The competition authorities of Poland, Romania, and Lithuania will work together on a 27-month EU-funded project aimed at strengthening the institutional capacity of the Competition Council in Moldova. The project, titled 'Strengthening the Institutional Capacity of the Competition Council to Enforce Competition and State Aid Policies in Line with EU Best Practices,' is particularly relevant given the recent start of accession negotiations between Moldova and the EU.

The project partners will support the effective enforcement of competition and state aid rules, as well as enhance the institutional and administrative capacity of the Moldovan Competition Council to operate similarly to EU competition agencies.

Tomasz Chróstny, the President of the Polish Office of Competition and Consumer Protection (UOKiK), expressed gratitude for being awarded the project and highlighted the strong professional and personal relationships developed between the Polish and Moldovan competition authorities. The collaboration with Romanian and Lithuanian counterparts is also emphasized.

The project is set to commence in early October 2024 and will be funded with 1.5 million euros from the European Commission. The administrative and financial management of the project will be overseen by the Romanian Ministry of Investments and European Projects.