INTERVIEW WITH MOLDPRES // Deputy PM says wants Moldova where a child from any village has same opportunities as a child from Chisinau

Investments in infrastructure are no longer just about roads, equipment or paved kilometers, but about people's quality of life and equal development opportunities for all communities. From the modernization of local roads and rehabilitation of urban courtyards to the expansion of water, sewage and railway networks, the government of Moldova is implementing a broad portfolio of projects aimed at reducing regional disparities and bringing the country closer to European standards.

In this exclusive interview with MOLDPRES, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Infrastructure and Regional Development Vladimir Bolea explains the current infrastructure priorities, how the balance between urban and rural is ensured, the role of European funds and international partnerships and what concrete changes citizens will feel in their daily lives in the coming years.

“Good infrastructure creates trust and trust creates an economy,” says the official, outlining the government's vision for the mobility and regional development of Moldova.

MOLDPRES: What are the most important infrastructure projects currently under implementation and what concrete impact will they have on regional mobility and economy?

Vladimir Bolea: The most important projects we have today under implementation are aimed at a simple and profoundly human goal: the mobility of people and the quality of life in their communities. Through the government's programme,  Europe is Close, 2025 edition, 579 local development projects are to be carried out, including the construction, repair and rehabilitation of approximately 59.5 km of district and municipal roads, 493.5 km of communal roads and streets, as well as 170 km of pedestrian paths and access platforms to schools, kindergartens, medical centers and other institutions. The real impact of these projects is not measured only in kilometers, but in the lives of over 1.47 million people – residents of the 902 localities and the over 3,400 public institutions that will directly benefit. I am glad to say that 25 of these projects are already completed, meaning roads and access routes people currently use, not just promises for the future.

In Chisinau, through the European Courtyard programme, the impact is visible right in the courtyards of the apartment buildings where people live: 469 courtyards are to be modernized, and in 57 of them, works have already started. At the same time, the National Programme European Village, 2nd edition, reaches approximately 804 localities, intervening in basic infrastructure – water, sewage, public lighting, energy efficiency – so that a village and a city are no longer two parallel worlds. All these infrastructure investments support the local economy, make places more predictable for entrepreneurs and more attractive for investments. Good infrastructure creates trust, and trust creates an economy.

MOLDPRES: How does the ministry ensure a real balance between the development of large urban centers and investments in local infrastructure in the rural environment?

Vladimir Bolea: The balance between rural and urban does not appear by itself – it must be built through firm and persistent public policies. In the urban environment, we intervene where cities can become development poles for entire regions. We have dedicated National Programmes for the cities of Edinet, Soroca, Orhei, Ungheni, Cahul, and Comrat, and a special programme dedicated to the municipality of Balti, which can and should become a regional economic center. Through these programmes, cities are thought of as growth nodes that can radiate benefits to nearby localities.

In parallel, for the rural environment, the European Village programme – already in its second edition and projected for a third – supports investments in basic infrastructure: water and sanitation, social institutions, local roads, nurseries, public spaces, sidewalks, and, not least, General Urban Plans, without which a village cannot plan the future. A real balance means that a rural citizen has tap water, paved roads, and functional institutions, just like a citizen in the capital. The remaining challenge, and I don't hide it, is employment – and we can solve this chapter only by synchronizing with national economic policies and private investments.

MOLDPRES: To what extent do European funds and international partnerships contribute to accelerating infrastructure projects and what are the main challenges in using them?

Vladimir Bolea: For a country with great needs and limited budgetary resources, European funds and the support of international partners are more than money – they are the speed with which we can build. In the field of water and sanitation, external financing amounts to approximately 162 million euros, allowing the carrying out of projects that Moldova could not sustain alone. At the same time, to access these funds, our institutions have the responsibility to be prepared, to co-finance projects and to present mature and professional documentation.

The biggest challenges are the harsh conditions of access, prolonged tenders, lack of compliant offers and sometimes the insufficient administrative capacity of local public authorities. To change this, we align with European standards, including by implementing the European Commission's recommendations in Chapter 22 – Regional Policy and Coordination of Structural Instruments, which the ministry coordinates in the accession negotiations.

MOLDPRES: Modernizing roads and railways remain a major expectation of citizens. What realistic timelines can be offered for nationally prioritized projects?

Vladimir Bolea: As for roads, the Europe is Close programme is the most concrete answer I can give. This year, 70 projects are already implemented and the rest are underway. I want people to see the results with their own eyes – roads going to school, work, or the doctor, without making promises, we work to translate everything into real well-being.

In the railway sector, realistic timelines are longer. The project for the rehabilitation of the Bender-Causeni-Cimislia-Basarabeasca-Etulia-Giurgiulesti line has been extended until December 31, 2027. Regarding the Valcinet-Ocnita-Balti-Ungheni-Chisinau-Cainari project, we are in consultations with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and European Investment Bank (EIB), in order to modify the terms, so that the works can be carried out directly by Moldova Railways. We want Moldovan infrastructure to be built with responsibility and a dynamic pace.

MOLDPRES: How is transparency and quality control of infrastructure work ensured in the context of large-scale public investments?

Vladimir Bolea: Transparency means trust and people's trust is the most important capital a public institution can have. The allocation of funds for regional and local development is made through the decisions of the National Council for Regional and Local Development Coordination – a mixed structure in which the government does not decide alone. All projects are selected through public calls, and each decision is traceable in an information system that provides equal access to all local authorities.

In implementation, monitoring is continuous – Regional Development Agencies and the National Office verify the works in the field, and in externally funded projects, supervision committees and active citizens’ groups are established. Beneficiaries have the right and power to stop work, if it does not meet standards. Through this mechanism, we ensure that regional and local development means fair and visible investments, not statistics.

MOLDPRES: What role does regional development play in reducing economic disparities between regions, and what specific tools does the ministry have to support less developed communities?

Vladimir Bolea: Regional development is the policy through which the state tells each community: “you are not alone.” The National Regional Development Strategy 2022–2028 has clearly identified economic imbalances – the concentration of resources in the municipality of Chisinau, the marginalization of remote regions and persistent gaps. In response, the financing of regional and local projects is done through the National Fund for Regional and Local Development, which this year had allocations of about 1.93 billion lei, with an utilization rate of about 96 per cent, and for next year, almost 1.94 billion lei are planned.

The tools through which we intervene are varied: European Village for the rural environment, Growth Poles for the six strategic municipalities, the Programme for Balti, European Courtyard for courtyards’ revitalization, Europe is Close for modernizing local roads, Public Nursery Services for balancing professional and personal life. In the years 2022–2025, hundreds of projects have already changed the reality in villages and cities, and this pace must be maintained.

MOLDPRES: Looking toward the next few years, what is your vision for the infrastructure of Moldova and what changes will citizens feel directly in their daily lives?

Vladimir Bolea: My vision for infrastructure is not technical – it is personal. I want a Moldova where a child from Cahul or Rascani has the same access to drinking water and the same opportunities as a child from the capital. A Moldova where the way to school is safe, where parents get home earlier, not later, and a country where people are not forced to leave because infrastructure pushes them to do so. The development of the water and sewage network, the modernization of roads, and the policy framework we are building will integrate Moldova into European standards and will create a more dignified and healthier daily life for people.