The European Commissioner for Transport, Adina Vălean, has announced plans to connect the Republic of Moldova to all of the European Union’s transportation arteries. The Commissioner emphasized that, with a war raging near Romania’s borders, the protection of critical infrastructure is becoming a tool for defense against threats to European security.
Vălean stated that in order to have a resilient national infrastructure, the completion of at least three highways – A1, A3, and A8 – is required. The modernization of the northern railway corridor through Braşov and the southern corridor through Timişoara-Caransebeş must be completed, and a navigable Danube and modern maritime hub in Constanţa are necessary. The Danube and the port of Constanţa are exceptional geopolitical assets that must be used to generate economic benefits, including using the more than one billion euros in funding announced by the European Commission for solidarity corridors that facilitate freight transport to and from Ukraine. Additionally, the Republic of Moldova must be connected to all of the EU’s transportation arteries.
The Commissioner highlighted that the first funds have already been allocated for these priorities, and that the EU has €12 billion available for transportation, double the amount from the previous financing period of 2014-2020. The interconnectivity of infrastructure between the EU and Moldova will not only improve the country’s economy but also contribute to the security of the entire region.