During a year shaken by the cruelty of the war in Ukraine and the crisis generated by its consequences, the European Union (EU) has committed to remain close to the citizens of the Republic of Moldova. More than €840 million is the total value of the support offered to the Republic of Moldova between October 2021 and December 2022 to overcome the challenges its citizens are facing. The EU support packages included:
€451 million – grants granted by the EU;
€120 million – loans under favourable terms offered by the EU;
€269.5 million – loans under favourable terms granted by the European Investment Bank (EIB) and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD).
The €840 million assistance offered by the EU, the EIB and the EBRD targeted several sectors of high importance for the Republic of Moldova:
- €150 million budget support for managing the energy crises and support vulnerable groups;
- €75 million for energy efficiency initiatives offered by the EU, the EBRD and the EIB;
- €150 million offered as macro-financial assistance provided by the EU as grants and loans under favourable terms;
- €112 million bilateral support for economic resilience and energy security, business development, civil society support;
- €38 million humanitarian assistance for managing the refugee crisis;
- €30 million support for border management;
- €9 million for the cyber security of the Republic of Moldova, the fight against disinformation and the development of independent mass media;
- €47 million for the modernisation of the defense sector;
- €229 million for the railway infrastructure development.
“The Republic of Moldova is not only a neighbouring country or a mere partner, it is a candidate state to join the European Union. It is part of the European family, and family must stick together in good times as well as in difficult times”, said Ursula von der Leyen, the President of the European Commission, during her visit to Chisinau in November 2022.
The European Union along with its institutions – EIB and EBRD – has been the most important development partner of the Republic of Moldova.
