The European Union may provide Ukraine with a grant to modernize the Shepit-Izvoarele Sucevei border crossing point on the border with Romania as part of the Interreg VI-A NEXT Romania-Ukraine 2021-2027 program, according to the press service of the Recovery Agency. According to the report, the program’s governing body has approved the selection of the BOND – Border Operations and National Development project. The project has been recommended for funding and may receive a grant of up to €690,900, which is 90% of the total project budget.
The Recovery Agency noted that BOND is the next stage of comprehensive work on opening the Shepit-Izvoarele Sucevei border crossing point, provided for by an intergovernmental agreement between Ukraine and Romania. Earlier, as part of the Romania-Ukraine 2014-2020 program, mirror infrastructure projects were implemented on both sides of the border – bridges and access roads were built, and flood protection measures were carried out on a 2 km section on the Ukrainian side and a 3 km section on the Romanian side.
As specified, the BOND project provides for the technical equipment of the checkpoint on both sides of the border, in particular the purchase and installation of specialized equipment for the safe and efficient operation of the checkpoint, as well as the development of a joint cross-border strategy for the development of border areas.
The Interreg NEXT “Romania-Ukraine” program for the period 2021-2027 is aimed at supporting cross-border cooperation and covers the border counties of Romania and the Zakarpattia, Ivano-Frankivsk, Chernivtsi, and Odesa regions of Ukraine.
BORDER, CHECKPOINT, EUROPEAN UNION, GRANT, MODERNIZATION, ROMANIA
Bulgaria, Greece, and Romania have agreed to prepare a joint application for European funding for a high-speed railway line along the “Western Axis” Athens-Thessaloniki-Sofia-Bucharest, according to the Bulgarian publication Sega.
According to the publication, the initiative was discussed at a meeting between representatives of the three countries and the European Commission in the context of the development of the North-South transport corridor, which is intended to connect the Baltic, Black and Aegean Seas. The meeting was hosted by Bulgarian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport Grozdan Karadzhov.
Greek Transport Minister Konstantinos Kiranakis said that by 2027, it is planned to provide high-quality passenger rail service between Thessaloniki and Sofia, while the Bulgarian side recalled that rail service on this route was interrupted in 2017.
Karadzhov also noted that the countries intend to synchronize planning, design, and permitting procedures to avoid delays and bureaucratic obstacles. Among Bulgaria’s priorities, he highlighted the acceleration of the project for a new bridge across the Danube between Ruse and Giurgiu, as well as the preparation of projects for new bridges in the Nikopol-Turnu Măgurele and Silistra-Kelerashi areas; the restoration of ferry connections on the Danube, including the Ruse-Giurgiu line, was also mentioned.
According to Sega, Romanian Transport Ministry representative Ionut Cristian Savoiu named among Romania’s priorities the modernization of the existing Giurgiu-Ruse bridge, the construction of a new Danube bridge, and the development of road and rail lines, as well as improvements on the Vidin – Calafat – Craiova section for better connectivity with Ukraine and Moldova.
Romanian President Nicușor Dan stated that the scenario of unification between Romania and the Republic of Moldova can only be discussed if the majority of Moldovan citizens want it, noting that “we are not there yet.”
According to Romanian media reports, Dan made the statement in response to questions from journalists upon his arrival at an informal meeting of the European Council.
Moldovan President Maia Sandu, in turn, during her first major press conference in 2026, called a possible union with Romania one of the options for guaranteeing peace and belonging “to the free world,” while emphasizing the priority of the course towards EU accession and pointing out the current lack of sustained public support for the idea of unification.
Ukraine, Romania, and Moldova have agreed to establish a trilateral chamber of commerce and industry, according to Mykola Kutsak, chairman of the Chernivtsi Regional Council.
“In practice, this could mean closer cooperation between our countries and financial assistance to Moldova and Ukraine on their path to the EU. In particular, from our position, we will be talking about Ukraine’s recovery from the consequences of the hostilities,” Kutsak explained.
According to him, representatives of the three countries, the European Parliament, and the European Union are involved in the initiative. A working group has been set up to prepare for the launch of the future platform, which will coordinate further steps to form the structure and mechanisms of the chamber.
Imports of electric generators and rotating electrical converters to Ukraine in 2025 increased 2.3 times compared to 2024, reaching $1.691 billion, according to data from the State Customs Service.
According to statistics, the largest suppliers of these products in 2025 were Romania (21.8%, or $369.2 million), the Czech Republic (17.9%, $301.8 million), and Poland (11%, $191.4 million). In 2024, China (17.7%, or $130 million), the Czech Republic (16.6%, $121.5 million), and Turkey (13.5%, $99 million) were the leaders.
In December 2025, imports of electric generators and converters fell by 30.6% compared to December 2024, to $177.5 million.
The State Customs Service also recorded a slowdown in growth rates during the year: in January 2025, imports exceeded the January 2024 figure by 8 times, and the high rate (about 7-7.5 times) continued until July, after which it began to decline.
Exports of electric generators from Ukraine in 2025 remained insignificant and amounted to $3.6 million (in 2024 – $1.7 million). The main destinations for supplies were the Czech Republic, Latvia, and Bulgaria; there were no exports in December.
As reported, at the end of July 2024, Ukraine exempted the import of electric generator equipment and batteries from customs duties and VAT. According to the State Customs Service, in 2024, imports of electric generators and converters amounted to $732.5 million, which is 3.7% more than in 2023.
The Romanian government has announced the acquisition of 100% of the shares of Danube Logistics, the operator of the Giurgiulești International Free Port in the Republic of Moldova, from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD).
The Moldovan Ministry of Economy has confirmed the legality of the transaction, emphasizing that it concerns only the private port operator and does not affect state-owned land. Final approval of the price is expected on February 11, 2026.
The Romanian side plans to invest more than €24 million in the modernization and development of Giurgiulești’s infrastructure: the goal is to integrate the port into Romania’s logistics network, expand its capacity, and strengthen the region’s role in the Danube and Black Sea transport corridors.
The port of Giurgiulești is located on a short section of Moldova’s access to the Danube, near the border with Romania and Ukraine, and is Moldova’s only port with access to sea and river routes.
The EBRD has previously noted the port’s strategic importance for Moldova’s foreign trade (over 70% of water import and export flows) and its potential as a hub that could be in demand for regional logistics, including future projects to rebuild Ukraine.
