Romania is ready to discuss with Moldova a new substantial grant aid program that will replace the previous € 100 million program, the agreement on which expired on March 28, 2021.
This was stated by Romanian Foreign Minister Bogdan Aurescu at a joint press conference in Chisinau with Moldovan President Maia Sandu. He noted that the new grant assistance program is intended to replace the Intergovernmental Agreement on a program of technical and financial assistance based on gratuitous financial assistance in the amount of 100 million euros provided by Romania to Moldova, which was signed on April 27, 2010, but expired on March 28, 2021. At the same time, a significant part of the funds remained unused. Bogdan Aurescu noted that the Romanian side made efforts to extend the term of the said agreement, but for reasons beyond Romania's control, this could not be done, and the term of the agreement expired. The Romanian Foreign Minister emphasized that the agreement allowed Romania to finance landmark projects for 10 years, such as the restoration and modernization of more than 1,000 kindergartens and schools in Moldova or the development of the Iasi-Chisinau gas pipeline. Bogdan Aurescu stressed that in the new circumstances, after the decisive victory in the early parliamentary elections in Moldova of democratic, pro-European, pro-reform forces, paving the way for the formation of a stable government in the Republic of Moldova, Romania is ready to discuss a new grant aid program in order to continue the reforms necessary for democratic development and advancing along the European path of the Republic of Moldova, deepening bilateral cooperation, introducing new projects in various fields. Earlier it was reported that Moldova was unable to receive from Romania 60 million euros out of a total grant of 100 million euros due to the expiration of the agreement on aid, and Chisinau will hold negotiations with Bucharest on a new program.// 23.07.2021 — InfoMarket
