The first ever EU-Moldova Summit: A historic step forward on Moldova’s path to the EU Moldova’s EU integration is moving ahead at record speed, with accession screening set to conclude in autumn 2025.
The Commission has also assessed that Moldova has met the criteria to open Cluster 1, on the fundamentals.
The EU welcomes Moldova’s impressive reform progress
and remains firmly committed to its European future.
“We, the leaders of the Republic of Moldova (hereinafter Moldova)and the European Union (EU), held our first Moldova – EU Summit in Chisinau, Moldova on 4 July 2025 and concluded the following:
1. Today’s Summit marks a significant milestone in the deepening of Moldova–EU relations and reaffirms our shared commitment to peace, security, stability, and prosperity across Europe. It also reflects how far our partnership has come and the tangible benefits it brings to our citizens. The future of Moldova and its citizens lies within the European Union.
2. Moldova and the EU are cooperating more closely than ever, both politically and economically, in the face of escalating threats to regional security caused by Russia’s unjustified and unprovoked war of aggression against Ukraine. We restate ourresolute condemnation of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine. In this context, we stand together in countering these threats and reaffirming the EU’s unwavering support for Moldova’s sovereignty, stability, resilience, and economic development.
3. The EU reaffirms its steadfast commitment to supporting Moldova on its reform path towards EU membership. Moldova confirmed its strong and constant commitment and determination to pursue this strategic objective with unwavering dedication, including by enshrining the EU accession in the Constitution of Moldova following 2024 referendum. We welcome the reform progress made by Moldova despite the significant challenges caused by external factors.
4. Enlargement is a geostrategic investment in peace, security,stability and prosperity. We reiterate our commitment to advancing Moldova’s EU accession process swiftly and based on credible reforms and the principle of own merits in line with the Copenhagen criteria. We welcome Moldova’s strong engagement in the screening process and commitment to work with determination towards completing alignment with the EU acquis. We look forward to the next steps in Moldova’saccession process, opening negotiating clusters, starting withthe fundamental cluster as soon as possible when the conditions are met.
5. We reaffirm that the future of Moldova must be determined freely and democratically by its citizens, without external pressure, foreign interference, or manipulation. We stronglycondemn the persistent and increasing hybrid threats posed by Russia aiming to undermine democratic elections in Moldova,including information manipulation and interference, and theuse of large- scale electoral corruption through local proxies. The EU remains committed to support Moldova’s resilience in combating destabilising actions, including through the EU Partnership.
Mission in Moldova (EUPM) and stands ready to mobilise any other available instruments. We stress the importance ofcontinued mutual efforts in strategic communication byimproving public awareness of the tangible benefits of EU’s assistance and European integration. In light of the upcomingelections, we also underscore the need to further counterelectoral corruption to uphold transparency, accountability and the integrity of the electoral process, with EU support and in line with European standards.
6. The EU commends the efforts and continued commitment by Moldova to pursue resolutely a reform agenda focused on efforts to strengthen the rule of law and fundamental rights including the rights of persons belonging to minorities. We recognise the central importance of a strong, independent, and impartial judiciary for Moldova’s democratic transformation and its EU path. We further acknowledge that combatingcorruption remains a key pillar of democratic resilience and essential to strengthening public trust. Progress has been made in judicial reform, including efforts to strengthen judicial independence, improve transparency, and modernise court administration. Moldova reaffirms its commitment to advancing reforms to ensure a justice system that upholds the rule of lawand delivers for all citizens. The EU will continue to support Moldova in this endeavour.
7. We welcome Moldova’s efforts in the fight against serious and organised crime, in particular firearms and drugs trafficking, migrant smuggling and the trafficking in human beings. In that respect, we support the continuous cooperation with Europol under the existing operational and strategic cooperation agreement. We reaffirm the need to continue the existing comprehensive dialogue on all migration-related issues, including legal migration, migration management, international protection and illegal migration.
