The €1.8 billion facility (Growth Plan) for the Republic of Moldova was approved on Thursday by the European Parliament. The report presented by MEP Siegfried Mureșan proposes an increase in pre-financing, from 7%, as stipulated in the legislative proposal submitted by the European Commission, to 20% of the total amount. Final negotiations with the Council of the European Union follow, IPN reports.

"Two important things that we have achieved in the negotiations with our colleagues in Parliament. First of all, we convinced our colleagues to propose increasing the pre-financing, from 7 to 20% of the total amount. This is the money that will quickly reach Moldova, shortly after the facility enters into force," the MEP explained.

According to Siegfried Mureșan, as the value of the facility is €1.8 billion, any additional percentage point obtained as pre-financing means €18 million more, which will reach the Republic of Moldova faster.

Siegfried Mureșan said that the second important thing is that an agreement was reached on a non-delayed adoption of the facility and in very good conditions for the authorities and citizens of the Republic of Moldova. In his opinion, it is important that these funds reach the Republic of Moldova as soon as possible to finance roads, hospitals, bridges and to modernize the public administration.

"These are measures that lead to an increase in people's standard of living and accelerate the country's European integration. These are measures that help Moldova to overcome the economic and energy crisis caused by the new blackmail with gas supplies triggered by the Russian Federation," the MEP said.

According to Siegfried Mureșan, only the final negotiations with the Council of the European Union now follow. The objective is to adopt the final form of the legislation, and the facility to enter into force in March.