Citizens of Moldova can access European funds under the Interreg NEXT 2021-2027 Program for community development.
Specifically, Moldovan citizens can benefit from support for the development of health services, education, research and social inclusion programs and vocational training through the European NEXT 2021-2027 programs. Interreg NEXT cooperation programs 2021-2027 provide 1.1 billion euros from the European Regional Development Fund, the Neighborhood Development and International Cooperation Instrument and the Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance. The EU's neighborhood cooperation programs include 184 regions of 260 million people in 33 countries along the EU's external borders. These programs support economic and social development through joint actions, including environmental protection, public health, cooperation on good governance and secure borders, networking, SME support and entrepreneurship in general. On November 30, 2022, the European Commission approved the Interreg NEXT Romania-Moldova program for 2021-2027, with a budget of 77.3 million euros, to which is added co-financing from member states. The program will invest in disaster risk prevention and resilience, education and training, and biodiversity conservation, contributing to the economic development of local communities. The health sector will also be financed through investments in infrastructure and new modern medical equipment. The program will also invest in tourism and culture, improving access to historical monuments in the area. The implementation of the Interreg NEXT Romania-Moldova program began with the creation of a Monitoring Committee and approval of the program's methodology. The projects presented will be partnerships between beneficiaries from Romania (Iasi, Botosani, Vaslui and Galati) and Moldova. In the framework of the Romania-Moldova Joint Operational Program 2014-2020, the European Union allocated 81 million. The European Union allocated 81 million euros for the implementation of 84 projects on the territory of Moldova and Romania. Through the support provided, more than 200 grantees from both banks of the Prut River have benefited from investments in medical infrastructure, education and transportation infrastructure, and the modernization of border crossing points on the border with Moldova. The program supported the purchase of equipment for schools and hospitals in the border area, as well as joint training for teachers and medical staff in the program area. Through these cooperation projects, important investments have been made to equip and train county emergency inspectors and partners in Moldova to better respond in case of emergencies. At the same time, the Interreg NEXT program for the Black Sea Basin for 2021-2027, officially launched in Istanbul on February 8, 2023, will be a platform where ties among participating countries are strengthened and where regional actors can come together and contribute to sustainable resource management for the benefit of the citizens of Bulgaria, Georgia, Greece, Moldova, Romania, Turkey and Ukraine. The program has a total budget of 72.28 million euros, of which EU funds amount to 65.05 million euros and national co-financing from participating states is 7.23 million euros. The Program will further deepen transboundary cooperation in the Black Sea basin in a transnational configuration, supporting three specific objectives, namely: developing and strengthening research and innovation capacities; promoting adaptation to climate change and disaster risk prevention; enhancing protection and conservation of nature, biodiversity and green infrastructure. The Program will organize two calls for proposals: the first competition is scheduled for the first half of 2023, and the second competition is planned for 2024. In turn, Moldova has the opportunity to implement joint projects under the Danube Region Program 2021-2027. The new Program is funded by the European Union and aims to support joint transnational cooperation projects during the programming period 2021-2027 in 14 countries: Austria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Germany, Romania, Hungary, Slovenia, Slovakia, Montenegro, Serbia, Moldova and Ukraine. The total budget of the Danube Region Program for 2021-2027 is 266 million euros. Eligible beneficiaries are local, regional, national public authorities, public, private and international organizations officially registered in the Program area. The Danube Region Program 2021-2027 aims to support the development and implementation of cooperation projects that promote a more innovative, sustainable and socially inclusive region, and aims to improve regional governance through an integrated approach to common problems. More information about the program is available at www.interreg-danube.eu. In Moldova, with the support of the Danube Transnational Cooperation Program 2014-2020, 22 projects were implemented in the areas of good governance, innovation and social, cultural, energy and environmental responsibility, totaling more than 2 million euros. The Program offered opportunities for Moldovan partners to strengthen cooperation with a transformational and innovative character, fostering transnational synergies. // 10.03.2023 - InfoMarket.
