Светлана Церович, постоянный представитель МВФ в РМ
Svetlana Cerovic, IMF Resident Representative in Moldova, told LOGOS PRESS that an IMF mission will visit Moldova next week to get first-hand information on the latest developments in the economy, update macroeconomic data and discuss public policies and the progress made in meeting commitments under the Fund-supported program.
Svetlana Cerovic, IMF Resident Representative in RM: “We are working closely with the authorities under the current program, which, as you know, expires at the end of this year. The Fund is ready to continue its support to Moldova in the future”.
At the conclusion of the sixth review, the IMF team of experts concluded that “the program is being implemented very unevenly”. The progress of structural reforms is mainly affected. The updated memorandum contains information on the progress of implementation of the agreements, specifies tasks, deadlines, and performance parameters – what has been done and what is to be done at the final stage. This includes addressing significant climate-related issues.
It turns out that the country’s preparations for climate change on the planet are in full swing. It is understandable – it is possible to control the forces of nature with the help of papers. After the adoption of the Climate Change Act, the government is going to write a disaster risk management program according to the Sendai Protocol (disaster prevention and mitigation, preparedness, response, and rehabilitation and recovery). The State Chancellery is already fully engaged in the exciting process of establishing commissions, hearing reports and response mechanisms to “risk maps” – to assess vulnerability in relation to people, infrastructure assets, the economy and businesses.
Another mechanism, involving low-carbon development technologies, cost-effectiveness and tax incentives, is only in the pipeline. As, indeed, is everything else about the fiscal incentives for the energy transition to Europe, including the renewal of VAT. The government has committed to preparing a package of changes to broaden the tax base from January 2026. These will include a new framework for VAT – simpler and more comprehensive, in line with EU VAT legislation.
Also, by the end of September 2025, the government is going to eliminate in a package some tax exemptions and regimes, which will generate additional annual revenues of at least 900 million lei. In the same spirit, the problem of civil servants’ salaries has been discussed for years. The Moldovan side promised once again to address this issue comprehensively – to revise the functions and positions, to reduce the number of grounds for allowances, and, finally, to eliminate the leakage of funds at state enterprises. They promise stress-testing and maximum size of the labor remuneration fund in the public sector.
As for the anti-corruption agenda, before the arrival of the next IMF mission, we can say that the country has completely failed it. The measures agreed in the program to “ensure operational independence of the Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office and autonomy in hiring staff by amending the regulations of the Supreme Council of Prosecutors” have not been implemented. The IMF mission will face a difficult mission…..
