Moldova's economic growth plan set for final vote in European Parliament
The Economic Growth Plan for the Republic of Moldova has been adopted by the European Parliament's specialized committees.
The final stage—the European Parliament's plenary vote—is upcoming, as announced on Facebook by Siegfried Mureșan, MEP and Chair of the European Parliament Delegation for relations with Moldova.
This plan has a €1.9 billion budget, €100 million more than the initial version, along with a pre-financing package of €315 million, €200 million more than originally planned.
The Moldova Facility will fund hospitals, schools, transport infrastructure upgrades, and the construction of new bridges over the Prut River. Additionally, this funding mechanism will support investments and crucial reforms to reduce Moldova’s energy reliance on Russia.
According to Siegfried Mureșan, the European Parliament's final vote is scheduled for next week. Once approved, the plan will take effect, allowing Moldova to receive its first disbursement of funds as early as April.
Prime Minister Dorin Recean, speaking on the “7 Zile” program on Cinema 1, emphasized that one-third of these funds are grants, while the rest are loans.
"Borrowing is not a problem; what matters is securing loans at very low interest rates to ensure these funds are invested strategically," he explained. "These loans are taken out by the state, they are invested appropriately, and it is the state—not future generations—that will be responsible for repaying them."
Minister of Economic Development and Digitalization Dumitru Alaiba stated on social media that Moldova’s Economic Growth Plan is the largest financial assistance package the country has received since gaining independence.
"Thanks to this plan, we can accelerate reforms and investments necessary to achieve our economic growth target of 8-10%. It includes concrete projects for our citizens: road and bridge construction, hospital development, railway infrastructure improvements, financial support for businesses, investment incentives, and the completion and initiation of new power lines, among many other key projects."
During his visit to Chișinău, European Council President António Costa confirmed that the first €300 million tranche from the European Union’s Economic Growth Plan for Moldova, totaling €1.9 billion, will be available by the end of April. According to the European official, this financial support is intended to boost Moldova’s economy and attract investments.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
