Romania and Moldova roll out new accessibility measures

Romania’s President Nicușor Dan has promulgated the National Housing Accessibility Program – “Lift for Life” – which will provide financing for installing elevators, ramps or lift platforms in old residential blocks of at least three floors built without lifts. The pilot phase targets 100 blocks nationwide, with funding initially sourced from EU programmes and later from a ministerial order. Installations are estimated to cost about €50,000 per external lift, and the law excludes historic monuments and buildings classified as seismic risk.

In Moldova, a draft law obliges economic operators and service providers to make their products and services accessible to people with disabilities, seniors and those with temporary or permanent functional limitations. The legislation sets mandatory accessibility requirements for a range of goods and services, aiming to improve inclusion for persons with reduced mobility.