Officially launched in October 2022, the EU4Moldova: Local Communities Program aims to improve living standards in rural areas. To achieve this ambitious goal, the Program intends to increase the quality of public services in the selected communities, among other objectives, which were discussed during an IPN livescast on Monday.

The program also aims to create business opportunities and jobs, and strengthen local development through the active participation of communities. With a total budget of €27.4 million, the program is expected to be completed by December 2025.
 
Aurelia Bahnaru, president of the resource center e-Circular, said that the program represents a special opportunity for rural localities, especially considering the persisting problem of fund scarcity at the national level. “I’m glad to see that in some settlements the population is again growing, living conditions are getting better, infrastructure is constantly developing, and people are returning home. And such programs allow people to stay in Moldova, live and develop here”.

Viorel Jardan, mayor of Lozova commune in Străseni district, says that this program smartly targets the three key regions of the country, the center, north and south, with one district being selected from each. According to him, these are quite active districts, which now have the opportunity to move faster, reaching the needs of every citizen.

Viorel Jardan believes that thanks to the multitude of areas of intervention this program will actually produce tangible results. Intervention areas include rehabilitating schools, supporting disadvantaged families, and building water supply and sewer systems, among many others. “The most important thing is the support for the local public administration in drafting strategic planning documents and subsequently going with us through all the stages to make sure the results are fully delivered”, the mayor added.

Maria Manole, mayor of Zubrești village in the same district, said that people at the countryside do not want to be different from those living in cities and indeed have expectations regarding the services provided by the local authorities. The program is now helping the village build a sewer system with a treatment facility. Maria Manole added that water supply is another key service that the locals need.

The livecast was the seventh installment of the Benefits of EU Accession Series, run by IPN with the support of the Soros Moldova Foundation.