Political

EU offers Moldova 250 million euros to end Russian energy dependence

In order to reduce its dependence on Russian energy resources, the 250 million euro package for 2025 is equivalent to the total financial assistance the European Union has provided to the Republic of Moldova over the past four years, states Eugenia Gusilov, director of the Romania Energy Center, TV Moldova 1 reports.

Expert Mihai Mogîldea emphasizes that EU funds must be managed responsibly, and Moldovan citizens must understand that the responsibility for the energy crisis lies with the Russian Federation.

"The opportunity for the Republic of Moldova is that it is a small energy market. Therefore, it is possible for it to phase out Russian energy resources within a short period of two years. Fortunately, the timeline has been expedited, and the European Union is allocating additional funds specifically to implement these reforms swiftly," says Gusilov.

The expert also warned that a plan to align market prices, including for the Transnistrian region, is necessary to avoid discriminating against consumers on both sides of the Dniester River. "These are truly concrete measures. The European Union will provide 100 million euros in financial aid for Moldova by mid-April to help people pay their bills, and by December 31, 2025, it will allocate funds to offset these bills. An immediate assistance package, providing 30 million euros in aid, of which 20 million euros will be allocated for the purchase of natural gas for the Transnistrian region."

Speaking on Moldova 1, expert Mihai Mogîldea emphasized that the funds to overcome the energy crisis must be managed wisely to prevent mismanagement.

It is important to note that the European Commission and the Republic of Moldova have agreed on a comprehensive two-year strategy for energy independence and resilience. As part of this plan, Chișinău will benefit from a new financial package worth 250 million euros. Additionally, the European Union has proposed allocating 60 million euros for the Transnistrian region to cover its energy needs. However, certain conditions will be attached to this funding.

Translation by Iurie Tataru

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