EU Pledges €1.8 Billion in Funding to Moldova Ahead of Key Votes

The European Union will allocate a record €1.8 billion ($2 billion) to Moldova to support the country’s plan to join the bloc, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said Thursday.

The announcement during a trip to the country Thursday comes less than two weeks before Ukraine’s smaller neighbor is set to vote in presidential elections and a referendum that could seal its path toward EU accession. The campaign ahead of the Oct. 20 ballots has been marred by allegations of Russian meddling to sway the outcome.