The notion of river basin management, by focusing on a spatial unit (the river basin), goes beyond the usual sectoral management of water. The use of the river basin as a territorial management unit lies at the heart of the EU Water Framework Directive. The level of decentralisation provided by river basin management makes it possible to deal with local water challenges that may be tackled less effectively by a central state administration. By taking into account the needs of different water users as well as the balance between the economy (uses) and ecosystems (protection), management at the river basin level provides for equal access to water and the sustainability of water resources in the long-term.
Two River Basin Management Plans (RBMP) for the Dniester and Danube-Prut & Black Sea River Basin Districts have already been developed and adopted in the Republic of Moldova. The EU4Environment Water and Data programme supports the responsible authorities (Ministry, Apele Moldovei and Environment Agencies) to gain more efficiency and self-sufficiency in managing RBMP implementation and its regular up-grading every 6-year on the 2 hydrographic districts.
In the Republic of Moldova, water scarcity and droughts are already impacting the country in an unprecedented frequency and intensity. EU4Environment – Water and Data supports the improvement in the permit/control policy regarding water abstraction by running preparatory steps for the development of a local and participative quantitative management planning in one of the most affected sub-basins.
