Financial assistance for the Republic of Moldova

Romania will continue to support the Republic of Moldova through a programme of technical and financial assistance.

Corina Cristea, 20.01.2022, 13:50

The Romanian government approved a memorandum based on
which Romania will continue to provide technical and financial assistance to
the Republic of Moldova, an ex-Soviet state with a majority Romanian-speaking
population, in a number of areas, in order to support it on its path to European
accession. It’s an important and necessary decision, given that the previous
agreement of this type, from April 2010, expired in March last year, despite Romania’s
sustained efforts to improve and expand its application.

The latest decision in
effect gives the green light to negotiations and signing of a new accord on the
implementation of the assistance programme based on financial assistance worth
100 million euros. The renewal of the legal framework for the provision
of non-reimbursable assistance reiterates Romania’s commitments to support the modernisation
and consolidation of Moldova’s resilience, writes a statement from the foreign
ministry in Bucharest. The future accord will provide a solid framework for the
implementation of projects that can contribute to intensifying cooperation
between Bucharest and Chișinău and the development of the bilateral strategic
partnership for Moldova’s European integration. The accord will also allow the
intensification of efforts to bring Moldova closer to the European Union with
Romania’s help, promoting the reform process in the European spirit and boosting
Moldova’s economic and social development in the direct interest of its
citizens.

In the old accord, Romania provided technical and financial support
to projects such as the rehabilitation and modernisation of 1,000 schools and
the development of the Iaşi-Chişinău gas pipe, a
strategic project aiming to ensure the energy interconnection between Romania and
Moldova.

Dan Cărbunaru, the spokesman of the Romanian
government said the accord will include provisions aimed at expanding cooperation
in the energy sector, the transport infrastructure, environmental protection, the
fight against climate change and public and infrastructure works, as well as small
and medium-sized businesses, the independence of the media, the reform of the
public administration, home affairs, healthcare, education, culture and
heritage, research and tourism.

As soon as it was approved by the
Romanian government, the accord was sent to the Moldovan authorities in order
to start talks before being signed in a joint government meeting on 11th
February hosted by Chişinău. (CM)