EU – Moldova: cooperation news, January - March 2023

NEWSLETTER OF THE DELEGATION OF THE EUROPEAN UNION TO THE REPUBLIC OF MOLDOVA

EU – MOLDOVA: COOPERATION NEWS

MOBILITY AND PEOPLE

Europe Café hosted the premiere of the film “Oh, Sister!” in Chișinău – a documentary about Ukrainian women fighting for peace

More European Union in Cahul municipality

Erasmus+ Network of Higher Education Reform Experts – a new team of Moldovan experts has been appointed

Athletes from both banks of the Nistru river participated in the 6th edition of the RUBICON ultramarathon

170 children benefit from better conditions at the "Garofița" kindergarten in Cocieri village

Entrepreneurship, Digitisation and Career Guidance courses for partner schools of EU-funded Joboteca

EU4Dialogue platform: leader women from the Eastern Partnership region discuss about women leadership and participation in policy-making processes

One year of Russian aggression against Ukraine: confessions of Ukrainian displaced people

The Food Bank of Moldova has improved its activity thanks to the support of the European Union

Presentation of the results of the "Study on the situational analysis of social canteen services in the Republic of Moldova"

EU-funded project „MOVE IT like Lublin” presented the report on urban mobility in Chișinău municipality

EU programme “Partnerships for Sustainable Cities” brought together the beneficiary municipalities in Brussels for its first global meeting

STRONGER SOCIETY

Life story of a discrimination victim in Moldova: insights from a documentary

Effective civil society dialogue with the support of EU4Accountability project Animals, including stray ones, will be protected by law

Little ones with hearts full of love: two children with Down syndrome found love and understanding in Professional Foster Care families

Civic education of Moldovan youth with the support of the EU-funded HOPE project

A placement centre for children at risk opens in Comrat, with the support of the European Union, the Soros Foundation Moldova and the local authorities

A multifunctional centre for children at risk and with disabilities opens in Soroca with the support of the European Union and the Soros Foundation Moldova

A temporary placement centre for children separated from their parents opens in Taraclia with the support of the European Union and the Soros Foundation Moldova

Civil society and local public authorities from Telenești create a career guidance service for young people with special educational needs

Projects for the gender equality promotion will be carried out in 15 localities of the Republic of Moldova

With the support of the European Union, civil society organisations have practical tips and tools to continue supporting refugees from Ukraine

INSTITUTIONS AND GOVERNMENT

Public actors in the health sector of the Republic of Moldova – trained in the field of integrity, corruption risks and mitigation measures

Taking stock of cooperation with the Police in the Republic of Moldova in the field of anti-discrimination

Towards improved cooperation between the Equality Council and the Judiciary in the Republic of Moldova

Workshop on "Land Monitoring in the Republic of Moldova" organised with the EU support

EUBAM contributes to the health and safety of Moldovan consumers

EUBAM presented its Annual Report for 2022

EUBAM and its Partners searching ways to improve cargo traffic flow across borders

Strengthening the Audiovisual Council of the Republic of Moldova’s technical capacities will ensure the effective combating of propaganda and disinformation

ECONOMY AND BUSINESS

the Moldovan Vocational Education and Training system continues with EU and ADA funding

Nine Moldovan villages will develop their local public services, with the "EU4Moldova: Local Communities" assistance

Participatory groups are building a thriving business environment in Edineț, Strășeni and Leova rayons

The business community on both banks of the Nistru river celebrates the results of joint partnerships

An online business barometer, relevant to the business communities on both banks of the Nistru, has been launched

The couple that replaced music and motorbikes with epoxy resin creations

Stronger Partnerships between Moldovan and Romanian Local Action Groups consolidated through the EU-LEADER Partnership Fund

EU4Moldova: Startup City Cahul will provide grants for six projects to support digitalisation in the southern region of the country

Cahul.travel, a new platform that will promote tourist attractions and accommodation in the southern part of the country

The concept of personal branding presented at Innovation Talks. The young people of Cahul found out how they can build a successful image EU supports Moldova to improve standards compliance through increased national capacities for residue monitoring

Local Public Infrastructure Development in eight municipalities within the "EU4Moldova: Local Communities" programme

The Power of Women in Climate and Energy: Acting for a Sustainable Future

50 young people performed an energy audit for 80 Moldovan households

Thousands of vulnerable households in the country, supported by the European Union and People in Need Moldova, have been helped to overcome the energy crisis

06 ENVIRONMENT AND CLIMATE

EU – Moldova cooperation for wastewater health surveillance

Ecolabelling and sustainable procurements in the Republic of Moldova presented to the Moldovan business community

Introducing the EU Single Market for Green Products initiative in Moldova

the “EU4Environment” Action

Guidelines on eco-labelling system in the Republic of Moldova developed with EU support

The European Union jointly with the World Bank help Moldova green its landscapes

The EU and the Republic of Moldova join their forces towards green transformation

600 teachers from the Republic of Moldova are trained to implement the “Flipped classroom”

MOBILITY AND PEOPLE

Europe Café hosted the premiere of the film “Oh, Sister!” in Chișinău – a documentary about Ukrainian women fighting for peace

On 24 February, the whole world marked a year of Ukraine’s resistance to Russia’s fullscale military invasion - Russian assault that has created a humanitarian catastrophe. Tens of millions of Ukrainians, mostly women and children, have been forced to leave their homes and find refuge outside their country. About 750,000 of Ukrainians, most of them women and children, crossed the border of the Republic of Moldova in search of a safe place, over 100,000 of them are currently staying in our country. The Republic of Moldova is the country with the highest number of Ukrainian refugees per capita.

The European Union and its Member States, under Team Europe Initiative, mobilised their resources to promptly respond to urgent needs of the Republic of Moldova and Ukrainian refugees. More than €59 million worth of humanitarian aid has been allocated by the European Union and its Member States for managing the refugee flow. The assistance included both financial support and basic goods for Ukrainian citizens who arrived in Moldova in search of safety.

The challenges posed by the Russian invasion of Ukraine have shown the importance of solidarity between states, as well as solidarity among people. Russia’s aggression against Ukraine continues. Thousands of people, hundreds of children were killed and many more tortured, harassed or forcibly displaced. People, both men and women, continue to face the destructive force of the war in Ukraine.

On 24 February, a year of war, Europe Café presented the stories of Ukrainian women who chose to stay in their country and fight for peace, justice and freedom in Ukraine. On this day there will be shown the premiere of the film “Oh, Sister!”. It is a documentary

film about the stories of six women - lawyers, doctors, volunteers, conductors - who save lives, fight for peace and dignity in their country.

Justīne Elferte, the representative of Nobel Women’s Initiative and production coordinator “Oh, Sister!”, came to the film premiere in Chișinău. The film produced by the Nobel Women Initiative and United for Ukraine Association builds upon the journey of three female Nobel Peace Prize Laureates - Tawakkol Karman, Jody Williams from the USA and Leymah Gbowee from Liberia – to Krakow, Poland and Lviv, Ukraine in June 2022.

More European Union in Cahul municipality

The Young European Ambassadors, accompanied by Adam Grodzicki, Deputy Head of the Cooperation Section of the European Union Delegation, and Thomas Alveteg, Head of the Development Cooperation Department of the Swedish Embassy in Moldova, brought the European

Union closer to the inhabitants of Cahul. During their visit, they interacted with entrepreneurs developing businesses with EU support, visited the innovative and creative space provided by the Digital Lab and discussed the European perspective of the Republic of Moldova.

The visit began with a tour of the Cahul Business Incubator, which hosts residents who benefit from mentoring and business coaching. The officials, together with the TAE, met the students of the "Pyotr Rumyantyev" High School, which houses the Digital Laboratory, equipped with the most advanced equipment for studying the disciplines of the future. The lab was funded by the EU and Sweden. The participants became part of a dialogue with pupils and students from Cahul municipality and neighbouring

localities, hosted by the State University "Bogdan Petriceicu Hașdeu". During the visit to the university, the representatives of the diplomatic corps, together with entrepreneurs and beneficiaries of EU projects discussed with the Young European Ambassadors, students and pupils present the opportunities supported by the EU and Member States, innovative entrepreneurship and possibilities of cooperation in the context of the European Year of Competences, which is marked in 2023.

the municipality of Cahul and the inhabitants of the region. The support has been directed mainly towards financing projects to

thus providing learning opportunities and support for start-ups in the region. Participants also interacted with journalists

modernise public services, infrastructure design, renovation of recreational areas, support for local entrepreneurs and other local initiatives.

Erasmus+ Network of Higher Education Reform Experts –a new team of Moldovan experts has been appointed

A new team of Higher Education Reform Experts (HEREs) from the Republic of Moldova was selected and approved at the end of 2022 by mutual agreement of the National Erasmus+ Office with the Ministry of Education and Research, the Delegation of the European Union to the Republic of Moldova, and the European Executive Agency for Education and Culture (EACEA).

In the third countries not associated to the Erasmus+ Programme, such as the Republic of Moldova, the national teams of Higher Education Reform Experts provide a pool of expertise to local authorities and stakeholders to promote reform and enhance progress in higher education. They participate in the development of policies in higher education in their respective country.

The HEREs team members from Moldova are important academic personalities, who are constantly involved in projects and initiatives that directly or indirectly concern the modernisation and reform of higher education in the country. Thus, acting both within their direct positions within the institutions, as well as under their expertise as professionals in the field, they

manage to boost higher education reforms at the national level. The HEREs team from the Republic of Moldova consists of five members specialised in the field of higher education: Maria Ceropita (student, Erasmus Student Network Chișinău, State University of Moldova), Dumitru Ciorbă (dean, Technical University of Moldova), Valentina Prițcan (vice-rector, "Alecu Russo" State University

of Balti), Alexandru Stratan (rector, Academy of Economic Studies of Moldova), Doina Usaci (head of the Direction for Policies in Higher Education, Ministry of Education and Research of the Republic of Moldova).

The mission of the HEREs involves supporting:

» policy development in their respective countries, by supporting modernisation, reform processes, and strategies in higher education, in close contact with the local authorities concerned;

» policy dialogue with the EU in the field of higher education;

» training and counselling activities targeted at local stakeholders, in particular, higher education institutions and their staff;

» Erasmus+ projects (in particular those implemented under the Capacity-building Action) by disseminating their results and outcomes, notably good practices and innovative initiatives and exploiting these for training purposes.

The Erasmus+ HEREs team has been active in the Republic of Moldova since 2015. During this period, HEREs members from Moldova

were directly involved in various working groups for the elaboration, updating and improving of various legislative documents and studies related to the development of higher education in the country. Also, the National Erasmus+ Office together with the student representative from the HEREs team supported the creation in 2019 of Erasmus Student Network Chișinău (ESN Chișinău), which became a full member of the ESN International. Thus, Moldova became the 42nd country officially included on the ESN International map.

With the support of the HEREs team, 12 specialised seminars were organised in Moldova – technical assistance missions, open to all academic staff and aimed at boosting the modernisation of the higher education sphere. The national seminars were dedicated to various topics, such as academic mobility and the internationalisation of higher education institutions; procedures for recognition and equivalence of studies and qualifications; research-based teaching; ICT and e-learning; joint and double degree programmes; improving academic professional skills of university staff, etc. These events brought together over 1,000 participants from 25 higher education institutions in Moldova.

Athletes from both banks of the Nistru river participated in the 6th edition of the RUBICON ultramarathon

200 athletes registered for the Rubicon 2023 ultramarathon have run 540 km for three days, through nine rayons located along the Nistru river. Out of these, about 170 athletes from the right bank and 30 athletes from the

left bank of the Nistru river have participated in the various stages of the race, thanks to the support offered by the European Union, through the "Confidence Building Measures" Programme, implemented by UNDP.

“The Rubicon ultramarathon embraces perfectly the spirit of the EU ‘Confidence Building Measures’ to promote cooperation between people from communities from both banks of the Nistru River. Sport is a perfect tool for confidence building as it gathers athletes from different areas of the country, united to participate in the same initiative, promoting healthy lifestyles and positive values. Sport unites people, irrespective of nationality, language, social, gender or age differences,” mentioned Giuseppe Paglione, Programme Manager at the EU Delegation to the Republic of Moldova.

The route was designed so that the runners could enjoy the main tourist attractions of the crossed rayons.

Since 2017, more than 1,000 athletes and amateur runners have joined the Rubicon Ultramarathon.

“The six-year Rubicon cycle is over. We started from Soroca Fortress not knowing what the next editions will bring. And here we are in 2023 awarding Rubicon winners: children ran 100+ km, and adults over 340 km! It's unbelievable, but true. It's great that the Rubicon fulfils its task, expanding the boundaries of human

capabilities and self-confidence! I am grateful to the partners for their trust and to Sporter team,”

said Dmitri Volosin, President of the Sports Club Sporter.

The EU “Confidence Building Measures” Programme, implemented by the UNDP, contributes to strengthening trust between residents on both banks of the Nistru river, by involving them in joint development projects.

170 children benefit from better conditions at the "Garofița" kindergarten in Cocieri village

The "Garofița" kindergarten in Cocieri village, Dubăsari rayon was renovated and modernised according to the best educational practices, with the support of the European Union and the UNDP. Thus, all kindergarten’s children, including nursery school children, will benefit from better

conditions for early education. To carry out all these works, approximately €173 thousand were invested during 2019-2022, through the EU-funded "Confidence Building Measures" Programme, implemented by UNDP.

"The European Union is proud to contribute to improved access to quality and inclusive early education for children on both banks of the Nistru river. The renovation of the Cocieri kindergarten provides the necessary learning environment and more comfortable conditions for the children and the teachers who now benefit of modern classrooms, new furniture, repaired sanitary facilities etc. The kindergarten from Cocieri is a perfect

example of the values that the European Union is promoting through the Confidence Building Measures: cooperation between the communities along the Nistru river, united to bring concrete solutions to common needs," mentioned Jānis Mažeiks, Ambassador of the European Union to the Republic of Moldova.

The block four of the pre-school institution benefited from the capital repair of the roof. Two classrooms for children including the access spaces to them and the sanitary facilities were also repaired. The classrooms were equipped with furniture and bed linen. The improved conditions in the kindergarten made possible the opening of three additional classes and created new job opportunities.

"We are pleased to learn that due to improved conditions of the kindergarten, the capacity of this educational institution has doubled and children from neighbouring villages have access to quality early childhood education. Parents are able to pursue their professional paths while their children are looked after in this establishment,"

said Andrea Cuzyova, UNDP Resident Representative a.i. to the Republic of Moldova.

The "Garofița" kindergarten from Cocieri is attended by approximately 170 children, who also come from nearby communitiesDubăsari, Corjova and Roghi.

At the same time, dance, judo, Romanian and English courses are conducted at the kindergarten.

“Thanks to long-term investments, the kindergarten has become more attractive both for the children from the community and for those from the neighbouring localities. The kindergarten has practically become a small community centre where children can also attend various courses,"

said Tatiana Nirca, director of the "Garofița" kindergarten in Cocieri.

During 2017-2018, also with the support of the EU "Confidence Building Measures" Programme, more than € 83 thousand were allocated for repair works of block three of the kindergarten: changing the networks (electricity, ventilation, heating), building a new roof, repairing the festivities hall, modernisation of the rainwater drainage system etc.

Entrepreneurship, Digitisation and Career Guidance courses for partner schools of EU-funded Joboteca

Pupils in the 25 partner schools of EU-funded Joboteca Project have the opportunity to develop new skills in the framework of three courses: digital skills development, entrepreneurial education and career guidance. The activities are carried out in Joboteca spaces which have been provided with furniture and technical equipment as a main location for all initiatives related to career guidance and preparation for the labour market.

In 2022, interested teachers from partner schools took part in training courses in the three fields. 141 teachers were trained, two from each school in each subject.

Teachers were guided to deliver the subjects in an original way, involving professionals

from different fields, parents, and specialists from the diaspora, who can share real stories about their careers and experiences. The three programmes include both theoretical and practical aspects, along with a detailed description of each activity.

She teaches the digital skills development course. Mrs Traci believes that this course is relevant for developing in pupils a set of necessary skills for the current reality.

"The content of this programme complements the pupils’ knowledge and skills in other disciplines and cultivates a more conscious

attitude towards the use of information technologies and gadgets. Young people are exposed to many online risks, therefore it is important for them to know the basic rules of cyber hygiene and online protection. We also focus on capitalising on the opportunities provided by the online environment and the digital platforms. I wish the youngsters were able to use the technologies for their benefits following these courses ",

the teacher says.

Pelaghia Traci is a teacher at "Ștefan cel Mare și Sfânt" High School in the village of Taraclia.

What are the three courses about

The entrepreneurship education course familiarises the pupils with the basic concepts of entrepreneurship and teaches them how to effectively start and manage entrepreneurial activities or projects. The programme includes a set of activities aimed at strengthening the pupils’ capacity to transform their ideas into actions, to manage projects, to work in a team and to identify business development opportunities.

The career guidance course provides the young people with a series of tools to create a plan for developing the skills they need on the labour market. Pupils learn about career options, including information about the learning opportunities and the most in-demand current jobs. Pupils also have the opportunity to take aptitude tests and participate in professional experience activities to test different professions.

"The career guidance course is very useful for me. Thanks to it, I learned about the particularities of several professions, we discussed about the labour market in our country and simulated the process of conducting a job interview. All this will make it easier for me to make decisions regarding my professional future",

says Savca Anatolie, a 10th grade pupil at "Grigore Grigoriu" High School in the village of Cârnățeni.

The digital skills development course proposes a set of activities aimed at developing the pupils’ skills to use information technologies in work, learning and communication. The course includes components such as information and data literacy, digital communication and collaboration, digital content development, digital protection, and creative use of digital technologies, etc.

"Each of the three courses helps me see my professional future more clearly. Entrepreneurship has developed in me the so-called "entrepreneurial way of thinking", which helps me not to lose control in critical situations and to find the opportunity that comes with the problem I am facing. At the same time, as a result of the practical activities within the entrepreneurship and career guidance sessions, I realised that I like to take the initiative, to organise and to be the one who coordinates a team. Since attending these courses, I have also understood that I don't necessarily want to study economics and become an accountant. We don't choose our profession only according to the subjects we are good at, but we also have to explore from other perspectives which is the most suitable job for us",

Anastasia Sargarovschi, 11th grade pupil at "Mihai Eminescu" High School in Căușeni shared her view of the courses.

