Group of experts assessed EU's economic cooperation with Moldova for 2014-2020

Chisinau, 18 Feb. / MOLDPRES /- Evaluation Report on cooperation of the European Union with Moldova for 2014-2020 was presented in Chisinau. The document, released this week, was compiled by a team of independent evaluators hired by the European Commission.

The Ministry of Finance, which facilitated and coordinated at national level the involvement of central authorities in this process, pointed out the importance of an open and participatory dialogue with all parties involved. "In particular, these are the recommendations set out in the report, which will serve as a guide for the process of providing European assistance in the coming period and will allow for a more efficient use of the assistance funds made available by the European Union. The evaluation exercise has been running since 2020 ", the institution indicates.

In total, during 2014-2020, according to the report, out of the planned amount of one billion euros, the EU provided assistance amounting to about 489 million euros (from bilateral, cross-border and regional cooperation programs, including macro-financial assistance) , being the absolute leader in terms of non-reimbursable financial assistance in the Republic of Moldova.

"The evaluation identified the progress, the challenges, the lessons learned, but also made recommendations for further EU interventions for Moldova. The report provides an overview of our country's external assistance portfolio in six priority areas and identifies key achievements and challenges in these areas, assessing the extent to which EU assistance has been effective and relevant to national needs and consistent with policy objectives. in the long term of the EU, in particular with the Association Agreement ", says the Ministry of Finance.

According to the quoted source, the national authorities wished to express their gratitude for the assistance of the EU, which is an important source for the implementation of infrastructure projects, a support for policy development in all areas in the context of harmonization with the EU acquis, and not in lastly, an opportunity to strengthen the institutional capacity of public authorities.

The European Commission, the European Union Delegation in Chisinau and the national authorities are to propose measures to implement the recommendations submitted by the team of experts, taking into account the process of programming the European Union's external assistance for the Republic of Moldova, transposed by the 2021-2027 Multiannual Indicative Plan. and in the context of the Joint European Development Cooperation Strategy for the Republic of Moldova and the Annual Action Plans to be approved at EU level.