EU plans €25m funding boost for Moldova, Eastern neighbours
The European Parliament proposes a €25 million increase in funding for the Eastern Neighbourhood, including support for the Republic of Moldova, within the European Union Budget for 2026.
The amendment providing for this was voted on Monday evening, 5 October, by the European Parliament's Committee on Budgets, as announced by Romanian Member of the European Parliament Siegfried Mureșan.
"The European Parliament's Committee on Budgets voted last night on an amendment, which I co-signed, requesting a €25 million increase in allocations earmarked for the Eastern Neighbourhood, including the Republic of Moldova. We consider this increase necessary to partially compensate for the United States' decision to withdraw support for civil society in the region," Mr Mureșan stated in a Facebook post.
According to the MEP, this decision aims to strengthen democracy and the resilience of civil society in the states of the European Union's Eastern Neighbourhood, in a complicated geopolitical context.
"Civil society plays a crucial role in strengthening democracy in our neighbouring states, especially in candidate countries like the Republic of Moldova, which face anti-democratic pressures and aggressions from the Russian Federation. In light of the withdrawal of US support, we consider it the European Union's duty to back independent non-governmental organizations to enable them to continue their work," he emphasised.
Following the approval of the amendment in the Committee on Budgets, it will be submitted to a vote by the European Parliament plenary. Subsequently, the Parliament's position will be discussed in final negotiations with the Council of the European Union and the European Commission for the final adoption of the EU Budget for 2026.
The MEP recently said that the result of the parliamentary elections in the Republic of Moldova will allow for the acceleration of the country's accession process to the European Union, reiterating EU support for its European path.
The official added that the Republic of Moldova will also benefit from accelerated absorption of European funds under the €1.9 billion Growth Plan, funds intended for modernising the country, bringing it into line with European standards, and raising citizens' living standards.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
