The European Commission has approved a €14.35m disbursement of budget assistance to the Republic of Moldova.
The new tranche of Moldova budget assistance will go towards accelerating reform in the country’s judicial, law enforcement, public finance and energy sectors, supporting the creation and implementation of transparent, modernised policies. The funding follows the reinstatement of the European Commission’s budget support for Moldova in July 2019, after support was withheld from the country for nearly two years due to concerns over the deterioration of the rule of law. Since the election of a new coalition government in the republic in June 2019, the EU has recognised the progress of reform in Moldova; and has adjusted its funding mechanisms accordingly.
The new package of Moldova budget assistance will go towards three reform programmes:
- Energy sector reform, boosting the provision of renewable and sustainable energy in accordance with the terms of the EU-Moldova Association Agreement and beginning construction of an electricity connection between Moldova and Romania;
- Policing reform, with measures including the implementation of pilot community policing programmes, the establishment of specialised anti-corruption policing units and a new secure data communication network; and
- Public finance policy reform, with new measures to ensure transparency over both budgets and expenditures, as well as stricter oversight of the implementation of budgets to minimise corruption.
Commissioner for European Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations Johannes Hahn said: “Today’s assistance package demonstrates the EU’s commitment to the Moldovan citizens, who have long demanded that such reforms are put in place. The Moldovan authorities are intensifying their work to combat corruption in an effective way and to guarantee the independence of the judiciary and prosecution services. This is vital for public trust and needs to move forward at full speed. The Moldovan people can count on the EU’s full support to accompany the process.”
