The Republic of Moldova and the European Union have reached a final agreement on the aid package that was announced earlier this week. Prime Minister Dorin Recean said that the Government on Friday will sign a non-reimbursable financing contract with the European Commission through which Moldova will receive €64 million in support, IPN reports.

The money will come in two installments. "€30 million will be used to buy gas and electricity for both banks of the Nistru. Respectively, €20 million will go to purchase natural gas as humanitarian aid for the Transnistrian region, and €10 million – to purchase electricity for the needs of the right bank of the Nistru," stated Dorin Recean.

Another €34 million will come as budget support. The details of the second tranche of budget support will be announced later.

"The European Union is saving the Republic of Moldova again. This is what European solidarity means. While Russia leaves the people in the cold and darkness, Europe comes with money and concrete and direct support to help us get rid of this energy blackmail once and for all," said Premier Recean.

On January 1, the Russian company Gazprom stopped the delivery of natural gas to Moldovagaz, even though there is a contract valid until 2026, leaving consumers in the Transnistrian region without natural gas and, respectively, without heat and hot water. The power supply in the Transnistria rejoin is turned off daily for four hours because the MGRES (Kuchurgan Power Plant), which switched to coal, cannot meet the power demand in the region.

In the context of the support package provided by the European Union, the dialogue between energy experts from both banks of the Nistru River is ongoing to identify legal solutions to ensure the supply of electricity and natural gas to the Transnistrian region.