The financial assistance for EU neighbors, including Moldova, will increase by 15 million euros in 2017. The European Parliament's Committee on Budgets approved the decision on 28 September, following a proposal by Romanian MEP Siegfried Mureșan, Moldpres informs. 

After voting on the amendments to the draft EU budget for 2017, Muresan said “it was set an increase from 30 million euros to 45 million euros in financing for macro-financial assistance offered by EU to the states in southern and eastern neighborhood. Moldova can benefit from the money in 2017, besides its funds which could be disbursed after signing an agreement with the International Monetary Fund,” Muresan said.

At the same time, the commission also approved 4.7-million euro- increase in combating poverty and preventing conflicts in the Eastern Partnership countries.

“Moldova is the largest beneficiary of EU funds per capita among the EU’s neighboring states, and I as Romanian MEP have always supported raising European funds earmarked to Moldova, as I know how much is needed it beyond the Prut river and I believe in pro-European destiny of this country,” Muresan said.

Final vote in the European Parliament on the matter is to take place in late October.