The Emergency Management Inspectorate General (IGSU) is carrying out together with partners from the Republic of Moldova a cross-border project for the improvement of the joint response to emergency situations through joint training courses and the purchase of specialized intervention equipment.

The project ROMD00024 - C TRAINED 'Cross border joint training' carried out by IGSU is financed by the European Union through the Neighbourhood, Development and International Cooperation Instrument (NDICI), through the Interreg NEXT Romania-Republic of Moldova Programme 2021-2027, Priority 1 - Green Communities, Specific goal 1.1 - Promoting climate change adaptation, disaster risk prevention and resilience, taking into account ecosystem-based approaches.

The project is worth over 1.59 million euros, of which the non-repayable financing is over 1.43 million euros, with an implementation period of 24 months, from July 15, 2025 to July 14, 2027.

The project envisages the common procedure for monitoring and notifying emergency situations and for providing emergency medical assistance in the cross-border area; the joint training curriculum for residential fire extinguishing actions; 12 joint training sessions.

'This project comes in a context where climate change is becoming an increasingly evident reality and the UN has already issued warnings that fires will become a grave issue across the globe. We saw this summer that countries in the area have been faced with widespread vegetation fires. This is exactly what we are preparing for. The project comes to jointly train teams from the Republic of Moldova and Romania, helping to purchase equipment so that our interventions are efficient,' the Consul General of the Republic of Moldova in Iasi, Ion Coser, told the press.

The project is implemented by Romania's Emergency Management Inspectorate General, which is also Lead Partner, the Regional Directorate for Exceptional Situations Causeni - Republic of Moldova; the 'Mihail Sturdza' Emergency Management Inspectorate of Iasi County and the 'Nicolae Iorga' Emergency Management Inspectorate of Botosani County.

'Through the joint effort and commitment of everyone involved, we have managed to launch an ambitious project and strengthen a long-term partnership, with concrete benefits for the citizens on both banks of the Prut. In the next two years, this project will continue to strengthen the cooperative relationship between the authorities in Romania and the Republic of Moldova. I am confident that, through our joint efforts, we will successfully achieve the goals pursued and contribute to a safer and more resilient future for our communities,' said the head of the IGSU Externally Funded Projects Directorate, Colonel Alin Maghiar, at the project launch.

The representative of the partner from the Republic of Moldova, Lieutenant Colonel of the Internal Service, Igor Calancea, Deputy Head of the Causeni Regional Directorate for Emergency Situations within IGSU Moldova, said that this initiative will transform this project into a success story and will strengthen the relations between IGSU Romania, the Emergency Management Inspectorates of Iasi and Botosani counties and the Causeni Regional Directorate for Emergency Situations, for carrying out various activities in their field of competence, as well as for applying it to other community development projects in the cross-border area.

'This project means joint training, exchange of experience and the opportunity to work shoulder to shoulder with our colleagues from the Republic of Moldova, so that when an emergency situation arises, our response is fast, coordinated and efficient. Through training, practical exercises and provision with modern equipment, we are better prepared to protect our communities. Each training session means more confidence, more professionalism and, ultimately, more lives saved,' said Colonel Dan Bulat, deputy chief inspector of the Botosani County Emergency Situations Inspectorate. AGERPRES (RO - writing by: Daniela Malache; EN - writing by: Simona Klodnischi)