The Republic of Moldova should extend its capacities to absorb European funds and the Government should include cells that would deal with the writing and management of European projects, Mihai Mogîldea, executive vice director of the Institute for European Policies and Reforms (IPRE), stated in a public debate titled “What can Moldova gain from Connecting Europe Facility if...?” which was hosted by IPN. According to the expert, this facility will help Moldova attract investments and improve the living standards of citizens so that the people feel the benefits provided by the EU candidate status.
He noted that the Connecting Europe Facility enables Moldova to ask for financing from the EU for projects of common interest in the transport, energy and digital realms to improve connectivity between the EU and its neighbors. Owing to this mechanism, Moldova already signed a number of interconnection agreements with Romania, to build and modernize road bridges over the Prut.
“Our advantage is that the projects that are to be developed involve at least one EU member state. Being projects aimed at interconnecting Europe, it’s clear that they will involve at least two states. These funds of the European Union are to be spent to bring the EU neighborhood closer to the EU so that the European citizens and the non-European citizens benefit from these projects,” stated Mihai Mogîldea, noting that in the case of Moldova, emphasis will be placed on projects of interconnection with Romania and Moldova can benefit from the experience of Romania and other EU member states in writing, developing, conceptualizing projects.
The IPRE expert said the Connecting Europe Facility is an excellent platform that will enable the Republic of Moldova to benefit from EU projects and the Government should therefore develop its institutional capacities to absorb EU funds. The State Chancellery should deal with the creation of cells that would manage the process of applying for, implementing, reporting on these projects.
“The Republic of Moldova should come up with its own initiatives and should not wait for Romania or other states to propose projects by which we can increase the level of interconnection. The Ungheni mayor’s office, for example, has a four-member cell that writes projects for a city that is not very large. It is so possible at the local level and a similar approach can be adopted at national level,” noted Mihai Mogâldea.
The Connecting Europe Facility is a platform that will help Moldova integrate into the EU single market, will promote economic growth, the creation of jobs and competitiveness.
“It’s clear that together with this mechanism, more investments will come for the Republic of Moldova, more benefits that will be felt by our citizens. The Republic of Moldova should take all the existing opportunities in this period of transition so that the citizens feel faster the benefits of the integration into the European Union. We do not need to invest a lot of money within these programs. We rather receive EU funds we need to put to good use. This mechanism is an example for preparing the population for the subsequent EU member status,” said Mihai Mogîldea.
The public debate entitled “What can Moldova gain from Connecting Europe Facility if...?” was the 284th installment of IPN’s project “Impact of the Past on Confidence and Peace Building Processes” that is supported by the Hanns Seidel Foundation of Germany.
