Moldova

EU - Moldova Relations

The EU cooperates with the Republic of Moldova in the framework of the European Neighbourhood Policy and its eastern regional dimension, the Eastern Partnership, with the objective to bring Moldova closer to the EU.

Moldova’s EU path

On 3 March 2022, Moldova applied for EU membership. On 17 June 2022, the European Commission presented its Opinions on the applications submitted by Ukraine, Georgia and the Republic of Moldova. Based on the Commission’s Opinion, Moldova was given a European perspective on 23 June 2022 by unanimous agreement between the leaders of all 27 EU Member States.

On 14 December 2023, the European Council decided to open accession negotiations with Moldova. The first intergovernmental conference, formally launching the negotiations, took place on 25 June 2024. On 22 September 2025, Moldova successfully completed the screening process – the process through which the EU presents its acquis and Moldova assesses its level of compliance with it. The second intergovernmental conference, to open the first cluster, took place on 15 June 2026.

EU Solidarity with Moldova

The EU is comprehensively supporting reforms in the energy system of Moldova, thereby increasing its energy resilience and security. This help takes the form of technical aid necessary for reforms, financial support for key infrastructure investments, andfinancial support for consumers. 

The EU and the Republic of Moldova have also agreed on a two-year Comprehensive Strategy for Energy Independence and Resilience. This strategy is underpinned by support worth up to €250 million in 2025 alone and includes direct budget support of up to €100 million, conditional on reforms. This package was the trigger of a wider reform process which was included in the Reform Agenda of the Growth Plan.

Since December 2021, the EU has disbursed €361 million  in budget support to help vulnerable families and SMEs face the rising energy costs. These actions are also aimed at supporting the long-term socio-economic recovery, energy security and energy transition. An additional offer of €60 million has been made for the people of the Transnistrian region after they were left with no heating or electricity following Gazprom’s decision to halt energy supplies in winter 2025. 

At the seventh EU-Moldova High-Level Energy Dialogue, held in Brussels on 7 May 2026, the EU , together with the Energy Community Secretariat, endorsed the Summer 2026 preparedness plan for Moldova’s electricity system. This will guide future relation between Moldova and the EU in the energy sector.

In addition to energy security, the EU is helping Moldova counter foreign information manipulation and interference, including disinformation, and enhancing strategic communication through providing technical support to the Moldovan government and capacity building for independent media civil society and youth to address disinformation and to communicate actively on the benefits of EU integration.

The EU is also enhancing Moldova's security through targeted actions guided by the High Level Political and Security Dialogue; expanding cooperation through the EU Partnership Mission to Moldova, the EU-Moldova Support Hub for Internal Security and Border Management, the EU Border Assistance Mission, as well as with European agencies notably Frontex, Europol, Eurojust and CEPOL; strengthening Moldova's defence sector through the European Peace Facility, and its internal security and border management through targeted investments and provision of equipment. Between 2021-2025, the EU has allocated €197 million through the European Peace Facility, enabling the Moldovan Armed Forces to improve their operational effectiveness, accelerate meeting EU standards and interoperability. 

Facilitating economic development and connectivity – such as support for SMEs, trade, energy efficiency, human capital development and connectivity – also remains a priority for the EU in Moldova. 

Moldova participates in the EU-Ukraine Solidarity Lanes initiative that helps the country ensure secure supply chains and food security. Since 2023, Moldova has benefited from almost €45 million in grants under the Connecting Europe Facility for Transport to improve transport connections between Moldova and Romania. In October 2025  a revised EU-Moldova Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area (DCFTA) entered into force, replacing the temporary Autonomous Trade Measures and providing enhanced market access for a number of Moldovan agricultural products. 

Finally, the EU is supporting Moldova's reforms through efforts to strengthen administrative capacity, advisory services focusing on challenges arising from the accession process, dedicated training and support programmes, as well as increasing the participation in EU programmes. Moldova currently participates in programmes such as: Creative Europe, Horizon Europe, Fiscalis, Customs, LIFE, EU4Health, the Connecting Europe Facility, the Single Market programme, the Union Civil Protection Mechanism (UCPM), Digital Europe and the Employment and Social Innovation (EaSI).

Growth Plan for Moldova

On 10 October 2024, the European Commission proposed a Growth Plan for the Republic of Moldova, worth €1.9 billion and underpinned by a Reform and Growth Facility for the period 2025-2027. Supporting the country’s socio-economic convergence is essential for Moldova’s EU accession and key to rapid progression on the enlargement path. To date, Moldova has released around €504 million under the Facility.

The Growth Plan, which is the largest ever EU financial support package, will bring the country closer to EU membership by accelerating reforms, improving Moldova’s access to the EU’s single market, mobilise investments for jobs and growth and, most importantly, transform the lives of ordinary citizens.

In March 2025, the Reform and Growth Facility was approved by the Council and the European Parliament.

In the framework of the first-ever EU-Moldova Summit in July 2025, President von der Leyen announced the release of €270 million in pre-financing from the €1.9 billion EU Growth Plan for Moldova. This disbursement will translate into a new Bălți Regional Hospital, restored district heating in Chișinău, and lower electricity and gas bills for the people of Moldova. President von der Leyen also announced that cheaper euro bank transfers will be available as of October 2025 through Moldova's inclusion in the Single European Payment Area (SEPA) and proposed to integrate Moldova into the EU Roaming area as of January 2026. The ‘Roam Like at Home' initiative will allow Moldovan citizens to make calls, send text messages and use mobile data with Moldovan numbers while travelling in any of the 27 EU Member States without incurring roaming fees.

In September 2025, the European Commission made the first regular €18.9 million payment under the Growth Plan for Moldova, following its assessment that the country had met 4 reform indicators linked to the bi-annual payment schedule of the Reform and Growth Facility. Key achievements included the development of open and competitive electricity and gas markets, as well as measures to guarantee energy security. The European Commission also launched a Call for Expressions of Interest and called on businesses to invest in the country.

In March 2026, the European Commission unlocked a second tranche of €189 million payment under the Growth Plan for Moldova, following its assessment that the country had met further 24 reform indicators. Key reforms achieved aimed, among others, at reducing administrative burden for businesses, strengthening cybersecurity and emergency response, advancing the digitalisation of government services, improving budgetary transparency as well as strengthening the anti-fraud, asset recovery and judicial systems. National electricity and balancing markets were also launched, and adoption of renewable energy scaled up.

EU Funding and Support

The EU is the largest provider of financial assistance to Moldova. The EU supports socioeconomic development and reforms in Moldova, with financial and technical assistance through the Neighbourhood Development and Cooperation Instrument (NDICI). EU assistance is based on strict conditionality and is linked to satisfactory progress in reforms and the respect of the rule of law, effective democratic mechanisms and human rights.

The EU has reaffirmed its support for, and solidarity with, Moldova by allocating over €1.2 billion in non-repayable grants to Moldova in 2021-2025. Funding is channelled through multiple financial instruments such as direct budget support, macro-financial assistance, technical assistance programmes, and investment projects with international financial institutions co-funded or guaranteed by the EU. In addition, the EU announced a €1.9 billion Growth Plan for Moldova in October 2024 for the period 2025-2027. This funding will be disbursed over the next three years and is expected to help mobilise €2.5 billion of investments in transport, energy, agriculture and irrigation as well as schools and hospitals.

Further information

Factsheets available to download