The President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen is expected to come to Chisinau next week. The European official will present a new financial assistance instrument for Moldova, said sources of RFE/RL’s Moldovan Service in Brussels, quoted by IPN.

It goes to the Reform and Growth Mechanism, which is already used by the EU to stimulate transformations in the Western Balkan countries. For the Western Balkans, the instrument includes funds of €6 billion for 2024-2027, but it is not clear what the amount earmarked for the Republic of Moldova is.

The quoted source also said that the Moldovan authorities did not want to comment on the expected visit by Ursula von der Leyen, which would take place only about 10 days before the presidential election and the referendum on joining the EU.

In the case of the Balkan candidates, but most likely also of Moldova, the main objective of the mechanism is to support alignment with EU values, legislative provisions, norms, standards, policies and practices for the future integration into the EU, as well as progressive integration into the EU single market and socioeconomic convergence with the EU.