Over 200 million lei invested in local development: dozens of projects funded in February through European Village and Europe is Near programs

The Government of the Republic of Moldova is continuing to invest in the development of local communities through the national programs European Village, 2nd edition, and Europe is Near. According to data presented by the National Office for Regional and Local Development (NORDL), hundreds of projects dedicated to modernizing local infrastructure, improving public services and raising the quality of life for residents across the country were financed in February.

Investments for infrastructure modernization in over 100 localities

Under the European Village Program, 2nd edition, 110 projects were financed in February, and another three projects were completed. The total value of the financial resources allocated for these investments amounts to 107,367,106.87 lei.

The projects are being implemented in 113 localities across the Republic of Moldova and target the modernization of essential infrastructure, with a focus on improving public services for the population.

Thus, the funding has been directed to several priority areas: - 69 projects are dedicated to the development of water supply and sewerage systems;

- 12 projects focus on the rehabilitation of kindergartens, gymnasiums and other public buildings, such as town halls and libraries;

- two projects provide for the construction of photovoltaic power plants;

- eight projects are dedicated to modernizing cultural centers;

- seven projects aim at extending and rehabilitating the public lighting system;

- 12 projects are aimed at arranging or modernizing leisure areas, sports grounds and playgrounds.

Modernizing local roads through the Europe is Near program

In parallel, the Europe is Near Program, aimed at modernizing local roads, continues to be implemented in several localities. In February, 74 road rehabilitation projects were financed, and one project was completed. For these works, the Government allocated a total of 99,072,663.68 lei through the National Fund for Regional and Local Development (NFRLD).

“Projects that are under implementation or already completed contribute to improving safe and comfortable access to hundreds of public institutions in 75 localities of the country, benefiting tens of thousands of citizens,” NORDL notes.

Completed projects under the European Village program

In February, three major projects were completed in the districts of Călărași, Hîncești and Nisporeni.

The first project was implemented in the village of Hoginești, Călărași district, where a sports complex for children, young people and adults was built and developed. The project received funding of 1 million lei from the NFRLD, supplemented by a local public authorities’ contribution of 256,813.50 lei. The new sports infrastructure is intended for approximately 1,599 residents.

Another important project was implemented in the village of Caracui, Hîncești district, where an artesian well was drilled and an above-ground reservoir for drinking water was built. The funding from the NFRLD amounted to 5,757,752.10 lei. Within the project, 1.38 kilometers of water supply networks were built, a 300-cubic-meter water tank was installed, and 650 old meters were replaced with smart meters. Due to these works, the rate of access to drinking water in the locality increased from 28% to 98%. The project serves approximately 550 households, i.e. about 1,600 residents, as well as six public and social institutions and seven economic agents.

The third completed project focused on connecting the village of Bălăurești in Nisporeni district to the drinking water supply complex serving localities located along the Prut River meadow. For this project, 1,575,220.73 lei were allocated from the NFRLD. A total of 3.16 kilometers of water supply networks were built and a drinking water reservoir with a capacity of 50 cubic meters was installed. The investment will serve approximately 540 households, i.e. 2,224 residents, as well as five public institutions and seven economic agents.

Completed road modernization project in Ciorescu

Within the Europe is Near program, a road infrastructure modernization project was completed in February in the commune of Ciorescu, municipality of Chișinău. The project focused on improving access roads and pedestrian platforms to several public institutions, including Nicolae Bălcescu Theoretical Lyceum, Gymnasium No. 45, the Public Library and the Ciorescu Youth Center.

For the implementation of these works, 3,352,964.52 lei were allocated from the NFRLD, resulting in the rehabilitation of 1.2 kilometers of local road. The project brings direct benefits to approximately 7,413 residents and to four public institutions in the locality.

Billion-lei investments in community development

“Overall data show that, so far, for the implementation of projects under way or already completed within the European Village Program, 2nd edition, the Government has allocated over 1.293 billion lei through the National Fund for Regional and Local Development. In total, 888 projects have been approved under the second edition of the program, including 17 projects dedicated to the expansion of public nursery groups. The total estimated budget for their implementation exceeds 2.622 billion lei, of which over 400 million lei represent the contribution of local public authorities,” NORDL explains.

As for the Europe is Near Program, more than 357 million lei have been allocated from the NFRLD so far for the implementation of 353 local road modernization projects. The total estimated budget for these works exceeds 1.68 billion lei, of which 168 million lei constitute the contribution of local public authorities.

Through these programs, the authorities aim to develop local infrastructure, improve access to public services and create better living conditions for residents in both rural and urban areas of the Republic of Moldova.