Marina Solovieva
Recall that the “European Yard” program provides for the renovation of multi-storey yards in Chisinau and the capital’s suburbs. According to the recent amendments to the state budget for 2025, the government allocates 100 million lei for the renovation of at least 4-5 yards in each sector of the city and its suburbs. At the same time, a ceiling of up to 5 million lei per project has been set.
The critical reaction of experts is caused by several points. “First, the transparency requirements for the promotion of the project were not met,” says Marina Solovieva, program director of the Expert grup center. – The legislation prescribes that the announcement on the organization of public consultations and materials for discussion should be published 15 working days before it is finalized. At least ten working days are given for the submission of recommendations. In fact, the announcement on consultations was published on the day the draft was approved by the government (03.04.2025). The deadline for accepting comments on the document was specified on 08.04.2025, but it was violated as well, since the Parliament approved the draft in the first reading on 07.04.2025. Practically without consultations”.
Moreover, the “European Yard” was approved before the official adoption of amendments to the state budget. Because the day after its adoption by the Parliament in the first reading, the Minister of Infrastructure and Regional Development Vladimir Bolya has already announced the launch of the program and the website www.curtea-europeana.md. That is, the government invested in the project’s landing page without knowing for sure that the budget amendments would be approved.
The expert also notes the fact that the provisions of the program “European Yard”, which are financed by the funds provided by the European Union, clearly do not solve the problem in terms of stimulating economic growth. “Judging by the information published on the established website of the program, such expenses as rehabilitation of sidewalks and walkways, repair of entrance doors, measures in the field of landscape design, installation of gazebos, etc., meet the eligibility criteria,” Marina Solovieva notes. – Indeed, the overall level of satisfaction of residents depends on the convenience of urban space. However, there are doubts about whether landscaping measures can provide sufficient economic growth to cover the interest that the state will have to pay on loans, even though they were granted on favorable terms.
“We were not consulted at all about the European Yard program,” says Viorel Furdui, executive director of the Congress of Local Authorities (CALM). – Although it raises many questions. And the first one is about why only Chisinau can participate in it. There are 32 cities in Moldova, and they are no less in need of renovation and modernization.”
Experts also note the possibility of a political reading of the initiative. “In its approved form, the project resembles an electoral one, competing with projects implemented under the leadership of the Chisinau mayor,” said Marina Solovieva. – There are doubts about the mechanism of yard selection. It is proposed that the evaluation, selection and approval of the results should be carried out by an inter-ministerial commission. It, by the way, does not include representatives of civil society. The commission’s decisions will have to be made on the basis of consensus. If it cannot be achieved, the decision will be approved by a simple majority of votes of the members present at the meeting, and this is fraught with violations in the selection process. And in general – limiting local autonomy and creating prerequisites for political clientelism. If we want to modernize yards, there should be a program for the whole country. Especially since it will be financed from the state budget. Otherwise, it is not clear what is the point of repairing a limited number of yards and only in Chisinau mun. Chisinau”.
“We believe that it would be more correct to create a subsidy fund with the possibility of participation of all those in need,” emphasizes Viorel Furdui. – This would remove many questions to the project”.
