Moldova shows limited capacity of absorbing EU funds under water supply projects

Moldova shows difficulties in absorbing EU funds allotted for the expansion of water supply and sewage systems. In 2011, the Moldovan authorities managed to use only 80% of the European financing. EU experts will assess the absorption capacity in 2012 and then will decide if they should continue the financing, Info-Prim Neo reports. Head of Operations Section of the EU Delegation in Moldova Kaido Sirel said during the international conference “Challenges in the water and sewage sector in Moldova”, on November 6, that the EU could offer more financial assistance to Moldova, but sometimes it witnesses a limited capacity of absorbing European funds. Kaido Sirel said that financing for this sector ends in 2013 and European experts will come to Chisinau to evaluate how Moldova spent the money and will decide accordingly what opportunities of financing will be provided in the following period. The official recommended all the actors involved in this process to focus on several goals and namely to expand the centralized water supply and sewage system and to develop the people’s access to this system. Prime Minister Vlad Filat said that quality water supply and sewage services remained a priority for the authorities. According to the Prime Minister, about 1000 km of new water piping have been built over the last two years. “If between 2000 and 2009, the investment in this sector was only €31 million, the last two years brought funding of over €114 million and 136 water pipes were built with public money. We’re happy with these results, but they show we’re only at the beginning. In Moldova, half of the population drinks water of poor quality. We have a lot of work to do and we need many resources”, he added. Minister of Environment Gheorghe Salaru said that in Moldova, the people’s right to water supply wasn’t ensured properly. A part of people lack safe and long-term access to water sources. According to the Minister, 45% of the population doesn’t have access to quality water supply systems and 65% lack access to sewage systems. The international conference “Challenges in the water supply and sewage sector in Moldova” was organized by the Ministry of Environment, the EU Delegation in Moldova and the Swiss Cooperation Office.