Message of Dionisie TERNOVSCHI, President of the Ungheni District Council, Republic of Moldova, at the launch event of the Interreg CAPDR🇷🇴 – ADR Chișinău🇲🇩 project at the Palace of the Republic in Chișinău | 11.09.2025
Mesaje publice
Thursday, September 11, 2025 – At the Palace of the Republic in Chișinău, the launch conference of the project “Transfer of Good Practices and Strengthening Administrative Capacity in Regional Development Policy between Romania and the Republic of Moldova”, financed through the Interreg NEXT Romania – Republic of Moldova Program, took place.
The event, organized in partnership between the Center for Analysis and Planning of Regional Development (CAPDR) and the Regional Development Agency of the Municipality of Chișinău (ADR Chișinău), brought together representatives of public administration, regional development experts, and decision-makers from both countries.
Speaker – Dionisie TERNOVSCHI – President of Ungheni District Council, Republic of Moldova
European Funds – the Engine of Local Development
In his speech, Dionisie Ternovschi emphasized that the experience gained in Ungheni clearly demonstrates the benefits of accessing European programs:
“Ungheni has developed, it is a developed city for the Republic of Moldova, because everything is relative, solely thanks to European funds. We managed to attract these funds through programs such as EU4Moldova Region K, which radically transformed the municipal centers of Ungheni and Cahul.”
He recalled that, at the district level, five important projects are underway, focusing on education, thermal insulation, energy efficiency, and the modernization of health centers, including the acquisition of dental ambulances.
Interreg – a Bridge towards European Integration
The President of Ungheni District highlighted the crucial role of the Interreg program in preparing the Republic of Moldova for the management of future European funds:
“Interreg is an instrument, I hope, that will warm us up before the famous European funds. That 1.9 billion, which we must spend in the next two years, is of great help to us, provided that we pass the exam on September 28.”
In this regard, Dionisie Ternovschi drew attention to political and civic responsibility.
“The development of the Republic of Moldova depends on how we cast our vote. Whether we want to be part of the great European family, or, on the contrary, choose to stagnate.”
The Need for More Effective Communication with Citizens
The official acknowledged that, despite tangible results, public support for European integration is not at the expected level.
“At the referendum, Ungheni did not express itself very clearly in favor of the Republic of Moldova’s integration into the European Union. Perhaps we communicated poorly, perhaps we did things but did not promote them enough. The responsibility must rest with us, the mayors, district presidents, and local councilors.”
He called for a more active involvement of the authorities in dialogue with citizens, in order to strengthen public support for the integration process.
Romania – a Strategic Support for the Republic of Moldova
A central message of the speech was the recognition of Romania’s essential role in supporting the European path of the Republic of Moldova.
“We need Romania’s help, we need to take shortcuts, not repeat the same mistakes, because we don’t have time. The Republic of Moldova does not have time. Romania will be and already is of great support to us. I thank our people, brother, sister, Romania, for all the support offered so far and I hope our common history is just beginning.”
In addition, Dionisie Ternovschi mentioned progress in technical cooperation, through which designers from Romania will be able to provide direct services in the Republic of Moldova, thereby speeding up project implementation.
Conclusion
Dionisie Ternovschi’s speech clearly underlined that the Republic of Moldova is at a decisive moment in its European journey. European funds are the main engine of local and regional development, and programs such as Interreg or EU4Moldova have already demonstrated their positive impact on communities. At the same time, effective communication with citizens and strengthening public trust in the integration process remain major challenges that must be assumed by local and regional authorities.
Another essential aspect is the strategic role of Romania, which provides expertise, technical support, and cooperation opportunities that can accelerate the modernization of the Republic of Moldova. This cross-border collaboration not only facilitates access to European funds but also contributes to reducing development gaps.
Overall, the message conveyed was one of responsibility and mobilization: the future success of the Republic of Moldova depends on the ability of institutions to attract and manage European resources, on firmly embracing the European direction, and on the close partnership with Romania.
