Chișinău’s “European Court” program budget raised to 250 million lei due to high number of applications
The "European Courtyard" program, designed to rehabilitate the courtyards of apartment buildings in Chisinau and its suburbs, has garnered significant interest from residents. As of May 9, 502 applications for participation were submitted. In response to this high demand, the Government has increased the allocated budget from 100 million to 250 million lei. This announcement was made by the Minister of Infrastructure and Regional Development, Vladimir Bolea, during a press conference.
According to the minister, each courtyard selected for the program can receive funding of up to 5 million lei, although the amount will vary based on specific requests. The funds will be used to modernize access roads and stairs, install street lighting, arrange parking lots, create playgrounds, add urban furniture, and build access ramps, among other infrastructure improvements.
"Everyone understands that development and closer ties with the European Union do not just mean building highways; it also involves improving people's lives right here, in their immediate surroundings. A 'European Courtyard' represents comfortable seating for residents, playgrounds for children, easy access within the courtyard, parking spaces for young people, and, importantly, a harmonious coexistence among citizens," stated Vladimir Bolea.
The projects submitted under the "European Courtyard" program are currently under evaluation. Work in the selected courtyards is expected to begin this summer, with completion projected by autumn. Authorities estimate that between 50 and 55 courtyards will be rehabilitated in the first phase, with the exact number determined after analyzing all the submitted projects.
The evaluation of applications will be completed by May 30, and results, including the list of courtyards that will receive rehabilitation, will be announced on June 2. The minister noted that many registered applications involve courtyards that have not been renovated for decades.
We remind you that several non-governmental organizations expressed concerns about this program for rehabilitating apartment building courtyards, claiming it was approved hastily and raises several questions about how projects will be selected and evaluated. Mayor Ion Ceban also questioned the transparency of the "European Courtyard" project initiated by PAS, demanding clarity on who will receive the funds and how purchases will be made.