Since September 2022, the 141 teachers have carried out more than 700 hours of activities involving approximately 1,000 children. Teachers constantly collect feedback from pupils to improve the programme. After being piloted, the three courses will be adjusted and submitted to the Rayon Education Directorates and to the Ministry of Education and Research for further dissemination in schools that will be interested in them, and all training modules will also be available online.

The "JOBOTECA - Pilot programme for preparing the young people in Moldova for the labour market" Project (2021 - 2024) is funded by the European Union and implemented by Terre des hommes Romania and Terre des hommes Moldova, in partnership with the Ministry of Education and Research of the Republic of Moldova.

EU4Dialogue platform: leader women from the Eastern Partnership region discuss about women leadership and participation in policy-making processes

About 40 women from Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia and the Republic of Moldova participated in a #EU4Dialogue Women’s Conference that took place in Brussels, in March 2023.

Women with different professional backgrounds from the region have been meeting regularly for over a year on a digital platform called the Women’s Platform

for Agenda Setting (WPFAS). In short, the platform aims to help “increase women’s leadership and participation in all policymaking decisions/processes in all areas related to peace and security” in line with the EU's new Action Plan on Gender Equality and Women's Empowerment in External Action 2021–2025 (GAP III).

This Brussels Conference was the first opportunity for the participants of the online platform to meet in person. Participants represented civil society activists, university professors, and other specialists such as water and energy experts. In the session on water, energy and climate change participants discussed policy challenges and gender impact related to Climate Change with providing practical recommendations.

The recommendations not only highlight how women are strained severely by the physical,

economic, or societal impacts associated with climate change, but also how women address energy poverty, capacity building, finance and public awareness issues. The group discusses the need of a shared vision and goals for the collaboration based on a common understanding of the challenges and opportunities in the region related to women, water, climate change, and energy; cross-border community initiatives; monitoring tools, and many other ideas.

During the stay in Brussels the participants

also had a chance to visit the EU Parliament and had an immense privilege of sharing their vision on vital issues with the inspirational Ms Marina Kaljurand, the EU Deputy and a woman with a vast experience in politics and leadership.

The EU-funded project "EU4Dialogue: Supporting Understanding between Conflict Parties" is the first component of a larger

EU4Dialogue Programme. EU4Dialogue Component 1 is a project that aims at encouraging dialogue and fostering better understanding across divides through conducting studies, organising events, trainings, and workshops on various levels and in various settings for participants from Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia and the Republic of Moldova.

One year of Russian aggression against Ukraine: confessions of Ukrainian displaced people

For almost a year, Ekaterina from Odessa is working at an aesthetic clinic in Ungheni city, the Republic of Moldova, close to the border with Romania. The woman and her two small children and sister found refuge there at the

beginning of March 2022. Ekaterina’s job in Moldova is part-time, since she commutes regularly to Odessa, where is awaited by her husband and clients.

“On 24 February we woke up in a nightmare.”

Ekaterina arrived in the Republic of Moldova on 3 March 2022. Until then, she had lived in Odessa with her husband and their two children. Before the war, she visited Moldova as a tourist, she went to a concert and visited a few wineries.

Ekaterina graduated from the Medical University and had worked for more than seven years as a dermatologist and cosmetologist in Odessa:

“We were living our lives, making plans and suddenly we woke up in a nightmare.”

“When I woke up in the morning of 24 February under the awful sound of shelling, I was completely confused and lost. I didn’t have any baggage prepared, neither my car was fuelled... I just couldn’t believe that a war might start in the XXI century,” recalls Ekaterina.

Looking for safety, Ekaterina and her family sought refuge in the Republic of Moldova and they arrived in Ungheni.

Soon after arrival, Ekaterina rented a house, enrolled her children at school and kindergarten and even found a football club for her son.

“Soon we will celebrate my son’s birthday and I asked him whom he would like to invite to the party and his answer was - all his football team mates.”

Over almost a year, Ecaterina became renown and appreciated by more and more customers.

“I’m sometimes so sorry that it was the war that brought us together. I always tell her that I want the situation in her country to improve, but I also want her to come back here regularly, because her loyal clients wait for her,” says Olesea.

According to the National Employment Agency, by mid-January 2023, 959 Ukrainians found a job while in Moldova. Most of them work in Chișinău capital city – 720 people.

In April, Ekaterina managed to find a job at an aesthetic clinic in Ungheni:

“It was a happy event: I met Olesea, the owner of the clinic. We talked, I told her about my profession and she invited me to work with her”.

Specialised in mesotherapy and different anti-age facial treatments, Ekaterina proved to pave a new niche for Olesea Crăciun, the owner of an aesthetic clinic in Ungheni, beneficiary of the “EU4Moldova: Focal Regions” Programme, funded by the European Union and implemented by UNDP and UNICEF.

“I was very interested in Ekaterina’s professional experience. She is performing procedures requiring a medical background and I’m very glad that she joined our team. She is a professional and customers love her,” notes Olesea.

“Because of our situation, we do not make long-term plans, we live right here and right now, we work, develop, learn and obviously we want to go back home as soon as possible,” says Ekaterina.

In the spring, she wanted to move back to Odessa for good, but the missiles striking residential buildings and civilians made her change her mind.

“Today a missile hits one city, tomorrow another city might be under attack. In such moments, I think first of all about my kids and I want them to be safe, that’s why I don’t make any plans yet.”

After one year of war, Ecaterina rediscovered her force to be optimistic again, but it took her some time to rehabilitate and understand that she needs to keep living her life. The postponed life syndrome was replaced by the motto “right here and right now”:

“I’m sometimes so sorry that it was the war that brought us together”

The postponed life syndrome versus the desire to start your life again

“I’m really grateful to my family that is very united and when someone has bad times, we support and help each other. I want to thank my customers who, despite the war, didn’t abandon the idea of living and being beautiful. Women in Odessa go to beauty shops and have their manicure done even under the sound of sirens and without electricity. The war united us and made us stronger.”

Ekaterina has also clients from Romania. She regularly goes to Iași, Bucharest, where she is awaited by her clients.

“For me, 300 km is not a long distance anymore, it’s just a usual day when I go to work,” says Ekaterina.

Once in two weeks, Ekaterina travels to Odessa, where she still has appointments with her loyal clients.

“First time I went back to Odessa was in March 2022. I went alone. I only took the children to Odessa during summer when things somehow calmed down. Life has changed dramatically there, but even so the city lives at its own pace, people have learned to live in a new reality, without light, without heat and sometimes in curfew.”

The war has brought a new lens into her family relations: “Now we no longer pay attention to trivial things, but indeed value what's really important - the health, unity and safety.” And when they briefly encounter again in Odessa, they cherish each moment together.

Meanwhile, in Ungheni – the city that she loves with all her heart and that became a second home – her children and her younger sister are eager to have her back.

After the war will end, Ekaterina hopes to keep travelling to the Republic of Moldova for work, because here she has loyal customers and friends.

The Food Bank of Moldova has improved its activity thanks to the support of the European Union

During a public event held on 24 January, the European Union donated two transport units that will make the operation of the Food Bank more efficient. They are two specialised cars equipped with refrigeration systems

that will make possible the safe distribution of perishable food products collected by the Bank for social services throughout the country.

This support was provided within the framework of the "Partnerships for inclusive and resilient social canteen services" project, which aims to develop social canteen services in the country.

The Food Bank represents a mechanism practiced at international level through which surplus food products safe for consumption that are at risk of being thrown away by operators in the agri-food chain are donated to the Bank. These products are then distributed to social services providing food support to people from vulnerable groups.

"The Food Bank is an innovative mechanism through which we aimed to reduce food waste and the number of people affected by hunger and malnutrition. We appreciate the fact that the European Union supports the people from vulnerable groups. Today's gesture, but also the complex support - part of the project, capacitates the Bank and contributes to the creation of an extremely necessary cooperation platform in the current social context",

said Igor Belei, Executive Director of I.R.M.S. Diaconia.

Until 2024, within the project, the Bank's operating costs are financially covered. At the same time, with the support of the project, an online platform will be created that will improve the functioning capacity of the Food Bank. Through the platform, food donors will be able to indicate the quantity of products available, and social services will be able to access them according to their regional location. Currently, the Bank collaborates with 30 social services in the country, and in the next two years their number will be doubled and around 5,000 people with low incomes will have food thanks to the recovered food.

"Statistics show that the majority of people who use social canteens are elderly or people with disabilities. For these beneficiaries, the lunch offered by the social canteen is the only hot meal of the day. In this context, it is essential to utilise every opportunity to reduce the food insecurity of vulnerable groups",

said Ludmila Malcoci, Executive Director of Keystone Moldova.

The implementation period of the project "Partnerships for inclusive and resilient social canteen services" is 01.01.202231.12.2024, the total amount being around €1.3 million.

Presentation of the results of the "Study on the situational analysis of social canteen services in the Republic of Moldova"

On March 10, during a press conference, the results of the "Study on the situational analysis of social canteen services in the Republic of Moldova" conducted at national level, with the financial support of the European Union, were presented.

The study carried out an overall analysis of the situation of social canteen services in the country, aiming both at the legal framework, the mapping of the services and the assessment of the degree of satisfaction of the beneficiaries.

The mapping showed that 93 social canteens operate in the Republic of Moldova, providing annual food services for around 16,000 people. 58% of the total number of beneficiaries of social canteens are elderly people, a fact that indicates an increased level of vulnerability among this age group. A limited territorial coverage at national level with social aid canteen services was revealed. Their distribution is uneven at rayon level, in 3 rayons there is no service, and most social canteen (CAS) services operate in Chișinău municipality (10 services).

Overall, a high level of satisfaction of beneficiaries of social canteen services was reported. However, they mentioned that the period of access to services (30 days once a quarter - a total of 120 days per year) is quite limited, which does not ensure their food security. Moreover, 83% of the beneficiaries consider that they need the CAS service for more than a year or permanently. By age category, 58% of CAS beneficiaries are elderly people, which indicates an increased level of vulnerability among this category. At the same time, most providers mentioned that they operate with insufficient budgets and encounter difficulties in identifying funding sources, while for 58% of CAS services the available budget partially covers their needs. The main source of funding for

60% of CAS services is money obtained through CSOs, and more than half of CAS services are financed or co-financed by local public authorities. It also reveals a significant involvement of citizens in the financing of CAS services covering 22 services. The study was carried out within the project "Partnerships for inclusive and sustainable social canteen services", financed by the European Union, co-financed and implemented by P.I. "Keystone Moldova", P.A. Concordia. Social Projects" and P.I.S.M. "Diaconia".

The full study can be accessed here: https://www.keystonemoldova.md/wpcontent/uploads/sites/4/2023/03/Study. pdf

EU-funded project „MOVE IT like Lublin” presented the report on urban mobility in Chișinău municipality

The „MOVE IT like Lublin” project presented the findings of urban mobility analysis in Chișinău municipality, during the meeting of the Working Group on public transport within the Municipality, on 17 January. This presentation was part of the project’s contribution to the development the Sustainable Urban Mobility Plan (SUMP).

During the public meeting, the experts of the international consortium managed by Civitta company, which has been contracted to develop the SUMP, presented the main challenges found in the area of urban mobility, traffic management, and parking. At the same time, the team of consultants identified the priorities of the citizens on sustainable urban mobility and put forward a set of important proposals for the municipality with a view to attaining the objectives of developing a Mobility Plan. The management of Chișinău Municipality, the implementation team of „MOVE IT like Lublin” Project, representatives of the General Directorate for Urban Mobility, General

Directorate of Architecture, Urbanization and Land Relations, and other experts in the given area participated in the event.

The sustainable urban mobility plan will be developed within 2 years and represents a strategic document on integrated mobility, with clear objectives and targets aiming to a better accessibility and quality of life.

The „MOVE IT like Lublin” Project – Initiative for the sustainable development of public transport in Chișinău municipality, funded by the European Union, is implemented on the basis of a partnership between Chișinău Municipality and Lublin Municipality, Poland. The project will be implemented till 2025 and will offer support to transform the public transport services in the city into a more inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable transport system. The total budget of the project amounts to €3,500,000, of which €3,325,000 are the contribution of the European Union in form of a grant, and €175,000 are allocated by Chișinău Municipality.

EU programme “Partnerships for Sustainable Cities”

brought together the beneficiary municipalities in Brussels for its first global meeting

The first global meeting under the auspices of the European Union programme

“Partnerships for Sustainable Cities” was held in Brussels on 7 and 8 March. This programme is an initiative launched by the European Commission in 2018 for the purpose of encouraging the cities worldwide to collaborate and develop sustainable solutions for urban challenges. The objectives of the initiative are to improve the quality of life in cities, to promote sustainable development and increase economic competitiveness.

Chișinău Municipality, as a beneficiary of the EU-funded project “MOVE IT like Lublin”, was represented at the meeting by the deputy mayors of the capital city, Olga Ursu and Ilie Ceban, as well as by the Project Manager Octavian Lungu.

They had the opportunity to share with the colleagues from 56 partnership projects the Project results and the experience of collaboration with the local authorities of Lublin (Poland), as well as other initiatives of the municipality relating to the sustainable development of the cities.

The representatives of the participating cities discussed the challenges and opportunities in the sustainable development of the cities and identified the best practices for improving urban infrastructure, decreasing carbon emissions and improving people’s quality of life. Similarly, the importance of collaboration between the cities and the European Union to support the sustainable development of the cities and share best practices was underlined.

The „MOVE IT like Lublin” project – Initiative for the sustainable development of public

transport in Chișinău municipality, funded by the European Union, is implemented on the basis of a partnership between Chișinău Municipality and Lublin Municipality, Poland. The project will be implemented till 2025 and will offer support to transform the public transport services in the city into a more inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable transport system. The project envisages the improvement of urban transport policies at a municipal level, increase of the institutional capacities of Chișinău Municipality in accordance with the European Union practice in the area of urban mobility, and increase of the quality of public transport management in Chișinău by means of sustainable innovative solutions and technologies. Additionally, a modern Traffic Monitoring Centre will be created in Chișinău within the project, and a Sustainable Urban Mobility Plan will be developed for Chișinău. The project will also digitalise such operations as electronic tickets and web applications for public transport, reflecting the best practices applied in the cities of the European Union, including Lublin.

The total budget of the project amounts to €3,500,000, of which €3,325,000 are the contribution of the European Union in form

of a grant, and €175,000 are allocated by Chișinău Municipality.

STRONGER SOCIETY

Life story of a discrimination victim in Moldova: insights from a documentary

Discrimination is a pervasive problem that can have far-reaching consequences for various segments of society. The video documentary entitled Life story of the victim of discrimination in the Republic of Moldova (available in Romanian with English subtitles) sheds light on the issue of discrimination in Moldova. Produced for the Equality Council, the film chronicles the story of Svetlana, a long-time Secretary of the Local Council who has been subjected to discrimination in her workplace. Through her story, the documentary illustrates the occurrence of discrimination in the country and the toll it takes on those who are victimised by it. Moreover, the film provides an account of Svetlana's experience with the Equality Council, showcasing how the institution supported her in restoring her rights. This segment of the documentary serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of institutions like the Equality Council in addressing issues of discrimination and promoting equality.

The video can be accessed on the following link: https://vimeo.com/813164304

This video has been produced within the framework of the project “Strengthening the capacities of the justice sector actors to deliver justice in line with European standards, in particular to fight discrimination in the Republic of Moldova”, funded by the European Union and the Council of Europe and implemented by the Council of Europe in their Partnership for Good Governance II 2019-2022. The views expressed herein can in no way be taken to reflect the official opinion of either party.

Effective civil society dialogue with the support of EU4Accountability project

On 1 February, at the Europe Café, civil society organisations, media organisations and civic initiatives discussed inputs to the draft law "On Access to Information of Public Interest", open for consultations by the Ministry of Justice. The initiative "Policy Dialogue on Social Accountability in Moldova" is managed by the Centre for Policies and Reforms (CPR Moldova) with the support of the European Partnership for Democracy. CPR Moldova is engaging with various stakeholders to conduct a nation-wide and participatory policy dialogue on social accountability mechanisms in order to enhance the policy

framework conducive to increased citizens’ participation and responsibility of the public authorities. CPR Moldova will seek to build consensus around a shared assessment of the policy field to overcome the policy gaps. Participants discussed the provisions of the new law, their consistency with international standards and other issues not covered by the law. At the same time, proposals for improvement were made on some key issues, such as the mechanism of law enforcement and protection of the right to information, access to personal information, access to information for persons with disabilities and proactive publication of information.

A very good news was the launch of the Glodeni Participation Council. It was established with the participation of 5 organisations, namely: NGO "Solidarii Neamului" (Glodeni), NGO "Neemia" (Cobani), AO "Terra-Gold" (Glodeni), NGO Association of the Natives "Ciuciulea-Vatră de Dor", and NGO "Centrul Comunitar din Balatina". The Council was established with the aim of increasing citizens' accessibility to the decision-making process, and to support start-up organisations in obtaining financing for implemented projects.

Within the Council, local organisations will receive support in the implementation of projects in the localities of Glodeni rayon. The total value of accessible grants is

€90,000, and part of this money has already been planned to make the local decisionmaking process more visible, transparent and inclusive. Computers will be purchased, Local Authorities' internet bills will be paid and high-performance equipment will be provided so that meetings can be broadcast live and citizens can participate in the process.

Access to information is an essential area for the functioning of democratic mechanisms and ensuring the accountability of the authorities to the citizens. The EU4Accountability project comes to bring democratic values closer to the inhabitants of the Republic of Moldova.

Animals, including stray ones, will be protected by law

A draft law ensuring the protection of animals, including stray ones, has been developed with the support of the project "Help to our little friends", implemented by the National Environmental Centre with the financial support of the European Union. The draft law is accessible on the Parliament's website and was submitted for public consultations on 4 April.

Five shelters for stray animals benefited from material aid granted following an open competition and an individual needs assessment carried out by the project implementation team. Thanks to the support of the European Union, today around 1,750 dogs and cats have new houses that protect them from the wind and rain. In addition, medicines and specialised food were delivered to the five asylums.

As part of the project, an extensive awareness campaign is being carried out with the generic "Adopt a friend" with the aim of promoting the adoption of stray animals in a conscious and responsible way.

