The European Commission is ready to offer Moldova EUR43 mn to develop and carry out development programs meant to improve local services. They envisage four sectors: running water and drainage, waste management, power efficiency and repairing local roads.

In addition to the EU’s contribution, the governments of Germany, Sweden, Romania and Switzerland are ready to disburse money in the project called "Modernizing local public services in Moldova", launched in 2010.

"The goal is to improve the Moldovans’ living standards. We have worked to make the regional and local authorities more competitive and more responsible with the people’s needs," said German ambassador to Chişinău Ulrike Knotz.

"We have seen very good strategies being developed in Moldova lately, but that’s not enough, unless they are put into practice. This project is to apply those strategies," said chief of EU Delegaţiei to Moldova Pirkka Tapiola. 

The first stage budget was over EUR23 mn. And since the results are good, the authorities plan to expand it.

"We speak of roads, water and drainage, power efficiency for public buildings and neighboring projects," explained Economy Minister Octavian Calmîc. 

28 projects will kick off this year with a budget of MDL186 mn. Till 2020, as many as 60 projects are planned to be carried out with a total budget of MDL1.46 bn.

"All the colleagues from the local administrations, the civil society and the private sector have been involved in this process and in selecting all the projects," said Regional Development Minister Vasile Bitcă. 

Almost half a million Moldovans benefited last year from projects funded by the Regional Development National Fund.