The European Commission has offered this Thursday 250 million euros to Moldova to weather the energy crisis caused by the war in Ukraine and help diversify its hydrocarbon supplies in addition to assisting the groups most affected by the situation.
This has been announced by the president of the Community Executive, Ursula von der Leyen, who is traveling in the country, especially affected by the consequences of the war in Ukraine and whose energy supply depends mainly on Russia and has been diminished by Gazprom’s maneuvers. Since the beginning of the month, with a view to reducing its dependence on Moscow, Moldova has been importing gas from Slovakia.
«We are doing everything we can to help you cope with the crisis, which is why we have put on the table an additional energy support package for Moldova,» said Von der Leyen, who detailed that of the total, 100 million will be grants and another 100 will be loans that can be materialized from January 2023.
Following the example of the EU, the German conservative pointed out that these funds will be used to diversify the country’s energy supply and reduce dependence on Moscow, which has proved to be an «unreliable» product. At this point, she pointed to Norway, the United States, Azerbaijan or Algeria as reliable energy suppliers for Europe.
In addition, the aid includes a budget support of 50 million to cover national measures in Moldova to support the most vulnerable groups in the face of soaring electricity and gas bills.
«Since the Russian invasion of Ukraine we have been the closest partners, with many calls and meetings, last year alone the EU helped 480 million», has valued the EU president who has reached out to Moldova in the face of the «serious energy crisis due to the supply and prices of gas and electricity».
In this sense, she has committed herself to help Moldova as a candidate to join the EU, in view of the crossroads it is going through, as a small enclave close to Ukraine and especially hit by the consequences of the conflict. «The EU’s solidarity with Moldova is unwavering,» he said, assuring that it is part of the «European family» and in times of crisis «families must unite».