8. We underline the strategic importance of the EU–MoldovaAssociation Agreement and the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area (DCFTA), which have firmly anchored Moldova’seconomy in the EU. The EU is Moldova’s largest tradingpartner and export destination, giving Moldovan producers direct access to the world’s largest single market. This drives growth, supports jobs, and raises standards for both businessesand consumers. We recognise the positive impact of the EUtemporary trade liberalisation measures. These measures havehad a positive impact on trade, stimulating exports and contributing to socio-economic development of Moldova. We reiterate our commitment to transition from these temporary trade liberalisation measures to improving reciprocal trade liberalisation, on a permanent basis, as soon as possible, as stipulated under Article 147 of the Association Agreement.
9. We welcome the EUR 1.9 billion Moldova Growth Plan as a transformative investment in Moldova’s future. The plan will help Moldova grow faster, more sustainably, create better jobs, and bring real opportunities to people in every region across thecountry. It will speed up reforms, strengthen public services, and prepare Moldovan businesses and workers to compete and succeed in the EU Single Market. We express our strong commitment to advancing the Reform
Agenda and to leveraging the resources from the Growth Plan for high quality projects with a large impact on economicgrowth. We also express our commitment to effectivelyimplement the list of priority investment projects. We welcomethe payment of the pre-financing of the Reform and Growth Facility amounting to EUR 270 million.
10. We welcome Moldova’s participation in the Economic Reform Programme for the second consecutive year, which aims toaccelerate economic reforms to sustain macroeconomic stability and support fiscal sustainability, to the full benefit of citizens and businesses.
11. We welcome the deepening of cooperation between Moldova and the European Union in the field of Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP). Through the EU–Moldova Security and Defence Partnership, our cooperation is expanding across areas of shared strategic interests. We value our strong cooperation on the European Peace Facility, which has provided EUR 197 million in support to Moldova, and our cooperation through the EUPM. The EU values Moldova’s contributions toEU missions and operations under the Common Security andDefence Policy (CSDP), and its increased alignment with CFSP positions and EU restrictive measures, including in response toRussia’s war of aggression against Ukraine. We underline theimportance of Moldova continuing the positive trend towards afull alignment, including in line with the need to respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all states. Moldova reaffirms its determination to continue this positive trend, inline with its European aspirations and in defence of a rules-based international order.
12. We reconfirm the EU’s solidarity with and support to Moldova in countering hybrid and cyber threats posed by Russia andstand ready to continue supporting Moldova’s digitaltransformation and cyber security, including through Cyber Rapid Response Teams.
13. We welcome the progress Moldova has made to strengthen its energy security, improve its resilience and reduce itsdependence from Russian supplies, and look forward to furtherprogress in this regard. We strongly condemn Russia’scontinued weaponisation of energy thus aiming to destabilisepolitical situation in Moldova. In the face of Russia’s continuedpressure on the energy sector, the EU and its Member Stateshave acted decisively and stood in solidarity with Moldova andits people by providing crucial support to citizens andbusinesses during the energy crisis and advancing reforms to integrate Moldova fully into the EU energy market. The EU encourages Moldova to continue energy market reforms, including implementation of the Energy Community acquis.The EU will continue to support Moldova in its efforts towards energy efficiency, independence, diversification and interconnectivity with the EU, including through the Vertical Gas Corridor.
14. We underline the strategic importance of connectivity as growing priority in the EU-Moldova cooperation. The EU acknowledges the role Moldova can play as a transport hub. We look forward to Moldova’s active engagement in the Trans-European Transport Network governance.
mechanisms to realise our shared vision of closer integration and a seamless regional transport system.
15. The EU remains a committed partner in supporting Moldova’sefforts to build strong institutions, expand opportunities foryoung people, and strengthen social cohesion. In this regard, wereaffirm our readiness to support Moldova’s efforts to gradually participate in relevant EU programmes, policies, and elements of the internal market ahead of full membership.
16. We welcome the decision of the European Payments Council inMarch 2025 to include Moldova in the geographical scope of the Single Euro Payments Area (SEPA) and look forward for Moldova to be able fully to access all its benefits.
17. We reaffirm our strong and unwavering support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Moldova within itsinternationally recognised borders. The EU and Moldova sharea commitment to a comprehensive, peaceful, and lasting reintegration of the country. We call for a withdrawal of an all Russian military personnel and ammunition from theTransnistrian region of Moldova. The EU will continue to support Moldova’s reintegration efforts and will ensure that the European path remains open and inclusive to all its citizens,” the declaration reports.