Moldovan government to receive EU financial support to meet commitments within Association Agreement

Chisinau, 04 July /MOLDPRES/ – The Government approved at its today meeting the initiation of negotiations on two Financing Agreements between the Moldovan Government and the European Union. Their total value is over €90 million and they are aimed at increasing the capacities of the public administration to fulfill the commitments assumed by the Moldova-EU Association Agreement, the government’s communication and protocol department has reported.

Thus, over €61.9 million will be given as technical assistance to develop and strengthen capacities in the areas of: Central Public Administration Reform, Agriculture and Rural Development, Police and Border Management. Also, investment support will be provided for micro, small and medium enterprises, including those run by women. The measure aims at enhancing the economic development potential of Moldova, diversifying sources of income for citizens, improving the business environment in rural areas, and adjusting national rules to EU veterinary and food safety standards.

The agreement also provides for financial support for improving rural services and infrastructure for water supply and sewage, but also for enhancing energy efficiency in the regions of Moldova.

According to the document, €60 million of the total amount will be granted by the European Commission through the European Neighborhood Instrument, €800 thousand by the Austrian Development Agency and approximately €1.11 million will represent the beneficiaries' own contribution.

The second agreement provides that the European Commission, through the European Neighborhood Instrument, will provide €29 million to the central public authorities to increase the capacity to coordinate assistance and to improve the skills of project development and coordination, the development of national data on space infrastructure and combating the money laundering phenomenon.