The European Commission will provide an investment grant of €12 million for the EIB Global project to rehabilitate and modernize two key sections of railway line in Moldova, IPN reports, quoting a press release of the European Commission.
The financial package was formalized at the Global Gateway Forum by European Commissioner for Neighborhood and Enlargement Olivér Várhelyi and European Investment Bank (EIB) President Werner Hoyer. Supported by a forthcoming loan of €42 million from EIB Global, the upgraded railway infrastructure will not only enhance internal connectivity within the country, but also offer a crucial export route for Ukraine, fostering regional stability and economic resilience.
The rehabilitation of Moldova’s north-south railway corridor will be central to this project. It provides a critical link from western Ukraine to key Danube and Prut River ports with access to international waters. The improved existing railway connection between Moldova and Ukraine aims to boost trade and is set to benefit both Ukrainian exports and the Moldovan economy, particularly in the context of the EU-Ukraine Solidarity Lanes initiative.
The project will be implemented by the Moldovan railway operator Calea Ferată din Moldova and will cover the rehabilitation of railway infrastructure on Moldova’s Vălcineț-Ungheni-Chișinău-Căinari corridor. It is part of an overarching countrywide reform to improve the existing rail infrastructure and to bring Moldova’s railway network in line with EU standards and practices in the longer term.
Observing the signing of the investment grant for Moldova at the Global Gateway Forum, Prime Minister of the Republic of Moldova Dorin Recean said: “We are grateful to both the EU Commission and the EIB for supporting our efforts in developing a modern and efficient rail network in the Republic of Moldova. The rehabilitation of the north - south rail corridor in the country, which is a project of particular importance in the context of the Solidarity Lanes, will bring long-term economic benefits to the whole region. The project represents a well-integrated part of our endeavor to fully integrate the Republic of Moldova into the European rail network. In view of achieving this objective, we further strongly rely on the EIB and EU support.”
