“We have a unique chance to implement projects of major importance for our country,” President Maia Sandu posted on her Facebook page ahead of the joint meeting of the Governments of the Republic of Moldova and Romania, which is to take place in Chisinau on February 11. In the meeting, there will be signed an agreement on non-reimbursable financial and technical assistance to the value of €100 million, an agreement on the building of a bridge between Ungheni in Moldova and Ungheni in Romania, an agreement on the renovation and modernization of the Ghiurgiulești-Galați bridge and an agreement on the reduction of roaming charges, IPN reports.
A large part of the €100 million that will be provided by Romania in assistance will supplement the sums allocated to the Regional and Local Development Fund. This way, Romania will contribute to the development of Moldova’s regions and villages by financing social and infrastructure facilities, such as kindergartens, schools, sewerage systems, wastewater treatment stations, street lightning and social entrepreneurship projects. “This money will reach the people in regions through the European Village program,” Prime Minister Natalia Gavrilița posted on Facebook, noting that the other part of the money will go on cultural projects, for investments in the National Theater, the Organ Hall, and on media and other projects that will be identified during the bilateral negotiations.
Deputy Prime Minister Andrei Spînu, Minister of Infrastructure and Regional Development, wrote on social media that they will design a a well-thought-out plan for the efficient management of the Romanian financial assistance and its conversion into concrete projects for the people, such as roads, water supply and sewage systems. “We will regularly inform how and where this money can be used.”
“The fifth joint meeting of the governments of the Republic of Moldova and Romania is a historical moment in the anniversary year when we celebrate the 30th anniversary of the establishment of Moldovan-Romanian diplomatic relations,” Deputy Prime Minister Nicu Popescu, Minister of Foreign Affairs and European Integration, wrote on his Facebook page. “Our strategic partnership for European integration with Romania should strengthen the common history, language and culture so that we accelerate the building of joint infrastructure, such as bridges, energy and communications interconnection, and a profound institutional dialog as we can anchor the Republic of Moldova into the European space firmly and irreversibly only this way and through our bilateral relations with Romania.”
The program of the February 11 event includes the joint meeting of the two executives in the big hall of the Palace of the Republic starting at 10:55am, signing of a number of bilateral agreements and treaties in the small hall of the Palace of the Republic starting at 11:40am and a news conference at 12:15pm.
