The European Union could finance the construction of the Lvov-Iasi-Chisinau-Odesa railway line
The EU wants to build the Lvov-Iasi-Chisinau-Odesa railway line. The announcement was made by EU Transport Commissioner Adina Vălean at a press conference in Chisinau.
The Commissioner noted that this project is of great strategic importance in the area and that the railway will have a European gauge.
"This is a simple example of the kind of projects that Moldova is waiting for with its partners in the region to develop its transport infrastructure. Because transport infrastructure is a basic condition for economic development and trade", said Adina Vălean.
According to the Commissioner, once the study for this project is completed, the infrastructure network in the Republic of Moldova will be included in the EU's extended infrastructure maps.
"One of the unprecedented and extremely important steps that the Republic of Moldova is taking in its association with the EU is the inclusion of Moldova's infrastructure network in the EU's extended infrastructure maps, the so-called TEN-T. This will be signed soon, as we are waiting for the finalisation of a study for a very important strategic project in the area - a Lvov-Iasi-Chisinau-Odesa railway line with European gauge", said the Commissioner.
Adina Vălean said that this project will be financed under the Connecting Europe Facility, which our country has joined by signing this agreement.
The Commissioner noted that the Republic of Moldova has already submitted three projects to this mechanism. It is about European interconnection with Romania.
"Tomorrow, I will sign in Constanta the funding for one of these projects - the Ungheni-Ungheni bridge, 16 million euros. The other two bridge projects are also under evaluation, but I think the evaluation will be positive. Looking ahead - multimodal terminal, development of the Giurgiulesti port", said Adina Vălean.
According to the Commissioner, although not a member of the EU, the Republic of Moldova has full rights in this Mechanism and for this year our country will be exempted from paying the co-financing share.
Adina Vălean explained that under the Mechanism, the Republic of Moldova will be able to benefit from both private funding and grant support from co-participants in the Mechanism.
The main criterion for selecting projects is their quality. That is why, in June, a team of experts from the European Commission will come and explain in detail the criteria, the conditions and how to make a successful project under the Facility. Projects are awarded by an independent committee, which assesses the value of the project.
The programme of the Interconnecting Europe Facility (EIF) 2021-2027 foresees various financial contributions, mainly in the form of grants, with different co-financing rates depending on the type of project. Under the EIM Transport, €25.8 billion will be made available for grants from the EU budget for the period 2021-2027 to co-finance transport projects in EU Member States.
Under the Energy EIM, EUR 5.8 billion will be made available for co-financing projects of common interest under the TEN-E Regulation as well as cross-border renewable energy projects.
And the Digital EIM will invest €2 billion in European connectivity infrastructures and stimulate the deployment and uptake of 5G networks by local communities.
