Moldovan premier, European high-ranking official sign ENPARD programme financing agreement

Chisinau, 26 March /MOLDPRES/ - Prime Minister Chiril Gaburici today met Director, DG Enlargement, European Commission  Gerhard Schumann-Hitzler, on an official visit to Moldova. The officials addressed details of a new assistance programme provided to Moldova by the European Union. Afterwards, the sides signed a financing agreement in agriculture and rural development - ENPARD, the government’s communication and media relations department has reported.

After the agreement’s signing, Gaburici highlighted that the abovementioned programme’s overall budget was of 64 million euros, of which 53 million euros represent direct budgetary support, due to be provided in three instalments and is meant to back government’s efforts to implement policies in agriculture and rural development areas.

„The access to ENPARD funds means money for increasing investments for modernising the agricultural sector, developing education systems in villages, bigger sales for farmers on the local and foreign markets. An important aspect is that all economic agents officially registered in Moldova, including those from the left bank of Dniester, will have access to this money," the prime minister said. 

Chiril Gaburici thanked the European partners for the significant assistance and support provided to Moldova so far and the willingness to continue and enhance these efforts in the long run. Gaburici underlined that the launch of this programme in Moldova would contribute to increasing the country’s potential to turn to account possibilities to access the EU market.

For his part, Gerhard Schumann-Hitzler confirmed the European Union’s commitment to support development and modernisation projects in Moldova, including for development of agriculture and rural regions. The official highlighted that the development of agriculture and rural areas was a priority for the EU-Moldova cooperation in 2014-2017. 

„The signing of the ENPARD financing agreement with the Moldovan government underlines the structural reform process initiated by Moldova and the country's alignment to the European Union, following the signing and implementation of the Moldova-EU Association Agreement and creation of the Free Trade Area,” Gerhard Schumann-Hitzler said.

The ENPARD programme was launched in March 2011 as a support instrument on behalf of the European Union for the Eastern Partnership states.

(Editor M. Jantovan)