The new financial assistance package announced by the European Union will contribute to strengthening Moldova’s security, will support economic development and connectivity and will help the Moldovan authorities in the strategic communication and propaganda countering processes, said secretary of state of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European Integration Stela Leucă. According to the official, the sum of €600 million announced by the President of the European Commission will be offered to Moldova for a period of four years, IPN reports.
In a statement, the President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen said the support package for Moldova has five priorities aimed at bringing Moldova closer to the European Union.
“Economic development and connectivity are one of the main five areas that the European Union will support with this new financing. Energy security and security in general are two more priority areas. The Republic of Moldova will also be assisted to design and do reforms and to improve strategic communication and counter manipulation and disinformation. The made announcement is a first step towards the provision of this money. It goes to €600 million. These are new funds that will be offered besides those sums pledged by the EU, which total €1.2 billion. This €600 million is to be approved by the political entities of the European Union, namely the Parliament and the Council. This assistance covers the next four years,” Stela Leucă stated in the program “Parallel 47” on Radio Moldova station.
The five priorities are: facilitating economic development and connectivity; supporting Moldova’s reforms through strengthening administrative capacity; ensuring Moldova’s energy security; enhancing security; countering foreign information manipulation and interference. According to representatives of civil society, given the war in Ukraine, the strengthening of Moldova’s security is a priority.
“Security for the Republic of Moldova is the key priority now. But at the moment, the European Union is concerned about the security of the own borders. Increased attention will be devoted to strengthening of the Republic of Moldova’s borders with Romania, combating of contraband, trafficking in drugs and human beings. There are particularly men from Ukraine who would like to illegally cross the border. This way, our objectives are aligned with those of the EU and we now need to modernize the security sector technically,” said expert of Watchdog association Andrei Curărău.
In a press release, the European Commission said the €600 will be allocated through the agency of the Neighborhood, Development and International Cooperation Instrument, for 2024-2027 programs to increase support for other neighborhood countries, including Moldova.
