Europe Day was marked on Friday, May 12th, on the Classics Alley of Balti municipality, by presenting the literary-artistic intermezzo „Through Art to Europe” and by the opening of a caricature exhibition about the living standards differences in the Republic of Moldova and The Member States of the European Union. In parallel, an exhibition of folk craftsmen was organized, and the Balti College of Pedagogy and Music held a concert.
The event was attended by the representative of the Delegation of the European Union to Moldova, Marco Gemmer, the Romanian Consul general in Balti, His Excellency Mihail Baciu, representatives of the Balti Territorial Office of the State Chancellery, Alecu Russo Bălţi State University (USARB), the „Pro-Europa” NGO Balti etc.
The Director of North Regional Development Agency, Ion Bodrug, referred to the importance of the Republic of Moldova’s cooperation with the European Union, mentioning, in this context, a number of benefits resulting from the implementation of the Moldova-EU Association Agreement.
„During the years 2011-2016 we implemented three regional development projects with an amount of 1,300,085 Euros offered by the German Government. For the period 2017-2020, the EU will finance at least six projects in the field of Water Supply and Energy Efficiency, worth almost 13 million Euros. At the same time, our Czech partners will provide support to small and medium-sized businesses worth about 500,000 Euros. The closeness to the EU means economic progress, decent living standards, development and modernization opportunities, and growth of gross domestic product, strengthening energy independence and security, liberalization of the visa regime, fight against corruption, increasing the quality of social and health services and so on. Supporting the European vector is essential to transforming the Republic of Moldova. Only in this case we will be able to modernize the country, create more jobs and provide better wages, expand trade and increase investment, provide decent pensions and improve the quality of public services. Being pro-European means to act in the national interest of the Republic of Moldova”, said the North RDA director Ion Bodrug in front of the more than 300 people from Balti who came to the Balti Classics Alley to celebrate Europe Day.
„We are in Europe physically, geographically. It remains to be in Europe in terms of culture, mentality, responsibility. I emphasize this because, to my mind, these issues are very important”, observed USARB rector dr. Hab. Ion Gagim.
Traditionally, Europe Day in the North Development Region of the Republic of Moldova is organized by North RDA, in partnership with the Consulate General of Romania in Balti and the European Interactive Center „Pro-Europa” Balti. Alecu Russo Balti State University also joined the event this year. Furthermore, Europe Day in Balti was supported by the Viitorul Institute for Development and Social Initiatives and the Balti Free Economic Zone.
The celebration of Europe in Balti ended with the distribution of informative materials about the European Union by volunteers.
In the Northern Development Region, Europe Day was officially celebrated for the first time on May 14th, 2011, in Balti municipality.
