The European Commission on Tuesday offered up to €250 million ($258 million) to Moldova to help the struggling population and reduce the country’s energy dependence from Russia.
“We will help lower rising energy costs for all Moldovans, in particular for the most exposed households, schools, hospitals, and businesses,” said EU Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos.
A disbursement of €100 million will be provided by mid-April, the commission said.
An additional €60 million is made available for the breakaway region of Transnistria, subject to progress on fundamental freedom and human rights, the commission said.
Russia cut off gas supplies to Moldova and pro-Russian Transnistria at the beginning of the year, with Moscow accusing Chişinău of not having paid gas debts amounting to the equivalent of €700 million.
“As a result, a serious energy crisis has broken out with serious economic and social consequences for inhabitants in Moldova and a devastating impact on the livelihood of people in the Transnistrian region,” the commission said.
In the long run, the commission plans to support Moldova in its uptake of renewable energy and to fully phase out Russian energy imports.
Last week the commission already offered Moldova emergency assistance worth €30 million.
More than 350,000 residents in Transnistria were “left in the dark and in the cold because Russia decided to stop its gas deliveries,” European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said at the time.
