Moldova received €1.4 billion in external assistance last year, with most of the funding directed to the energy, economy and education sectors, according to a report presented by the State Chancellery.
Of the total amount, €704.6 million was provided in grants.
The volume of external assistance decreased by around 10% compared with 2024, when disbursements amounted to approximately €1.6 billion. The report attributes the decline to the completion of emergency support packages provided during the 2022–2023 energy crisis and the transition toward the implementation of multi-year projects.
The European Union remained Moldova’s largest external development partner, with €530.9 million in disbursements, accounting for 36.8% of the total.
The World Bank followed with €171 million, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) with €162.4 million, Germany with €111.4 million and Romania with €86.3 million.
Together, Moldova’s five largest development partners accounted for more than 74% of total disbursements.
Energy Receives Largest Share of Funding
The energy sector attracted the largest amount of external assistance, receiving €459.9 million, or 31.9% of the total.
The funds were used, among other things, to purchase natural gas for the Transnistrian region, provide compensation to vulnerable households, rehabilitate electricity distribution infrastructure, install more than 41,000 smart meters and connect Moldova’s national electricity system to the European ENTSO-E network.
The economy received €259.8 million, while €118.2 million was allocated to education.
Defense received €90.2 million, while transport and infrastructure projects received €87.9 million.
Public Sector Absorbs Nearly 90% of Assistance
The public sector absorbed 88.2% of all external assistance, equivalent to €1.27 billion.
The private sector received €135.1 million, while non-governmental organizations received €34.4 million.
According to data reported by development partners, 714 external assistance projects were implemented in Moldova last year. Of these, 41 were co-financed by multiple development partners.