EU pledges support, investments for Moldova

BRUSSELS. June 22 (Interfax) - Moldova is the second biggest recipient of assistance from the European Peace Facility, with a total of 197 million euro allocated to date, and this assistance will continue in 2026, the European Commission (EC) said in a statement after an EU-Moldova summit in Brussels on Monday.

"Moldova's place is in the European Union. [...] Europe stands with Moldova - for reform, for opportunity, and for a shared future in peace, freedom, democracy and prosperity," EC President Ursula von der Leyen, who attended the summit, said.

The country has already received around 504 million euro in EU assistance thanks to "Moldova's strong reform record" under the EU's Growth Plan for Moldova, which is bringing "tangible benefits for citizens through strategic investments," the statement said.

At the summit the EU announced 232.7 million euro in new funding under the Growth Plan, for the reconstruction of a road between Porumbrei and Comrat.

The EU is also preparing a new package of financial assistance for 2026 through its European Peace Facility, the statement said.

As for security and defense cooperation, the EU has provided for 11 million euro in assistance to "bolster Moldova's resilience against hybrid attacks." In addition, it will invest 17 million euro in Moldova's border infrastructure to "support Moldova's security and territorial integrity."

The EU pledged support for Moldova in countering "actions aimed at destabilizing, undermining or threatening its sovereignty and independence, including actions aimed at subverting its democratic processes." Last week, the EU imposed restrictive measures on six individuals "responsible for such actions," the statement said.