EU offers over 57 million euros for common projects between Moldova, Romania and Ukraine

Projects to a total value of 57.4 million euros, funded by the European Union through the 2007-2013 Romania-Moldova-Ukraine Joint Operational Program, were approved by the Joint Monitoring Committee at a meeting in Chisinau, the Romanian Embassy in Moldova announced in a press release. “The European Union's Neighborhood Policy means, among other, concrete measures to improve living standards for people and develop states' infrastructure through financing programs that cover a wide range of objectives, from improving health care services to flood protection”, says the press release. One of the approved projects is for a gas pipe connecting the towns of Iasi and Ungheni, which will cost 20.27 million euros. A further 7.07 million euros will be spent on a feasibility study preceding the synchronized connection of the energy systems of Moldova, Romania and Ukraine to the European electricity transmission network ENTSO. Other projects involve: inventorying, assessing and remedying anthropogenic pollution sources in the Lower Danube Region (€5.84m); improving medical emergency and intensive care services (€5.84m); enhancing trans-border infrastructures between Moldova, Romania and Ukraine (€5.22m); improving trans-border cooperation between Romania and Moldova on petroleum products and food control (€3m); and enhancing protection against floods in the upper basins of the rivers Siret and Prut. The concerned states will contribute to each project around 20% of their total costs.