The European Commission approved the allocation of a 36 million euros grant to Moldova within the framework of the Economic Recovery Plan for the country.
This was announced by Deputy Director General for European Neighborhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations Katharina Maternova at a joint briefing in Chisinau with Managing Director of the European External Action Service for Russia, Eastern Partnership, Central Asia, Regional Cooperation and OSCE Michael Siebert, as well as Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs and European Integration of Moldova Nicu Popescu. She noted that at in early June she presented in Chisinau the Plan for the Economic Recovery of Moldova approved by the European Union, according to which up to 600 million euros will be mobilized in the form of macro-financial assistance, grants and investments. Katarina Mathernova congratulated the authorities on the progress made in the reform process and noted that the Economic Recovery Plan for Moldova is already being implemented, and this week the European Commission approved a 36 million euros grant to Moldova to help the country fight the coronavirus and support measures to reform the police. Katarina Mathernova stressed that Moldova's Economic Recovery Plan estimated at 600 million euros provides for much more assistance, which is intended to support digital transformation, infrastructure development, energy efficiency, support for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), educational activities. The high-ranking representative of the EC noted the EU's support for the local authorities of Moldova, stressing that there are two key regions - Cahul and Ungheni, where local authorities receive a lot of comprehensive assistance. Katarina Mathernova mentioned that the second most successful area of cooperation between the Republic of Moldova and the EU, is overcoming the economic consequences of the coronavirus pandemic and assistance to combat COVID-19, noting that this support will continue. She recalled that Moldova was the first to receive vaccines through the COVAX instrument on a bilateral basis as well. She noted that an increase in the number of coronavirus cases is expected in the fall, expressing hope for an increase in the vaccination rate in Moldova. Katarina Maternova said that the third important area of cooperation between the Republic of Moldova and the EU is the reform of justice and activities in the field of security, noting the EU's readiness for active cooperation. As InfoMarket reported earlier, in early summer, the European Commission announced the Economic Recovery Plan for Moldova, according to which up to 600 million euros will be mobilized in macro-financial assistance, grants and investments aimed at: public finance management and economic management; competitive economy; trade and SMEs; infrastructure; education and employment opportunities; reform of justice. It was noted that the EU will provide Moldova with 600 million euros for the implementation of the Economic Recovery Plan in grants and concessional loans, but their allocation is conditioned by reforms in justice, the fight against corruption and progress in the investigation of the “theft of the billion” case. // 14.09.2021 – InfoMarket
