EU and Moldova agree comprehensive energy strategy to decouple from Russian supply and integrate with EU market 

The European Commission and the Republic of Moldova today agreed on a two-year Comprehensive Strategy for Energy Independence and Resilience of Moldova, aiming to decouple Moldova from the insecurities of Russian supply of energy and fully integrate it in the EU energy market. 

Under this strategy, overall support for the Republic of Moldova would amount to €250 million for 2025, of which €100 million will be provided by the EU by mid-April. In addition to this overall support, and as part of the same strategy, an offer of €60 million is made available for the people in the Transnistrian region of Moldova (the Left Bank) subject to conditions.

In the short term, the overall package will support Moldovan consumers who are facing steep price increases on the Right Bank. It will allow to compensate all excess electricity costs for all households for up to 110 kWh every month until 31 December 2025. It will also include a hardship fund to alleviate the energy bills of the most exposed households and allow to compensate for the entire increase of electricity costs for social institutions, including kindergartens, schools and hospitals. 

Additional funding of €15 million will be provided to support the energy bills of agro-food and manufacturing businesses. Furthermore, through the mobilisation of international financial institutions, additional funding of €50 million will be available for sustainable investments in energy efficiency projects by local public authorities, households and SMEs.

Under this strategy, funding of €60 million is also available for the more than 350,000 people in the Transnistrian region who were left in cold in January after Gazprom discontinued energy supplies. This support is subject to steps being taken on fundamental freedoms and human rights in the Transnistrian region and excludes energy intensive activities. 

In the longer term, the EU support will allow Moldova to improve its energy security through investments and reforms for the energy transition and ensure the full phase out of Russian supply of energy resources. The package is a continuation of the work done by the European Union and partners to reduce Moldova’s energy vulnerability. Today Moldova’s energy system is providing electricity and heat without any blackouts.

The Strategy will unfold in three steps:

• Under the first step, the Commission has already provided €30 million EU emergency support announced on 27 January.
• The second step will entail €100 million in further financial support to  Moldova until mid-April to alleviate higher energy bills for consumers on the Right Bank. Additional funding is also available to support the people of the Transnistrian region subject to steps being taken on fundamental freedoms and human rights.
• Under the third step, the Commission and international partners will finance actions and investments in Moldova’s energy resilience and independence and support to lower energy costs for all Moldovans. The actions will be included in the Reform Agenda under the Moldova Growth Plan and implemented until the end of 2026.

Gazprom has not honoured its contractual obligations, stopping supplies of gas to the Transnistrian region of Moldova. As a result, a serious energy crisis has broken out with serious economic and social consequences for inhabitants in Moldova and a devastating impact on the livelihood of people in the Transnistrian region.

You can read the press release here.