European Commissioner for Enlargement says European Commission ready to provide support to Moldova through the EU Civil Protection Mechanism, in context of situation on Dniester River

The European Commission is ready to provide support to Moldova through the European Union Civil Protection Mechanism, in the context of the situation on the Dniester River. European Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos today made statements to this effect.

The Commissioner stressed that the European Union stood in solidarity with Moldova. According to her, “Russia’s attack on the Novodnistrovsk hydropower plant in Ukraine has polluted the Dniester and this is a reminder that Russia’s war does not stop at Ukraine’s borders.”

“Russia’s attack on the Novodnistrovsk hydropower plant in Ukraine has polluted the Dniester, a vital source of drinking water for most of Moldova’s citizens. This is a reminder that Russia’s war does not stop at Ukraine’s borders. We stand in solidarity with Moldova. Together with our member states, the European Commission is ready to provide support through the EU Civil Protection Mechanism,” Marta Kos said.

The announcement was made after Prime Minister Alexandru Munteanu said, at the end of last week, that he had requested the activation of the European Union Civil Protection Mechanism, in the context of oil discharges into the Dniester River.

The PM underlined that, through this mechanism, support was being requested from European partners for the quick mobilization of specialists’ teams and the necessary equipment to manage the situation on the ground. This includes equipment for capturing, retaining and collecting oil impurities from the water, as well as mobile stations for testing water quality, the prime minister noted.

At the same time, on Sunday, March 15, the Moldovan government held an  extraordinary meeting and declared an environmental alert status for the Dniester  River basin.

The Dniester River was affected by contamination with oil substances following an attack on a hydropower plant in Ukraine by Russian forces on March 7. The pollutant was discharged into the watercourse and started moving towards the territory of Moldova, endangering aquatic ecosystems and water sources for riverside communities.

The Moldovan authorities reacted immediately, mobilizing intervention teams and implementing complex measures to contain and monitor the pollution. These measures included the installation of filters and barriers to capture oil substances, continuous monitoring of water quality and coordination with local authorities and emergency services to prevent the spread of contamination.

The authorities continue permanent monitoring of water quality and coordinate actions with local services and environmental agencies, in order to prevent the expansion of pollution and to protect both the environment and the population that depends on the waters of Dniester.