SESSION 7 - Implementing arrangements (Section II, question 11 on measures implemented to prevent or limit the transboundary impact of extreme weather events and climate change)

First meeting of the drafting group on the guide to reporting under the water convention and as a contribution to SDG indicator 6.5.2 Geneva, Switzerland, 9-10 May 2019 The Republic of responded to question 11 based on the agreements signed with neighboring countries on transboundary waters. The territory of the Republic of Moldova is attributed at two districts of transboundary hydrographic basins: the Dniester Hydrographic Basin (between and the Republic of Moldova) and the -Prut and Hydrographic Basins ( - Republic of Moldova- Ukraine ). Two agreements on transboundary waters was signed with Ukraine. In 1994, the Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Moldova and the Government of Ukraine on the joint use and protection of the border waters was signed which included all transboundary waters between two countries. In 2012, the Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Moldova and the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine on the cooperation in the field of protection and sustainable development of the Dniester river basin was signed in Rome, which provides for the joint management of only the Dniester basin. Thus, in to the 1994 agreement, other transboundary waters (Danube, Black Sea) remain. The cooperation of the Republic of Moldova and Romania on transboundary waters is carried out on the basis of the Agreement for the protection and sustainable use of the Prut and Danube waters signed in 2010. This agreement applies to the Prut River, joint sector of the Danube River , the transboundary aquifers and the Costesti – Stânca hydroelectric node on the Prut.

Agreements between the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova and Romania provide separately actions on the transboundary impact of extreme hydro-meteorological processes and phenomena. if no measures are name of transboundary does an agreement explanation why no Coordinated or joint Coordinated or A joint climate A joint disaster if other in implemented, a basin/sub-basin Notification and No measures exist? (drop down agreement (text) alarm system for joint alarm system change adaptation risk reduction column before, "yes" in the (attention imperative to write name of the agreement (text) (Q1) communication (yes/no) list - please chose) (Q1); leave blank if floods (yes/no) for droughts strategy (yes/no) strategy (yes/no) provide details previous column, exactly as in (yes/no) (Q11) (Q11) (Q1) agreement in place (Q11) (yes/no) (Q11) (Q11) (Q11) (text) (Q11) explain why (text) Section_II_Surface column J) (Q11)

The Agreement Agreement between the Government of the became effective Republic of Moldova and the Cabinet of agreement exists and from 28 July 2017, Dniester (new agreement) Ministers of Ukraine on cooperation the field no no no no no n/a yes 0 in force the countries have of protection and sustainable development of not started to the Dniester river basin, Rome, 2012 cooperate yet

Agreement between the Government of Ukraine and the Government of the Republic Dniester and other agreement exists and of Moldova on the Joint Use and Protection of yes yes no yes no n/a no n/a transboundary waters in force Transboundary Waters, as of 23 November 1994.

Agreement between Romania and the Republic of Moldova on the Cooperation in agreement exists and Prut and Danube the Field of Protection and Sustainable Use of yes yes no no no n/a no n/a in force the Prut and Danube Rivers, as of 28 June, 2010, Chisinau.

Convention on Co-operation for the agreement exists and Danube Protection and Sustainable use of the Danube yes no no no no no no n/a in force River (Danube River Protection Convention) • The distinguished challenges related to reporting to question 11 have not been met. Some difficulties have been encountered due to the some overlapping of the activities under different agreements (Dniester) and communication difficulties with the actors who are involved in monitoring of the extreme hydro- meteorological phenomena and processes (State Hidrometeorological Service, Moldova Water Agency, etc.) • Another difficulty encountered is the fact that an area of 4163 km² of the Dniester basin is under the control of the authorities of the Administrative-territorial unit of left Dniester, and some difficulties have been encountered regarding the access to the necessary information for reporting. • Following the reporting to question 11 the activities regarding the extreme hydro- meteorological processes and phenomena, from the agreements signed between the Republic of Moldova and the neighboring countries regarding the transboundary waters have been specified.

• A recommendation would be that the guide should come with details on the definition of extreme weather events: which meteorological events / phenomena should be considered in reporting, etc.

• In my opinion, the situation of aquifers (especially the first aquifer) must also be addressed in the context of climate change. Because in some cases aquifers, including those transboundary, are affected by extreme meteorological processes such as drought or floods.