PHOTO // About 90 environmental inspectors from all regions of Moldova participate in seminars on application of contravention rules

Around 90 inspectors from the central office and territorial subdivisions of the Environmental Protection Inspectorate (EPI) in last July took part in three seminars organized by the public association EcoContact in partnership with EPI in Leova, Balti and Chisinau. The trainings aimed to improve the way environmental infringements are documented and to reduce errors that can lead to the annulment of contravention reports.

The series of trainings concluded today in Chisinau, where 35 inspectors from Calarasi, Ialoveni, Anenii Noi, Rezina, Soldanesti, Straseni, Orhei, Causeni, Criuleni, Dubasari, Nisporeni, Stefan Voda and the municipality of Chișinău gathered.

The first session took place on July 9 in Leova, with the participation of 14 inspectors from the southern region and Autonomous Territorial Unit (UTA) of Gagauzia. They represented EPI subdivisions from Cantemir, Hancesti, Cahul, Cimislia, Leova and UTA Gagauzia. The seminar held on July 16 in Balti was attended by 40 inspectors from the northern subdivisions of the country.

The three meetings focused on situations encountered in the inspectors’ work: choosing the appropriate procedure, establishing the competence of the authority drawing up the report, drafting the statement of findings, managing evidence and respecting the right to defense. Participants also discussed the difference between the administrative process and the contravention process, two procedures with different rules and purposes, but both applicable in the inspectorate’s activity.

The agenda also included a session dedicated to drawing up the contravention report. Inspectors examined what information must be recorded, how to describe the act and the circumstances in which it was committed, how to identify the person concerned and what evidentiary value the materials collected during inspections have. They also analyzed situations in which contravention reports were annulled, due to lack of competence, incomplete descriptions, insufficient evidence or procedural errors.

Practical activities included case studies, simulations and the analysis of court decisions. Through exercises, participants identified errors in documents, analyzed evidence and examined what can compromise a document before it reaches the court.

The events were held within the project, Green justice for a protected environment and sustainable communities of Moldova, implemented by the public association EcoContact with financial support from Sweden.