Enlargement perspective

On 3 March 2022, Moldova submitted its application for EU membership. On 17 June 2022, the European Commission presented its Opinion on Moldova’s application. On 23 June, the European Council took the historical decision to recognise Moldova’s European perspective and to granted it EU candidate country status. The European Council has invited the European Commission to report on Moldova’s progress on its membership application in 2023. 

In November 2023, the European Commission issued a recommendation to open accession negotiations with Moldova. In December 2023, following the Commission’s recommendation, EU leaders decided to open accession negotiations with Moldova and in March 2024  EU leaders invited the Council to swiftly adopt the draft negotiation framework.

On 25 June 2024, the EU held its first accession conference with Moldova, formally opening the membership negotiations.

On 4 July 2025, the first ever EU – Moldova Summit took place in Chișinău, highlighting the strategic importance of Moldova’s future within the EU.

The European Commission has published annual country reports in 2023 and 2024 on Moldova as part of its regular enlargement package .

Association Agreement 

On 27 June 2014, the EU and Moldova signed an ambitious and innovative Association Agreement, including a Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area (DCFTA). The agreement provides the basis for stronger political association and economic integration, and promotes common values and enhanced cooperation in areas of mutual interest. 

The agreement facilitates trade further by gradual approximation of Moldovan legislation, rules and procedures, including standards, to those of the EU. The Agreement was provisionally applied from 1 September 2014 until completion of the ratification process, which allowed the full application of the Association Agreement from 1 July 2016. 

The EU-Moldova Association Agreement continues to be a driver for reforms and alignment with the EU acquis. An updated EU-Moldova Association Agenda for the period 2021-2027 was adopted on 22 August 2022. It comprises jointly agreed priorities on further implementation of the Association Agreement and sets an ambitious programme of reforms.

The 9th EU-Moldova Association Council meeting took place on 4 June 2025

Foreign and security policy

The EU remains committed to deepen cooperation with Moldova under the Common Foreign and Security Policy.

In 2024, Moldova became the first country to sign a Security and Defence Partnership with the EU. In 2022 EU – Moldova High-level political and security dialogue was launched to strengthen cooperation in the framework of the common security and defence policy. 

Consultations on security and defence, established in 2014 and relaunched in 2021, take place regularly in order to discuss cooperation on tackling hybrid threats, cyber security, strategic communication, training and capacity building for CSDP missions, support to security sector reform.

In April 2023, the EU Partnership Mission in Moldova (EUPM) was established to provide support to Moldovan institutions in the field of security to build resilience against cyber and hybrid threats. Its mandate has been renewed until 2027.

Since 2021, the EU has been supporting the modernisation of Moldova’s armed forces through the European Peace Facility (EPF). The overall assistance provided amounts to nearly EUR 200 million for 2021-2025. 

Since 2023, the EU has put in place a Moldova dedicated sanctions regime against individuals and entities involved in actions destabilizing the country. 

In October 2024, the Commission proposed a Growth Plan for the Republic of Moldova, worth €1.9 billion and underpinned by a Reform and Growth Facility for the period 2025-2027.

Approved by the Council and the Parliament in March 2025 and signed by the EU and Moldova in Chișinău on 9 May 2025, it is the largest ever stand-alone EU financial support package since Moldova’s independence. By accelerating reforms, and providing significant financial assistance, the Plan is aimed at boosting Moldova’s economy, accelerate reforms and bring the country closer to EU membership.  Successfully implemented, the Growth Plan has the potential to double the country’s economy over the next decade.

The Moldova Growth Plan is based on three pillars:

Financial Assistance

Providing funding for key projects, such as:

• Infrastructure (roads, bridges, rail)
  Energy security (powerlines, EU grid connection)
  Healthcare (new hospitals)
  Digital integration (broadband internet, 'roam like at home' area)
  Business financing and support

Access to EU Single Market

Enhancing trade and integration in areas like:

• Goods and supply chains
  Energy and decarbonisation
  Digital market
  Payments (SEPA)

Socio-Economic Reforms

 Supporting economic growth, competitiveness, and convergence with the EU through:

• Economic governance and resilience
  Social capital and green transition
  Foreign investment and business environment improvements

These pillars aim to drive economic growth, increase EU convergence, and prepare Moldova for EU accession.

Trade

EU-Moldova trade relations are determined by the free trade area set up by the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area (DCFTA) part of the Association Agreement.

Thanks to the DCFTA, which is in place since 2016, the EU is Moldova’s main trading partner. In 2024, the EU accounted for 54% of Moldova’s total trade in goods and 65.6% of Moldovan exports are destined for the EU market.

The DCFTA sets up a free-trade area between the EU and Moldova in line with the principles of the World Trade Organisation.

The DCFTA allows for:

• The removal of import duties for most goods traded between the EU and Moldova
• Provides for broad mutual access to trade in services for both partners
• Both EU and Moldovan companies can create a subsidiary or a branch office on a non-discriminatory basis. This means they receive the same treatment as domestic companies in the partner's market when setting up a business.

An important part of the DCFTA is aligning Moldovan trade-related laws to selected EU legislative acts. The aim of Moldova's adoption of EU approaches to policy-making is to improve governance, strengthen the rule of law and provide more economic opportunities by widening the EU market to Moldovan goods and services.
 

Assistance to Moldova

The EU is the largest provider of financial and technical assistance to Moldova. Through a variety of programmes and instruments, like the Neighbourhood Development and Cooperation Instrument-Global Europe (NDICI-GE), Global Gateway, the EU supports Moldova’s development and accession process.

Energy

In response to the energy crisis and related price increases, the EU and Moldova have agreed on a two-year Comprehensive Strategy for Energy Independence and Resilience. The objective is to end Moldova’s dependence on Russian fossil fuels and fully integrate Moldova into the EU energy market. This support comes in addition to the extensive budget support, which the EU has provided for the energy sector in Moldova since 2021. This support has subsidised gas and electricity bills for over 1.2 million households. 

Financial system

On 6 March 2025, the European Payment Council (EPC) gave Moldova the green light to join the Single Euro Payments Area (SEPA). With most Moldovan banks already prepared, SEPA transactions for these banks will be possible as of 5 October 2025, making cross-border transfers cheaper for families and deepening Moldova’s integration into the European financial system. This will stimulate cross-border trade and investments.

Humanitarian assistance

In light of the impact on Moldova of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, the EU has mobilized special measures to support vulnerable Ukrainian refugees and families hosting them in Moldova, through humanitarian assistance.