EUROPEAN VILLAGE 2024: 612 projects selected this year

Chisinau, Aug. 7 /MOLDPRES/- More than six hundred (612) projects have been selected under the 2024 European Village Program, according to Minister of Infrastructure and Regional Development (MIDR) Andrei Spînu, who announced today the results of this year's call.

"Most municipalities have applied for the construction or extension of water supply networks and sanitation services - 223 projects, which means that 223 city halls will provide access to quality water or sanitation. The budget allocated to water and sanitation projects is 1.59 billion lei (79.5 million euros)," Spînu said.

The official said that another 57 projects have been selected for the installation of street lighting, while 198 have been selected for the construction, renovation or rehabilitation of public buildings, historical monuments, including measures to improve energy efficiency.

The 612 projects transformed into infrastructure objectives for the country's localities mean: 1172 km of constructed aqueduct networks, which will benefit more than 85 thousand households; 221 km of sewerage network for about 21 thousand households; 455 km of street lighting network, which will benefit more than 104 thousand inhabitants; 215 reconstructed and rehabilitated public and social buildings, which means 52 kindergartens, 37 gymnasiums, 62 sports complexes, 63 cultural centers, playgrounds, recreational areas, libraries, multifunctional centers and others. More than 570 thousand inhabitants will have better conditions in these institutions - 36 photovoltaic parks with a total capacity of 2.8 MWh.

By region, the projects are to be implemented as follows: North Region - 199 out of 256 projects; Center Region - 256 out of 298 projects; South Region - 130 out of 157 projects; Chisinau Region - 12 out of 14 projects; Gagauzia Region - 15 out of 23 projects.

In the next period, the government decision will be approved, which will include all selected projects, after which the National Office for Regional and Local Development will start signing the financing contracts.

The European Village program was launched in 2022 at the initiative of President Maia Sandu. Through it, initiatives on the development of localities are financed. According to the head of state, the investments in the development of localities and national infrastructure made during this mandate are the biggest since independence.