A forum entitled “Absorption of European Funds by the Republic of Moldova” was held in Iasi last week and involved over 330 participants from Romania and the Republic of Moldova, IPN reports.

Iurie Calestru, programs director of the Institute for Development and Expertise of Projects (IDEP), who led Moldova’s delegation, in a news conference hosted by IPN said the goal of the event was to borrow Romania’s good practices reading the establishment of interpersonal contacts, transformation of these into interinstitutional partnerships for implementing projects financed with European funding through joint Moldovan-Romanian teams.

“We thank this way Romania for the openness to transmit good practices and also the errors that we should avoid on the way to integration into the European Union. Identifying solutions for absorbing European funds that became available to the Republic of Moldova together with the obtaining of the EU candidate status is one of the priority directions in the work of IDEP Moldova,” stated Iurie Calestru.

In the forum, it was reiterated the importance of attracting European funds and using these in the best way possible as they are essential for improving the quality of life of citizens.

“Since the start of September 2022, a series of events and working visits between partners from both sides of the Prut have been staged to establish partnerships, including within the Parliament of Romania,” noted the IDEP programs director.

According to him, all these approaches are made in a move to support the Moldovan government in its European integration efforts and this can be done by implementing European projects that can bring the European standards closer to the citizens.