EU Economic Recovery Plan for the Republic of Moldova discussed during high-level visit of EU officials to Chisinau
Chisinau
4 June 2021
600 million EUR over the next three years to promote investments and to support recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic for the citizens of the Republic of Moldova
On the occasion of the announcement of the Economic Recovery Plan for the Republic of Moldova, Mrs. Katarína MATHERNOVÁ – Deputy Director-General for Neighbourhood and Enlargement Negotiations and Lawrence MEREDITH – Director for Neighbourhood East and Institution Building undertook a visit to Chisinau on 3-4 June. The EU officials met the President of the Republic of Moldova Maia Sandu, to present the Economic Recovery Plan, which is EU’s response to the needs of the country and its people in the context of reforms and a closer association with the EU, as discussed during the visit of President Sandu to Brussels earlier this January. The officials had a meeting with the acting Prime minister of the country as well.
The European Commission announced the Economic Recovery Plan for the Republic of Moldova on 2nd of June. It will mobilize up to €600 million in macro-financial assistance, grants and investments, supported by blending and financial guarantees. This new funding initiative will become available over the next three years, with the scope of promoting investment and supporting a sustainable and inclusive recovery from the COVID-19 crisis, building back better opportunities and environment for the citizens of the country.
In order to discuss the details and opportunities offered by the plan from the perspective of Team Europe, the high-level EU officials also met with EU Member States Ambassadors to the Republic of Moldova. Addressing the direct beneficiaries of this support, Mrs. Katarína MATHERNOVÁ also attended as keynote speaker the conference “Post-pandemic economic recovery: realities and perspectives”.
The Economic Recovery Plan is similar to the type of support provided by EU to its Member States. The assistance package comes in the aftermath of the visit of the President of the Republic of Moldova to Brussels earlier this year, with EU reiterating its support for a reforms oriented country, for the benefit of its citizens.
The recovery plan is part of Team Europe approach and will focus on five key pillars: assistance to improve public finance management and economic governance, support to SMEs to help companies export to the EU and become more competitive with increased digital and green capacities, investments in road and rail connectivity, as well as energy efficiency for reduction of emissions and jobs creation. The plan will also boost education and employability and support structural reforms in the justice sector and fight against corruption.
This support package is conditional to the implementation of key reforms. The EU reiterates the need for an accountable and reform oriented Parliament and Government in the Republic of Moldova, which would address the pro-reform will of the citizens and would increase efforts on much-needed progress in the justice and anti-corruption sectors. In addition to this, focus on post-COVID recovery will also be a prerequisite for the disbursement of the financial assistance available under the Economic Recovery Plan.
For more information, please contact:
DELEGATION MOLDOVA PRESS – DELEGATION-MOLDOVA-PRESS@eeas.europa.eu