“We are throwing a lifeline today,” stated European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, in the context of the EU’s assistance package aimed at ending the crisis in the Transnistrian region, IPN reports.

“We simply cannot accept that people on our continent do not have access to the most basic services. Hard times reveal true friends. This is why we are throwing a lifeline today. We will deliver gas to the people of the Transnistrian region and provide them with access to electricity and heating,” said Ursula von der Leyen.

In a press release, the European Commission confirmed that today it proposed an emergency assistance package worth 30 million euros as a first step to support Moldova in addressing the severe energy crisis caused by Gazprom.

Through this package, the EU announced that it is ready to fund the purchase and transport of natural gas to the Transnistrian region in order to help restore the supply of electricity and heating to the more than 350,000 residents of the region by February 10. The package can also help ensure electricity supply from the left bank to the right bank.

Thus, the EU has committed to providing this financial support package in the coming weeks. Additionally, a larger assistance package is being prepared to further support the entire country during this difficult time.

So far, the EU has already provided 240 million euros in direct budgetary support for Moldova's energy sector from 2021 to 2024, to help the most vulnerable people.