The European Union supports the Republic of Moldova through funds provided as budget support and through programs implemented in different areas, which contribute to the modernization and democratization of the country, said the EU Ambassador to Moldova Janis Mazeiks. According to the diplomat, the €250 million announced by the President of the European Commission in November are designed to ensure the efficient management of the energy crisis and the refugee crisis, IPN reports.
While in Chisinau on a visit, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced that Moldova will receive €100 million in grants and the same amount in loans from the European Union to meet its gas needs this winter. An extra €50 million will help the country’s most vulnerable citizens. The Head of the EU Delegation in Chisinau said the money will be used to manage the energy crisis and also the Ukrainian refugee crisis.
“The €250 million announced by Missis President represents new support that comes in addition to the financial assistance offered earlier. Since last autumn, the EU, together with Team Europe, has offered €840 million to Moldova in grants and loans. A part of this money is very visible, like the support provided by the EU in budget support for the energy sector. Last year, the EU provided €60 million for offering subsidies, while this year, back in August, the EU projected €75 million for the purpose. Of the €250 million announced, a part may not be evident as direct funds and the funds intended for the refugees will not be visible to the citizens of the Republic of Moldova, except for the host families,” Janis Mazeiks stated in an interview with Radio Moldova.
The diplomat noted the EU will continue to invest in strengthening Moldova’s defense capabilities by offering equipment for modernizing the National Army. The EU will further support the justice sector reform in Moldova, both as regards pre-vetting and the extraordinary assessment of judges and prosecutors.
“The EU also offers support, which is not mandatorily financial one, for strengthening the defense sector. This year, through the agency of the European Peace Facility, we offer €40 million to the defense sector. It goes to non-lethal aid that consists of vehicles, communication equipment, software. We have approximately 100 projects under implementation across the country. There is no area in which the EU does not provide assistance and it also supports agriculture, the mass media, the enterprises. We offer support for the justice sector reform. The justice sector is a priority for next year as this has been a problematic area for many years. The support for the energy sector is the second sector on which we will insist in 2023. The country already took rather important steps to build its energy resilience, but many things are yet to be done,” said Janis Mazeiks.
Besides the €75 million provided by the EU for giving subsidies to the citizens, the Government of Germany offered €40 million to Chisinau, which will be part of the Energy Vulnerability Reduction Fund.
#TEAMEUROPE was born out of the extraordinary conditions created in 2020 by the COVID-19 pandemic, as a united European response to the major needs emerging in the partner countries. Team Europe combines the collective development resources of the EU, Member States — including their respective financial institutions and implementing agencies — the European Investment Bank and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development.
