The European Union since October 2021 until present mobilized over €1.2 billion for the Republic of Moldova. The money was allocated to help the country overcome the experienced energy crisis and economic and security challenges, said MEP Siegfried Mureșan.
According to him, the financial support in non-reimbursable funds and in loans released in advantageous conditions was allocated for meeting the most pressing needs of the Republic of Moldova and its citizens, for ensuring the country’s macroeconomic stabilization and support measures for people affected by the rise in energy prices, measures to increase safety amidst the security threats generated by the war and for investing in the country’s modernization, infrastructure and transition to the green economy.
The MEP said that the European institutions the past year treated the supporting of the Republic of Moldova as a priority. Even the EU member states that several years ago had reservations in this regard realized now the important role played by the Republic of Moldova for the stability and safety of the whole European Union. This openness is due to the regional situation caused by the war in Ukraine and also to the pro-European political majority in Chisinau and the administration of the state that, by the made efforts, gained the European partners’ confidence.
Siegfried Mureșan noted that Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine seriously affected the Republic of Moldova. The authorities and the citizens had to manage the Ukrainian refugee crisis overnight. The security risks grew and the Russian Federation’s attempts to destabilize the situation in Moldova intensified. The war in Ukraine affected also Moldova’s international trade as agricultural producers are unable to export their goods via Ukraine. Despite all the challenges, Moldova made impressive progress the past two years in doing the reforms needed in the European integration process and in modernizing justice, public administration, in fighting corruption and implementing measures to guarantee the human rights.
The official said that the support for Moldova should be continued and accelerated in 2024. “The Republic of Moldova proved that it deserves a clear perspective as regards the opening of negotiations on accession to the European Union. That’s why we, the European Parliament, repeatedly asked this year to open the accession negotiations with the Republic of Moldova until 2024, after the nine reform recommendations transmitted by the European Commission are met. We must also continue helping Moldova with European funds,” stated Siegfried Mureșan.
On June 23, 2022, the European Council granted the EU candidate status to Moldova following an application submitted by the country on March 3 the same year, as a result of an appraisal by the European Commission, which put forward nine recommendations that the official Chisinau must fulfill before the accession negotiations with the EU are opened.
