Moldova's Spînu: Infrastructure connectivity key to EU integration
Moldova's Infrastructure Minister Andrei Spînu said on Tuesday that his country is committed to improving infrastructure to boost integration with the European Union.
"We see no other future for our country outside the EU," Spînu told Digi24. "And infrastructure connectivity is probably the fastest way we can become de facto connected."
Spînu said that Moldova's integration with Romania is "in fact" integration with the EU.
"We see the queues that form at the border, which hinder the movement of citizens and economic activity," he said. "We cannot talk about real integration with the EU if we are not connected through roads, bridges, railways, and better-equipped ports. That is the solution."
Spînu said that the governments of Moldova and Romania must build as many bridges across the Prut River as possible.
"We are talking about a new bridge in Ungheni, we need to modernise the bridge in Sculeni, the bridge in Leușeni, and the bridge in Giurgiulești," he said. "It is our moral and geopolitical obligation to build these connections as quickly as possible."
Another priority is a highway connection between the two countries. However, there are only plans for a highway to link Iași, Romania, with Chișinău, Moldova, and then with Odesa, Ukraine. No concrete steps have been taken yet.
On the other hand, Moldova is the only non-EU country that has been included in a European connectivity project, for which it is receiving €2 billion in funding.
"We have already applied together with Romania and we will have funding for the bridges across the Prut," Spînu said. "Half of the costs will be covered by European funds."
Spînu added that he wants to rehabilitate all national roads in Moldova under the project. Rehabilitation of railways and the transition from the Soviet gauge to the European gauge are also being considered.
"The number-one priority is to start now," he said. "If we are alone, we will not succeed."
Translation by Iurie Tataru
