Neamț County Council adjusts APASERV aid as Moldova updates SME thresholds

The Neamț County Council has adjusted a de minimis aid package for the regional water and sewerage operator, APASERV S.A. The approved amount has been reduced from 752,500 lei to 675,000 lei (approximately 132,759 euros) to match the actual cost of a planned acquisition.

The funds will be provided as a cash contribution to the company's social capital to purchase a 10-cubic-meter vacuum truck. This equipment is intended to improve sewerage and purification interventions and reduce the operator's reliance on third-party equipment rentals.

In Moldova, the government has approved changes to the framework for supporting small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The annual turnover threshold for SME classification will increase from 25 million to 50 million euros, while the total assets limit will rise from 21.5 million to 43 million euros. These changes aim to align Moldovan regulations with European Union standards and allow growing companies to access more financing and support. The update also introduces a ‘small mid-caps’ category for companies that have outgrown the SME designation but are still in a growth phase.