The European integration of the Republic of Moldova can be stimulated through, with and owing to projects implemented with support from the European Union. In this regard, crossborder partnerships with Romania should be promoted and examples of good practices between Romania and the Republic of Moldova in different areas of interest should be presented, said the programs director of the Institute for Development and Expertise of Projects (IDEP) Iurie Calestru.

“Owing to the incredible openness of institutions, localities, counties and ordinary people, the Republic of Moldova can obtain higher living standards for the citizens through the agency of European projects faster. This would bring the Republic of Moldova closer to the natural integration into the European Union through projects implemented at the level of citizens, institutions, organizations, localities,” Iurie Calestru stated in a news conference.

According to him, during the past 11 months, IDEP Moldova, together with the partners, organized multiple discussion forums to stimulate the absorption of European funds by the Republic of Moldova, which was granted the EU candidate status. These brought together about 1,000 key figures, representatives of managerial teams from both sides of the Prut River. Also, with the support of the Romanian authorities and institutions, IDEP staged working visits and contributed to establishing partnerships.

“We hope that these visits, partnerships, discussions and interhuman contacts will materialize into draft projects that would be used together to take the long-awaited and desired opportunities offered by the Instrument for Pre-accession Assistance. This instrument will enable the Republic of Moldova to increase the living standards through projects implemented in infrastructure and also in the field of human capacity and development of human capacity,” stated Iurie Calestru.

IDEP Moldova is an apolitical organization recognized at national, regional and European levels for its initiatives with a major impact discussed with key players from European and regional public politics within broad high-level debates.

The news conference was held within the framework of the project “Double Integration through Cooperation and Information” which is implemented by IPN News Agency with financing from the Department for the Relationship with the Republic of Moldova of the Government of Romania. The content of this news item does not represent the official position of the Department for the Relationship with the Republic of Moldova.