Moldova first non-EU country to get access to European funds in infrastructure worth 26 billion euros
17:47 | 09.05.2023 Category: Official
Chisinau, 9 May /MOLDPRES/ - Moldova will have access to European Union’s funds for the modernization of the energy sector, transports and digital services, with an overall budget of 26 billion euros. An agreement on Moldova joining the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) was signed by Infrastructure and Regional Development Minister Lilia Dabija and European Commissioner for Transport Adina Valean at the government’s headquarters today. Thus, Moldova is the first state from outside the European Union to get access to this instrument of financing, used by the member states, the government’s communication and protocol department has reported.
The benefits which the programme is to provide for Moldova’s economic development were discussed at a trilateral meeting, with the participation of Prime Minister Dorin Recean, European Commissioner for Transport Adina Valean, the state secretary of Romania’s Transports Ministry, Ionel Scriosteanu.
The agreement will facilitate the attraction of investments in the development of the road and railway transport, in conditions of safety and security, implementation of projects for energy efficiency and de-carbonization of the economy, as well as will contribute to the digitalization of the transport and energy systems.
„We edify Europe at home and lay foundations of a country which is to bring prosperity, peace and opportunities of development for its citizens. In the near future, we will develop an efficient, sustainable infrastructure in the transports sector and interconnected and interoperable networks with EU, which will contribute to the safety and security of the citizens,’’ PM Dorin Recean said at a joint news conference with the EU official.
European Commission Adina Valean reiterated the European Commission’s support for the approach of modernization and development of Moldova and thanked the Moldovan authorities for the openness and solidarity proved towards the citizens of Ukraine.
„In the last year, you have overcome more challenges and proved that you are a valuable partner of the European Union. I want to thank the authorities and citizens of Moldova for the efforts made and the determination to cover, along with the democratic partners, this road of defending the European values,’’ European Commissioner for Transport Adina Valean said.
Also today, three agreements between Moldova and Romania on the construction of the Sculeni-Sculeni, Leuseni-Albita and Cahul-Oancea bridges were signed at the government’s headquarters.
Photo: Government