The pre-accession funds are linked to the progress achieved in implementing reforms and contribute to the rapid development of the country, director of the Center of European Expertise “Europuls” Tana Alexandra Foarfă stated in IPN’s public debate “Moldovan-Romanian cooperation in accessing European funds”. According to the expert from Brussels, when absorbing European funds, the Moldovan authorities must also involve civil society actors, who have experience in implementing projects at the local level.
The director of “Europuls” Centre of European Expertise said that there is no symbolic moment to start the accession processes and Moldova’s path towards joining the bloc has begun. Once progress is made in implementing the reforms agreed with the European Union, pre-accession funds will also be allocated.
“In the pre-accession part, there would be two components: there is a rigid, institutional component that is based on reports and the roadmap. There is also the transfer of expertise and transfer of mentality. There are resources and opportunities for everyone. For the roadmap, we have the tools made available by the EU, the most important ones being the pre-accession financial instrument that helps us access European funds to do the reforms we need and make investments. The pre-accession funds are linked to progress achieved step by step. For example, if in the roadmap we have to ensure the digitalization of public administration, this is a project that can be accessed from the financial perspective at European level from the pre-accession instrument,” said Tana Alexandra Foarfă, director of the Center of European Expertise “Europuls”.
She also said that the public authorities in Moldova can benefit from the advantages of forming intercommunity development groups. The establishment of such entities gives the LPAs the opportunity to easier access European funds.
“The construction of bridges takes place through partnership groups and intercommunity development groups between various districts and various civil society actors. What good do such development groups do? If a district has a priority similar to a border county in Romania and wants to implement a joint project, instead of everyone accessing those funds separately, there is a legal body that can access the funds directly from Brussels without the need for additional double bureaucracy. Through regional projects, you not only develop the regions, but also ensure the transfer of expertise,’ stated Tana Alexandra Foarfă.
Moreover, for greater absorption of European funds, the Moldovan authorities must involve civil society actors in the pre-accession processes. Ignoring civil society is a mistake made by Romania, which Moldova should avoid, said the expert.
“From Romania you have to take both the good things and the lessons learned. I would like much greater cooperation to exist between public institutions and civil society. In the Republic of Moldova, progress has been made in this regard. But in the exercise of accessing European funds, the more we involve civil society, which has particular expertise and can help implement local projects, the simpler it is to reach a rapid level of development. This is an aspect that Romania has to work on and it is a lesson that I would like to be learned in the Republic of Moldova,” explained the director of “Europuls” Center of European Expertise.
The public debate entitled “Moldovan-Romanian cooperation in accessing European funds” was the second installment of the series “Double integration through cooperation and information. Continuity”. IPN News Agency carries out this project with the support of the Department for Relations with the Republic of Moldova of the Government of Romania.
