When we have an infrastructure object of such a level as the Union Highway, which will interconnect the road infrastructure in Romania and Moldova, we will be able to integrate into the European Union. The road to the European Union means connectivity improved through modern infrastructure, Iurie Calestru, program director at the Institute for Development and Expertise of Projects (IDEP-Moldova), stated in a public debate hosted by IPN News Agency.

He noted that the highway is a project that can transform the development paradigm of the Republic of Moldova through major initiatives. This could be a good omen for the Republic of Moldova to replicate other important infrastructure projects, based on the given example.

Asked if the involvement of the European Union in the pre-feasibility study inspires confidence, Iurie Calestru said that in order to secure financing from international institutions, especially the European Investment Bank, it is essential to establish a partnership with recognized institutions, but also cooperation relations through the European Union. Then the international institutions will recognize the document drawn up in strict cooperation with them, according to their standard, and will speak the same language.

“In 2018, the President of Romania Klaus Iohannis declared the Union Highway a national priority. In the discussion with the president of the Romanian Investors Association in the Republic of Moldova, even at a press conference, he said that on the day the Republic of Moldova will declare the highway a national priority, there will be at least two reasons to convince foreign investors to enter the Republic of Moldova,” satted Iurie Calestru.

The program director at IDEP-Moldova also said that, in addition to the connectivity benefits, it is important to understand the significant impact that this project will have on migration. There will be a reason for the people who want to emigrate due to the lack of appropriate infrastructure to stay, and investors that are looking for a place to open their factory, production will analyze more carefully the regions of the Republic of Moldova.

The public debate entitled “Union Highway, interconnection of road infrastructure in Romania and the Republic of Moldova” was the eighteenth installment of the project “Double integration through cooperation and information. Continuity”, which is funded by the Department for Relations with the Republic of Moldova of the Government of Romania. The content of the debate does not represent the official position of the Department for Relations with the Republic of Moldova.