"The European Union is secure only if the Republic of Moldova is secure." By swiftly adopting the Moldova Facility, the European Union demonstrates that it understands this principle and stands united in helping Moldova combat external attacks, improve people's living standards, and continue its European path. This statement was made by member of the European Parliament (MEP) Siegfried Muresan, IPN reports.
According to the MEP, the Stability and Growth Facility (SGF) for the Republic of Moldova is an agreement that brings three key benefits for the country.
The agreement is set to undergo a formal vote in the European Parliament’s plenary session in March, with the legislation coming into force immediately. This will allow the first funds to reach Moldova no later than May.
Additionally, Muresan highlighted that, thanks to his proposal, pre-financing has been increased by over €200 million. These funds will be disbursed to Moldova shortly after the SGF takes effect. Initially, the European Commission had proposed pre-financing of 7% of the €1.8 billion total amount.
"At my proposal, we secured an increase in pre-financing to 18%, which means an additional €200 million, bringing the total pre-financing to over €300 million," wrote the MEP.
Furthermore, the total financial package has been increased by €100 million, from €1.8 billion to €1.9 billion. This includes €60 million in support for the Transnistrian region, as announced by the European Commission in January.
"This is a significant increase for Moldova, which urgently needs as much support as possible to develop its economy, improve infrastructure, modernize roads, schools, and hospitals, as well as to manage the economic consequences of Russia's gas supply blackmail," stated Siegfried Muresan.
The European Parliament and EU member states have agreed on a new €1.9 billion support plan for Moldova. This financial aid aims to accelerate Moldova’s socio-economic reforms, strengthen resilience, and advance its EU integration. Another key goal is to mitigate the profound impact of Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine on Moldova.
