EU grants €1.9M for EuroBRIDGE Moldova–Ukraine to connect citizens and borders
An international project with a budget of nearly 2 million euros was launched on Wednesday, November 5, in Chișinău. The initiative, named EUroBRIDGE, aims to enhance cooperation between the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine, receiving technical support from Romania and full funding from the European Union.
The project aims to strengthen the administrative capacities of local public authorities and civil society organizations in the border regions of the two countries. It will achieve this by implementing local projects with funding ranging from €10,000 to €50,000, as well as organizing training activities and facilitating the exchange of experiences with partners in Romania.
With a total budget of €1.9 million, the Republic of Moldova is responsible for €950,000. The Chisinau Municipal Center for Entrepreneurship Development will implement the project on behalf of the Republic of Moldova.
Petru Gurgurov, the Director of the Center, noted that the institution is under the authority of Chisinau City Hall and is mandated to support the local business environment. Within the EUroBRIDGE program, the Center aims to act as a link between public institutions, business incubators, business associations, and other organizations, fostering collaboration with Ukrainian partners.
The first partnership agreements under this initiative have already been signed and will be extended nationwide.
Ion Ceban, the mayor of Chisinau, emphasized that this event marks an important step in strengthening multilateral relationships and creating partnerships that yield tangible results for communities. He also noted that Chisinau City Hall is actively involved in this process.
“The European integration process is not just a political or administrative endeavor; it is a collective effort involving local public administrations, the business sector, and civil society—all of whom play a vital role in implementing the acquis communautaire, adapting European standards, and promoting democratic values,” declared the mayor.
Chisinau City Hall manages over 30% of European-funded projects at the local level, totaling over 7 million lei.
"All these initiatives, including the project launched today, enhance the investment climate in the Republic of Moldova, and I am very pleased that not only the business sector will be involved," stated Deputy Prime Minister Olga Ursu.
EUroBRIDGE aims to build connections between citizens, sectors, borders, and countries, facilitating the execution of small projects that yield concrete and visible results for citizens and the business environment in both states. The geographical scope of the project encompasses the entire Republic of Moldova and specific regions in Ukraine, such as Chernivtsi, Odessa, and Khmelnytsky, with possibilities for expansion.
Representatives from the European Union Delegation in Chisinau announced the establishment of a coordination committee, composed of delegates from both countries, who will select and monitor projects receiving funding.
The importance of this coordination committee was also underscored by representatives of the European Commission, who emphasized the need to include not just local and central authorities but also members of civil society in this initiative.
This new cooperation mechanism is modelled on a successful European framework with a 30-year history, demonstrating its effectiveness.
