Grigore Novak
The Commission emphasizes that the mass exodus of citizens, combined with a declining birth rate and an aging population, poses serious challenges for the labor market, social protection systems, education, and healthcare, thereby negatively impacting the country’s economic development. Lawmakers noted that the country ranks fourth in the world in terms of the rate of demographic decline.
Tasks for the government
In this context, committee members are calling on the executive branch to take urgent and effective measures to encourage citizens to remain in the country and to facilitate the return of those who have left. Lawmakers are calling for the acceleration of commitments to the European Union and the implementation of specific tools to stabilize the economy, including raising incomes, supporting entrepreneurship, and creating attractive jobs. In addition, the government is required to submit a detailed annual report to Parliament on the impact of programs to combat depopulation, emphasizing clear performance indicators in each area of development.
The Commission emphasizes the need to equip local governments with resources to support returning citizens, as well as to intensify cooperation with the private sector to develop mentoring services. Authorities are urged to utilize existing human capital, including the potential of people of retirement age, and to invest in active employment policies to ensure the sustainability of social systems and the cohesion of local communities.
Statistics
This decision was adopted following public hearings organized by the Commission on Human Rights and Interethnic Relations. According to data presented at the time by Commission Chair Grigore Novak, the population with permanent residence in the Republic of Moldova as of January 1, 2025, was approximately 2.4 million people, which is 42,000 (or 1.7%) fewer than at the beginning of the previous year. The long-term trend is even more concerning: compared to 2019, the country’s population had decreased by more than 260,000 people by 2025, and compared to 2016, the decline amounted to about 450,000 citizens. Moreover, during the hearings, it was suggested that the actual scale of the population decline could be even more significant.
New Plan
As Logos Press previously reported, the Bureau for Diaspora Relations is preparing a new action plan for 2026–2028 to implement the National Return Assistance Mechanism. The document will include measures aimed at facilitating the return and reintegration of Moldovan citizens, improving their access to public services, employment opportunities, education, entrepreneurship, and other important aspects of socio-economic adaptation.
