EIB Global, the development arm of the European Investment Bank, has provided a €40 million loan for the rehabilitation and modernisation of 20 schools across the Republic of Moldova, in a project expected to improve learning conditions for around 40,000 students. The overall investment programme of up to €51.5 million includes a €3.5 million European Union grant under the Neighbourhood Investment Platform and an €8 million contribution from Moldova supported through the EU Growth Plan for Moldova, according to a press release from the EU Delegation to Moldova on 19 June 2026. The project marks the first EIB operation in Moldova to benefit from co-financing under the EU Growth Plan for Moldova, a €1.9 billion package that is the largest EU financial support for the country since independence.
The programme will fund renovations, reconstruction and upgrades including insulation, heating systems, classroom modernisation, accessibility improvements and fire safety measures, with a significant share directed at climate action through energy-efficiency improvements and renewable energy integration. Prime Minister Alexandru Munteanu said the project represents "another step towards a Moldova with better public services and greater opportunities for every child." Education Minister Dan Perciun noted the investments will help keep education at the centre of local life. EIB Vice-President Karl Nehammer highlighted that the project is the first EIB project in Moldova supported through the EU Moldova Growth Plan, accelerating investments that directly improve daily lives. EU Ambassador Iwona Piórko stated that the Growth Plan is designed to deliver tangible benefits for citizens, with this project as a clear example.
The investment aligns with Moldova's Education Development Strategy 2030, the National Development Strategy "European Moldova 2030", the EU-Moldova Association Agreement and the Economic and Investment Plan for the Eastern Partnership. The project is expected to reduce energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions through upgraded infrastructure. The €3.5 million EU grant remains subject to completion of relevant approval procedures. The initiative supports Moldova's EU accession reforms by modernising public infrastructure to European standards.
Stakeholder impact: For Moldovan students and teachers, the project directly improves learning and working conditions in 20 schools, with warmer, safer and better-equipped facilities. The Moldovan government gains co-financed investment that advances its reform agenda and EU integration goals, though it contributes €8 million from its own budget. EU taxpayers and the EIB see their funds deployed as a concrete deliverable of the Growth Plan, reinforcing the EU's strategic partnership with Moldova. Local construction and energy-efficiency sectors in Moldova will benefit from contracts for renovation works and renewable energy installations.