BUDGET PLUS// 579 projects worth 2.6 billion lei submitted for Europe is Near Program

579 projects with an estimated value of 2.6 billion lei have been submitted under the Europe is Near Program, aimed at modernizing local roads nationwide. Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Infrastructure and Regional Development Vladimir Bolea made the statement during a press conference dedicated to the project's results, which will be supported by the European Union.

According to the official, the number of submitted files indicates how severe the situation is and how necessary these works are for communities.


'Most applications are from the districts of Cahul, Orhei, Ialoveni, Soroca, etc., with the central and northern regions leading. The new program is a direct response to the needs expressed by citizens and mayors, continuing the local development efforts supported by previous European Village programs, which covered over 1,600 projects nationwide', declared Vladimir Bolea.


Data presented shows that the Central Region leads with 239 submitted projects; the Northern Region has submitted 178 projects. The Southern Region, Gagauzia and Chisinau have collectively submitted 162 projects. At the district level, the most active were Cahul (27 projects), Orhei (26 projects), Ialoveni and Soroca (24 projects each).

The projects involve various types of interventions: modernizing 41 km of district or municipal roads, rehabilitating 516 km of commune roads and local streets, and arranging 110 km of sidewalks to public institutions such as town halls, cultural centers, and kindergartens.

The Minister of Infrastructure reiterated the financing conditions: localities with less than 1,500 inhabitants will receive financing of 2 million lei; localities with less than 1,500 inhabitants involved in an amalgamation process can access funds up to 5 million lei without own contribution; localities with over 1,500 inhabitants can receive funding for projects up to 10 million lei, with co-financing from the municipality.

A crucial condition for the municipalities that applied for the road component is to have or submit a request for the elaboration of the General Urban Plan (PUG). 'This is a basic condition,' the minister clarified, adding that already 240 localities benefit from support for the development of PUGs through European Village programs 1 and 2.

The official summarized that the program is an important step in fulfilling the Government's commitments to raise citizens' living standards, providing them with better conditions in their localities. The priority in selecting projects will be given, among others, to the severity of the infrastructure situation, the necessity to complete started works, and the direct impact on the residents' quality of life.

The program was initiated in April 2025, targeting the modernization of local roads, village infrastructure, sidewalk construction, and other essential objectives for citizens. According to the Government, this measure aims to solve citizens' mobility, living standards, and elevate standards in our localities, especially the rural ones.