EU Support to Enable Compensations for All Families in Moldova: The First 110 kWh at the Pre-Crisis Tariff

The European Union is offering Moldova new financial support to ensure stable gas and electricity supplies and predictable prices so that the population is not affected by tariff shocks. The aid package exceeds 300 million euros and includes both emergency support and medium- and long-term measures to strengthen the country’s energy independence, tv8.md reported. The first aid of 30 million euros has already been allocated as humanitarian support. Of this amount, 10 million are earmarked for consumers on the right bank of the Dniester. In the medium term, the EU proposes €250 million to compensate households for their electricity costs until December 2025. Thus, each household will pay the first 110 kWh of the tariff bill before the price increase, which will mean a full support of €151 million. Moreover, an additional 15 million euros from this package will be allocated to support companies in the agri-food sector, which will cover 50% of the additional energy costs. At the same time, €20 million will go to fully cover the increase in electricity bills for social institutions such as schools, hospitals and community centers. A further 50 million will be invested in energy efficiency projects through the European Village and ecovoucher programmes. In addition to direct support, the EU is also financing measures to ensure Moldova’s energy independence. The action plan for the next two years aims to improve the energy efficiency of buildings, increase the share of renewable energy, develop energy storage solutions and finalize the interconnection with European grids. The authorities’ goal is that by 2030, at least 30% of the energy consumed will be clean energy. The support package also includes a component for the left bank, where the EU proposes to allocate €60 million to cover the region’s energy needs until mid-April. This aid will cover approximately 70% of the pre-crisis social consumption, but is subject to certain conditions. The Transnistrian region should commit itself to respecting human rights and fundamental freedoms, gradually raise energy tariffs to market prices and exclude large industrial consumers from the support package so that only the population and social institutions receive assistance.