataru, emphasized that EU accession places environmental protection at the heart of public policies.

“In this process, lawyers have a direct role, from transposing norms to developing a judicial practice based on prevention, precaution, and the polluter-pays principle. For future lawyers, environmental law offers a framework for professional development in which legal skills contribute to visible results for society,” Tataru noted.

Johan Willert, a coordinator at the Embassy of Sweden in Chișinău, pointed out that environmental legislation will become one of the most extensive areas of legal alignment with European standards, making the need for capable lawyers particularly urgent.

Theoretical training and applied practical exercises

The program was structured into 12 thematic modules and was guided by 11 experts from the public, academic, and civil sectors. Participants explored complex topics such as European integration and human rights to a healthy environment; handling environmental complaints and state control; the circular economy, legal liability, and criminal law in environmental protection.

The agenda placed a special emphasis on the practical dimension. Students took part in workshops on strategic litigation, mock public consultation processes, and conducted rapid analyses of water and soil quality using specialized kits. These activities aimed to familiarize young people with the role of the environmental lawyer as an agent of change through law enforcement and influencing social behavior.

The Academic School of Environmental Education has been organized annually since 2022 and is aimed at final-year students and master’s students. The initiative is part of the project “Green Justice for a Protected Environment and Sustainable Communities in the Republic of Moldova,” a strategic undertaking to ensure the country’s sustainable European path.