EU to disburse €17 million to Moldova
The European Union (EU) is preparing to allocate €17 million in macro-financial assistance to Moldova, announced Gert Jan Koopman, Director-General of the European Commission's Directorate-General for Neighbourhood and Enlargement Negotiations, in a video message to the Parliamentary Association Committee between Moldova and the European Union, held today in Chisinau.
This brings the total EU macro-financial assistance to Moldova to €72.5 million out of a total commitment of €295 million.
The announcement comes as Moldova grapples with economic and security challenges, exacerbated by the ongoing Russian aggression against Ukraine. The EU's financial support aims to bolster Moldova's resilience and support its ongoing reforms.
Mihai Popșoi, Vice-President of the Moldovan Parliament, emphasised the government's efforts to harmonise national legislation with European standards and implement necessary reforms. However, he acknowledged that some institutions are lagging behind in this regard.
Siegfried Mureșan, Co-Chair of the Parliamentary Association Committee between Moldova and the European Union, underscored the mutual benefits of Moldova's integration into the EU. He expressed the EU's unwavering commitment to supporting Moldova's progress towards accession.
The EU's financial assistance is contingent upon Moldova's progress in implementing reforms, particularly in the areas of judicial independence, anti-corruption, and de-oligarchization. The EU remains hopeful that Moldova will heed its recommendations and accelerate its reform efforts.
While the €17 million tranche is being prepared, it will not reach Chisinau by the end of 2023 due to budgetary constraints. The resolution adopted by the Parliamentary Association Committee also highlights Moldova's economic and security challenges in the context of the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
