A comparative analysis of the Natura 2000 and Emerald protected areas networks, prepared by Petr Roth, a leading Czech expert on the European environmental protection network and its implementation. This material was presented at a seminar in Chisinau in May 2025.
You can read an introduction, or jump straight to the whole publication for reading and download (both in English and Romanian) below
Nature conservation in Europe is governed by various legislative measures. It focuses on two main areas: protecting and conserving ecologically valuable sites, resulting in various protected areas; and protecting endangered and rare species of plants and animals. Site protection is considered the most efficient nature conservation tool, but it cannot solve Europe's most pressing problems, such as the deterioration of wider landscapes due to improper agriculture and forestry practices, and excessive exploitation of natural resources, as well as urban sprawl. Despite this, effective site protection and conservation remains central to national nature conservation policies.
Since the late 20th century, two major movements have developed in Europe to unify site protection and conservation approaches at a wider scale: the Emerald Network of Areas of Special Conservation Interest (ASCI) of the Bern Convention of the Council of Europe and the Natura 2000 Network of sites pursuant to the Nature Directives of the European Union. Based on an agreement between the European Commission and the Council of Europe, both networks are complementary: the Emerald Network is to be established by the Bern Convention parties outside the EU, while all EU Member States have already established their national parts of the EU-wide Natura 2000 Network.
The Republic of Moldova joined the Bern Convention in 1994 and the Emerald Network in 2022. Despite this, the biogeographical seminar in Minsk in 2019 showed that the current Emerald Network is only about 24% complete. To meet the 2030 target of 80% would require significant resources and capacity, which are currently unavailable.
In December 2022, Moldova and Ukraine were granted EU Candidate Country Status, and in June 2025 official screening negotiations with the European Commission will begin. Following the EC's screening report, negotiations can begin. Both countries want to join the EU, but this is subject to meeting all EU requirements. The EU's Chapter 27 "Environment" is considered the most difficult. In nature conservation, the most demanding EU requirement is to propose Natura 2000 sites before accession. Without a scientifically and politically sound Natura 2000 proposal, accession cannot be permitted.
Moldova and Ukraine must fulfil obligations from the Bern Convention and EU Nature Directives. This means completing the Emerald Network and Natura 2000 proposals on their own territory. The Emerald and Natura 2000 Networks are said to be equal and compatible, but this is inaccurate. They are based on similar principles, but their implementation differs.
Moldova must choose between working on the Emerald Network and Natura 2000, which would delay EU accession, or "switching" to Natura 2000, which could breach the Bern Convention. This paper aims at proposing a possible way of resolving this dilemma in a win-win manner.
