The ex-Soviet republic of Moldova is one of the poorest countries in Europe and has been hit hard by the consequences of the Ukraine war. Local energy costs have risen significantly more than in Germany. Now there are further promises of help - also from Foreign Minister Baerbock.
The international community is supporting the Republic of Moldova with a further 600 million euros to cushion the drastic consequences of the Ukraine war. Romania's Foreign Minister Bogdan Aurescu announced this provisional sum for one of the poorest countries in Europe in Bucharest after a donor conference attended by more than 30 countries. Federal Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock pledged 77 million euros as co-chair. "We all jumped and made it clear: Politics is about action and not just words," said the Green politician.
Since the beginning of the war, the small country of Moldova has taken in tens of thousands of refugees from neighboring Ukraine, and there are currently 70,000 left there. Energy costs in Moldova have risen significantly more than in Germany. The largest part of the German aid money - 40 million euros - should therefore benefit poor private households, which are suffering particularly badly from the price increases. 20 million euros are to be invested in the expansion of renewable energies and the promotion of efficient energy use. 17 million euros flow into refugee aid. In addition, the country is to receive material support, such as video drones, off-road vehicles or document checking devices for border guards.
Aurescu said at a joint press conference with Baerbock that the result of the donor conference could still improve. "We keep counting (the money)." It will probably not be the last such meeting. Another conference is to take place in France later this year, and next year one in the Moldovan capital Chisinau. "This platform aims to become a permanent tool that constantly creates financial and technical resources to support Moldova," said Aurescu. The President of Moldova, Maia Sandu, could only connect via video because of a corona disease. "It is important to know that we are not alone, that we can count on your support and solidarity, that we stand together," she said.
A first donor conference took place in Berlin in April. The aid that was launched at the time meant that "although not all problems have been solved, the country has not collapsed," stressed Baerbock. In June, Moldova was declared a candidate for EU membership along with Ukraine. Baerbock also wanted to visit the Romanian Black Sea port of Constanta in the evening. Constanta is one of the alternative routes for exporting Ukrainian grain, which is no longer possible due to the war via the Ukrainian ports. Before the war, Ukraine was one of the largest grain exporters in the world.
