Team Europe announces EUR 36 million support for developing local communities, enhancing judiciary system transparency and supporting local media

The European Union in the Republic of Moldova announced a Team Europe support with three key projects for the benefit of the Moldovan people. The event gathered representatives of Team Europe in Chisinau: Ambassadors of the European Union and its Member States, European development agencies and partner financial institutions.

The event emphasized ‘Team Europe’ assistance provided for the Republic of Moldova during challenging COVID pandemic conditions, as well support for the long-term recovery of the country.

Team Europe has so far provided to the Republic of Moldova 127 million Euro in grants and non-reimbursable funds, one million doses of vaccines, medical equipment and other consumables worth over 20 million Euro, as well as a 100 million Euro emergency macro-financial assistance. In addition, over the next three years, the Republic of Moldova is set to receive a 600-million-Euro economic recovery package from the European Union.

At the event, Team Europe announced three initiatives which will be implemented over the next four years with a total budget of EUR 36 million, in partnership with European development agencies:

• EU4Moldova local communities. An initiative funded by the European Union as a leading partner, the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) through GIZ, the Austrian Development Cooperation (ADA) and the Polish Aid. The project has an overall objective of improving the quality of life and address the economic and social consequences of COVID-19 in local communities of the country.
• EU support for enhancing transparency, accountability of and access to the judiciary system. A project funded by the European Union and implemented by the Lithuanian and French Development Agencies aiming to enhance transparency, accountability and access to the judiciary system through court monitoring; increase the lawyers’ capacities by ensuring improvement of fair trial rights and increased provision of quality legal aid in line with international standards. Court monitoring will be conducted with civil society support.
• EU support for local media. A EU funded project implemented by the Slovak Agency for International Development Cooperation (SAIDC) aiming to provide assistance to local media in content creation, supporting business skills, and providing expert assistance to improve local media sustainability. The project will support also the media starts-ups

On the occasion, recent assistance measures on Energy Efficiency and SMEs support were also announced, as part of TeamEurope efforts and joint work with EIB and EBRD.

Team Europe initiative was created as a result of challenging conditions in 2020 in the context of COVID-19 pandemic, as a united European response to the major needs rising in partner countries. Team Europe combines the collective development resources of the EU and its Member States — including their implementing agencies. Resources from the EU Bank (European Investment Bank (EIB) and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) are also part of Team Europe support.