The overall objective of the "Support to reform of the Transport Sector of Republic of Moldova" project was to contribute to the reform of the transport sector in line with the transport chapter of the EU-MD Association Agreement. The project team provided technical assistance and capacity building to support legal approximation and policy development for fulfillment of the undertaken commitments.

The technical assistance team supported Moldovan authorities in the implementation of the EU-MD Association Agreement requirements in the Transport sector (mainly Chapter 15, Transport and Articles 74 and 75 of Chapter 13, Fisheries and Maritime Policy).

- Law review. The team reviewed transport legislation to ensure its compliance with EU directives. A total of five legislation acts in waterborne sector, transposing EU acquis, were elaborated with continuous support of the EU experts. These included the framework for Port State and Flag State controls and on Ship and Port facility Security. Two legal acts have been already approved by the Government, another three are in the process of adoption during 2020. Also, secondary legislation and rules on infrastructure capacity allocation, on train drivers’ certification was prepared and approved, together with implementing regulation on the continuing airworthiness of aircraft and aeronautical products, parts and appliances, and on the approval of organisations and personnel involved in these tasks.
- Institutional support. The experts provided guidance to establish new transport related institutions such as the Railway (safety) Authority and to improve the organization of existing bodies such as the Naval Agency.
- Operational tools. Various tools were created aiming to better transport activity and they include an integrated ship database, manual for an IT database for civil aviation and a Geographic Information System for railway sector.
- Capacity building. Transport experts provided training and mentoring to bolster transport sector reform through knowledge transfer. For example, representatives of Naval Agency were introduced to modern and competitive maritime management aspects focusing on running an open ship registry. Topics included necessary institutional and legal framework for a Maritime Administration to function as a regulating and supervising authority. Naval Agency inspectors benefited of hands-on training through three Flag State and Port State Control trial inspections on ships hosted in Giurgiulesti Port.
- The National Road Transport Agency’s employees were trained on EU legislation and best practices on how to integrate safety in all phases of planning, design and operation of road infrastructure. The trainees learned how to improve the approach on building a safe system concept which entails a significantly reduced number of road traffic accidents leading to a lowered number of mortality cases and occurrence of injuries.

- Strengthening political association and economic integration between European Union and Moldova.
- Progressive liberalization road, rail, waterborne and civil aviation.
- Moldovan transport sector commitments supported by law approximation.
- Legal and operational framework at EU standards for newly created transport state institutions.
- Trained road safety personnel - better prepared specialists at EU standards level.
- Legal framework to support training of commercial drivers based on EU practices.
- A legal and operational framework for type approval of vehicles and trailers.
- Enforcement of EU legal acts on driving and rest time, tachographs, dangerous goods transport, speed limitation devices, and weight measurement.
- A strong and functional Naval Agency.
- Improved ship registration and an integrated ship database.
- Increased Flag State and Port State controls quality and efficiency.
- Strategies to attract and hire maritime inspectors leading to a network of independent flag State inspectors.
- Operational framework to enable a strong and efficient Railway (safety) Authority.
- A modern railway sector institutional and legislative structure.
- A legal and operational framework for aircraft and related products certification.