The EU-Moldova Association Parliamentary Committee called on the European Commission and EU member states to increase financial and technical assistance to Moldova.
This is one of the many recommendations contained in the final Declaration of the 12th meeting of the EU-Moldova Association Parliamentary Committee, held in Chisinau on November 1. In particular, regarding the current difficulties of Moldova, especially in light of the consequences of the gas supply artificial crisis, the declaration says that the military aggression of Russia against Ukraine, along with the COVID-19 pandemic and the drought in summer 2021 and 2022 had a strong negative impact on the Moldovan economy. In this context, the EU-Moldova Association Parliamentary Committee calls on the European Commission and EU countries to increase financial and technical assistance for Moldova, including through grants intended to ensure its independence, energy connections, production, diversification and energy efficiency, as well as accelerating the development of renewable energy sources. The Parliamentary Committee for the EU-RM Association also recalled the importance of encouraging the country's commitment to implement the EU's 3rd energy package. It took note of the agreement on a loan of 1.05 billion lei granted by Energocom to Moldovagaz in order to allow it to repay its debt on time, as set by Gazprom, and avoid stopping gas supplies. The Parliamentary Committee on the RM-EU Association awaits with interest the results of the audit of Moldovagaz' alleged debt to Gazprom, and recalls that Moldovagaz is a subsidiary of Gazprom, and consequently, the Committee expects an audit by an international auditor of the highest degree of professionalism and transparency. The Committee condemned the wilful and malicious destruction of the Ukrainian energy infrastructure by Russian missiles, which had reduced Moldova's energy supply by 30%, and noted with concern the extremely precarious energy situation in Moldova. At the same time, it welcomes the strong support granted by Romania, which supplies electricity at preferential prices, contributing to the diversification of Moldova's energy resources, including the provision of fuel oil as humanitarian aid and 130 thousand cubic meters of firewood for heating homes. The EU-RM Association Parliamentary Committee also welcomed the EU Council decision of 24 and 25 March on joint procurement of gas, LNG and hydrogen through a common procurement platform, including the Western Balkans and the 3 associated Eastern partners, welcomes the determination shown by Moldova to reduce its energy dependency and increase its sustainability, and calls for EU solidarity and continued active support, facilitating market access and providing technical and financial assistance. The Parliamentary Committee on the EU-RM Association welcomed the 15 million euros grant provided by the European Union and managed by the European Investment Bank to support the Moldovan government to take comprehensive energy efficiency measures. It also welcomed the prompt response of the EU to the gas crisis in Moldova in October 2021 and its assistance in the form of technical expertise and emergency financial support, as well as the temporary mitigating measures taken by the Moldovan authorities, in particular to support vulnerable households and small enterprises. The document recalls the importance to continue reforms in the energy sector in line with the 3rd energy package and the EU energy legislation; it welcomes the successful synchronization of the Ukrainian and Moldovan electricity networks with the European continental network; welcomes the signing by Energocom of a contract with Bulgartransgaz, which will allow the Moldovan operator to access the Bulgarian gas transport system and will contribute to diversifying Moldova's gas supply and strengthening its energy independence. // 02.11.2022 – InfoMarket
