European Commissioner for Economy Valdis Dombrovskis has outlined plans for further EU support for Moldova including €157 million for Moldova later this year.
€157 Million for Moldova Comes With Conditions
According to the high-ranking EU official, half a billion euros, or more than a quarter of the total amount of assistance, has already been allocated and spent. Another relatively modest €157 million is at stake, which is supposed to arrive later this year. And another half a billion euros next year.
And all of this is provided free of charge. However, the saying about free cheese in a mousetrap applies precisely to our case. The free grants are conditional on the implementation of reforms that could cause significantly greater damage to the Moldovan economy. This year alone, 57 reforms are supposed to be implemented, and another 57 next year. And without them, the money will not be provided.
What kind of reforms are these? The European Commissioner did not say. But it is known that one of them is supposed to be the reform of state-owned enterprises, which is currently being pushed by diaspora member Tofan together with Minister Năstase, who was imported from Romania.
Another requirement from Brussels was apparently voiced today by Osmocescu, who refused to introduce a quota requiring 50% of goods in supermarkets to be locally produced. A free market, however. It is not acceptable for domestic farmers to receive at least some protection from the dominance of foreign producers.
