VIDEO // Prime Minister: Brussels wants Moldova to move forward, and reforms linked to Growth Plan designed to bring country closer to EU

Brussels wants the Republic of Moldova to move forward, and the reforms linked to the Growth Plan are designed to bring the country closer to the European Union. The statement was made today by Prime Minister Vasile Tofan at the beginning of the Government meeting, in the context of the announcement regarding the allocation of a new €157 million instalment from the EU, after the Republic of Moldova successfully implemented 18 reforms associated with the Plan.

According to the official, the €157 million will be transferred directly to the state budget and will be used for actions aimed at contributing to the country's development.


“We started the week on a very positive note. I was in Brussels and we have good news. I want to explain the mechanism for providing support from the EU. Our country has committed to carrying out a series of important reforms. Each of them has a monetary equivalent. Thus, in the first six months of the year, from January to June, we implemented 18 of the 20 reforms we had committed to, corresponding to €157 million delivered by Brussels. This is a merit-based mechanism, which means that if you deliver the reforms, you receive funding. For the second half of the year, we have 40 reforms to deliver, which means that the amount disbursed will be even higher. Brussels wants the Republic of Moldova to move forward, and the reforms undertaken are designed to bring us closer to the EU,” said Vasile Tofan.


He presented several of the reforms implemented in the first half of the current year, which made it possible to disburse the €157 million.


“An important reform was the digitalization of customs processes. We want to integrate into the European Union, so our customs service must operate in accordance with European principles. Thus, 17 processes have been digitalized. It is a complex reform that also requires investment in IT. Another reform provides industrial consumers with access to the gas market, meaning that purchases are not made solely by Energocom. They can find another supplier. This will create more competition in the system, which means lower prices. Reforms have also been carried out in the telecommunications sector. Other actions concern the independence of the Court of Accounts, so that we have strong institutions to oversee the spending of public funds. At present, an important action is to complete the Vulcănești–Chișinău power line as soon as possible,” Vasile Tofan pointed out.


The European Union announced on Monday that the Republic of Moldova will receive a new €157 million instalment from the Growth Plan. The financial support is being provided following the European Commission's positive assessment, which established that Moldova had successfully implemented 18 reforms associated with the document.

The €1.9 billion Growth Plan aims to support economic development and create jobs in Moldova by accelerating reforms and improving the country's access to the EU Single Market, thereby bringing Moldova closer to accession to the European Union.

The €157 million is the third instalment provided to our country by the European Union. With this latest payment, the total amount made available to the Republic of Moldova under the Plan reaches €661 million.