The visit paid to Chisinau by the President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen is a clear signal that the Republic of Moldova remains a priority on Brussels’ agenda. Deputy Prime Minister for European Integration Cristina Gerasimov said that the Moldova Growth Plan to the value of €1.8 billion is the most consistent financial aid package offered to the Republic of Moldova by the European Union since independence, IPN reports.
The money will be invested in modernizing infrastructure, strengthening energy security, business development. “Investments in the economic sector will lead to the creation of 100,000 new jobs and 5,000 new businesses will be supported. Also, the money will be directed to support 25,000 existing small and medium-sized enterprises. We are going to invest a lot in the repair of roads, railways, bridges. It also goes to the Chisinau ring road and the construction of bridges over the Prut. We will use this money to ensure access to clean water and to sewerage. Over one and a half million people will benefit from better standards in these areas. We will also invest in two new regional hospitals, in Cahul and Balti,” Cristina Gerasimov stated in the program “Parallel 47” on Radio Moldova station.
The head of the Office for European Integration explained that the €1.8bn support package does not cancel the other EU financial instruments that the Republic of Moldova benefits from. “During the last three years, the European Union has invested €2.2 billion, which came through multiple financial instruments, for example, to support the economy, the security sector, education. It has invested in programs to support civil society. The instrument announced by Ursula von der Leyen is a new instrument to which we have not had access until now, but such a plan already exists for the Western Balkan states, as well as for Ukraine. The Republic of Moldova will now benefit from it as well,” said the Deputy Prime Minister for European Integration.
Of the €1.8 billion financial package, €1.5 billion represents loans offered on preferential terms, and the rest of the amount is non-reimbursable financial support.