The first animals have already been adopted, and their new families can be followed in a video reportage made within the project. All video materials can be accessed on the Facebook page of the National Environment Centre or on the YouTube channel. The project implementation team also urged citizens to direct the 2% to shelters for stray animals.

Little ones with hearts full of love: two children with Down syndrome found love and understanding in Professional Foster

Care families

Discrimination and prejudice against children with disabilities, including Down syndrome, often lead to neglect and abandonment by parents. Social pressure, lack of services, and trained specialists to support families in need are key factors in this issue. Additionally, many parents do not understand the need to raise children with disabilities in a family environment and are discouraged by social stereotypes and prejudices related to these children. It is important for society to support families with children with Down syndrome and promote a culture of acceptance and respect for all individuals, regardless of their differences.

With the support of CCF Moldova, within the "HOPE Project - Holistic Approach to Child Protection in Moldova," funded by the European Union, the Austrian Development Agency, and Caritas Austria, families in atrisk situations, including those with children with disabilities, are supported to prevent their separation and institutionalisation. CCF Moldova provides support, counselling, and facilitates access to medical and rehabilitation services. CCF Moldova helps families understand the importance of raising children with disabilities in a family environment, where they can benefit from their love and support and develop properly.

Down syndrome is a genetic condition caused by the presence of an extra chromosome in a child's cells, also known as trisomy 21. This condition can affect the physical and intellectual development of the child and can cause a range of health problems, including heart, respiratory, and vision problems.

World Down Syndrome Day is celebrated every year on 21 March and aims to raise awareness of this condition, promote the rights and inclusion of people with Down syndrome, and celebrate their achievements and abilities. This day was declared by the United Nations in 2011 and is celebrated worldwide through various awareness-raising events and campaigns.

Civic education of Moldovan youth with the support of the EU-funded HOPE project

The Diaconia team, within the EU-funded HOPE project, chose to create Youth Parliaments in Action because it is a method of learning through civic projects. Thus, young people learn:

» to notice the problems that are around them;

» to communicate – to speak and be heard;

» to create their own youth movement;

» to become responsible and active citizens;

» to mobilise the community;

» to write projects.

During February and March, the members of the Parliaments took part in trainings on the subject of PROJECT WRITING. Thus, they learned in a simplified way how to write a project proposal.

The project implementation algorithm is:

» analysing community needs;

» choosing a need/problem they are able to respond to by voting;

» writing a mini-project proposal;

» implementing the project proposal;

» launching the implemented project.

So far, 9 trainings have been carried out, following which the following project ideas were initiated: relaxation space for young people, individual lockers for students, setting up a green space in the school yard, setting up the technological education room, equipping the biology laboratory with microscopes, etc.

In the next period these project proposals will be implemented and other proposals will be written.

A placement centre for children at risk opens in Comrat, with the support of the European Union,

the Soros Foundation Moldova and the local authorities

A placement centre for children at risk was inaugurated in Comrat with the support of the European Union and the Soros Foundation Moldova. The social service was created by “VESTA” Public Association, in partnership with Comrat Rayon administration which cofunded renovation and equipment works.

The centre is intended for children temporarily placed in police custody, separated from

and assistance for family reintegration or social integration. They will be offered living conditions and education appropriate to

“Children who have found themselves in difficult situations need support in their studies and development. We will be visiting exhibitions together, take part in craft workshops, and work in our association’s agricultural household, helping the children to individually assess their potential and to integrate into society,”

Antonina Volkova, President of “VESTA” Association, said at the centre’s inauguration.

“Creating this service allows diversifying social services in the region, with a special focus on protecting children’s rights. For this purpose, we have contributed 334.5 thousand lei from the budget of Găgăuzia for renovating the Centre’s premises. Ensuring children’ protection and security in complicated situations is our basic concern,”

Ivan Topal, President of Comrat Rayon Administration, said.

“This service is one of the 40 social services we create in different localities together with our partners – the Soros Foundation Moldova, Keystone Moldova, and Institutum Virtutes Civilis. We are glad to see the understanding and open attitude from the local public authorities who have offered their own contribution. We will keep supporting civil society not only in the social sphere, which is the current priority due to the crises the Republic of Moldova is going through, and we hope that civil society in Găgăuzia will stay as active and we will keep implementing the projects together,”

Victoria Neaga, Project Manager at the Delegation of the European Union to the Republic of Moldova, stated.

The Temporary Placement Centre for children at risk in Comrat is one of the 40 social services developed within the project “Civil Society Organisations Acting for Better Social Services”, funded by the European Union, co-financed and implemented by the Soros Foundation Moldova in partnership with Keystone Moldova and Institutum Virtutes Civilis PA.

A multifunctional centre for children at risk and with disabilities opens in Soroca with the support of the European Union and the Soros Foundation Moldova

Approximately 100 children at risk and with disabilities from Soroca Rayon will benefit from recovery and occupational therapy, counselling and psychosocial rehabilitation services on a yearly basis at “O Sansa” Multifunctional Centre for Social Services. The centre was opened within a project implemented by “Casa Speranțelor” PA in partnership with Soroca Rayon Council and Soroca Municipality Mayor’s Office, with the financial support of the European Union and the Soros Foundation Moldova.

From the project sources, the premises were renovated and the necessary furniture and equipment were purchased. The centre has rooms for group and individual activities, a recreation room, and a sensory room equipped with various sorts of stimuli and specialised equipment for rehabilitation of children with developmental and behavioural disorders.

The centre will be operating on a daytime basis and offer activities for both children and their parents. To ensure the quality of the services, “Casa Speranțelor” Association organised instructive workshops for social assistants and social service providers, informing them how to identify, assess, assist, and monitor children who are prospective beneficiaries of the services offered at “O Șansă” Centre.

“While creating this social service, we also conducted the campaigns to raise awareness of the equal rights of all children and the social services available for them in Soroca Rayon in the communities. At our centre, children from various vulnerable groups will get improved access to supporting services and assistance to overcome eventual inequities,”

Valentina Onica, Administrator of “Casa Speranțelor” Public Association, said at the inauguration event.

their sustainability, together with the local authorities. We will keep allocating funds via calls for proposals to develop new social services or to improve the existing ones,”

Jānis Mažeiks, Ambassador of the European Union to the Republic of Moldova, said at the event.

“The European Union regards civil society as an essential partner in the process of implementing reforms, especially in the context of the new status of the Republic of Moldova as a candidate country for joining the European Union. ‘Casa Sperațtelor’ Association is a reliable partner of the European Union; it has implemented a number of projects funded by the European Union and ensured

The project for creating the Centre has a budget of €60 thousand from the funds of the European Union and two co-financings: 270 thousand lei allocated by Soroca Municipality Mayor’s Office and another 250 thousand lei from Soroca Rayon Council. This social service is one of the 40 services developed within the project “Civil Society Organisations Acting for Better Social Services” funded by the European Union, co-financed and implemented by the Soros Foundation Moldova in partnership with Keystone Moldova Association and Institutum Virtutes Civilis PA.

A temporary placement centre for children separated from their parents opens in Taraclia with the support of the European Union and the Soros Foundation Moldova

Children separated from their parents in Taraclia Rayon, such as orphans, those whose parents are declared missing, and children temporarily separated from their families will benefit from specialised

services at “Încredere” Temporary Placement Centre founded by “PRIMA”

Public Association and Taraclia Rayon Council, with the support of the European Union and the Soros Foundation Moldova.

Arranged within the renovated and adapted building of a former auxiliary school, the Centre has a capacity of 25 places. Children at risk will be placed there pursuant to the decisions of the Rayon Social Assistance and Family Protection Department (SAFPD) and stay at the Centre until a permanent type of social protection is established. The children will be offered accommodation, safety, and catering, as well as permanent assistance from such specialists as a nurse, psychologist, and educationist. They will be enrolled in schools or kindergartens, enjoy assistance while studying the school curriculum, develop independent living skills, and have counselling and psychosocial rehabilitation.

Taraclia Rayon Council financed part of the renovation works, purchased the equipment, and will subsequently manage the Centre.

“This service is absolutely necessary; it will allow providing assistance to many children from our rayon and for this reason, we will keep funding it. Taraclia Rayon Council allocated 1.2 million lei for renovation and development works,”

Lazari Dermenji, Taraclia Rayon VicePresident, said during the inauguration.

“The social crises we’ve been going through have affected many families from the risk groups who are struggling with financial and social issues. As a result, children suffer. The services of the Placement Centre will significantly improve the quality of life of children separated from their parents. We hope for further cooperation with the European Union and the Soros Foundation Moldova for developing social services,”

Galina Filipova, Head of Taraclia SAFPD, said.

“For the Delegation of the European Union, cooperation with civil society, especially with the organisations offering social services, is very important. The crises we have been through – the pandemic, the energy, and the war crisis – have made many people vulnerable, and

vulnerable children need particular support. Here, at the Centre, 25 children will be offered assistance. Conditions for their placement have been created, but the hard work is just starting, because the service to be provided has to be high-quality and multidisciplinary,”

Victoria Neaga, Project Manager at the Delegation of the European Union to the Republic of Moldova, said.

“Încredere” Temporary Placement Centre for children separated from their parents is one of the 40 social services developed within the project “Civil Society Organisations Acting for Better Social Services” funded by the European Union, co-financed and implemented by the Soros Foundation Moldova in partnership with Keystone Moldova and Institutum Virtutes Civilis PA.

This year, more than 50 pupils and teenagers with disabilities and special educational needs from Telenești Rayon will benefit from counselling and career guidance services which will help them choose the jobs matching their skills and therefore facilitate their integration into labour market. “Șanse egale” (“Equal Opportunities”) social service is founded by Concordia Public Association in partnership with Telenești Rayon Council with the support of the European Union and the Soros Foundation Moldova.

Young people with special educational needs (SEN) need support and guidance while learning and this support should be adapted to their individual particularities. Developing these services will help young people avoid isolation and take part in orientation activities, thus contributing to their social integration.

“Through the workshops and other communication activities, we will provide supporttoyoungpeopleinindividuallyassessing their potential, and a psychoeducationalist will work with them to guide them in choosing their field of studies and profession. Besides, within the service, young people will be informed about educational and employment opportunities, so that as many young people as possible could get a suitable job and feel all right in the community,”

Eugenia Rosca, President of “Concordia” PA, said at the service launching event.

has supported this initiative unreservedly and allocated 154 thousand lei from the rayon budget for renovating the office where the service will be offered,”

Mariana Ombun, President of Telenești Rayon, said.

Victoria Neaga, Project Manager at the Delegation of the European Union to the Republic of Moldova, who attended the launching event, emphasised that the European Union encourages civil society organisations and public authorities to create conditions for efficient integration for all vulnerable persons via the projects in the social sphere.

“Creating this service with the support of the European Union and the Soros Foundation Moldova gives us a valuable chance to expand the activities for young people with special educational needs; therefore, the Rayon Council

“For young people with special needs, studying a profession facilitates their access to services and opportunities within the community and excludes their isolation, and the European Union supports social inclusion and respecting the rights of all the community members. The European Union will keep supporting the foundation of such services,”

Victoria Neaga said.

Civil society and local public authorities from Telenești create a career guidance service for young people with special educational needs

“Concordia” Public Association is one of the 40 grant beneficiary organisations within the project “Civil Society Organisations Acting for Better Social Services” funded by the European Union, implemented and cofinanced by the Soros Foundation Moldova, in partnership with Keystone Moldova and Institutum Virtutes Civilis PA.

“Concordia” PA implements the project titled “’Equal Opportunities’ Career Counselling and Guidance Service for Children and Young People with Special Educational Needs” with a budget of €35,000.00, within which the “Equal Opportunities” social service is developed. The service is aimed at

facilitating professional inclusion of pupils with special educational needs aged 14-18 by taking part in counselling, educational, and vocational guidance activities for promoting social inclusion and improving their living standards. The service is founded by the association in partnership with Telenești Rayon Council and will be subsequently provided by the rayon psychoeducational assistance service.

While implementing a number of projects funded by the European Union, the Soros Foundation Moldova together with the partners has already managed to create over 40 social services in the country.

Projects for the gender equality promotion will be carried out in 15 localities of the Republic of Moldova

15 civil society organisations in Moldova will receive EU-funded grants to promote gender equality, ensure good governance, support girls and women who want to get involved in public life and help young men and women to become agents of change in their localities. The 15 initiatives will be carried out within the project "Partnerships for women leadership and good governance", implemented by the "Friedrich Ebert" Foundation, Moldova and the PA "Institutum Virtutes Civilis", with the financial support of the European Union and the "Friedrich Ebert" Foundation.

The representative of the Resource Centre "Univers", Stas Cebotari will be part of the team that will carry out the project "Young People in Action". The project aimed to involve young people in the decision-making process at the local level. He assured that the organisation he represents will continue to promote gender equality even after the end of the project.

"We aim for the project in question to raise awareness among young people about the importance of involving girls and women in the decision-making process. Also, we

will organise training and gender equality promotion activities in several target localities of the project. We will develop a local action plan, through which we will promote social inclusion at the local level. We want to present it later to the authorities and try to get financing for its implementation", said Stas

Cebotari.

presence of the Economic Investment Plan Unit Head for Georgia and the Republic of Moldova, DG NEAR, European Commission, Diana Jabłońska.

The war in Ukraine, which has been going on for more than a year, has affected many groups of population. In addition to directly affected refugees who have had to leave their homes in search of a safer place, the war has also affected vulnerable people and civil

society representatives in the neighbouring countries, who have had to work under severe stress. Volunteers and members of civil society associations have stepped in to help the refugees, offering support in various forms, including psychological support.

in which they work, developing resilience and crisis management skills. People in Need Moldova, together with the Prague Civil Society Centre and the Netherlands Helsinki Committee, collaborate within the regional project “Resilient Civil Society and Media Respond to the Ukraine War”, funded by the European Union. The primary aim of this project is to work towards capacity building, skills training and the provision of financial resources and psychosocial support to local initiatives to manage the evolving needs of the region affected by the armed conflict. In the trainings provided to beneficiary organisations, People in Need Moldova shared a set of practical tips and tools to manage stress in difficult situations. We discussed how to provide psychological first aid, how to manage the emotional state of teams working with Ukrainian refugees, what are the signs of professional burnout and how to intervene to cope with stress.

Our colleagues developed extremely useful skills, both in managing the heavy workload of crisis situations and in communicating with the media and disseminating information correctly in the public space. Through exercises and group activities, they understood the transformative power of information through multiple tools and channels, and were introduced to basic protection principles and case studies to better understand what needs to be done in practice.

Even though the war has left its painful mark on the lives of many people, both in Ukraine and in Moldova and neighbouring countries, through our common effort we can cope much better with this crisis. People in Need Moldova, together with its partners, will continue its efforts to make the work of volunteers as safe as possible, and to help refugees and war-affected populations to receive aid that is better adapted to their needs.

With the support of the European Union, civil society organisations have practical tips and tools to continue supporting refugees from Ukraine

Inauguration of the first Specialised service for victims of sexual violence in the Republic of Moldova

The first Specialised Service for victims of sexual violence in the Republic of Moldova was inaugurated in Ungheni. The Service is funded by the European Union and has been created with the support of UN Women

in partnership with the central and local authorities. The service provides any victim of sexual violence with the possibility to benefit from medical, legal, psychological and social assistance in one place.

The inauguration of Specialised Service also included a round table in which representatives of central and local authorities, international organisations, civil society and service providers took part.

“There was a need for this service, in which specialists will decide together on the methods of working so that people feel safe. The Service has to be confidential and have a positive impact on victims”,

highlighted Tatiana Lazar, the Deputy President of Ungheni rayon.

The main discussion points focused on the importance of protection services directed towards the needs of the victims of violence and the need to increase the availability of specialised services in accordance with the provisions of the Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence.

Alexei Buzu, the Minister of Labour and Social Protection, mentioned:

“Any reform, any program will be successful if we ensure conditions for our colleagues in the frontline. This includes ensuring investments in their knowledge, skills, and salaries, also promoting an efficient management.”

“The victims of sexual violence must be sure that they will be assisted in a professional way. They need to feel understood and safe when they interact with the multidisciplinary teams. Today we are launching the first Service for the victims of sexual violence in the country, but we will not stop here. In the next years we will provide similar support in the North and Centre of the Republic of Moldova”, claimed H.E. Jānis Mažeiks,, Ambassador of the European Union to the Republic of Moldova.

Dominika Stojanoska, the UN Women country representative, highlighted the joint efforts made for the co-creation of the Service, including based on the needs underlined by the victims themselves:

“It is critical to have this integrated approach, with all the services located in one place to better support the victims of sexual violence. I know that the work is just to begin. We will continue work closely with the authorities, because this is the key to prevent and eliminate violence and to provide the necessary specialised services.”

The specialised service for victims of sexual violence was created within the EVA Project – “Strengthened Gender Action in Cahul and Ungheni rayons”, funded by the European Union and implemented by UN Women Moldova in partnership with UNICEF Moldova.

INSTITUTIONS AND GOVERNMENT

Public actors in the health sector of the Republic of Moldova – trained in the field of integrity, corruption risks and mitigation measures

Between 13-23 February, a series of four special trainings on the topic of integrity and good practices in the fight against corruption in the health sector of the Republic of Moldova took place in Chișinău.

The trainings were attended by more than 120 representatives of the healthcare sector, including the Ministry of Health, the Agency for Medicines and Medical Devices, the National Health Insurance Company,

the National Agency for Public Health, and managers and administrators of medical institutions.

The objective of the trainings was to familiarise the beneficiaries with the most important aspects of professional integrity of the staff employed in the healthcare sector, to promote ethical behaviour, and to prevent irregularities in the provision of

The program of trainings included topics related to the updated anti-corruption and integrity legal provisions, such as:

» General aspects on ethics, deontology, and integrity. Professional integrity of the staff from the healthcare sector.

» Incompatibilities, restrictions, and limitations in medical and pharmaceutical professions.

» Conflicts of interest and favouritism – general and special rules for medical staff and pharmacists.

» Gifts offered during medical or pharmaceutical practice.

» Attitude of intolerance towards corruption – reporting and requesting protection.

» The role of managers in establishing and supporting the work of ethics (bioethics) Committees to ensure compliance with integrity standards of medical institutions.

