Iași boosts cross-border links with Moldova
The Iași City Council is behind nine projects—either under way, completed, or submitted for EU funding—through the Interreg NEXT Programme.
The initiatives, with a total value of 8.47 million euros, are being implemented jointly with institutions in the Republic of Moldova.
“We are supporting the Republic of Moldova with all our might on its path to European integration,” Iași mayor Mihai Chirica said.
Among the completed projects is the "Rehabilitation of transport infrastructure in the Ungheni–Iași cross-border area," which aims to streamline traffic at the Sculeni border crossing. It is valued at 2,319,918 euros. The projects also include a robotics and neurorehabilitation centre set up by the Iași council with Chișinău's Institute of Neurology and Neurosurgery, costing 1,320,000 euros.
Mr Chirica also noted at a cross-border cooperation forum in Chișinău that the Iași Metropolitan Area Intercommunity Development Association has submitted five more projects, valued at 2.46 million euros, which are planned for implementation with various partners in Moldova.
The mayor highlighted that Iași is twinned with several towns in the Republic of Moldova—Chișinău, Ungheni, Hâncești, Cahul, Bălți, Călărași, Edineț, and Nisporeni—and stressed the role of these relationships in strengthening bilateral cooperation.
He added that the Interreg NEXT projects "represent real bridges for economic, educational, cultural and social collaboration" between Romania and Moldova. He called them "a concrete expression of Romania’s solidarity and commitment at a crucial moment for the Republic of Moldova’s European journey."
The forum, held on Wednesday, 20 August, brought together officials and representatives of local public authorities and regional development agencies from both banks of the Prut River.
Among the attendees were Moldovan Infrastructure Minister Vladimir Bolea; the head of the North Development Agency, Maria Prisăcari; and the presidents of the Călărași and Ungheni Districts, Nicolae Drăgănel and Dionisie Ternovschi, respectively. The event also drew Romanian officials, including Vasile Asandei, head of ADR Nord-Est, and Galați mayor Ionuț Pucheanu.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
