Over 250 authorities from four countries join efforts for regional development, European integration

The Committee for the establishment of a European Grouping of Territorial Cooperation (EGTC) was set un in Chisinau. This is an initiative that will initially bring together about 250 authorities and institutions from Moldova, Romania, Ukraine and Poland. The aim of the initiative is to speed up regional and cross-border development projects.

The initiative was launched during the European Cross-Border Cooperation International Forum, which brought together over 300 representatives from public authorities and institutions of the four countries.

The event was opened by President Maia Sandu, who emphasized the essential role of cross-border cooperation in accelerating the European integration of Moldova. In her message, the head of state highlighted the importance of cross-border cooperation for the prosperity and stability of Moldova, as well as in the EU accession process.

"I welcome the fact that Moldova, Romania, Ukraine, and Poland are uniting efforts in tighter cooperation. Because we can attract more investments and transform borders into bridges of development only through collaboration. If we look around, we see how Romania and Poland have radically transformed after joining the European Union. European integration helps enormously. Countries that were not necessarily very strong economically in the past today have become economic engines and pillars of stability in the region and even on the continent as part of the EU," said Maia Sandu.

The Moldovan president emphasized the importance of European funds and highlighted the primary role of mayors in explaining the sources of projects’   financing to the people.

"It is the right moment to tell citizens who helps us improve life in our settlements, who wants peace for us and who wants Moldova to remain a free country," Maia Sandu added.

Greetings were also conveyed by MEPs Victor Negrescu and Siegfried Mureșan. In their video addresses from Brussels, the two European officials assured Moldova of their full support on the path to European integration and encouraged mayors to develop cross-border projects, access European funds and promote European standards.

"Being in the European Union means being stronger as a state, means security is  protected, strengthened, supported. We don't impose anything; we only cooperate. Creating this infrastructure, these premises for cooperation on the occasion of this forum will allow you to accelerate this process. There should be a transfer of competencies, a transfer of knowledge," said Victor Negrescu.

"Congratulations on the initiative to create a European territorial cooperation grouping with mayors and local elected officials from Moldova, Romania, Ukraine and Poland. This grouping will help you exchange best practices. It will help you attract European funds together. This is a very good idea. We are together, we are friends, we have much in common, we support each other. Mayors from Romania and Poland are champions in attracting European funds. They have much experience in using European money and I'm sure they will help mayors from Ukraine and Moldova get European funds more easily," said MEP Siegfried Muresan.

For his part, present at the event, MEP Eugen Tomac said that the European Parliament supported such initiatives, which are absolutely necessary to boost cooperation regionally and locally between local communities from member and candidate states.

"There are already examples of good practices that work. And I believe that this tool you are part of today is auspicious and will help you enormously; and I commit to being a partner in this process, because it's extremely important to complete all stages successfully and, obviously, to be able to enjoy everything that the European Union provides to member states at the end," said the MEP.

Ukrainian Ambassador in Chisinau Paun Rohovei thanked the people of Moldova who, from the first days of the war started by Russia, had provided support and shelter to Ukrainians fleeing from the disaster. At the same time, the diplomat assured that, despite this war, Ukraine would do everything possible to achieve a lasting and just peace, allowing the creation of a stability zone at the Black Sea.

"I extend sincere thanks to the international community, the European Union, and Romania, which have always stood by us and are with us. The fact that we can be together today shows us all that the point of no return to the past has already been surpassed. This event today, which brought together representatives of local authorities from Moldova, Romania, Ukraine, and Poland, proves that something unites us. We are united by the wish to be free, to implement projects, to create the best possible conditions for our people," Paun Rohovei noted.

The European Cross-Border Cooperation International Forum is at its second edition and is dedicated to community development by accessing European funds and strengthening collaboration between EU member states and candidate countries.

The European Grouping of Territorial Cooperation (EGTC) is a legal instrument of the European Union, specially created to allow local authorities from different countries to collaborate directly.

By getting European legal personality, the future grouping will be able to directly attract funds for large-scale projects in areas like infrastructure’s modernization, green transition, digitalization of public services and economic development of member communities.

The initiative aims to connect a strategic territorial corridor including authorities from the northern and central regions of Moldova, Suceava, Botoșani, Iasi and Neamt counties in Romania, Chernivtsi, Ivano-Frankivsk and Lviv regions of Ukraine, as well as neighboring voivodeships in Poland.