MEP Crețu Welcomes EU-Funded Bridge to Enhance Connections Between Romania and Moldova

European Parliament member and former European Commissioner for Regional Policy, Corina Crețu, declared on Monday that re-establishing ties with the Republic of Moldova is a historical obligation. She was referring to a new infrastructure project financed by non-reimbursable European funds, which will improve connectivity between Romania and the Republic of Moldova and provide the latter with easier access to the West through the “Unification Highway” (A8) and, more specifically, the Ungheni Bridge.

“This infrastructure project supports the consolidation of economic, social, and fraternal relations between Romania and the Republic of Moldova. Furthermore, it will significantly boost Romania’s competitiveness by facilitating international transportation of goods and people. I want to emphasize that the law concerning the A8 Târgu Mureș – Iași – Ungheni Highway envisions the construction of 320 km, with the goal of completing it up to the border with the Republic of Moldova and building the Ungheni Bridge over the Prut River by 2030,” stated Corina Crețu in a Facebook post.

The bridge is financed with non-reimbursable European funds through the Connecting Europe Facility mechanism, with a budget of 16.5 million euros.

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“Projects of this magnitude are crucial for Romania, which is why, during my tenure as European Commissioner, I insisted that at least the feasibility study be carried out using European funds allocated during the 2014-2020 period, to ensure the construction’s initiation in that financial exercise. I continuously stressed that this must be one of the government’s top priorities. Additionally, I provided the support of the European Commission for launching this project,” recalled Corina Crețu.

According to the Romanian MEP, “re-establishing connections with the Republic of Moldova is a historical duty. In the past, Moldova and Bessarabia were interconnected by over 22 bridges, most of which were destroyed by the Russian army to hinder free movement between the two sister regions.”

“I am also delighted that approximately 50 kilometers of the A8 highway are finally being put out to tender and funded through the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR). Completing the A8 and A3 highways to connect Moldova and Bessarabia with Transylvania and the rest of Europe will significantly improve connectivity between these historical regions and European markets,” concluded Corina Crețu.