Deputy Prime Minister Bolea in Bucharest: ‘We come to the EU as a partner, not just as a beneficiary’
Deputy Prime Minister Vladimir Bolea spoke in Bucharest about the steps the Republic of Moldova is taking to move closer to the European Union. "Our path towards the EU is a conscious and irreversible choice, based on the aspiration to contribute to the stability, democracy and prosperity of the region we are part of", the deputy prime minister declared at the "Cohesion 2027+" conference in Bucharest.
He announced that the Republic of Moldova has completed the bilateral screening for Chapter 22, which concerns the regional policy of the European Union. This is an important stage in the accession process and shows that the country can align itself with European rules and mechanisms regarding the management of funds.
Vladimir Bolea also spoke about the reforms carried out in recent years in the field of regional development. He mentioned the modernization of the legislative framework and the consolidation of the responsible institutions: the Ministry of Infrastructure and Regional Development, the Regional Development Agencies and the National Office for Regional and Local Development. These structures work together to coordinate and implement projects throughout the country.
New strategic coordination mechanisms have also been introduced, similar to those in EU countries, such as the National Council for the Coordination of Regional Development and the Interministerial Committee for Strategic Planning. The Republic of Moldova has also launched a national training program for local authorities, so that they can prepare better and more competitive projects in the logic of European funding.
The Deputy Prime Minister emphasized that Moldova has its own investment programs, which are already bringing results in the territory. He mentioned the projects "European Village", "Europe is close", "European Court" and the initiatives for the development of cities.
In conclusion, Vladimir Bolea conveyed that Moldova comes to the EU with responsibility and with the desire to contribute. *"The Republic of Moldova does not come to the European Union as a beneficiary but as a responsible partner capable of contributing to the cohesion, resilience and competitiveness of the Union," he said.
The "Cohesion 2027+" conference is a high-level event organized in Bucharest by the Romanian Ministry of Investments and European Projects, in partnership with the European Union institutions. It brought together MEPs, representatives of the European Commission, the Committee of the Regions and ministers of the Member States to discuss the future of EU cohesion policy after 2027, namely investment directions, distribution of funds and reducing development gaps between regions. It is one of the first major conferences dedicated to the preparation of the EU's future multiannual financial framework for the period 2028–2034.
