1 June: Republic of Moldova: 2nd Summit of the European Political Community in the EU candidate country

2023-06-01 04:00:31

The EU perspective as an opportunity for crisis-ridden Moldova

With the prospect of joining the EU, Moldova offers opportunities for a better future. The weakest in the country must be taken along and the young people must be offered the prospect of staying in the country. In this way, we offer the government our many years of experience. And we take care of those who need it most

Bernhard Drumel, Managing Director CONCORDIA International

Vienna (OTS) – In June 2022, the EU granted the Republic of Moldova EU candidate status. Exactly one year later, the 2nd EU summit is taking place in the Republic of Moldova today. After a year full of tensions, fears and dramatic economic consequences for the Moldovan people.

Moldova is the poorest country in Europe next to Kosovo. Every third child in the country lives in poverty. One in five children has no access to clean drinking water. In rural areas, only 84% of households have a water supply and 77% have a sewage system. 59.9% have access to WASH facilities (bathroom and shower in the house) and only 40.4% have access to a gas network. (Data from the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection 2021) A lack of job prospects leads to an enormous brain drain, a decline in production, social pressure and the destruction of families. 35,000 Moldovan children are growing up in Moldova without their parents because they are forced to leave their country to earn money elsewhere to feed their children. Elderly people and children are left behind.

The pro-Western government under President Maia Sandu has been in office since 2020 and, in addition to the political legacy of her predecessors, had to deal with many problems at the same time in crisis mode right from the start. Measured by the number of inhabitants, Moldova has taken in more Ukrainian refugees than any other country. So far, 822,393 Ukrainian refugees have been admitted, at least temporarily. Of these, many have moved on, some have retreated, others are waiting near the border for the end of the war. Currently 108,889 people stayed in Moldova. (UNHCR Report) The solidarity shown with the Ukrainian neighbors and the Moldovan support is unprecedented. In a country where the majority of the population had to see for themselves how they were getting along before the followingmath of the war.

The government is hoping for further support from the EU summit to expand infrastructure, security and stability. In the run-up to the summit, the EU decided on Tuesday to almost double the financial aid it had pledged a year ago to 295 million euros for the Republic of Moldova.

CONCORDIA has been taking care of disadvantaged and abandoned children and young people in the country and supports Ukrainian refugees in Moldova with their emergency aid

As the largest aid organization in the Republic of Moldova, CONCORDIA played a special role from day 1 of the outbreak of war. Long before help arrived from specialized international humanitarian organizations, the CONCORDIA Team Moldova, together with its network of volunteers, was on duty at the Palanca border crossing between Moldova and Ukraine to help the thousands who crossed the border every day in the first days of the war and spent hours in had to endure the cold to provide relief supplies.

CONCORDIA Moldova also organized accommodation for children and their mothers, distributed countless food packages, provided psychological support, etc. In 2022, CONCORDIA helped 14,094 refugees in addition to particularly vulnerable Moldovan families as part of their emergency aid.

“With the prospect of joining the EU, Moldova offers opportunities for a better future. The weakest in the country must be taken along and the young people must be offered the prospect of staying in the country. In this way, we offer the government our many years of experience. And we take care of those who need it most“, Bernhard Drumel, Managing Director CONCORDIA International

Donation account CONCORDIA social projects IBAN: AT28 3200 0000 1318 7893 or online

Questions & contact:

CONCORDIA social projects
Catherine Wagner
[phone]
[e-mail]
www.concordia.or.at

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