Last week in Chisinau, Moldova, the Green Agenda project management team participated in a strategic meeting aimed at advancing Moldova’s path towards a sustainable green transition and the alignment with the EU’s acquis. The meeting gathered key government institutions, including high-level representatives from the State Chancellery, Bureau of European Integration, and line ministries involved in sectors relevant to the European Green Deal, such as Economic Development, Environment, Energy, Labour, Health and Infrastructure.

The meeting served as a vital platform to review the region-wide progress of the Green Agenda project and to highlight the preliminary outcomes of thematic green transition assessments specific to Moldova.

Cross-sector collaboration for green reform

Veronica Arpintin, State Secretary at the Ministry of Economic Development and Digitalization of Moldova, emphasized the significance of the meeting for EU accession and the success of green reforms. “Today’s meeting underscores the crucial importance of cross-sector collaboration,” she stated. “The diverse group of participants here today clearly demonstrates that meeting EU accession requirements and succeeding in our green reform requires a unified, collaborative approach across all sectors.”

Lauri Tammiste, SEI Tallinn Director, enriched the discussion by sharing Estonia’s experience in developing a climate neutrality roadmap. He underscored the financial and environmental benefits of green reforms, illustrating how strategic planning and implementation can lead to successful transitions.

Bernardas Padegimas, Team Lead of SEI’s Environmental Policy and Strategy Team, highlighted the significant potential of the Green Agenda project to unlock investment opportunities. These opportunities cater to both short- and long-term needs associated with Moldova’s green transition. Additionally, the project is set to bolster the country’s aspirations to join the EU by showcasing its commitment to sustainable development.

Addressing challenges and leveraging opportunities

During the meeting, representatives from the Ministry of Energy stressed the need for substantial support to meet rising expectations and to align with EU standards for accession. Justina Grigaraviciene, an EU High-level Adviser on Green Transition at Moldova’s Ministry of Environment, highlighted that while the benefits of transitioning to green technologies and practices are substantial, they also come with significant responsibilities. These responsibilities may not always be well-received by consumers and businesses, but with concerted efforts towards public awareness, transparency, and collaboration, these challenges can be successfully navigated.

Felicia Bechtoldt, State Secretary at the Labour and Social Protection Ministry, further stressed the importance of effectively communicating the benefits of the green transition to attract both foreign investments and garner local business support. This communication is essential for steering the nation toward a prosperous and environmentally sustainable future, especially in greening the jobs and labour market.

Strategic planning and future initiatives

The meeting also highlighted the need for thoroughly exploring EU directives and compliance requirements as part of Moldova’s obligation. Roadmaps for reforms will be developed for each sector based on bilateral screenings. There was also a discussion about the need to update occupational standards and educational frameworks to incorporate a green perspective.

Iordanca-Rodica Iordanov, National Co-lead of the Green Agenda project in Moldova, emphasized the importance of enhanced cross-sectoral collaboration. She noted that predictive climate modelling conducted by SEI will demonstrate that achieving climate neutrality is more cost-effective than maintaining current economic governance models.

“We must recognize and accept the urgent need for change,” Iordanov stated. She stressed that buildings planned and constructed today must adhere to environmental standards, with design and quality checks aligned with green principles. Iordanov highlighted that she is confident that the assessments conducted under the Green Agenda project will provide critical insights and resolve key questions regarding the implementation of the transition process in Moldova.

Conclusions and next steps

The meeting underscored the collective effort required across different sectors and highlighted practical steps and strategies to ensure the country’s successful green transition. This autumn, inter-ministerial discussions on the green transition will resume, informed by the results of Moldova’s Green Readiness Assessment Report. These discussions will guide future policy planning and investment requirements, ensuring that Moldova remains on track to meet its green transition objectives.