The Institute for the Development and Expertise of Projects (IDEP Moldova) counts on a framework of cooperation with the Government on the Chisinau-Ungheni highway. In a news conference hosted by IPN, Iurie Calestru, IDEP Moldova programs director, said the inclusion of the highway in the Moldova Road IV Project and the signing of a €150 million loan agreement with the EIB for implementing the project do not mean that Moldova will have a highway tomorrow. This will yet happen in a period and it is important to combine forces for the purpose.
The highway project was presented in Chisinau three years ago. The event involved representatives of the central authorities, operators from the fields of logistics and road building, from the academic and NGOs sectors of Moldova and Romania. The participants confirmed their interest in improving road infrastructure and in ensuring road connection with the EU. Three years of work, debates with key players of Chisinau, Iasi, Odessa, Kiev, Brussels, Strasbourg and Luxemburg followed. As a result, there were agreed the instruments for financing technical documentation and the feasibility study, said Iurie Calestru.
Sergiu Manea, president of the Employers Association of the Tourism Industry, said that with a highway connected to the European Union, the Republic of Moldova will become more competitive, attractive and developed. The civil society’s effort persuaded the authorities that the Târgu-Mureș-Iasi-Ungheni highway, known as the Union Highway, should be continued. This project can connect the three regional economic poles - Iasi, Chisinau and Odessa – so as to facilitate the transportation of passengers and freight and the foreigners’ access to the region.
Gabriel Mărgineanu, of IDEP Moldova, noted the extension of the highway perfectly matches the interest in extending the Trans-European road network. MEPs supported the extension of the network of European motorways within the Eastern Partnership.
The activists called on the Government of the Republic of Moldova to organize technical discussions and to work on the feasibility study component in conditions of transparency and in accordance with citizens’ wishes.