» Submission of progress reports on the implementation of the existing Sectorial Anti-Corruption Action Plan in the healthcare sector.

» Adaptation of anti-corruption legislation for the healthcare sector.

» Gifts offered during medical or pharmaceutical practice.

» Drafting, implementation, and monitoring of institutional integrity plans, including the development of a gifts and hospitality register.

During the trainings, practical cases of corruption were analysed, and liability for corruption offenses was detailed from the perspective of the Integrity Law, as well as the consequences of integrity incidents. Following the training sessions, the beneficiaries can define and distinguish professional integrity standards and policies in the healthcare sector, implement policies to strengthen the institutional integrity climate within their institutions, draft and implement institutional corruption risk management plans, and provide progress reports on the anti-corruption sectorial action plans and strategies applied in the healthcare sector. The series of trainings was dedicated to the most vulnerable sectors of the Republic of Moldova affected by corruption, namely the educational, medical, and agri-food sectors. The events were organised with the support of the project "Strengthening the Rule of Law and Anticorruption Mechanisms in the Republic of Moldova" co-financed by the European Union and the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and implemented by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale

Taking stock of cooperation with the Police in the Republic of Moldova in the field of anti-discrimination

Throughout the last four years, the General Police Inspectorate of the Republic of Moldova has been close partner of the joint European Union and the Council of Europe (CoE) project “Strengthening access to justice through non-judicial redress mechanisms for victims of discrimination, hate crime and hate speech in the Eastern Partnership countries”, implemented from January 2019 to February 2023. Cooperation with General Police Inspectorate resulted in a high number of police officers trained on anti-discrimination issues, hate speech and hate crimes, with support from their management to strengthen Police staff capacities to operate in a diverse society.

The project also supported the national beneficiaries in the Republic of Moldova at large to improve and harmonise the data collection methods related to hate crime cases through various training sessions. A series of joint meetings with the General Police Inspectorate and the

Technical Information Service of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Office of the Prosecutor General, and the Agency for Court Administration, were carried out for discussing recommendations of adjustment of the internal databases of the institutions and assistance needed. The project prepared a recommendation for the adjustment of databases of the Police, Prosecutor's Office and Courts, as well as an instruction for the operators of the database from the General Police Inspectorate.

In the latest phase of the project, the focus of capacity building was on the inclusion of the victim’s perspective section in the database. Upon finalisation of the internal processes, three video sessions were carried out in February 2023 for 141 operators from Police, with a focus on the new developments of the database on hate crimes, and different aspects related to work on the disaggregated data collection.

A video that presents milestones in the EU/CoE-Police partnership highlighted the positive impact of project trainings on the daily work of police officers, including the results in reinforcing their skills in guiding citizens when seeking remedies against discrimination, as well as in cases of handling tensions or violence where vulnerable groups are involved. The video can be accessed at the following link: https://vimeo.com/805543641

The video was produced with the support of the joint European Union and the Council of Europe project “Strengthening access to justice through non-judicial redress mechanisms for victims of discrimination, hate crime and hate speech in the Eastern Partnership countries”, part of the programme “Partnership for Good Governance II, 2019-2022”.

Towards improved cooperation between the Equality Council and the Judiciary in the Republic of Moldova

Representatives of the Equality Council and judges designated by the Superior Council of Magistracy took part in an online roundtable “Fundamental rights in the context of war –freedom of expression and its limitations”. The exchange between the equality body and the Judiciary was initiated in April 2021, aiming at fostering cooperation in legal matters related to discrimination. It entailed a series of meetings devoted to different topics relevant for the protection from discrimination and equality. This last event enabled a joint discussion about the newest developments in the case-law of international courts, including the judgments of the European Court of Human Rights on freedom of expression.

Participants also had the possibility to get more information about the practice of the National Council for Combating Discrimination of Romania and the cooperation with the national judicial system on anti-discrimination. The equality body as public authority with expertise in nondiscrimination can provide useful opinions, based on accumulated practice of the institution and data-base information related to the relevant cases. Those opinions, despite not binding for courts, can still be very useful as they provide information on additional aspects relevant for the protection of victims of discrimination, can contribute to better reasoning of judgments and have an educational role for all relevant actors.

Picture: https://www.liberties.eu/en/stories/why-is-freedom-ofspeech-important/44136

As pointed out by William MASSOLIN, Head of the Council of Europe office in Chișinău, the discussion had an additional value considering the current developments in the region:

“Particularly in such challenging times, the co-operation of all actors in the field of antidiscrimination is of utmost importance for the improvement of practices and measures aimed at addressing these hurdles, including combating hate speech especially against vulnerable groups. Your collaboration and joint work contribute to the better protection of victims of discrimination in the Republic of Moldova.”

To conclude the event, it was highlighted that the continuation of cooperation among institutions is very important, as well as the systematic discussions on new legal developments, for the benefit of further promotion of non-discrimination, diversity, and equality in the Republic of Moldova and having citizens feeling their rights are protected.

This activity was organised jointly within the European Union and the Council of Europe projects “Strengthening access to justice through non-judicial redress mechanisms for victims of discrimination, hate crime and hate speech in Eastern Partnership countries” and ”Strengthening the capacities of the justice sector actors to deliver justice in line with European standards, in particular to fight discrimination in the Republic of Moldova”, implemented in the framework of the programme “Partnership for Good Governance II, 2019-2022”.

A two-day seminar focusing on the way hate speech is addressed by the European Court of Human Rights’ jurisprudence brought together 22 prosecutors and judges from the Republic of Moldova. The program included discussions on the best legal practices in hate speech case handling and exchange experience and ideas for improving the legal redress responses to discrimination and hatred by the country.

The seminar took place on 19-20 January 2023 and covered also topics related to the identification of prejudices and stereotypes and working with victims of hate speech. The participants had the possibility to discuss relevant case-law of the European Court of Human Rights with Council of Europe experts and an ECtHR lawyer and take part in interactive sessions, and practical exercises for the application of the ECtHR principles when handling cases.

Participants were provided with relevant training materials, including the 2022 Recommendation of the Committee of Ministers to Member States on combating hate speech, in local language (Recommendation CM/Rec (2022)16).

As concluding remarks, the judges and prosecutors from the Republic of Moldova agreed upon the future directions of work in this area, highlighting the importance of an approach based on dialogue and collaborative solutions by different actors

dealing with hate speech and discrimination. This event was organised in cooperation with the National Institute of Justice of the Republic of Moldova, in the framework of the joint European Union and the Council of Europe project “Strengthening access to justice through non-judicial redress mechanisms for victims of discrimination, hate crime and hate speech in the Eastern Partnership countries”, part of the programme “Partnership for Good Governance II, 2019-2022”.

Prosecutors and judges from the Republic of Moldova increased their knowledge on the European standards and judgements addressing hate speech

Police officers from the Republic of Moldova trained to further improve data collection on hate crimes

Three online sessions were organised on 14, 15 and 21 February for police staff of the Republic of Moldova, with a focus on the developments and adjustments of the database on hate crimes, and related issues to be addressed when working on the disaggregated data collection. Sessions followed-up on the project support to the national beneficiaries in the Republic of Moldova to improve and harmonise the data

collection methods that started in 2019. The sessions were organised in cooperation with the General Police Inspectorate to inform and keep up to date the operators of the database with new developments within the data collection system, but also to ensure systematic discussions and learning from each other’s experiences in the area of disaggregated data collection on hate crimes.

Along with the training, participants – 141 operators of the database from the General Police Inspectorate, including criminal investigation officers and statisticians from police inspectorates of Central, North and South regions of the Republic of Moldova

- have been provided with an instruction on data collection on hate crimes. The document was prepared by the project jointly with the General Police Inspectorate, in conformity with the needs and requirements of the institution in the given field of work.

Picture: https://fra.europa.eu/en/themes/hate-crime

In concluding the sessions, it was agreed to continue the cooperation and further assistance on data collection reported and recorded by the Police, as this represents an important pillar for providing systemic responses to discrimination and hate crime. An increased level of reporting by the Police builds stronger trust in the institution by the general public and by vulnerable communities, in relation to redress mechanisms to discrimination, hate speech and hate crimes.

This event was organised in cooperation with the General Police Inspectorate of the Republic of Moldova, in the framework of the joint European Union and the Council of Europe project “Strengthening access to justice through non-judicial redress mechanisms for victims of discrimination, hate crime and hate speech in the Eastern Partnership countries”, part of the programme “Partnership for Good Governance II, 2019-2022”.

Workshop on "Land Monitoring in the Republic of Moldova" organised with the EU support

On 1-2 February, the Land Relations and Cadastre Agency (ALRC) in collaboration with the Institute of Geodesy, Technical Surveys and Cadastre (INGEOCAD) has hosted the workshop with the generic title "Land Monitoring in the Republic of Moldova". The workshop was organised by the Austrian Development Agency and the Bureau of Technical Cooperation Coordination, Austrian Embassy in Chișinău within the EU4Environment – Water Resources and Environmental Data program, financed by the European Union.

Participants focused on the following issues: national implementation of the Corine Land Cover (CLC) pilot project, joint assessment of available global and national land monitoring data as well as preparation and decision on the use of High-Resolution Land Cover (HRVPP) data for national

assessments in a pilot area. During 2017-2020, the Agency for Land Relations and Cadastre, in collaboration with INGEOCAD, conducted the Pilot Corine Land Cover project in the Republic of Moldova as part of the ENI SEIS II Est program. The project was implemented in accordance with the European standards, methodology and nomenclature and technical specifications provided by the European Environment Agency. At the same time, the ARFC team, INGEOCAD and the collaborators of other public entities benefited from training for the use of satellite images. The Project used satellite images (Sentinel-2, Landsat-5), provided by the European Environment Agency, orthophoto images 2016 and auxiliary data. All data are public for users and can be tracked on the ARFC thematic portal www.geodata.gov.md

pilot project, its expansion was requested, to cover the entire territory of the Republic of Moldova and integration into the European space. Thus, during 2023-2024, the national team of experts from the INGEOCAD, in collaboration with European experts, will

coverage of the territory of the Republic of Moldova. The results of the Project will also allow direct links with related initiatives and programs at European level, including the Copernicus programme.

EUBAM contributes to the health and safety of Moldovan consumers

On 27 January European Union Border Assistance Mission to Moldova and Ukraine (EUBAM) facilitated the signing of the Cooperation Action Plan between the Moldovan Customs Service and the State Inspectorate for the Surveillance of NonFood Products and Consumer Protection. It will enhance partnerships and ensure the safety of products entering the market of the Republic of Moldova.

To ensure that unsafe or non-compliant products are not placed on the market, EUBAM brought together the customs and consumer protection authorities and facilitated several consultations to establish cooperation mechanisms in safety and compliance control. The Cooperation Action Plan was born and signed as a joint initiative to help follow best European practices and protect the Moldovan people.

During the event, the Acting Director of the Customs Service, Nicolae Vutcariov, mentioned that

“market surveillance plays an important role in protecting consumers from using counterfeit products and goods, which may inflict harm to the health and safety of the users, therefore, the customs authority, with the support and assistance of the development partners and in cooperation with the State Inspectorate for the Surveillance of Non-Food Products and Consumer Protection, shall continue the awareness raising and information campaigns designated for importers in relation to their responsibility towards consumers and to protecting their legitimate rights and interests. Only with joint efforts we will manage to obtain results in this important area for the whole society.”

“We hope for effective cooperation and collaboration with the customs service because we want a market with safe products for all consumers in the Republic of Moldova. Based on notifications from the customs service, we will ensure the presence of inspectors at the place of customs clearance to be able to identify dangerous and counterfeit products and prohibit them from entering our country,”

highlighted Sergiu Dărănuță, Head of the State Inspectorate for the Supervision of Non-Food Products and Consumer Protection.

“Products imported and placed on the Moldovan market must be checked to be safe and compliant before being released for free circulation. This Action Plan ensures that the citizens of Moldova as consumers will feel safer, and it will bring the country one step closer to the EU standards with regards to health and safety of consumers,”

emphasised Slawomir Pichor, the Head of EUBAM, about the importance of the plan.

The Moldovan Customs Service and the State Inspectorate for the Surveillance of NonFood Products and Consumer Protection also signed the Order that will establish cooperation procedures and ensure smooth implementation of the Cooperation Action Plan.

EUBAM presented its Annual Report for 2022

Everything that happened since 24 February has inevitably left its mark on our reporting period. Today, our Ukrainian partners make tremendous efforts to ensure border and economic security at this critical time. Russia’s blockade of Ukrainian ports and

for Ukrainian grain and other agricultural goods, threatening global food security. Thus, since the beginning of the war, it was a top priority for EUBAM to support Ukrainian trade and contribute to implementing the European Commission’s Action plan for EU-

situation and increased risks at the MoldovaUkraine border, EUBAM organised numerous training events for officers serving in law enforcement agencies in both countries, covering topical threats to border security. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has also left its mark on the Mission’s activities related to the Transnistrian region. Now, with the two key mediators at war, 5+2 negotiations are on pause, and the overall political atmosphere

The report covers EUBAM’s principal ongoing activities and the achieved results in supporting confidence building measures across the Nistru river, implementing the Integrated Border Management concept, and combating cross-border crime.

Read more here:

https://eubam.org/publications/eubamannual-report-2022/

EUBAM and its Partners searching ways to improve cargo traffic flow across borders

This week EUBAM fostered a highlevel trilateral meeting of the MD-RO-UA Regional Customs Coordination Group on Streamlining Cargo Traffic Flow and EU-UA Solidarity Lanes that focused on streamlining cargo flow through the corridor ReniGiurgiulești-Galati, one of the essential landbased corridors for Ukraine’s agricultural but also other products to the European Union. The meeting was held at the Galați border crossing point in Romania.

The southern border-crossing points through the Republic of Moldova (Giurgiulești-Reni) and further on to Romania (GiurgiuleștiGalați) have become vital lifelines for road

cargo. Still, their infrastructure was not designed for such an increase in volume. As the pressure alleviation is vital for the functioning of that corridor, the neighbouring country’s customs authorities came together already the second time, having conveyed before in December, to discuss how to better manage cargo traffic in the case of emergency caused by the Russian strikes that damage critical infrastructure facilities in Ukraine thus disrupting the work of border crossing points at the MoldovaUkraine border and having an impact on the movement across Moldova-Romania border.

The representatives of the Romanian Customs Authority, Customs Service of the Republic of Moldova, and State Customs Service of Ukraine appreciated EUBAM’s consistent support against the challenges in border management.

“We greatly appreciate the partnership with EUBAM, and this regional customs coordination group is very important for the relations among the customs authorities of Romania, Republic of Moldova and Ukraine, especially in today’s regional context where streamlining the traffic flow at the joint borders is key”, stated Bogdan-Lari

In the spirit of good cooperation, EUBAM and the customs authorities of Romania, Republic of Moldova, and Ukraine, reiterated openness to active cooperation through coordination of joint actions and intensified efforts to ensure border protection. It was also decided to establish a trilateral working group to identify solutions to reduce the burden at the borders and to better manage traffic flow, in particular for agricultural products.

Mihei, President

of the Romanian Customs Authority.

Strengthening the Audiovisual Council of the Republic of Moldova’s technical capacities will ensure the effective combating of propaganda and disinformation

The European Union continues to ensure quality information for citizens and combat propaganda by strengthening the technical capacity of the Audiovisual Council of the Republic of Moldova, the regulator for audiovisual services to Moldovan citizens. Laptops, computers, and other IT equipment have been granted during an event on March 9, 2023.

Recently, the European Union, under the coordination of Internews Europe, provided technical support to the Audiovisual Council by purchasing computers, laptops, monitors, uninterruptible power supply (UPS) devices, and software worth around 2,5 million lei (the equivalent of €125,000).

The assistance was provided to enhance the regulator's capacity to offer Moldovan citizens quality information and counter propaganda and disinformation. In particular, the Audiovisual Council will increase its ability to monitor the quality of content produced in the Republic of Moldova in the interests of citizens.

“We have a project that supports independent media as well so that they can survive in these difficult times related to the war in Ukraine and can spread media literacy among Moldovan citizens. But the quality of the Audiovisual Council's work is also vital to us, as it could guarantee the proper quality of information and counteract propaganda,” said ES Jānis Mažeiks, the Ambassador of the European Union to the Republic of Moldova.

ES Jānis Mažeiks also emphasised that freedom of expression is a crucial principle, and strengthening the Audiovisual Council’s technical capacity will contribute to this.

“This donation will help the Audiovisual Council to be a guarantor of pluralism of opinion and a guarantor of the audiovisual, to ensure information that reaches people is safe for them, that news and programs are issued in a professional way regarding high standards of quality and respect the Audiovisual code. We are sure that with the help of our partners, we will succeed in protecting the citizens and we will offer programs that reflect their interest,” said Liliana Vițu, the Chairwoman of the Audiovisual Council.

The donated equipment includes 45 computers, 46 uninterruptible power supply (UPS) devices, 16 laptops, eight monitors, two servers, as well as 55 licenses for various types of software. This assistance will increase the regulator's performance and the capacity of the staff responsible for monitoring audiovisual media content.

Ministry of Finance and EU Technical Assistance PPF Project host introductory training on Development Assistance and upgraded Aid Management Platform

On 29 March, the Ministry of Finance and the Technical Assistance Project “Support to the Moldovan Government in Identifying and Preparing Projects Linked to the Implementation of the Association Agreement” (PPF Project) held an introductory training session on the topic of development assistance and on practical guidance for using the upgraded Aid Management Platform (AMP).

The training session was aimed at familiarising central public authorities with the upgraded version of the AMP, in addition to improving their practical skills in monitoring and reporting on technical and investment projects.

The training session was composed of three parts: to begin, Rachel Mac Gowan, PPF

Project Expert on External Aid, presented a general overview of the international aid system. Next, the MoF representatives gave their presentations; the first was a demonstration of the practical use of the upgraded AMP; and the second was an overview of the AMP data management policy, specifying the roles and responsibilities for data inputting and updating the platform. The Ministry of Finance and the PPF Project are committed to providing continuous support to ensure that the upgraded Aid Management Platform is utilised to its fullest potential by central public authorities for managing data related to external assistance. Similar sessions will be held with other stakeholders and users of AMP data.

