With Moldova facing a critical EU membership public referendum and presidential elections on October 20, the country’s Western development partners gathered in Chisinau for the fifth ministerial conference of the Moldova Support Platform to confirm their support for the former Soviet republic that is moving towards European Union membership.

Several agreements were concluded with the governments of Canada, the US, France, Switzerland, Germany, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and the European Investment Bank (EIB) for a total amount of 385mn including €305mn of loans and €80mn of grants, the government of Moldova reported.

These agreements represent critical investments in Moldova’s economy, environment and infrastructure, aimed at improving living standards, creating well-paid jobs, and advancing sustainable development, Moldova’s authorities said.

“Our aim is to improve the quality of life for our citizens. We are grateful to our partners for their vital support in achieving these goals,” Prime Minister Dorin Recean commented.

More than half of the financial package consists of a €200mn loan extended by the EIB essentially for planting trees — a not so critical component in the context of the hybrid war waged by Russia on Moldova’s territory. In contrast, Moldova needs massive support to consolidate its fragile energy system with building power generation units and interconnectors towards Europe’s single energy market.

Moldova will benefit from a €200mn loan from the EIB to restore over 63,000 hectares of degraded land and forests over four years, fulfilling 44% of the National Forest Extension and Rehabilitation Programme’s targets, the government’s press release reads. This funding will support sustainable forest management, infrastructure development, job creation in rural forestry, and encourage young specialists to pursue forestry careers.

Another assistance agreement with the EIB will provide Moldova with a €12mn EU grant to rehabilitate a 128 km railway section on the Vălcineț - Ungheni - Chișinău - Căinari route, the government added.

Moldova and Canada signed a preferential loan agreement worth CAD120mn (€79mn) to support vulnerable families, integrate Ukrainian refugees, promote sustainable growth, and advance the transition to green energy.

Moldova and the United States agreed on an amendment worth $12mn (€10.7mn) to their assistance agreement, aimed at strengthening democratic institutions. This funding will enhance public services, increase transparency, promote media independence, and encourage greater public participation in governance.

Additionally, the two governments signed another amendment worth over $26mn to “support trade, improve the investment climate, boost exports, and strengthen energy security by diversifying supply sources and upgrading national energy infrastructure.”

Moldova and the French Development Agency signed a €25mn agreement to support the state budget and accelerate the shift to green energy, focusing on energy reforms, efficiency, renewable energy expansion, consumer protection, and environmental conservation.

The Ministry of Labour and Social Protection and the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation signed a memorandum of understanding worth CHF8mn (€8.5mn) to promote community projects supporting gender equality and greater female participation in decision-making.

Moldova’s Ministry of Energy, the National Centre for Sustainable Energy, and partners from Germany, the EU, and Norway signed a multilateral agreement to improve energy efficiency in Moldova’s residential sector, with financial support exceeding €20mn.

Moldova and the EBRD agreed on a grant of over €4.3mn from the E5P Fund (Eastern Europe Energy Efficiency and Environment Partnership) to modernise waste management infrastructure in several cities, including Cahul and Comrat. The project will see the construction of a waste sorting and composting station in Cahul and waste transfer stations in other cities.