As part of its candidacy for EU membership, Romania is currently
implementing the EU Water Framework Directive (WFD). One of the directive’s
requirements is that appropriate coordination must be established between countries
sharing the same river basin. Although an information exchange exists between
Romania and Moldova, it has been strengthened by the implementation of the WFD.
In the framework of the cooperation, experts from Romanian Waters National Administration
and from the Prut Directorate met at Chisinau in February 2004.
The goals of the meeting were to assist in the development of the typology for
the surface water, to identify the surface and ground water bodies and to assess
the pressures and impacts. To achieve these objectives it was important for
all partners to cooperate closely, since different river types or water bodies
could not exist in the same river segments on the left and right bank. As a
result of the visit, three river types were identified on the Prut River. The
first delimitation led to the identification of five surface water bodies. Romanian
experts found the exchange of data and information to be a confirmation of the
previously defined typology and water bodies’ delimitation. For the Moldovan
experts, the meeting was useful as a concrete application of the methodology
concerning delimitation of river types and water bodies. A follow-up visit of
the Moldovan experts in Romania was scheduled for August 24–28. The encouraging
results of the meeting paved the way for both groups to continue to work together
and carry out the next step of the implementation process together.