2023 and 2024 Commission reports on Moldova
The European Parliament adopted by 456 votes to 118, with 51 abstentions, a resolution on the 2023 and 2024 Commission reports on Moldova.
Progress on reforms related to EU accession
Parliament praised Moldova's exemplary commitment and steady progress on EU accession reforms, despite significant internal and external challenges, including Russia's war against Ukraine. This commitment has enabled accession negotiations to begin in June 2024, less than two years after the country's application for EU membership in March 2022.
Members recognised that EU-Moldova relations have entered into a new phase, with intensifying cooperation, gradual alignment across all policy areas of the EU acquis and advancement on the EU integration path. The results of the constitutional referendum and the 2024 presidential elections in Moldova confirmed broad popular support for EU membership and the necessary reforms. These elections took place under professional conditions, despite a hybrid destabilisation campaign led by Russia, involving the exploitation of social media, intimidation, illicit financing and vote buying, the instrumentalisation of the clergy, cyberattacks, and disinformation. These actions aimed to divide society, delegitimise institutions, and promote Russian influence.
Fight against foreign interference
The upcoming parliamentary elections in September 2025 will be of crucial importance for the continuation of Moldova’s pro-EU trajectory. Members are concerned about the likely intensification of foreign, in particular Russian, malign interference and hybrid attacks ahead of the elections. The EU is called on to increase its support, including financial and technical support, for the Moldovan Government’s efforts to counter such interference in the country’s democratic process, including through the sharing of expertise in foreign information manipulation and interference (FIMI), countering hybrid threats and strengthening resilience.
Socio-economic reforms
Members welcomed the Reform and Growth Facility for Moldova, which underpins the Growth Plan and is worth EUR 2.02 billion, making it the largest EU financial support package for Moldova since its independence. This facility provides Moldova with EUR 520 million in non-repayable support and a maximum amount of EUR 1.5 billion in loans, with an 18 % pre-financing rate, demonstrating the EU’s recognition of the urgency of supporting Moldova’s reforms and resilience.
In addition, the Commission is called on to include adequate dedicated pre-accession funds for Moldova in the EU’s next multiannual financial framework, and to begin preparing Moldova for the efficient use of future pre-accession funds as a newly designated EU candidate country.
Parliament called for comprehensive social policy reforms to address poverty and persistent largescale emigration, increase healthcare coverage, strengthen public education, improve working conditions and develop adequate social protection systems. Members called for Moldova's gradual integration into the EU and the single market to be accelerated by aligning its legal and regulatory framework with the EU acquis. They also welcomed the renewal of the EU’s temporary trade liberalisation measures in July 2024 in order to support Moldova’s economy, substituting the loss of trade caused by Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine.
Human rights, rule of law
Moldova is invited to (i) redouble its efforts by effectively implementing its legislative framework to combat racial discrimination, marginalisation, racist hate speech and hate crimes targeting members of ethnic minority groups, including Roma; (ii) continue its efforts to reduce the gender pay gap, combat stereotypes, discrimination and gender-based violence.
Members stressed that comprehensive justice reform remains key for Moldova's democratic and EU accession reforms to succeed. They also stressed the need to continue the fight against money laundering and ensure enhanced coordination among all key judicial and anti-corruption institutions.
Common foreign and security policy (CFSP) and the Transnistrian conflict
Parliament welcomed Moldova’s consistent cooperation on foreign policy issues and the significantly increased rate, notably from 54 % in 2022 to 86 % in 2024, of its alignment with the EU’s CFSP positions and restrictive measures.
Members welcomed the Commission’s initiatives to include proactive support for the Transnistrian region in its energy emergency support packages, and exchange of information and practical cooperation between the Moldovan Government and the de facto authorities of the Transnistrian region throughout the energy crisis caused by Russia.
The EU is called on include Moldova in the EU security and defence programmes and related budget allocations, including the European Defence Industry Programme and Readiness 2030, allowing the country to participate in joint procurement alongside the Member States. Members also welcomed the allocation of EUR 50 million to modernise the defence capacities of the Moldovan Armed Forces in the context of the current security challenges through the European Peace Facility (EPF) for 2024.