The Republic of Moldova will have access to European funds worth 1.8 billion euros next year
The European Commission has approved, and the European Parliament is to adopt at the beginning of next year, an economic growth plan for the Republic of Moldova worth 1.8 billion euros. This was announced on Tuesday by MEP Siegfried Mureșan after the EU- Moldova PAC Meeting, in Brussels.
Mureșan, co-rapporteur of the European Parliament responsible for the Committee on Budgets, announced that he will present the legislative draft on Thursday, December 12, during a session of the European Parliament. The goal is to have this package of laws adopted by early 2025.
Once the package is approved, the Republic of Moldova will need to submit a plan to the European Commission detailing how the allocated funds will be utilized.
“I expect that the funding will primarily be directed towards improving infrastructure, constructing roads, enhancing the energy interconnection between the Republic of Moldova and the European Union, strengthening energy infrastructures, and building hospitals, as well as modernizing schools and kindergartens. In other words, the funds should support projects that enhance individuals' daily lives,” Mureșan said.
The MEP stressed that once the authorities in Chișinău present their plan, the Republic of Moldova will receive a pre-financing amounting to 7 percent of the 1.8 billion euros. Mureșan added that he will propose an increase in this pre-financing to 20% during Thursday’s session of the European Parliament. “I am confident that the European Parliament will support my proposal, and afterwards, we will need to negotiate it with the European Commission and the Council of the European Union. Any increase in pre-financing that we manage to obtain through this effort represents significant support for the Republic of Moldova. One percentage point of 1.8 billion euros equates to 18 million euros, so any amount we secure above 7% is very beneficial,” Mureșan explained.
In addition, Doina Gherman, co-chair of the Moldova-EU Parliamentary Association Committee, expressed gratitude to the European Union for its commitment to invest 1.8 billion euros in Moldova over the next three years. “This funding will be invested in areas that will generate economic growth, create over 100,000 jobs, facilitate access to the European Union’s single market, and will undoubtedly assist us in completing the reform process,” she noted.
This meeting marks the first session of the Moldova-EU Parliamentary Association since the beginning of the tenth legislative of the European Parliament. The delegation from Chișinău included members of the "Action and Solidarity Party" Faction: Marina Morozova, Veronica Roșca, and Petru Frunze, as well as deputies from the Communists and Socialists Bloc Faction: Tatiana Cunetchi and Grigore Novac.
The meeting also covered the current status of Moldova's EU accession process and the bilateral screening currently in progress. Additionally, discussions included the security and geopolitical situation in Moldova, as well as the recent constitutional referendum and presidential elections held in the country.
