MOLDOVA JOINS EU’S CEF PROGRAM
On 9 May, Transport Commissioner Vălean and Moldova's Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development, Lilia Dabija, signed an agreement in Chisinau, associating Moldova to the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) program. The agreement will allow Moldova to apply for EU funding for projects of common interest in the transport, energy, and digital sectors.
For reference, the CEF program is a key contributor to achieving the objectives of the European Green Deal and Digital Decade 2030 targets. In the current (2021-2027) programming period, € 25.8 billion is allocated for CEF Transport, € 5.8 billion for CEF Energy, and € 2 billion for CEF Digital.
In the transport sector, Moldovan authorities and companies will be able to apply for funding under future CEF transport calls, with the next call scheduled for September 2023. Eligibility criteria for third countries will apply as outlined in the TEN-T Regulation, giving priority to actions that strengthen connectivity between the core network of member states and the network in third countries.
Moldova's agreement to join the Connecting Europe Facility program will improve its resilience and strengthen its ties to the EU by connecting the country to trans-European networks. This is especially crucial in light of Moldova's vulnerability to Russia's aggression against Ukraine.
Source: European Commission