Moldova marks 25 years of cooperation within Central European Initiative

Chisinau, 8 November /MOLDPRES/ - Moldova marks the 25th anniversary of its accession to the biggest inter-governmental forum for regional cooperation in the Central and South-Eastern Europe – the Central European Initiative (CEI), the Foreign Affairs and European Integration Ministry’s (MAEIE) press service has reported.  

Since the getting of the status of CEI member, Moldova has benefited from nine technical assistance projects in such innovating sectors as: transport, connectivity, green energy, infrastructure, support of small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), institutional capacity, etc., worth over 1.2 million euros.     

In this respect, CEI has developed a mechanism aimed at concrete results, combining the multilateral diplomacy and financial instruments made available to the member states, as follows: CEI fund for inter-state small-scale projects and the CEI fund within the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), backed by the Italian government, which provides assistance in preparing files on the financing of technical projects and identifying investments.    

The most turned to account instrument of transfer of experience between the CEI member states is the Know-How Exchange Programme (KEP). Since its launch, on the period 2004 -2020, thee non-governmental institutions and organizations from Moldova co-participated, along with other non-EU member states, in the implementation of inter-state projects selected following appeals of KEP projects, worth over 1.3 million euros, with the organization’s contribution standing at over 420,000 euros.     

The Central European Initiative has quickly adapted to the changed triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic, through the launch of appeals of projects meant to support the member states in identifying the best solutions to cope with the difficulties prompted by the pandemic. Presently, two projects financed by CEI, which regard the medical system, are under implementation in Moldova.    

Moldova will further back the CEI’s strategic goals on the consolidation of the political and economic relations regionally, as well as will ensure the fulfillment of its commitments, taken through strategic documents, in accordance within status as member of the Organization. The result of those 25 years of cooperation in the CEI format has at the basis the joint interest which pursues: the European integration, peace and solidarity through the regional cooperation.       

Photo: MAEIE