Strengthening the capacities of the Land Relations and Cadastre Agency with EU assistance

In the first quarter of 2023, the Agency for Land Relations and Cadastre, in partnership with the EU-funded Twinning project ”Improving spatial data services in the Republic of Moldova following EU standards”, conducted a series of dedicated seminars and trainings, outlined in the work plan. The topics addressed were the following:

 Metadata creation and maintenance

- In order to successfully organise and manage metadata for spatial data, public entities need to know how to create and maintain metadata according to existing standards. In this meaning, specialists from several public entities took part in a cycle of training sessions on the implementation of the Guidelines for creating and updating metadata for spatial data and network services, being trained by experts from Croatian State Geodetic Administration (SGA),

 Use of unmanned aircraft systems

(UAS, drones) in National Spatial Data Infrastructure (NSDI) – Croatian experience in using unmanned aircraft systems was shared to the representatives of Moldovan public entities, working with spatial data and having experience in data capturing and management, as well as to those who chose to expand their knowledge on the collection, updating and management of 3D data. Existing rules for UAS operation, mechanism of their functioning, software and hardware support, publishing on web, as well as benefits of drone usage in NSDI, were presented and discussed. Representatives of the Moldovan Civil Aviation Agency made an overview of the Moldovan legal framework and existing practices in our country.

 Introduction to spatial databases –The goal of this training was to raise the participants' awareness of the structure of a spatial database, the method of its

creation, and the connection of users to this database. The participants learned from the Twinning project experts about the commercial and open-source technical solutions that exist on the market in working with spatial databases and carried out practical exercises in creating them as well as applying functions that allow for working with spatial data and analysis, while using the QGIS software. All the technical solutions applied during the training for the two groups are open source.

 Use of LIDAR data in the NSDI – This was the topic of the last seminar organised for 2 groups reuniting representatives from 10 public entities. One Croatian expert from SGA presented and explained the basic concepts of LIDAR scanning,

the technical characteristics required to be met when contracting LIDAR scanning services, as well as hardware (technical equipment) and software support (programs) required for working with this type of data. Additionally, the applicability of LIDAR data was explained, by using existing good practices in Croatia, and the participants worked on the classification of LIDAR data into different categories/ classes.

The Twinning project “Improving spatial data services in the Republic of Moldova following EU standards” is financed by the European Union and implemented by the Agency for Land Relations and Cadastre (ALRC) of the Republic of Moldova, in partnership with counterpart organisations from Croatia, Poland and the Netherlands.

ECONOMY AND BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT

Strengthening the Moldovan Vocational Education and Training system continues with EU and ADA funding

In the framework of the EU4Moldova: Local Communities programme, the Moldovan Vocational Education and Training system (VET) will be improved and comply with EU and international standards.

The activities on the development of 5 (five) qualification standards, curricula, and training materials for VET students were launched by the Austrian Development

and Research of the Republic of Moldova (MER) on 27 January 2023 in a kick-off event. This activity will contribute to the improvement of the teaching-learning

Moreover, this will aim to:

» Improve the textbooks for the development of professional skills;

» Facilitate the transition of VET graduates to the labour market (21st century and green skills);

» Strengthening the partnerships between VET institutions and the private sector;

» Support governmental institutions in the qualified implementation of the Education-2030 National Strategy.

Through these joint efforts, the Professional School (Cupcini village), Veterinary and Economy in Agriculture College (Brătușeni village), Professional School (Leova Rayon), and Engineering College (Strășeni town) will be assisted to improve professional training and increase of quality of VET studies.

"EU4Moldova: Local Communities" programme is financed by the European Union, the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), the Austrian Development Cooperation (ADC), and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Poland – Polish aid; and jointly implemented by the German Development Cooperation through GIZ, the Austrian Development Agency (ADA) and the Solidarity Fund PL (SFPL) in Moldova.

Nine villages and communes from three rayons across the country have joined the “EU4Moldova: Local Communities" initiative. The communities, which include Parcova, Hîncauți, and Zabriceni from Edineț rayon, Zubrești, Pănășești, Lozova, and Sireți from

Strășeni rayon, as well as Cazangic and Saărățica Nouă from Leova rayon have signed the Memorandum of Understanding and became the programme’s partners in developing their local public services.

Over the coming years, the programme team and the partnering communities will work together to identify and implement a set of measures to achieve this goal. On behalf of the Team Europe, GIZ Moldova will support the communities of Edineț, Strășeni and Leova in their efforts in:

» Providing support in the implementation of concrete actions, especially to support the most vulnerable people or social groups in the community;

» Identifying and piloting new or improved models of providing public services;

» Ensuring experience exchanges and study visits;

» Promoting citizens' participation in monitoring the quality and access to public services;

» Ensuring support in the process of developing and submitting infrastructure projects for financing.

Through these joint efforts, residents of the partnering localities will benefit from better local public services, such as improved access to water and sanitation, energy efficiency and solid waste management.

Nine Moldovan villages will develop their local public services, with the "EU4Moldova: Local Communities" assistance

"EU4Moldova: Local Communities" is a Team Europe initiative launched in 2022 to enhance the quality of life in local communities in three rayons of the Republic of Moldova – Edineț, Strășeni and Leova.

The programme is financed by the European Union, the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), the Austrian Development Cooperation (ADC) and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Poland – Polish aid; and jointly implemented by the German Development Cooperation through GIZ, the Austrian Development Agency (ADA) and the Solidarity Fund PL (SFPL) in Moldova.

The rayons of Edineț, Străseni, and Leova have joined forces with the "EU4Moldova: Local Communities" team to foster economic growth and create a sustainable environment for businesses. To achieve

Groups were formed between November and March of 2023, with the enthusiastic involvement of representatives from the local public authorities, business community, and civil society.

During this time, the groups aimed to analyse the economic priorities outlined in the development strategies, propose measures to improve economic cooperation and foster private sector development. The participants also discussed ways to develop project ideas based on the proposals generated during the meetings. In the following, the "EU4Moldova: Local Communities" team will provide assistance with the implementation of these ideas.

The partnerships between the public sector, the private sector, and civil society in fostering the development of the business environment is highly important. By working together, different sectors can create synergies and ensure that all stakeholders are involved in the development process. Each sector brings different strengths, resources and ideas to the table, which can help to achieve the common goal.

During one of the meetings, Mr. Grigore Catană, the president of Leova rayon, urged those present to collaborate actively to

generate ideas and proposals. He highlighted that the sustainable development of the business environment is only possible through cooperation.

The Participatory Groups will continue to convene in the upcoming months to outline ideas and measures to enhance the entrepreneurship environment in the programme rayons. "EU4Moldova: Local Communities" team is hopeful that these efforts will lead to a more prosperous future for the Edineț, Străseni, and Leova.

“EU4Moldova: Local Communities” programme is financed by the European Union, the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), the Austrian Development Cooperation (ADC) and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Poland – Polish aid; and jointly implemented by the German Development Cooperation through GIZ, the Austrian Development Agency (ADA) and the Solidarity Fund PL (SFPL) in Moldova.

Participatory groups are building a thriving business environment in Edineț, Strășeni and Leova rayons

celebrates the results of joint partnerships

Institutional development of business support organisations/business associations, capacity development for private companies in times of crisis and the main results of cross-river partnerships to strengthening a competitive business environment are the topics addressed at “Cross-river synergies for resilient business environment” Forum, conducted on 18 January.

The forum was organised with the support of EU Confidence Building Measures Programme and “Advanced cross-river capacities for trade” project, funded by Sweden and the United Kingdom. Both initiatives are implemented by UNDP Moldova. Over 70 representatives of business support organisations and sectoral associations from both banks participated in the event.

Since 2019, with the financial support of the European Union, UK and Sweden, UNDP Moldova supported 24 initiatives for business support organisations, with a value of approx. €800,000, that were jointly implemented by associations on both banks of the Nistru river. They have promoted knowledge transfer, financial sustainability and diversification of consultancy and mentoring services to better support small and medium-sized enterprises and social entrepreneurship.

As part of the EU Confidence Building Measures Programme, the cross-river partnerships contributed to increased engagement, crisis resilience, digital literacy and resulted in new jobs created and existing jobs maintained, new innovative solutions incorporated into the business model, new consolidated market niches, such as tourist value chains along the Nistru river.

In the framework of the “Advanced crossriver capacities for trade” project, financed by Sweden and the UK, a number of innovative

interventions were implemented, to expand access of left-bank businesses to the rightbank export promotion mechanisms and ensure a sustainable path for them. So far, over 1,700 representatives of companies and business associations on both banks of the Nistru river have improved their capacities to better tap the opportunities of foreign trade agreements and have been guided to access new markets. 140 companies benefited from support in digitisation or identification of sales markets and as a result, concluded 45 contracts and increased their exports by 8%.

Cross-river projects contribute to improve business environment by strengthening cooperation with the view to develop viable solutions to the common problems and needs of entrepreneurs on both banks.

The “Cross-river synergies for resilient business environment” Forum showcased business support associations and organisations which enhanced their capacities and developed communities of entrepreneurs. During the event, speakers highlighted the main SMEs support mechanisms on the right bank, which are also accessible to those residing on the left

The business community on both banks of the Nistru river

An online business barometer, relevant to the business communities on both banks of the Nistru, has been launched

On 8 February, www.barometru.md was launched, a portal that analyses the business climate and investment potential on both banks of the Nistru river. The tool was created with the support of the France-Moldova Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Romanian Investors in the Republic of Moldova Association, in partnership with the Tiraspol Chamber of Commerce and Industry. The European Union co-financed this initiative, through its Confidence Building Programme, implemented by UNDP Moldova.

"I welcome the initiative of this first business barometer, supported by the Moldovan-French Chamber of Commerce and the Association of Romanian Investors from the Republic of Moldova, with the support of UNDP and the European Union. More than the raw numbers, what is interesting is being able to regularly measure the evolution of the perceptions of entrepreneurs. This barometer, which is a useful tool for identifying the expectations of the business community, is intended to contribute to reflections on the promotion of business activities for the development of the Republic of Moldova,"

said Paul Graham, the Ambassador of France to the Republic of Moldova.

The Ambassador of Romania in Chișinău, Cristian-Leon Țurcanu, declared:

"I want it to be a successful project that continues as long as possible and to involve many companies. It is an open instrument in which each input from each company contributes to the consolidation of this barometer, which first of all aims to provide a clearer and more realistic picture of the

investment climate throughout the territory of the Republic of Moldova, which means new possibilities and opportunities for companies that want to operate here."

The platform reflects data provided by 400 economic agents surveyed in the fall of 2022. Large and small companies operating on both banks of the Nistru were surveyed regarding their turnover, investments, profit, increase or decrease in the number of employees, appreciation of the dialogue with the authorities, the general perception about the economic situation. The information presented in the barometer will be updated twice a year.

“Although we are faced with these multiple crises that affect both directly and indirectly the way the business environment in the Republic of Moldova evolves, it is essential to remain strong and able to constantly

adapt, taking into account both risks and opportunities,”

said Dan Nuțiu, Executive President of the Romanian Investors Association.

Thus, several surveyed companies stated that they have reduced their investments, have lower turnover and recorded reductions in employees. However, more companies reported increases in profit, compared to the number of those that recorded decreases in this indicator.

“Together with our partners, we offer the Moldovan authorities a new tool for evaluating how entrepreneurs feel about the economic situation, the business climate and the evolution of their company’s situation. Although the barometer does not replace the necessary exchanges that investors have with the authorities, it is based on a serious and independent methodology. It is a complementary decision-making tool that provides insight into the morale of entrepreneurs at a given moment and allows monitoring its evolution over time. We hope that this instrument will be perennial,”

said Emmanuel Skoulios, President of the France-Moldova Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Among the main problems faced by companies is the increase in prices, including raw materials and other components of production costs. This issue specifically affects at least 78.1% of all surveyed companies. More than 44% of companies have their activity disrupted due to the war in Ukraine, including problems with raw material supplies, transport, market and other aspects. Lack of qualified employees is a challenge for 41% of companies.

The following obstacles were also highlighted: the disruption of sales channels and the difficulty of identifying new customers (35%), high taxes (29%), imperfect legislation (16%), difficult limited access to financing (15%), difficulties encountered in the relationship with state institutions (13%), corruption (8%). Only 0.5% of companies mentioned that they do not face any major problem.

The couple that replaced music and motorbikes with epoxy resin creations

Entrepreneurs who can turn their hobby into a business are among the happiest people. This is the case of the Gaipelis from Tighina (Bender) city. And when a dream is enabled by available funds, things go smoothly.

Elena Gaipeli is a former music teacher and Vladislav, her husband, is a former motorcyclist. In time, they started to share a hobby.

In a small, improvised workshop in their country house in the suburb of Tighina (Bender), Elena and Vladislav craft a variety of wooden items: from chopping boards and compartment platters to small decorative items. They were able to acquire the necessary tools thanks to an EU grant provided in the framework of the EU-funded Confidence Building Measures Programme, implemented by UNDP.

The passion for woodworking didn't just grow overnight – it came after exploring other occupations. While on childcare leave, Elena

was looking for ways to “escape” her routine. Initially the idea of a florist's workshop came up, then one day her husband showed her some items made of epoxy resin. Her first reaction was a decisive no, but then she decided to give it a try. And so, she started making from epoxy resin various jewellery and decorative items.

Things took a different turn when the war in Ukraine started, because it became difficult to import raw material.

Thanks to a €12,000 grant from the EU's Confidence Building Measures Programme,

implemented by UNDP, the couple has now high-performance tools in their workshop: robots, lathes, and milling machines. With the EU grant, the Gaipelis will set up a sterile, well-heated room in the workshop where they can decorate wooden items with epoxy resin.

This is what they wanted from the start – to decorate wooden items with epoxy resin. Customized design involves, in addition to creativity and originality, certain expenses that must be borne initially by the manufacturer and then by the customer.

Only environmentally friendly raw materials are used in the Gaipeli family workshop, so that any of their products can be used with confidence in the kitchen.

“We only use certified eco-friendly materials, including the glue used to join some parts, even the pre-made parts, because most of the items we produce are for gourmets and cooking enthusiasts, so they belong in the kitchen. Our platters can hold various types of food, including hot food or baby/toddler food,” says Elena.

In addition to spending a lot of time in the workshop producing various wooden items, Elena and Vladislav are looking for new opportunities to pro mote their products not only in Tighina (Bender) or Tiraspol, but also in Chișinău.

They showcase some of their products on social media as well as on platforms dedicated to creative entrepreneurs. Now they want to increase the stock and sales,

so that at some point to be able to export. Elena Gaipeli is one of the 13 entrepreneurs who obtained funding through the European Union's Confidence Building Measures Programme, implemented by UNDP, to launch or develop a business. In addition to the financial assistance that can be used to purchase equipment, entrepreneurs receive business advice.

Social enterprises in Cahul and Ungheni will implement community initiatives thanks to EU support

Three social enterprises from Ungheni and Cahul regions will benefit from grants of overall €60,000 from the European Union, offered as part of the “EU4Moldova: Focal Regions” programme, implemented by UNDP and UNICEF.

Thus, in Cahul, educational and personal development courses will be provided by an IT and robotics centre for children and in Ungheni, the online shop www.3debine. md will be expanded and a hall for inclusive sports activities will be arranged.

at the grant award ceremony conducted on 23 March 2023, during an event that brought together entrepreneurs from Cahul and Ungheni rayons, as well as representatives of central and local authorities and development partners.

“I am happy that, through the financial support provided by the European Union, we contribute to the development of small and medium enterprises and social enterprises in Ungheni and Cahul regions. The grants offered today, along with those offered so far under our EU4Moldova: Focal Regions programme, support local and national economic development by creating new jobs. We will continue to support the citizens of the Republic of Moldova in achieving the objectives of full integration into the European Union,’

said Jānis Mažeiks, Ambassador of the European Union to the Republic of Moldova,

“The grant will help us to diversify the services provided for children by our IT and robotics centre. We will be able to offer KUBO robotics and digital painting education services. Moreover, parents and their children will benefit from a unique after-school program,’” said Maria Pasat. The centre will provide scholarships to children from vulnerable families, big families, mothers on childcare leave and students.

Participants at the event on 23 March learned about the results of the financial support of €1.4 million provided by the EU under the “EU4Moldova: Focal Regions” programme for 55 entrepreneurs from Cahul and Ungheni regions. Achievements include: 336 new jobs created, 208 new products and about 300 million lei in sales revenue.

In addition to financial assistance offered to entrepreneurs for the purchase of works and services, goods, and equipment, mentoring and free consultancy were also provided.

The “EU4Moldova: Focal Regions” programme (2019-2024) supports smart, inclusive, and sustainable socio-economic

development in the Cahul and Ungheni regions to ensure a better quality of life for people. The program has a total budget of €23 million, is funded by the European Union and implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF).

Stronger Partnerships between Moldovan and Romanian Local Action Groups consolidated through the EU-LEADER Partnership Fund

Throughout 28 February – 3 March, Moldovan Local Action Groups (LAGs)

“Stâncile Prutului” and “Drumul Gospodarilor” participated in two study visits in Romania, where they have consolidated their partnership with Romanian LAGs from Neamț and Hunedoara districts.

As part of the study visits, the Moldovan LAGs have broadened their experience in

sustainable eco-tourism and shared best practices in implementing local projects that contribute to the social-economic development of their communities. During the study visits, the Moldovan LAGs visited selected touristic attractions located on the territory of the Romanian LAGs and participated in an exchange of ideas on rural development opportunities.

The LEADER Partnership Fund is an initiative of the National LEADER Network, in partnership with Solidarity Fund PL in Moldova, under the EU4Moldova: Local Communities programme, that aims to foster good neighbouring relations and exchange of experience among Moldovan European

Union (EU) and the Eastern Partnership (EaP) LAGs, implementing the LEADER approach, in order to support the social-economic development of the Republic of Moldova and to promote European values in the context of Moldova’s EU candidate status.

As part of the 2nd edition of the LEADER Partnership Fund launched in 2022, Moldovan LAGs will conduct a total of 11 study visits to stimulate capacity-building and innovation in rural areas.

The LEADER Partnership Fund is supported within the “EU4Moldova: Local Communities” programme, financed by the European Union, the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), the Austrian Development Cooperation (ADC)

and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Poland – Polish aid; and jointly implemented by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH, the Austrian Development Agency (ADA) and the Solidarity Fund PL (SFPL) in Moldova.

