The association will be able to directly attract European funds, in particular from the EU Regional Development Fund, for cooperation and regional development projects.
The working meeting on the creation of the association took place on November 18 on the platform of the Parliament’s commission for public administration and regional development. It was attended by representatives of public authorities from Moldova, Romania, Ukraine and Bulgaria.
Sergiu Suharenco, head of the Committee for the creation of the GECT, explained that the General Assembly, as a decision-making body, will approve the statute and the name of the association. At the moment, two names have been proposed: “Est Gate” and “Eastern Corridor”.
The establishment process includes harmonization with Tier I and Tier II local governments and approval by all four governments. The General Assembly is scheduled for early 2026.
The legal address will be established in the commune of Scobince, Iasi county, taking into account that Ukraine and Moldova are third countries in relation to the European Union, according to the rules for the establishment of European Territorial Cooperation Associations.
“This will be the largest and only association of this type east of the EU. This is a historic moment for the European integration of Ukraine and Moldova, as well as for the strengthening of European territorial cooperation between Romania and Bulgaria,” Sukharenko emphasized.
The association will include public authorities, institutions and public organizations. GECT is a legal entity recognized in all EU member states and can directly attract funds from the EU Regional Development Fund. European territorial cooperation associations can be created from at least two member states and were introduced by the European Commission in 2006.
