Moldova’s road to the EU: Economic challenges and opportunities in focus

On 8 November 2023, the European Commission adopted the 2023 Enlargement Package that for the first time included a country report for the Republic of Moldova. To mark the occasion and discuss the report, the EU Technical Assistance Project “Support the Moldovan Government in Identifying and Preparing Projects Linked to the Implementation of the Association Agreement” (PPF) hosted a workshop on ‘Moldova’s road to the EU: economic challenges and opportunities’. The event centred on economic reforms, necessary investments and the financial support available for the country’s integration to the EU.

In his opening speech, the EU Ambassador to the Republic of Moldova Jānis Mažeiks stated ‘[…] while getting closer to the EU can serve as a good anchor for important reforms, in order for them to materialise, the whole society should be involved through strong institutions, civil society and committed politicians.’ During the panel discussion that followed, PPF Senior Expert Mandeep Bains invited the Programme Manager from the EU Delegation, Josip Jurić, to present the main conclusions and recommendations of the European Commission’s country report. He also stressed the impact of the EU enlargement process on boosting investor confidence.

Head of the European Investment Bank (EIB) Representation to Moldova Alberto Carlei talked about the organisation’s main activities in Moldova. Director and Head of Moldova for the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) Catarina Björlin Hansen focused on EBRD support to the country’s economic reform process, critical during the EU accession preparatory phase. Natalia Adam, Principal Consultant in Investment Project Implementation for Nisporeni Municipality, shared information about the development of municipal investment projects of Nisporeni. She also described how the EU Technical Assistance supported the development of a municipal prospectus to present future investment projects in a systematic way for potential funders.

To learn more about the EU Technical Assistance PPF Project visit the project website: https://mf.gov.md/en/ppf