The content of this article belongs to the authors and does not necessarily reflect the vision of the above-mentioned partners.

The Digital Impact program, organised by EU4Moldova: Startup City Cahul, designated six projects from tourism and agriculture, which will be financed by grants totalling 3.9 million lei. The programme targeted the digitisation of two public institutions, two non-profit organisations and two agricultural companies from the Cahul region, which will be digitised, in order to develop their own activity, but also to bring benefits to the local community in the southern part of the country.

Each of the six projects, selected following a thorough evaluation process, will receive a grant of approximately €40,000. Among the projects that will be financed as a result of participation in the Digital Impact program is the Cahul County Museum, founded on 30 July 1958, which is the largest museum in the south of the country. The institution is going to digitise its museum heritage.

The "Nicolae Botgros" Palace of Culture will also benefit from funding, which will create a common platform for all extracurricular activities carried out in the municipality of Cahul.

The Local Action Group "Lunca Prutului de Jos" will implement a project that consists in developing a platform to promote the Lunca Prutului de Jos destination, with included e-commerce functionality.

EU4Moldova: Startup City Cahul will provide grants for six projects to support digitalisation in the southern region of the country

Thanks to the grant funding, the Association of Table Grape Producers from the Cahul rayon will launch remote agricultural consulting services for the association's members, and will procure high-performance equipment for monitoring vine plantations.

SRL Svirol-Agro, a company specialised in conservative agriculture, plans to use the funding to optimise agricultural production processes by installing a cloud-based Farm Management System (FMS). In a similar vein, SC SVC INTER SRL intends to create digital wine cellars - a cutting-edge concept aimed at supporting winemakers during the initial stages of wine production.

Apart from the monetary assistance, the winners will receive monitoring and support throughout the execution of their initiatives to ensure that their outcomes have a significant influence on the community members of the area.

Digital Impact is a program realised by Startup Moldova as part of the EU4Moldova: Startup City Cahul project, financed by the European Union and Sweden and implemented by ATIC. The total budget of the program is 7.8 million lei.

The purpose of Digital Impact is to accelerate digital transformation in the public and private sector by funding and directly supporting the testing and development of innovative solutions.

The Cahul region, one of the most visited areas of the country, will be promoted through a new platform - cahul.travel. Here, potential tourists from the country and

abroad will be able to find and book a place to stay, but also learn more about how they can spend their vacation in the south of the Republic of Moldova.

The cahul.travel platform was created with the participation of Cahul entrepreneurs, who offer accommodation services. Currently, 12 guesthouses, hotels, tourist complexes, sanatoriums, rest and recreation centres have displayed their offers on the platform. With a few clicks, those who want to discover the southern region of the country can make their vacation plans in advance, booking accommodation for the duration of their stay.

Also here, additional services can be requested, such as sauna, fishing, boat trips, therapeutic baths. Those who prefer

active rest can choose to go hiking, ride AT Vs or bikes. Tourists who want to discover the traditions of the place can participate in carpet weaving and reed basket weaving workshops, grape picking, ethno-folkloric programs, they can visit the Bread Museum in the village of Văleni or the Cahul County Museum. At the same time, the region offers an unforgettable culinary experience, with dozens of dishes specific to this area.

The cahul.travel platform includes also a calendar of annual events, referring to 23 festivals and exhibitions, that take place in the Cahul region.

Cahul.travel, a new platform that will promote tourist attractions and accommodation in the southern part of the country

Cahul, Crihana Veche, Văleni, and Slobozia Mare, allowing them to admire the stunning scenery and explore the local museums and historical monuments. Furthermore, visitors can request a personalized route or organised tours.

Among the most popular tourist attractions of the Cahul region is the Lower Prut

Scientific Reserve, which is a protected area registered in the UNESCO World Network of Biosphere Reserves. The region is also home to other popular tourist sites, such as the Manta Lake, which is the largest lake in the Republic of Moldova, and the "Văleni Outcrop" – a group of high, scenic hills also known as the "Golden Hills".

The cahul.travel platform was created within the EU4Moldova: Startup City Cahul project, with the support of the European Union and Sweden.

The concept of personal branding presented at Innovation Talks.

Innovation Talks brought together dozens of members of the tech community in Cahul to discuss the importance of communication and personal branding. The speaker of the event was Steluța Andreeva, an expert in strategic and crisis communication, with 19 years of experience in communication

for various state institutions, companies, international organisations, politicians, as well as businessmen from the Republic of Moldova and other countries. She offered the participants valuable tips to help them improve their communication skills.

One of the topics of the last edition of Innovation Talks was the importance of knowing the innovative presentation tools. The speaker of the event emphasized that, in the context of a fast-paced world anchored in technology, it is essential that professionals are able to communicate ideas and messages effectively. To achieve this, she encouraged attendees to familiarise themselves with the latest presentation tools and techniques that can help them stand out and leave a lasting impression on their audience.

Discussions also focused on the notion of personal branding. Here the focus was

on how an image that reflects a person's values, skills and experiences can be built and maintained.

"There is no such thing as 'I don't need a personal image because I'm not a public figure' or 'I don't need goals, everything happens naturally.' When we leave the house or post something on social media, we already have a public image. From there, it's up to us how we build it so that it's in line with our future goals", said Steluța Andreeva.

The young people of Cahul found out how they can build a successful image

Finally, the importance of building a positive public image was also addressed, as well as how mistakes that risk affecting the image can be avoided.

"Through the construction of your own image, you have the opportunity to show how different and special you are in your own way. This helps you gain your integrity and achieve your goals",

said Tatiana Roșcan, a student at the Faculty of Economics, Engineering and Applied Sciences of the University "B.P. Hașdeu" from Cahul.

Innovation Talks is an initiative carried out by the Cahul State University "B.P. Hașdeu" within the EU4Moldova project: Startup City Cahul, financed by the European Union, supported by Sweden and implemented by ATIC.

EU supports Moldova to improve standards compliance through increased national capacities for residue monitoring

Moldova to increase national capacities for residue monitoring, thus enhancing national consumer safety and improving trade opportunities by providing a better business environment for SMEs with the support the European Union and UNIDO.

Cooperation with the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) within the framework of the new EU-funded project “Improving the standards compliance through increased national capacities for residue monitoring”, will contribute to the closer integration with EU common market by strengthening national quality infrastructure and the standards compliance.

The project has a duration of 36 months, starting in early 2023 and running until 2026, with funding from the European Union and cofinancing of UNIDO, totalling in €1,540,000.

The implementation is planned through increased national capacities for residue monitoring, in close cooperation with National Food Safety Agency, and its reference laboratories – main partners and beneficiaries, as well as with the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Industry, Ministry of Economy, Ministry of Environment and Ministry of Health, and with farms, SMEs and veterinarians, and pharmacies. The expected results of the project implementation are better practices of competent authorities, good governance and enhanced legal and regulatory framework through capacity building, use of best practices, skills development, and implementation of management systems. The project also seeks to enhance national laboratories capacities through procurement of laboratory equipment, and accreditation and validation of methods to ensure quality and international recognition of their services with a focus on pesticide and veterinary drug residues. Finally, the project aims to

improve SMEs and FBOs’ awareness and application of best practices in compliance with standards in the value chains of meat, poultry, and milk products.

Thus, these actions will help Moldova achieve the overall objective of the project, which is to enhance national consumer safety and access to safe, healthy and nutritious food and to improve trade opportunities, as well as create a conducive business environment for SMEs. This, in turn, will contribute to resilient, sustainable, and inclusive economic development and will pave the way to a fullyfledged Green Deal for the country.

After signing the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Agreement (DCFTA) with the European Union, Moldova has undertaken the mission to adapt its national food safety legislation to the requirements of relevant EU laws and regulations. To increase the access to and trade with the EU market, Moldova needs to achieve a higher level of compliance with EU technical requirements such as standards, technical regulations and product-related directives and needs to upgrade related controls.

Local Public Infrastructure Development in eight municipalities within the "EU4Moldova:

Local Communities" programme

Villages from Straseni and Leova Rayon will benefit from improved solid waste management systems. Eight municipalities will benefit from project investments, namely Straseni rayon villages: Scoreni, Capriana, and Galesti; Leova rayon villages: Sirma, Hanasenii Noi, Iargara town, and Vocational School from Leova town. In this regard, the Cooperation Agreements were signed with the Austrian Development Agency at the end of March with the respective local public administrations, under EU4Moldova: Local Communities programme.

In line with the Team Europe initiative, the European Union and the Austrian Development Agency will assist the communities in:

» Improving the access of the rural population (Scoreni, Capriana, Galesti,

discharged into the newly constructed small scale Wastewater Treatment Plants.

» Construction of a sewerage network in the villages connecting public institutions and neighboring households.

» Improving Solid Waste Management Services in Iargara town and neighboring villages.

Through these joint efforts, approximately two thousand people from Straseni and Leova will have access to vital sanitation and solid waste management s ervices.

EU4Moldova: Local Communities programme is financed by the European Union, the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), the Austrian Development Cooperation (ADC), and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Poland – Polish aid; and jointly implemented by the German Development Cooperation through GIZ, the Austrian Development Agency (ADA) and the Solidarity Fund PL

ENERGY RESILIENCE

The Power of Women in Climate and Energy: Acting for a Sustainable Future

March was the month dedicated to the success stories of women in climate and energy from Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine. On the platform of the Convention of Mayors about 20 stories were unfolded, emphasising the role that women play in addressing climate change and promoting sustainable practices. Researches were shown that when women are involved in decision-making, policies and programs are more likely to be effective and sustainable. And by supporting women's contributions and working for greater gender equality in access to education, training and employment opportunities, we can accelerate progress toward a more sustainable and equitable future for all.

Four stories of women leaders from the Republic of Moldova were published in March:

Irina Plis is a prominent leader in the implementation of energy efficiency projects in the Republic of Moldova. Since 2014, Irina has successfully led projects on the modernisation of street lighting systems, thermal rehabilitation of public buildings, creation of smart energy solutions for

energy cities, use of renewable sources, ESCO services, energy planning and management, as well as piloted the first Green School Networking in the Republic of Moldova. She also believes in the power of women in leadership, stating that "Women love imagining the future and building the pathway to make their dreams come true."

Nina Costiuc is the Mayor of Budești, having been elected to this position eight times by the city's citizens. This is a special honour for her, but it also come s with a great responsibility. Budești is located just 7 km from the capital of Chișinău and has a population of over 5,000 inhabitants.

One of Nina's top priorities has been to attract investments and implement

infrastructure projects. In addition, Nina has worked to improve the town's environmental impact. Budesti has become a signatory of the Covenant of Mayors, which responds to climate challenges and the fight to reduce CO2 emissions.

conferences, round tables and joint projects in Moldova, Romania and Ukraine.

Tatiana Gălățeanu has been at the helm of Giurgiulești City Hall in the Republic of Moldova for 12 years. Giurgiulești is a port city, the only one in the country, located at the confluence of two important hydrographic basins, the place where the Prut River flows into the Danube River. As a border town with Romania and Ukraine, Mrs Gălățeanu considers it a duty to collaborate and respect the Convention for the protection of the Danube and waters in general. She is constantly concerned about the environment in her area and actively participates in

Irina Grecu is the Leader of the Energy Management team from the village of Sireți, another signatory of the Convention of Mayors. In just three years of activity at the local level, Irina got involved in several fields. She believes that extremely good results can only be achieved through hard work, overtime, and a lot of volunteering. Only through this type of manifestation, can one achieve results.

50 young people performed an energy audit for 80 Moldovan households

Equipped with special equipment, 50 young people from the Republic of Moldova went from house to house in 80 households, where during the month of December they performed an energy audit while offering appropriate recommendations.

The students, trained by specialists in the field, measured the surfaces where the heat leaves and the cold enters the home, the humidity, and the level of ventilation, of CO2, they ascertained the presence or absence of mold and, respectively, offered the appropriate consultation for the situation.

These are secondary school students from 8 localities – Andrușul de Jos, Constantinovca, Vișniovca, Pruteni, Grătiesti, Chișcareni,

Șoldănești and Chișinău – who are part of the Green School, a project created in 2022 by the Alliance for Energy Efficiency and Renewables (AEER), in collaboration with the Association of Environmental Journalists (AJMTEM).

The information activity of the 80 households was carried out in the project of the Association of Environmental Journalists, “Energy efficiency – we keep the heat, reduce the bill”, as part of the program “Together we support the vulnerable population affected by the energy crisis”, financed by the European Union, implemented by People in Need Moldova.

“What surprised us the most is that houses built in a traditional way, old, retain the heat best, and have the right level of humidity. People were very excited that I came to them, they were curious to see the devices we used, what we can test, what are the standards in their homes, and what are the average admissible standards”, said Marius Gavriliță, one of the members to the “Green School” team from Grătiesti.

For her part, Irina Plis, Executive Director of AEER, mentioned that the activity of the Green School was also noted abroad – 6 countries of the Eastern Partnership expressed their interest in taking over this experience.

“What these young people have done is of great importance and impact on the population. Initially, when I saw the concept, I was sceptical about the students’ interest, then I was very interested in how young people would be involved in this activity. Today, however, I feel very impressed –really, very good things have been done”, noted Vladislav Scripniciuc, Project Coordinator at People in Need Moldova, during the students’ awards event.

“From this experience, we learned the lesson that we need to have more faith in young people and their potential – they got involved with enthusiasm and responsibility, beyond our expectations, which gives us high hopes for the future of this state,” concluded Lilia Curchi, Executive Director of the Association of Environmental Journalists.

For their involvement and contribution to informing citizens about the measures to overcome the impact of the energy crisis, the young people received diplomas, prizes (LED table lamp and external disk, energy efficient), and their schools received a voucher worth 5,500 lei each for the lighting improvement in a classroom.

Families with many children, the lonely elderly in rural areas, people with disabilities and those on low incomes have been directly supported by the European Union during the energy crisis. Aid was provided over 16 months, starting in December 2021, for the most vulnerable population groups across the country, who received financial support or long-term access to social services in the community or at home.

More than 44 thousand vulnerable households, selected from all rayons of the country, received direct financial support to help them to overcome the energy crisis. The money was distributed in two rounds: in the first round, 1,000 lei of financial aid was provided in March 2022 to low-income families throughout the country, and in the second round, 700 lei was distributed to the groups most affected by the energy crisis in the South of the country for 5 months from

November 2022 to March 2023. The amount of financial support provided by the European Union directly to families and households amounted to more than €3 million.

H.E. Jānis Mažeiks, Ambassador of the European Union to the Republic of Moldova, said:

“Over the last year, the European Union has developed relations with the Republic of Moldova much more intensively, but no one could have imagined that we would face so many overlapping crises. Thanks to our joint interventions, in the context of the energy crisis, we have been able to reduce the financial burden on vulnerable families and individuals. The European Union will continue to mobilise funds to support the Republic of Moldova and its capacity to get through this difficult period”.

Thousands of vulnerable households in the country, supported by the European Union and People in Need Moldova, have been helped to overcome the energy crisis

For the elderly in villages, especially those living alone, the support has been very welcome.

“We are finding it harder to cope lately. I get 2,500 lei a month, but when I start distributing the money – for medicine, food, electricity – I have nothing left. But I’m happy with these coal briquettes. I bought two metres of firewood from my pension and I hope that will be enough for a while. Thanks for your help! It’s good that we are not forgotten”, said with appreciation Mihail Sprânceană, 89 years old resident of Cotova village, Drochia rayon.

EU assistance included grants to 15 civil society organisations and social service providers from different regions of the country. Thanks to this support, locally active organisations have been able to distribute hot lunches, food and hygiene packages, and heating materials – coal, firewood, briquettes – to hundreds of families in need. The grants, totalling more than €620 000, were awarded quickly to anticipate the effects of the energy crisis caused by the 2022 and 2023 cold season.

All this aid was made possible thanks to the project “Supporting together the vulnerable population affected by the energy crisis”, funded by the European Union and implemented by the non-governmental organisation People in Need Moldova. The total amount of EU support allocated to this project is €5 million, provided through the Service for Foreign Policy Instruments (FPI). The interventions to support the population through this project aimed at mitigating the effects of the energy crisis and reducing the worries for vulnerable families and individuals to secure resources to get through the cold season more easily.

Petr Drbohlav, Regional Director for Eastern Partnership and Balkan countries at People in Need, underlined the importance of timely help: “EU assistance has reached the families and individuals most affected by the energy crisis precisely to provide additional support and hope that we can get through these difficult times together. Every household helped to overcome the effects of the energy crisis means people who have felt the support of the European community, people who have received exactly the help they needed”.

The project “Supporting together the vulnerable population affected by the energy crisis” ends its activity in mid-April 2023 and the totals and main achievements were presented at an official event in Chișinău on 29 March.

ENVIRONMENT AND CLIMATE

EU – Moldova cooperation for wastewater health surveillance

EU4Environment Water and Data Programme (EU4ENV) promotes and builds capacities for the surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 in wastewater and to foster permanent cooperation in close coordination with the WHO but also other advanced partners having put in place their own surveillance systems. EU Member States are strongly encouraged by the European Commission to

put in place as soon as possible a national wastewater surveillance system targeted at data collection of SARS-CoV-2 and its variants in wastewaters. Main objective is to monitor the development of the pandemic with a few samples and to support the national pandemic management with relevant figures and predictions.

Scope of EU4ENV is to raise awareness of the required sectors public health and water management, to start a collaborative conception and design, involving the public and private sector including analysis of capacities, skills, equipment, sampling logistics, analyses, selection of program area etc. In order to support the Moldavian authorities, EU4ENV will support by knowledge transfer to build capacities for practice by training the relevant methods and procedures.

Between 28 February and 1 March, the EU4ENV experts provided a training to the staff of the virological laboratory at

the National Agency for Public Health, on identifying SARS-CoV-2 in wastewater from Chișinău city. The training covered topics such as wastewater samples preparation and analysis in the laboratory, PCR quantification, normalisation of wastewater data, and trend analysis for wastewater monitoring data. The training was successful, and the virus was identified in the wastewaters from Chișinău. At the end of the training, the trained staff were awarded certificates.

