Interreg Danube Region Programme’s solidarity with Ukraine and Moldova
13 August 2024
Supporting Ukraine and Moldova to work towards their EU membership has been one of the priorities of the Interreg Danube Region Programme. After the Russian military aggression against Ukraine, addressing the humanitarian crisis in both countries became another focus of this transnational cooperation programme.
The Interreg Danube Region programme authorities together with the European Commission mobilized remaining 20214-2020 Cohesion Policy Funds (European Neighbourhood Instrument funds under REACT-EU) to provide financial assistance to Ukrainian and Moldovan local authorities in order to support both displaced people and their host communities.
As a result, by the end of 2023 and in early 2024, this Interreg programme allocated a total of 1,060,901.02 EUR to the Moldovan partners and 976,806.70 EUR to the Ukrainian partners.
In Ukraine, the funds were used to address urgent needs of local communities focusing on civil defence facilities, temporary accommodation, repairing of shelters and dormitories, as well as reconstructing civilian small-scale infrastructure such as schools.
In Moldova the EU funds were mobilised to cater to the needs of Ukrainians fleeing the war. The Interreg Danube Programme supported various activities of 28 Refugee Accommodation Centres, focusing on meeting the basic needs of refugees and aiding their integration into host communities. By August 2023, over 14 thousand refugees have benefited from the services provided by the Refugee Accommodation Centres.
Source – EU Commission