The Republic of Moldova accelerates economic reforms to access a new €157 million tranche under the Growth Plan

The Republic of Moldova accelerates reforms to unlock a new €157 million tranche under the €1.9 billion Growth Plan

The European Commission is assessing the progress made by the Republic of Moldova in implementing the reforms undertaken under the Growth Plan, with a view to unlocking a new tranche of €157 million. The announcement was made in Chișinău by European Commissioner for Economy and Productivity Valdis Dombrovskis during a joint press conference with Prime Minister Vasile Tofan.

Reforms at the centre of the European assessment

The Republic of Moldova is approximately halfway through the implementation period for the reforms provided for under the Growth Plan, while the authorities in Chișinău still have a series of important measures to complete.

According to Valdis Dombrovskis, the European Commission is currently assessing the reforms implemented by the Moldovan authorities in order to decide on the allocation of a new €157 million tranche from the €1.9 billion package aimed at supporting economic development and reforms in the Republic of Moldova.

Progress in public administration, investment and energy security

The European Commissioner highlighted the progress made by the Republic of Moldova since submitting its application for European Union membership. Among the results noted were the reduction of bureaucracy, improved management of public investments and strengthened energy security.

At the same time, the European official stressed that the reform process still requires substantial efforts. Forty reforms are scheduled to be implemented by December 2026, while a further 57 measures are planned for 2027.

The priority areas include the reform of state-owned enterprises and the modernization of public administration, processes involving structural changes and complex implementation.

The EU and the Republic of Moldova enter an important stage of the accession process

Valdis Dombrovskis noted that the Republic of Moldova and the European Union are at an important stage both in terms of economic reforms and the European integration process.

The European Commissioner welcomed the new Government’s commitment to placing greater emphasis on economic growth, amid the challenging regional context created by Russia’s war against Ukraine.

According to him, the reforms implemented so far in the areas of reducing bureaucracy, public investment and energy security are already beginning to produce tangible results.

The Government commits to fiscal discipline

Prime Minister Vasile Tofan emphasized the importance of the €1.9 billion Growth Plan for modernizing the Republic of Moldova’s economy, attracting private investment and increasing productivity.

The Prime Minister stated that the authorities are committed to managing public finances and European funds responsibly, with a focus on maximizing the impact of every euro and leu invested.

According to the Prime Minister, investments should contribute to the development of productive companies, stimulate private investment and modernize infrastructure.

European integration as a national objective

Regarding accession to the European Union, Vasile Tofan reiterated that European integration is a national project of the Republic of Moldova that goes beyond the responsibility of a single Government.

The Prime Minister expressed the objective of having the Republic of Moldova become a member of the European Union by the end of this decade and indicated 2028 as the target timeframe for signing the accession treaty.

“Moldova Proiect” – a new mechanism for accelerating investment

Alongside the implementation of reforms, the Government in Chișinău is preparing to establish a new centralized agency called “Moldova Proiect”.

The new institution is expected to take over the responsibilities of several decentralized structures currently operating within ministries, with the aim of simplifying administrative processes, reducing costs and accelerating the implementation of major infrastructure projects.

The measure is being introduced as part of the authorities’ efforts to increase the absorption capacity for European funds and improve the investment environment.

Next steps: reform assessment and discussions in Brussels

The progress of the reforms undertaken under the Growth Plan, the functioning of the future “Moldova Proiect” agency and the status of development projects are expected to be discussed during upcoming talks between the authorities in Chișinău and European institutions.

Prime Minister Vasile Tofan is expected to make his first official visit to Brussels at the beginning of next week, where these issues will be among the key topics of discussions with European officials.