In Chișinău on Wednesday, 2 March, European Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement Olivér Várhelyi announced that the EU would be giving Moldova additional financial support to help it cope with the consequences of the Russian invasion in Ukraine. More than 100,000 Ukrainians have reportedly crossed the border between Ukraine and Moldova in the last few days.
During a press conference with Moldovan President Maia Sandu and High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell, he announced, “we will provide an additional €15 million for your government to help Moldova manage the immediate crisis”. Mr Várhelyi explained that this was only a first step. By way of reminder, the Commissioner stated that the EU had just announced that an additional €5 million would be allocated to Moldova to mitigate the refugee crisis and provide immediate humanitarian aid under the EU Civil Protection Mechanism.
In addition, the Border Assistance Mission between Ukraine and Moldova was relocated to Chișinău. Mr Várhelyi explained, “it is now providing direct support at the border crossings, helping you to receive and register the people” who arrive.
According to Ms Sandu, her country had already received financial or material assistance from the EU and several EU countries: Austria, Finland, France, Greece, Lithuania, Turkey, and the Netherlands.
Beyond aid related to the situation in her corner of the world, the Moldovan president called for additional support to help her country emerge from the health, energy (see EUROPE 12821/32), economic, and security crises it is experiencing.
Stressing the importance of strengthening cooperation between the EU and Chișinău, Mr Borrell pledged that the EU would provide Moldova assistance in all necessary areas, be it with humanitarian matters, energy, macrofinancial assistance, or security and defence.
The EU has notably proposed €150 million in macrofinancial assistance—which it hopes to finalise very quickly—“20% of which, so €30 million, will be purely grants”, specified Mr Várhelyi (see EUROPE 12862/13).
Mr Borrell explained that the EU is currently seeking to support energy security in Moldova and synchronise the country with the EU’s electricity grid. He hoped to obtain an assessment of the European network (ENSTO-E) quickly.
The EU is also ready to help Moldova strengthen its resilience, including in terms of cybersecurity. An EU expert mission is currently in Chișinău to ascertain the country’s needs and identify concrete support measures that can be implemented on very short notice. He also mentioned combatting disinformation.
Mr Borrell announced that the EU could use the European Peace Facility to provide the Moldovan armed forces with medical equipment and support in the event of a crisis. “We will discuss, today, options for additional assistance and logistics, if needed”, he added. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)