The beneficiaries from the Republic of Moldova will be able to access €215 million in grant funding provided by the European Commission for joint social development projects in the Danube Region, which will be implemented under an extended transnational partnership. Parliament ratified the financing agreement between the Republic of Moldova, the European Commission and the Office of the Prime Minister of Hungary for the Interreg Danube Region Program IV-B 2021-2027, IPN reports.

The Interreg Danube Region Program aims to improve public policies and institutional cooperation by financing a number of priorities, such as competitiveness and intelligence, green community and better cooperation governance in the Danube Region. The projects will contribute to developing the cooperation relations between the Republic of Moldova, the European Commission and the other 14 participating states.

The first part of the call for project proposals was launched on September 29, 2022 and the second part is now ongoing.

The financing agreement between the Republic of Moldova, the European Commission and the Office of the Prime Minister of Hungary for the Interreg Danube Region Program IV-B 2021-2027 was signed on August 11, 2023. The total budget of the program is €268.8 million and the beneficiaries will contribute at least 20% of the budget.

In the same sitting, Parliament ratified the trilateral financing agreement between the Republic of Moldova, the European Commission and the Ministry of Development, Public Works and Administration of Romania. This way, the communities in the crossborder areas of the Republic of Moldova and Romania could access European funds to implement joint projects. The about €77.3 million worth of grants will be provided through the agency of the Interreg NEXT Romania – Republic of Moldova Program VI-A 2021-2027.