The European Commission will 100% finance the crossborder programs with Ukraine and Moldova to help implement those cooperation projects disrupted by the Russian military aggression against Ukraine, IPN reports, quoting European sources.
Since the beginning of the war in Ukraine, crossborder cooperation programs between Member States, Ukraine and Moldova have faced serious disruptions. The proposal is crucial to support local schools, hospitals, social care and institutions. Moreover, projects with Ukraine and Moldova addressing migratory challenges will also be retroactively eligible from 24 February 2022, the day of the Russian invasion. The proposal concerns thirteen cross-border and two transnational cooperation programs.
IPN reminds that on May 3, the European Commission proposed to transfer €26.2 million, originally planned for cooperation during 2021-2027 with Russia and Belarus, to the same programmes with Ukraine and Moldova.
“Bringing people living on both sides of the external border of the EU closer to each other and strengthening the collaboration between EU regions and local stakeholders with Ukrainian and Moldovan partners is a concrete step to foster peace and security in the region,” said then EU Commissioner for Cohesion and Reforms, Elisa Ferreira.
Following the Russian military aggression against Ukraine and in line with the measures adopted by the EU, in March 2022 the European Commission suspended the cooperation with Russia and its ally Belarus in the European Neighbourhood Instrument crossborder cooperation programmes (ENI CBC) and in the Interreg Baltic Sea region programme. As a result, four crossborder Interreg programmes involving Ukraine and Moldova will benefit from increased funding for the year 2022.
