EU High Level Advisers: new Mission to help Moldova get closer to the European Union

A new two-year’ Mission of EU High Level Advisers has recently started its work in the Republic of Moldova: Ten top-level European experts work daily with Moldovan institutions to help them implement the commitments of the Association Agreement and speed up the country’s EU integration process, taking into account the recently acquired candidate status.

At present, the priority sectors covered by the new Mission include: Anticorruption, Customs & Tax Policy (Domestic Revenue Mobilisation), Diplomatic & European Affairs, Education & Research, Energy, Environment and Green Transition, Internal Security Affairs, Local Public Administration Reform, Reforms Coordination, Strategic Coordination & European Affairs. The High Level Advisers provide their policy advice to the following institutions: Prime Minister’s Office, State Chancellery, Presidential Administration, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European Integration, Ministry of Education and Research, Ministry of Energy, Ministry of Environment, Ministry of Internal Affairs, Ministry of Finance and the Customs Service. The supported sectors and the number of EU HLAs are envisaged to increase in the immediate future.

Over the previous years, the EU High Level Advisers’ Missions proved, according to the Moldovan authorities, one of the most efficient assistance programmes in the development of public policies and resulted in numerous reforms and modernisation in the public system of the country. 

Beyond the EU HLAs, the project also deploys a Technical Support Facility of short- and medium-term experts, instrumental in supporting the Moldovan Government in implementing urgent reform priorities and carrying out specific tasks linked with the implementation of the Association Agreement. Additional such sectors supported at present include e.g. Strategic Planning, Anti-Money Laundering & Assets recovery, Reform of the State Labour Inspectorate, Energy Policy & Regulatory Framework, Capacity Development of the Agency of Public Property and Energocom S.A.

The project is implemented in the period of 2 January 2023 – 1 January 2025. The overall objective is to support the Moldovan authorities in the implementation of the reform agenda and in particular, in developing the capacities required for the implementation of the Association Agreement (AA), including the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area (DCFTA), as well as assist towards the EU Accession negotiation process, following the positive Opinion of the European Commission and subsequent conclusions by the European Council to grant the Republic of Moldova candidate status.

Specifically, the project aims at strengthening policy-making at sector level, strategic planning and policy management capacities, enhancing stakeholders’ knowledge and awareness of the EU policies, legislation and regulations, capacity building in the central level public institutions of the Republic of Moldova. Specific advice will be given to ensure the political, institutional and financial feasibility of the reforms in order to ensure their effective implementation.

Previous phases of the EU High Level Advisers’ Mission have been successfully implemented in 2016 – 2018 and 2019 – 2022, accordingly.

More information about the project is available at the www.eu-advisers.md web site and social media: www.facebook.com/euadvisers