EU provides direct support to vulnerable groups in Moldova

Forty thousand households will receive one-off financial aid for the cold season from February this year and six thousand households will receive fire materials as needed. This support is part of a wider package of emergency interventions provided by the European Union for the Republic of Moldova in response to the energy crisis.

The support is targeted at the elderly, especially those living alone, low-income families and other disadvantaged groups. EU assistance will reach the most vulnerable population groups, which will be identified on the basis of criteria such as the number of family members, the number of people with disabilities and the proportion of children in the family. Also, the lack of access of the family to gas (piped or bottled) and the sources of family income will determine the vulnerability of the people who will be selected for support.

The package of interventions, focused on reducing the effects of the energy crisis on the population, will also involve offering around 20 grants to social service providers and civil society organisations to develop their capacity to provide vulnerable groups with social services. This will support services such as a social canteen to prepare hot lunches for individuals and families in need. A separate grant will be given to a media organisation to verify the fairness of the distribution of funds to those most affected by the crisis.

“The European Union and the whole Team Europe continuously support the Republic of Moldova and its citizens. This €5 million project, funded by the European Union’s Service for Foreign Policy Instruments, will provide direct assistance to 133,400 people and support those most affected by the energy crisis. This support complements the assistance provided by the European Union earlier this winter in the form of €60 million in budget support, which enabled the Government to provide subsidies to the population of Moldova. The additional assistance provided by the European Union through this project will alleviate the financial burden on the most vulnerable”, said H.E. Jānis MAŽEIKS, Ambassador of the European Union to the Republic of Moldova.

The support from the European Union is made possible thanks to the project “Supporting together the vulnerable population affected by the energy crisis”, implemented by the non-governmental organisation People in Need Moldova.

“Lonely elderly people or low-income families need our support now, so that they do not feel forgotten and can get through the energy crisis more easily. The support of the European Union is more than welcome, as it represents a hand of help and solidarity for those most affected. Our joint efforts will bring more security to people’s homes, who will receive not only financial help or fire materials, but also confirmation that we can be there for them in this difficult period”, said Georgiana CREMENE, Country Director of People in Need Moldova.

The project “Supporting together the vulnerable population affected by the energy crisis” will be implemented with the involvement of the Government of the Republic of Moldova and local public authorities. Project activities will be completed in April 2023. The total amount of EU support allocated to this project is €5 million, provided through the Service for Foreign Policy Instruments (FPI).