Moldova News: EU aid, Ukraine assets, unionist split & more
Condolence messages after the death of Pope Francis; unionists will run separately in the parliamentary elections; and the fate of Moldova's assets in Ukraine are some of the main media topics reviewed.
The leadership of the Republic of Moldova sent messages of condolence after the death of Pope Francis, newsmaker.md writes. "The world bids farewell to a tireless promoter of compassion and equity," Head of State Maia Sandu wrote in her message. Parliament Speaker Igor Grosu called Pope Francis "a symbol of peace, unity, equity, and unconditional love." And Prime Minister Dorin Recean said that "his devotion to compassion and dignity resonated beyond beliefs and borders." Pope Francis died on the morning of April 21 at his residence in the Vatican. He was 88 years old.
To be able to resist Russian propaganda and hybrid warfare, Moldovans should respect themselves and not forget their identity, says the Ambassador of Ukraine to Chișinău. Moldova 1 features an interview with Paun Rohovei, who emphasized that a person who doesn't forget their roots is stronger and harder to manipulate by external forces. The Ukrainian diplomat, of Romanian origin, mentioned that people should understand that their future in the European community means prosperity, development, democracy, and respect for human rights. In other news, Paun Rohovei thanked the Chișinău authorities for the support provided to Ukrainian refugees and noted the generosity of Moldovans, who opened not just their homes but their hearts to help their neighbors who fled the war.
The attempt by the unionist parties to unite their forces before the parliamentary elections has failed, TV 8 reports. The leader of the Liberal Party, Mihai Ghimpu, tried to bring together representatives of the unionist forces in Moldova for discussions, hoping to convince them to join forces before the autumn parliamentary elections. However, the dialogue was unsuccessful. "I am still inclined to see the glass half full. Perhaps what happened is for the best, as we know, unifications before elections mean divisions afterward," said the PL leader. In his message, Mihai Ghimpu also emphasized that the return of the Republic of Moldova to Putin's "Russian world" means the end of the struggle for EU integration, but primarily, the struggle for Union with our Country.
Mold-street.com explains under what conditions Moldova will receive billions from the European Union. This refers to the Growth Plan for Moldova, adopted by the European Commission in October 2024, which provides for an EU financial support package of approximately 1.9 billion euros, of which 1.5 billion euros represent a loan. The document stipulates that the maximum maturity of the loan is 40 years, including a grace period of up to 10 years. The interest rate applied for each tranche will depend on the cost at which the European Commission borrows on the international financial market. Currently, the Republic of Moldova has loans from the European Union with rates ranging from 0.125% to 3.375%, the Ministry of Finance specifies.
What is happening with Moldova's assets in Ukraine? IPN offers an article about the 15 Moldovan state-owned facilities – sanatoriums, holiday camps, centers for children and pensioners located on the territory of Ukraine. While some are still usable, others have been lost, damaged, or are becoming increasingly difficult to manage in the context of regional instability. For example, the medical building of the "Sănătate" (Health) sanatorium in Sergheevca was completely destroyed, and two other buildings were damaged as a result of armed attacks in March. Another holiday camp, "Automobilist" in Sergheevca, although recognized as Moldovan property since 2003, has not benefited from major repair works and generates losses.
The first highway-level road bridge over the Prut will begin construction on April 26, agora.md writes. Construction begins after a break of over 60 years, announced the State Secretary at the Ministry of Transport of Romania, Irinel Ionel Scrioșteanu. The event will be marked by the "Flower Bridge" Festival, organized on the same day in Ungheni. The construction will connect the locality of Golăiești, Iași county, to the locality of Zagarancea, Ungheni district, and aims to improve road connectivity between Romania and the Republic of Moldova.
Hundreds of tons of onions are rotting in Moldovan farmers' warehouses, TV 8 reports. They would be happy to sell it even for three lei per kilogram, but they have no buyers. Farmers blame the authorities for the situation they find themselves in, given that since 2022, stores are no longer obliged to comply with the law that required half of the goods on shelves to be local products. On the other hand, the Ministry of Agriculture tells farmers that they should first find buyers and only then plan production volumes.
The Republic of Moldova is marking European Immunization Week, Moldova 1 writes. For seven days, several actions are organized across the country with the aim of raising awareness about the importance of vaccination for preventing diseases and protecting life. Specialists recommend citizens to be responsible for their health, get vaccinated, and not believe the falsehoods and disinformation in the public space.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
