EUroBRIDGE Project: EU Allocates Nearly €2 Million to Strengthen Moldova–Ukraine Cooperation

A new international project, EUroBRIDGE, was launched in Chișinău with a budget of almost €2 million, aimed at enhancing cooperation between the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine with the technical support of Romania and full funding from the European Union.

The project seeks to strengthen the administrative capacity of local authorities and civil society organizations in the cross-border regions of both countries through small grants (€10,000–€50,000), training sessions, and experience exchange with Romanian partners.

Of the €1.9 million budget, €950,000 is allocated to Moldova. The initiative is coordinated by the Chișinău Municipal Entrepreneurship Development Center, which acts as a link between municipalities, business incubators, and Ukrainian partners.

Mayor Ion Ceban emphasized the project’s role in “creating tangible partnerships that deliver visible results for local communities,” while Deputy Mayor Olga Ursu highlighted its contribution to improving the national investment climate.

The project covers all of Moldova and Ukraine’s Chernivtsi, Odesa, and Khmelnytskyi regions, with a joint coordination committee to select and monitor funded projects.

The first cooperation agreements were signed between Cantemir, Nisporeni, Taraclia district councils and Ukrainian communities Krasnosilka, Balta, and Artsyz.

Comment by the Institute of Danube Research:

The EUroBRIDGE launch marks a new stage of cross-border cooperation between Ukraine and Moldova, focusing on local authorities, development agencies, and civil society as drivers of European integration from the ground up.
This initiative aligns with the EU Strategy for the Danube Region (EUSDR) and demonstrates how localized, people-centered projects can foster trust, resilience, and regional cohesion.

IDR views EUroBRIDGE as a model of practical European integration, strengthening multi-level governance and long-term stability across the Danube and Black Sea regions.