Launch of project, Facilitating European Union Accession Process through Coordination and Engagement in Moldova, supported by Germany

Strengthening the capacities of public administration and fostering more active involvement of the society in Moldova’s European integration process will be supported under a new project backed by the Government of Germany – Facilitating the European Union Accession Process through Coordination and Engagement in Moldova (FACE). The project today was launched by Ambassador of Germany to Moldova Hubert Knirsch and Deputy Secretary General of the Government Rodica Crudu.

The FACE project will act at the national level by supporting concrete reforms, coordination, and accession negotiations. At the local level, it will empower authorities to play a more active role in shaping the accession processes through replicable models. The project will also strengthen the involvement of civil society and the Diaspora through participation platforms.

FACE is implemented by the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ) and financed by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), in partnership with the State Chancellery.

“Moldova’s accession to the EU is a comprehensive transformation process that requires strong institutions, effective coordination and active citizens’ engagement. Through the FACE project, we aim to support Moldovan institutions in strengthening administrative capacities and in creating inclusive mechanisms that ensure the sustainability, transparency and alignment of reforms with European standards,” said Rodica Crudu, Deputy Secretary General for European Integration, State Chancellery.

The Government of Germany has constantly supported Moldova’s pro-European reform agenda, and the FACE project builds on previous cooperation efforts: “In the four years since submitting its application, Moldova has made significant progress towards EU accession. Germany continues to support the accession process through the new FACE project launched today. It will enable decision-makers of Moldova to benefit from the best available expertise and to shape the process to the benefit of Moldovan citizens,” said Ambassador Hubert Knirsch.

GIZ Moldova will implement the FACE project in the next three years: “We have been providing support to strengthen the administrative capacities of the main institutions responsible for carrying out Moldova’s EU accession process from the very beginning. Under the FACE project, we will support ministries in implementing concrete reforms from the EU accession agenda and will also promote participation formats that will allow the Diaspora and civil society, including women’s organizations and those representing vulnerable groups, to contribute directly to Moldova’s European path,” emphasized Claudia Hermes, GIZ Moldova Country Director.