The next step of EU4ENV Programme is supporting national authorities to establish a regulatory framework to perform wastewater health surveillance.

Ecolabelling and sustainable procurements in the Republic of Moldova presented to the Moldovan business community

The training workshops on ecolabelling and sustainable procurements in the Republic of Moldova dedicated to business entities and associations took place on 03 and 10 March 2023

In 2014, the Republic of Moldova signed an Association Agreement with the European Union (EU) demonstrating its commitment and readiness to reform and harmonise different sectors’ policies aligned with the EU approaches. Several Agreements’ articles foresee the transformation towards Green Economy principles, more specifically, it calls for setting up the eco-labelling systems. Ecolabelling is also one of the sustainability criteria and tools for Sustainable Public Procurement (SPP) that the EU promotes in the Republic of Moldova.

Development of ecolabels contributes to meeting important requests of society:

» General increase of concern in the population on the sustainability attributes of their products.

» Coherence between SPP and ecolabeling as tools for SPP (in case SPP become mandatory in a country, companies would be strongly motivated to obtain eco-labels for their products).

» Increase of the EU market access sustainability-marketed products grew more than twice as fast as conventionally marketed products in the past 6 years (Centre for sustainable business, 2021).

Picture: https://euneighbourseast.eu/opportunities/eu4environmentcall-for-sustainable-public-procurement-spp-and-eco-labellingactivities-in-armenia/

The regulatory framework of the Republic of Moldova currently does not transpose the provisions of Regulation (EC) No. 66/2010 of the European Parliament and of the Council (EEC) of 25 November 2009 on EU Eco-label. At the same time, the national legislative basis includes a number of laws and policy documents that indirectly regulate the aspects of eco-labelling: Environmental Strategy for 2014–2023; Law on Ratification of the Association Agreement; Law on Labelling of Energy-Related Products; Law on Eco-design Requirements for EnergyRelated Products; Law on Organic Agri-Food Production etc. The Republic of Moldova committed to implementing the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda by the end of 2030 (where ecolabels especially contribute to accomplishing the Goal 12 Responsible Consumption and Production). Finally, the numerous international treaties

which the Republic of Moldova is a party to, formulate requirements on eco-labelling development and access to environmental information.

United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is one of the five partner agencies implementing the EU-funded EU4 Environment (2019-2023) Action. This regional programme supports 5 countries, including the Republic of Moldova, in making policy planning and investment greener, stimulating the uptake of innovative products and technologies, and raising awareness about the benefits of environmental action. More specifically, within EU4Environment’s component on “circular economy and new growth opportunities”, UNEP supports the Republic of Moldova to promote activities related to SPP issues and its complementary tools, such as eco-labelling.

Introducing the EU Single Market for Green Products initiative in Moldova under the “EU4Environment” Action

On 31 March 2023, EU4Environment hosted a workshop in the Republic of Moldova to raise awareness about the Product Environmental Footprint (PEF) methodology and the European Union Single Market for Green Product (SMGP) initiative. The event was open for representatives from industrial enterprises, local authorities and agencies, business associations, and NGOs interested in issues related to green economy, circular economy, Resource Efficient and Cleaner Production (RECP), and environmental protection. The workshop was organised by UNIDO, in partnership with PRé Sustainability (the Netherlands) and national partners.

Product Environmental Footprint (PEF) is an approach based on Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) to quantify the environmental impacts of goods or services. It was developed by the European Commission to harmonise and improve the information on the quality and sustainability of products for consumers, encouraging, thus, the consumption and production of sustainable products in the EU Single Market. The PEF methodology defines how a producer can calculate and communicate an environmental score of a product by covering its entire life-cycle. The PEF methodology makes it possible to determine a wide range of environmental, health, and resource-related impacts related to a product in a single assessment. PEF also enables enterprises to improve the sustainability of their supply chain effectively. A PEF study will provide valuable insights into the most impactful ingredients, processing steps, or life cycle stages of a product; and is, therefore, the perfect starting point for reducing the environmental impact of products. The introduction and promotion of the concept and tools of the EU Single Market for Green Products (SMGP) initiative is one of the EU4Environment’s components led by UNIDO. It includes mapping existing practices and barriers for current

labelling schemes, raising awareness and understanding of opportunities and benefits of SMPG, and piloting product environmental footprint (PEF) in selected industries. The event aimed to introduce stakeholders from the Republic of Moldova to the potential impact of the Product Environmental Footprint (PEF) methodology on the national economy by focusing on industries wishing to export to the European Union (EU) market. The expected outcomes were to better understand the processes related to Moldova's green products and principles, and focus on the potential benefits of implementing the PEF methodology in the country. This will help export-oriented enterprises to evaluate their production processes and consider practical steps to access the EU market.

It covered various topics related to strategies and instruments for promoting green products, including the current national situation, associated legislative background, and benefits for different target groups. Attendees also learned about the potential impact of applying the PEF methodology for Moldovan enterprises exporting to the EU market. The workshop provided an opportunity for attendees to ask questions and engage in discussions.

Guidelines on eco-labelling system in the Republic of Moldova developed with EU support

Ecolabels are a set of environmental regulation, management and verification instruments, which serve as a verifiable and accurate information tool on the environmental aspects of products and services. They have the objective of promoting and satisfying the demand of those consumers who want to purchase products and services that cause less impact on the environment.

An ecolabelling system is a positive measure of environmental policy. It is a system where priority is given to the product that, based on an objective analysis, presents qualities with a lower environmental impact than the average of similar products on the market.

The current “Guideline on the ecolabelling system in the Republic of Moldova”, developed within the EU funded EU4Environment Green Economy aims to provide an informative background on ecolabelling, certification mechanism and existing instruments at the national, regional and international levels. An ecolabelling system is a positive measure of environmental policy and is in favour of sustainable development. It is a system where priority is given to the product that, based on an objective analysis, presents qualities with a lower environmental impact than the average of similar products on the market.

As such, products and services placed on the market and containing an ecolabel have a reduced impact on the environment compared with other conventional products from the same category that do not meet the criteria of eco-certification. That way, for the consumers, it is essential to find out what effect a product and service can have on the environment and human health throughout its entire life cycle, starting with raw material extraction and finalizing with waste disposal and management.

The Guidelines could be viewed here:

https://www.eu4environment.org/app/ uploads/2023/03/Guideline-Eco-labellingsystem-Moldova-ENG.pdf

https://www.eu4environment.org/app/ uploads/2023/03/Guideline-Eco-labellingsystem-Moldova-ROM.pdf

Picture: https://www.oecd.org/

The European Union jointly with the World Bank help Moldova green its landscapes

Forests play a crucial role in ensuring our health and the health of our planet. They clean the water, purify the air, protect the soil, and capture carbon to fight climate change. Forests nurture habitats for wildlife and plant diversity to ensure viable ecosystems, which underpin human, economic, and environmental well-being. On International Day of Forests, the world celebrates the achievements made so far in greening our landscapes and acknowledge work yet to be done.

The European Union recognises the role of forests in building national wealth and the well-being of people and the environment. Within the EU-funded EU4Environment Programme, the World Bank-led components support the governments of the EU’s Eastern Partner countries to strengthen sustainable management of natural habitats, reduce biodiversity loss and land degradation, expand a shared network of protected areas, and promote community-led action in forest conservation.

In Moldova, like elsewhere, forests are part of the country’s natural capital, harbouring 80% of the country’s biological diversity. The forests have also high economic importance. In fact, the value of ecosystem services provided by the country’s forests to the tourism, agriculture, water or other sectors is estimated at around $70 million annually. Yet, forests in Moldova are among the most endangered in Europe due to excessive exploitation, unauthorized logging, and inefficient forest management practices that

are unable to impede human encroachment. The new program is also propelling Moldova towards meeting its commitments under the Association Agreement and a Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Agreement (DCFTA) signed with the EU in 2014. The commitments include activating structural reforms and harmonizing the country’s legislation with the EU acquis communautaire. Under the terms of the EU Association Agreement, and now as an EU candidate country, Moldova has pledged to achieve certain environmental and economic indicators to ensure healthy forests in the long term.

In addition to international commitments and initiatives related to forests and land use, the NFERP will help Moldova align its goals of restoring its forests and sustainably managing its ecosystems with in line with the European Green Deal — EU’s strategy to achieve its climate targets, including reaching climate neutrality by 2050. The new EU forest strategy for 2030 is now part of the European Green Deal’s flagship initiatives. This strategy underscores the crucial role forests and forest-based value chains play in achieving sustainable and climate-neutral economy by 2050 while protecting and strengthening resilience of ecosystems.

Promoting Eco-innovation among SMEs in the Republic of Moldova

SMEs play a crucial role in the EU’s Eastern Partnership (EaP) countries’ economies, and their collective environmental footprint often exceeds that of large enterprises. In order to mitigate their socio-environmental impact, while also improving SMEs' competitiveness and resilience to risk, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the European Union (EU) have been supporting SMEs across the globe in the development and application of "eco-innovation" - a business model that incorporates sustainability and life-cycle thinking throughout all business operations and value chain partners. Eco-innovation entails a coordinated set of modifications or novel solutions to products (goods / services), processes, market approach and overall Organisational structure of a company.

As part of the EU-funded EU4Environment programme, UNEP, the EU, and the Organisation for Entrepreneurship Development (ODA) assisted eight SMEs in the Republic of Moldova in developing new business strategies/models that are aligned with the eco-innovation approach. The companies represent priority sectors identified through a market and policy assessment of the eco-innovation landscape, developed by ODA, in collaboration with UNEP. Based on the analysis of sector-

interested in developing the eco-innovation approach, eight SMEs were selected to receive advisory services from ODA and UNEP. The companies are SOFDAR, ROMANIȚA, MACOVEI TEXTILE, CHERANG, ȘALTOIANCA, FAMILIA MEA, JAVGURVIN GROUP and VINDICUM.

The aim of the Final project workshop, which took place on 30 March 2023, was to present the work that has been undertaken with these eight SMEs to help them adopt the eco-innovation approach in

The EU and the Republic of Moldova join their forces towards green transformation

On 3 February 2023, the 7th edition of the High-Level National Round Table “Green EconomyMade in Moldova” took place at the International Exhibition Centre MoldExpo. It was organised and facilitated by the EU-funded “European Union for Environment (EU4Environment)” programme in partnership with the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Republic of Moldova and the Public Association EcoContact.

The Republic of Moldova recognises the need to promote the green economy as a precondition for sustainable economic development and improvement of citizens’ well-being. Recently, the country has achieved considerable results in reducing waste, facilitating the transition of SMEs to “green” technologies, increasing of ecological production, and development of training programs in the field of green economy and ecological agriculture. Today, with the European Union’s support, Moldova is developing a new National Program for the promotion of the green economy and set a number of targets that are working towards the EU’s Green Deal. The EU4Environment programme is helping the Moldovan government in pollution reduction, waste management, sustainable forestry and ecosystems, as well as promotion of sustainable lifestyles.

The second session of the event aimed to promote and raise awareness on ecolabelling as an effective tool for greening the economy. The draft regulation on functionality and benefits of eco-labelling, which will be approved in a few months, was presented to stakeholders. It will transpose the eco-labelling EU Regulation and be aligned with key EU principles and practices. The new regulation will help the Republic of Moldova establish an eco-labelling scheme for products and services with reduced environmental impact throughout their life cycle.

Its application can bring several benefits to business community, such as increasing consumer confidence in products, increasing the competitiveness of businesses and facilitating their access to new markets (e.g., the EU market).

The event brought together high-level government officials, representatives of the EU Delegation and international organisations, embassies, businesses and enterprises, academic sector, environmental NGOs and experts, mass-media from Moldova.

The event live:

https://www.privesc.eu/Arhiva/101748/ Masa-Rotunda-Nationala-de-nivel-inalt-editia-a-7-a--Economia-verde---Fabricat-inMoldova-

Picture: https://reform-support.ec.europa.eu/whatwe-do/green-transition_en

Towards a Green Transition of the Republic of Moldova with the EU assistance

Advanced EU support to promote Green Transition in Moldova presented at the Meeting of the Inter-ministerial Working Group on Sustainable Development and Green Economy, National Implementation Committee of

The Meetings of Moldova’s Inter-ministerial Working Group on the promotion of Sustainable Development and Green Economy (also acting as the National Implementation Committee (NIC) for the EUfunded EU4Environment programme) aim to review progress in greening the national economy and to discuss necessary activities of all relevant stakeholders to accelerate this process in Moldova

These meetings are supported by the EUfunded EU4Environment programme, as part of its component Output 1.1 on “Green economy ownership, policy coherence and cross-sectorial coordination”, implemented by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP). Thanks to the EU’s and UNEP’s support, the Inter-ministerial Working Group has recently marked its 7 years of activity (2015-2022).

Previous Meetings of the WG/NIC took place on 09 September 2022 and 18 February 2022. The meetings were in virtual format and attended by the EC, EUD, all EU4Environment Implementing Partners, EU4Environment National Focal Points (NFPs) from the Ministries of Environment and Economy, as well as NIC/WG members and NGOs from Moldova. The meetings

The main objectives of the WG/NIC meeting, held on 17 February, were:

» Review progress of implementation of the EU4Environment in Moldova in 2022 (major results);

» Discuss and approve plans for EU4Environment activities in Moldova for 2023;

» Present the process of drafting of Moldova’s Programme on the promotion of Green Economy for 2023-2027;

» Present the process of drafting the Law on payments for pollution and taxes for natural resources;

» Present the progress in drafting the Program on afforestation of Moldova;

» Overview and initiate preparations of major events of 2023 in Moldova, including: European Green Week 2023 (01 - 07 June 2023), International Exhibition MoldEco (01 - 04 June 2023, Moldexpo), World Environment Day 2023 (05 June 2023), World Clean-up Day 2023 in Moldova (national campaign on 01-16.09.2023 and Clean-up Day 16.09.2023), National Tree Planting Campaign (November 2023);

» Identify synergies with other on-going work or projects in the country.

Event live:

https://www.privesc.eu/Arhiva/101848/ Sedinta-Grupului-de-lucru-interministerialpentru-promovarea-dezvoltarii-durabilesi-economiei-verzi-Comitetul-National-deImplementare-a-proiectului-

EU supports the development of local climate change adaptation plans

The drying up of rivers, insufficient forests, poor waste management - these are problems that were formulated by new signatories of the Convention of Mayors, who during two days, learned how to make local Action Plans for Climate. More than 20 mayors, vice-mayors and delegates from villages and cities participated in the training.

On the first day of the training, CoM East regional expert, Ivan Shchadranok, presented the experience of the signatories of the Eastern Partnership, the requirements for the assessment of climate risks and vulnerabilities, and the success stories in the realization of the Plans.

On the second day, guided by the CoM-East experts in collaboration with UNDP project: Advancing Moldova’s National Climate Change Adaptation Planning (NAP-2)

participants worked on writing projects related to climate adaptation at the local level, and the key words were: climate vulnerability, climate emergency, increased degree of vulnerability, afforestation, sanitation, water, etc. Such kind of document serves guarantee that future generations will have the chance to live in a green and healthy environment.

The training is part of a series of trainings for the new signatories, who have joined the European initiative the Convention of Mayors in the last two years and who have started or are in the process of developing Sustainable Energy and Climate Action Plans (PAEDC). The training was organised within the project "Convention of Mayors for Energy and Climate in Eastern Partnership countries", phase III, financed by the European Union.

RESILIENT DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION

EaPConnect highlights inspiring EaP women in STEM

To mark the end of its first year, the EU4Digital: Connecting Research and Education Communities (EaPConnect) project is highlighting four women whose expertise contributes to its partners’ success and the research and education organisations they support. In short videos, the women reflect on their careers in science, technology, engineering or mathematics (STEM) and how best to inspire further generations of girls to enter such areas of work.

Originally released in video episodes titled ‘Overcoming challenges’, ‘Female role models and mentors’, ‘Why diversity matters’, ‘The power of women’s networks’ and ‘Words for future generations’ as part of a wider social media campaign, the excerpts can all be viewed in an article on the EaPConnect website.

Ecaterina Matenco of EaPConnect partner RENAM originally thought a career in cybersecurity was unattainable for a girl from a small Moldovan town. When she joined RENAM, her horizons widened as she met successful women from many fields in IT.

“Then I felt supported, saw examples and was able to get inspiration from them,” she says

says Mariam Harutyunyan, Head of the Department of Informatics at EaPConnect partner the Institute for Informatics and Automation Problems of the National Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Armenia.

In her experience, diversity improves productivity, creativity and innovation levels and ensures that studies reflect wider experience and views. Regardless of stereotypes,

Ecaterina believes that the support of a women’s network is very important for girls who are unsure that their goals are realistic but are passionate to achieve them. For biomedical scientist Professor Irma Khachidze of Caucasus University in Georgia, training is one key to reducing gender inequality and increasing the representation of women in STEM. She has seen how her female PhD students inspire interest in STEM among other young women. But she recognises that EU projects and practical actions and advice that increase representation in institutional and national meetings and symposia are also important factors. She urges any girls who have ambitions to go into STEM to “start by doing what is necessary, then what is possible, and suddenly you are doing the ‘impossible’.”

“I am firmly convinced that when it comes to science, gender diversity has a number of advantages,”

“I have proved that science, teaching, family and other occupations can be combined.”

EU4Digital: discussion on the importance of electronic freight information exchange and regulation for Eastern partner countries

The importance and benefits of implementing electronic freight transport information (eFTI) exchange in the logistics industry were highlighted in an event for stakeholders from Eastern partner countries on 31 January. The EU4Digital eTrade stream organised the event to raise awareness and understanding of eFTI exchange and the EU’s eFTI Regulation.

EU4Digital Facility phase II Digital Transport Corridors (eFTI deployment) activity was also kicked-off. This activity is directed at developing a roadmap to create e-freight infrastructure and to implement eFTI Regulation in two selected Eastern partner countries.

EU4Digital Facility team leader Artūras Piliponis opened the event. He spoke about the need for a harmonised partnership between EU and Eastern partner logistics industries.

Ruta Salvyte-Tamosiuniene, EU4Digital eTrade stream leader, highlighted the advantages of electronic freight transport information exchange: these include

increased transparency and efficiency in the transport industry, reduced costs, easier business-to-administration (B2A) data exchange and the associated environmental benefits. She highlighted the importance of eFTI Regulation, which sets out the standards for electronic exchange of freight information in the EU, and how it can support transport sector development in Eastern partner countries.

