The European Commission on Monday offered Moldova an emergency package worth €30 million ($31.5 million) to restore energy supply to the country’s break-away region of Transnistria after Russia halted gas deliveries.
“In the middle of winter, more than 350,000 residents in the Transnistrian region are left in the dark and in the cold because Russia decided to stop its gas deliveries,” European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said.
“We simply cannot accept that people on our continent do not have access to the most basic services.”
Russia cut off gas supplies to Moldova and the pro-Russian breakaway region of Transnistria at the beginning of the year, with Moscow accusing Chişinău of not having paid gas debts amounting to the equivalent of €700 million.
The EU money is intended to finance the purchase and transport of gas to Transnistra to help restore electricity and energy until Febuary 10, a press release said.
The possibility of coal deliveries through Ukraine is also being explored.
The commission also announced further financial aid to “mitigate the social consequences of the crisis” and to support the creation of a more resilient energy system.