Experts in the field provided insights into the latest developments and trends in electronic freight transport information exchange and the eFTI Regulation in the region.

The event participants engaged in discussions and shared their experiences and best practices in the implementation of

eFTI exchange. For instance, representatives from Ukraine shared about the ongoing electronic consignment note (eTTN) deployment initiative, which is currently in the last stages of testing and is expected to be in force by August 2023.

The event underscored the importance of continued efforts to raise awareness and support the implementation of these important initiatives in Eastern partner countries.

EU4Digital eCommerce accelerator kicks off activities for EaP SMEs

Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in the Eastern Partnership (EaP) region can benefit from solutions offered by the EU4Digital eCommerce accelerator. EaP stakeholders learned about these opportunities in an online event on 14 February 2023. The EU4Digital Facility eTrade stream organised the occasion as part of renewed activities in Facility Phase II and to kick off the eCommerce accelerator, which runs until the end of this year. Interested SMEs are welcome to contact EU4Digital team to find out more.

The aim of EU4Digital Facility eCommerce related activities is to strengthen the integration of EaP eCommerce ecosystem actors with EU networks and to support the ultimate strategic direction of increasing EU and EaP cross-border eCommerce by 50%.

The online event began with an overview of relevant achievements during EU4Digital Facility Phase I:

» researched how eCommerce works in Eastern partner countries and compared this to EU best practices;

» produced recommendations for making the EaP eCommerce ecosystem more efficient, easier for businesses, and safer for customers, with individual reports for Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Moldova, and Ukraine;

» tested a ‘virtual warehouse’ system where retailers and marketplaces, delivery operators and customs share information electronically, facilitating faster and easier cross-border delivery of products;

» organised events, gathering different groups of people interested in improving EU and EaP eCommerce flows.

eCommerce challenges, trends and examples

EU4Digital has identified the challenges that SMEs face when considering selling online and in the EU. The event participants looked

into such challenges at a very practical level, using the example of Tom, owner of the ‘Funky Socks’ manufacturing business. In this case study, Tom has been selling socks for more than three years in Moldova and now wants to expand internationally, but does not know where to start. Initially, he would like to learn which marketplace is the best for selling socks and how to start selling on the major EU marketplaces. The challenges start with a lack of understanding of legal, standards and taxation aspects and include logistics problems and high costs to enter major marketplaces abroad.

The EU4Digital Facility team covered current EU eCommerce trends and practices. They introduced Ecommerce Europe, an association representing more than 150,000 companies selling goods and/or services online in Europe. The association’s structure, strategic priorities and potential joining opportunities for Eastern partner countries were highlighted.

The dominance of major international marketplaces and the importance of eCommerce were emphasised through other practical examples, such as a German eBay case study. This topic introduced the idea of a government-owned ‘national pavilion account’ which allows sellers to list their goods with no extra registration, documentation or other requirements from major marketplaces, and instead provides

support in marketing, customer services and other areas. This example correlates to the proposed pilot of such a solution within the scope of the eCommerce accelerator.

Further information: https://eufordigital.eu/eu4digitalecommerce-accelerator-kicks-off-activitiesfor-eap-smes/

EU4Digital ICT Innovation Forum highlights digital education for upskilling SMEs and start-ups

The 2023 EU4Digital ICT Innovation Forum raised important questions about the future of education for businesses to better prepare them for our post-industrial, digital society. Stressing the importance of digital upskilling of start-ups and small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) in the Eastern Partnership (EaP) region, the online event

on 9 March was the second in an annual Innovation Forum series and attracted more than 100 participants. They learned about diverse EU and EaP policy and support initiatives including the EU4Digital EdTech Hub platform activity, which was announced during the event.

Nicholas Cendrowicz of the European Commission, Deputy Head of Unit, DG NEAR C1, opened the event, highlighting that 2023 is the European Year of Skills. He emphasised how crucial it is for SMEs to have high quality digital skills as they produce up to 47% of added value in the economy. “We need to equip SMEs with the right set of tools to boost their productivity”, he said, noting the need to bridge investment gaps in digital skills, to mobilise 1.5 billion euros from the public and private sectors and call on international donors to mainstream digital transformation. He reminded participants to explore the EaP Startups ecosystem

platform, which was launched during the first Innovation Forum, in January 2022.

Anne Bajart of the European Commission, Deputy Head of Unit, DG CNECT G2, showcased several EU strategy and policy initiatives with the agenda to support SMEs’ digital skills. The 2030 Digital Compass sets ambitious goals for the level of digital skills among the population and SMEs and includes two pillars of activities, supporting short-term SME upskilling training courses, and supporting start-ups and SMEs dealing with innovative technological solutions in education. Various types of international and cross-sectoral community building and

partnerships facilitate access to digital skills in the EU – for example the Digital Skills and Jobs Platform and the closely linked Digital Skills and Jobs Coalition; the very successful EU Code Week; the Pact for Skills that brings together public and private organisations; Talent Partnerships; Digital SkillUp; and the European Digital Education Hub for innovation collaboration. Policy tools include the Structured Dialogue on digital education and skills with EU Member States, which will soon release two important recommendations. Finally, she discussed ongoing work to create a European Digital Skills Certificate as well as DigComp 2.2 – the Digital Competence Framework for Citizens, which facilitates the design of digital skills assessment and training content.

Focus within EaP countries

While many of the existing EU initiatives and platforms highlighted by previous speakers are available to SMEs in EaP countries, the panel discussion revealed several common challenges – insufficient awareness of available technologies or their benefits, lack of training or advisory support, and insufficient digital or business literacy. Also, there is still a need for country-specific solutions to improve access and uptake of upskilling. ·

» Rodica Crudu of the Moldovan Organisation for Development of Entrepreneurship (ODA) said SMEs represent up to 99% of the Moldovan economy and the government is very mindful of supporting their competitiveness. Several laws and strategies have been adopted and simplifying the regulatory framework is a priority. ODA has three programmes that include training for upskilling SMEs so they can meet their market needs. New curricula were recently developed including courses on e-commerce, digital marketing and sales, and digital solutions to improve processes such as imports and exports. Training providers will be selected by the end of this month, with

donors being sought to help finance the activity, as shortage of expertise makes this a competitive market. The organisation is also exploring ways to increase the sustainability of its programmes and projects through other partnerships.

» Denys Blinda of the Entrepreneurship and Export Promotion Office of Ukraine presented the large-scale national project for entrepreneurship and export promotion, Diia Business. Implemented in 2021 in the official digital government ‘Diia’ brand and ecosystem, the portal is a ‘one-stop-shop’ for entrepreneurs looking to set up their own business. An offline network of support centres complements the portal. Templates, business ideas, legal documents and examples are offered along with services and consulting, a marketplace and educational programmes. Business acceleration programmes were launched in 2023 and other initiatives include the Visionary Women’s Accelerator and the ‘Brave’ programme for women entrepreneurs. The number of women using the platform and services has been increasing and already accounts for 50% of users.

» Ihor Markevych of the Ukrainian Startup Fund (USF) and advisor to Ukraine’s Minister of Science and Education said the country’s IT sector was the only growth industry during the past year and 70% of all Ukrainian tech entrepreneurs are still there. An ‘IT army’ based on NGO and government cooperation is focusing on cybersecurity and cyber tech projects. Cooperation is also needed with mentors, coaches, corporates etc. to ensure digital upskilling will be available to support industry and renovate the Ukrainian economy.

Further information: https://eufordigital.eu/ eu4digital-ict-innovation-forum-highlightsdigital-education-for-upskilling-smes-andstart-ups/

eCommerce consultation centre launches with introductory marketplace training

The EU4Digital eCommerce consultations centre will provide practical training and consultations, enabling 30 small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in the Eastern Partnership to register and sell their products on major marketplaces. The ultimate aim of the centre is to scale up for a larger number of EaP SMEs and support a 50% increase in EU-EaP cross-border eCommerce. This journey began on 16 March 2023, when the eTrade stream launched the eCommerce consultations centre and a first training session was completed.

As the Eastern Partnership region aims to connect with EU markets, the easiest way for EaP SMEs to start selling in the EU is through international marketplaces. However, entering and expanding in these marketplaces requires resources, research and analysis if SMEs are to best fit their product to each marketplace, learn how to register there, and devise the most successful tactics for product listing and digital marketing to increase sales.

The eCommerce accelerator activity in EU4Digital Facility phase II tests how EaP

SMEs can boost eCommerce sales on EU marketplaces. EU4Digital will facilitate digital commerce, using established EU marketplaces as a tool to reach EU customers. Some EaP SMEs already have eCommerce experience on local and international levels, while others simply decided to try out the eCommerce channels. For this reason, EU4Digital developed a two-fold concept. The first part is the national pavilion account, which facilitates the product selling of less experienced SMEs through single national account on

the marketplace(s). Secondly, for the more experienced SMEs, EU4Digital developed the eCommerce consultations centre. This provides a series of group training events and individual consultations about the marketplaces, covering varied topics from registration and tax-related questions to advertising campaign strategies, product placing and more. Testing of the national pavilion account is starting soon, while training and consultations for more experienced companies start now.

These days, it would be difficult to find someone who is unaware of such giant marketplaces as Amazon and eBay, which have the largest pool of users in the EU. But how many people know that some products are not a great fit for these platforms and could achieve much higher popularity in smaller EU marketplaces? For this reason, the eCommerce consultations centre team of European experts will cover not only the big name sites, but also Etsy, Zalando, Pigu.lt, Allegro, OTTO, Bol and Kaufland

To prove that the eCommerce consultations centre could support companies in achieving their eCommerce goals – i.e. register on

the marketplaces, sell their goods to EU customers and increase overall sales – the training and consultations will be tested on 30 selected EaP SMEs. After successful testing, the EU4Digital team will then develop recommendations to help support more EaP SMEs.

During the launch event on 16 March, the eCommerce consultations centre was presented in detail together with the team of EU4Digital practitioners. The first training then followed. This introduced the marketplaces, presented which products fit best on each marketplace, and covered registration procedures, payment possibilities, special functions and other topics. After the session, representatives of the participating companies began booking individual expert consultations to get advice on their specific cases.

Further information

Read more about the EU4Digital eCommerce accelerator and how it will contribute to boosting eCommerce sales of the EaP Region.

About 600 teachers from all over the country, teaching various subjects, participated in a course in which they were trained to use the "flipped classroom" teaching method, considered to be one of the most effective and innovative teaching practices in the world. Being guided by five mentors from the south of the country, the teachers were trained on the distinctions and similarities between "flipped classroom" and "online learning," obtaining guidance on how to execute these approaches.

In contrast to a conventional class where teaching occurs in the classroom and students complete activities independently at home, the "flipped classroom" model has

teaching taking place at home and activities being conducted in school.

During the organised trainings, the 600 teachers in the country, including 100 from the Cahul region, were guided on classroom management in the context of blended learning, as well as on the methods of evaluation and providing effective feedback to the students. The mentors who guided the participants are teachers from the south of the country. Natalia Popa, Aurica Bacalov, Alla Nebunu, Stela Chetroi and Andrei Miculschi successfully implement the "flipped classroom" method in their academic work.

600 teachers from the Republic of Moldova are trained to implement the “Flipped classroom” innovative teaching method

"I demonstrated and explained to them that the flipped classroom method is divided into seven models and I explained what each model consists of and how it can be applied to lessons. We also came up with examples of didactic projects, where this "inverted classroom" model is used, and we tried to address all the models provided by the guide proposed to teachers",

said Natalia Popa, computer science and mathematics teacher in the "Mihai Eminescu" Gymnasium in Cantemir town and mentor in the training courses.

"It is a method in which I would say that the students help the teacher. Even if the lessons are not explained by the teacher, the students come with a much greater interest in the lesson, they try to look for more information, and sometimes you learn from them much more useful things than you knew",

said Nina Crintea, teacher of mathematics, informatics and physics in the "Mihail Kogălniceanu" Gymnasium in Cotihana village, Cahul rayon.

The trainings were organised by "Startup City Cahul" and "Tekwill in Every School".

ICT4Women strengthens the women tech community in Cahul and stimulates entrepreneurship

More and more women from Cahul are choosing to build a career in the digital field, in order to have well-paid jobs, flexible conditions and numerous development possibilities. As the IT industry continues to expand and evolve in the south of the country, women are benefiting from various

educational opportunities. These include the ICT4Women programme, which offers courses in Social Media Marketing (SMM), Copywriting and Web Development. 43 women have successfully completed the program and are now ready to advance in their chosen fields.

Maria Pădure is 28 years old and being on childcare leave decided to take the Social Media Marketing course, to better understand how social media platforms work and what are the ways in which they can be used to promote a company, build a brand and develop an online community.

the opportunity to choose the Social Media Marketing course and I consider it to be a valuable investment in my professional and personal development!",

said Maria.

The program organisers believe that thanks to the ICT4 Women program, the participants are now more confident in themselves and determined to achieve their goals in the digital field.

"The Social Media Marketing course helped me understand how to develop an effective strategy to promote a business on social media platforms, applying theoretical knowledge. I am glad that I had

"The programs that we have successfully created in Cahul are those that offer knowledge that stands in the middle between information technologies and another specialty. We are happy to have a large number of girls to make it to the end", said Irina Oriol, Deputy Director for Education, EU4Moldova: Startup City Cahul, ATIC.

opportunity to do something new, maybe change your career, earn extra money or make a contribution to the community",

"I'm here today to congratulate you, to encourage you and to say how impressed I am that you have taken these courses, gained new skills and thus have the

declared Catarina Nilsson, Program Manager, First Secretary, Embassy of Sweden in

Chișinău.

The ICT4Women program is in its second edition and is part of the EU4Moldova: Startup City Cahul, implemented by the Association of Information Technologies and Communications (ATIC) and financed by the European Union in partnership with the Embassy of Sweden.

202 pupils and 58 teachers from all over the country participated in the biggest coding marathon in the Republic of Moldova, organised as part of "Tekwill Junior

Ambassadors". The contest was organised simultaneously in Chișinău, Cahul and Bălți. After a rigorous selection, 15 best programmers were selected for awarding.

Among the winners of the marathon is Laurențiu Bodlev, a student of the "Iulia Hașdeu" College from Cahul, who won the first place in the south of the country. Passionate about the IT field, he has been studying the C/C++ language for more than 3 years.

"Today's marathon was very interesting, we used many algorithms, such as dynamic programming, graphs and others. In the future I would like a profession in IT as this is the field of the future", says Laurențiu.

The biggest coding marathon in the country has designated its winners. Who are the winners in the Cahul region

In the marathon organised in the Southern region, the second place was occupied by Dumitru Șerbina, a student of the "Iulia Hașdeu" College from Cahul, and the third place went to Dinu Pleșu, a student of the Theoretical High School "Constantin Spătaru" from Leova.

"Everything depends on the student. If the student has an algorithmic thinking, which has already been developed in other subjects, then definitely it is also easier for the teacher to be able to train him/her, to develop the logic that the student needs to apply in solving problems with the help of programs,"

said Mihai Zanet, teacher of mathematics and computer science at the Enichioi Gymnasium in the Cantemir rayon.

It should be noted that each of the students who participated in the coding marathon follows the course "Programming Algorithms in C/C++", which is currently taught in 333 educational institutions in the country.

“I am very glad to see what the project has achieved in terms of promoting the STEAM education. I hope that this positive trend of STEAM education in the southern region will continue with the support of the project and I would like to congratulate the team behind it and wish them good luck", said Boris Filipov, Project Manager at the EU Delegation to the Republic of Moldova.

The "Tekwill Junior Ambassadors" competition is held in partnership with the Ministry of Education and Research, with financial support provided by the European Union and Sweden.

The Tech Coffee monthly editions organised within the EU4Moldova: Startup City Cahul project have been taking place in Cahul for over a year and a half. These are networking sessions where the tech community in the region has the opportunity to meet national and international experts from various fields of the IT industry. The special guest of the first edition of Tech Coffee in 2023 was Ion Horneț, Commercial Director of Simpals, who presented to entrepreneurs from Cahul the role of digital tools in attracting customers. Today, businesses are closer than ever to potential customers. The Internet offers the opportunity to promote products and services anywhere in the world, and the way digital tools are implemented is often decisive for the success of a business. This

is confirmed by Ion Horneț, Commercial Director of Simpals, a company that, for 20 years, has developed over 110 projects and products, sold on the markets of 57 countries.

"In the digital age, businesses need to adapt at an ever-faster pace to keep up with the competition. This is where digital tools come to their aid, the benefits of which are streamlining, automating processes, attracting customers, meeting their expectations and, of course, increasing profitability. It's basically everything an entrepreneur could want"

said Ion Horneț, Commercial Director of Simpals.

The Cahul region keeps up with innovations. Entrepreneurs in the South of the country are encouraged to implement digital tools in business

At Tech Coffee, a monthly event in Cahul, Ion Horneț talked about his own experience and came up with various recommendations.

"The Cahul region is rapidly becoming one of the main points in terms of technologies, technological entrepreneurship and the connection to everything that means IT and STEAM education. We have students, pupils, young entrepreneurs interested in everything that means innovation, and what we want is to offer them as many opportunities as possible to interact with specialists in the field. We succeed in

this including in the Tech Coffee editions, where we address various topics every month: from digital education to artificial intelligence and cyber security", said Corina Andronic, Deputy Director of the EU4Moldova: Startup City Cahul project.

EU4Moldova: Startup City Cahul is a project financed by the European Union, in partnership with Sweden and implemented by ATIC. Within this, several investments are made in the region to strengthen the potential of the digital economy and increase the local workforce in the ICT field.

This newsletter is produced within the framework of the project “Visibility of EU and EU assistance in 2023 in the Republic of Moldova”. The project is funded by the European Union and implemented by the Particip GmbH.

Contact data:

The European Union Delegation to the Republic of Moldova: Delegation-Moldova@eeas.europa.eu

Editorial team:

Svetlana Japalau, Team Leader, Particip GmbH svetlana.japalau@particip.com

Natalia Butnaru, Key Expert, Particip GmbH natalia.butnaru@particip.com

The content of this publication is the exclusive responsibility of the Particip GmbH and the editorial team, and it does not in any way reflect the official opinion of the European Union.