News about EU

Preferences in payment methods in the EU countries vary significantly by region. Cash payments remain the most popular method in Germany and Austria, where they are preferred by almost two thirds of respondents. Bank cards dominate in the Scandinavian countries (Sweden, Denmark, Norway).

On February 27, the Brussels authorities announced the launch of an in-depth investigation into the Oltenia energy complex in Romania. The reason was doubts as to whether Bucharest had complied with EU conditions in the process of restructuring the complex or had abused state aid and violated competition rules on the domestic market.

Romania’s pork industry is experiencing the most acute crisis in the last decade. For five months, many Romanian pork producers have been operating outside the profitability zone. The country’s market is under intense pressure from heavy pork shipments from the European Union, which is shedding its reserves due to the threat of a widespread African swine fever epidemic in Spain. The short-term outlook for the industry is extremely unfavorable.

Interaction with the IMF will be a key condition for the country’s support in the EU accession process. The Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) made such an appeal to the Moldovan authorities at a meeting on February 27.

The German government, in response to a request from Bundestag deputies, succinctly clarified its position on the unification of Moldova and Romania, Logos Press reports.

In 2025, the Investment Agency (Invest Moldova) attracted 17 foreign investors to the country in the sectors of energy, IT and BPO, financial services, electronics and automotive, agri-food and textile production. Total investments amounted to $46.14 million and 263 new jobs were created.

In 2025, the foreign trade turnover of agricultural and food products between Ukraine and the European Union decreased by 9% compared to the record figure of the previous year – to $15.7 billion, according to Logos Press.

Armenia is ready to open a land border with Turkey and to establish diplomatic relations with it. Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said that these two issues are nomadic in the dialog between the countries, as well as with the European Union, Logos Press reported.

A law abolishing the special status for Ukrainians, which has been in effect since the beginning of the war in Ukraine, will come into force on March 5. From that date, they will be subject to the general rules of Polish legislation regarding the principles and norms of temporary protection of foreigners, Logos Press has reported.

Starting from March 2, 2026, Moldovan citizens entering the EU will undergo a special identification procedure at five more Moldovan-Romanian border crossing points, Logos Press reports.

The government has prepared a draft decree that envisages an increase in the staff of the State Chancellery from 323 to 379 people. The authorities explain this necessity by the heavy workload of the institution, Logos Press reported.

The European Central Bank (ECB) expects food inflation, crucial to consumers’ perception of price stability, to stabilize just above its 2% target by the end of this year, according to Logos Press.

UPDATED. The first working meeting of political representatives in the Transnistrian settlement negotiation process in a long time is taking place today, February 26, at the office of the OSCE Mission to Moldova in Tiraspol, Logos Press reports.

Thanks to the large-scale renovation works carried out in one of the largest pre-school institutions in ATU Gagauzia, almost 300 children and 36 teachers can now enjoy a modern, safe and energy-efficient educational environment, Logos Press reports.

German development bank KfW will help Moldova to reform the Organization for the Development of Entrepreneurship (ODA), with the possibility of creating a bank or a development agency, Logos Press reports.

Between April and November 2025, law enforcement, judicial, customs, medical and anti-doping authorities from 30 countries, including Moldova, have joined forces in Operation SHIELD VI, coordinated by the European agency Europol, Logos Press reports.

The average share of the agricultural sector in EU countries reaches 1.2 percent of GDP in 2024, up 0.1 percentage points from 2009, according to Logos Press.

Moldova intends to join the European Fund for Cultural Support Eurimages, which has a budget of 27.5 million euros, Logos Press reported.

Moldova and 11 other Central and Southeastern European countries signed a joint declaration with the United States in Washington on strengthening the security of natural gas supplies and ensuring affordable prices in the region, Logos Press reported.

Moldova is suspending the drafting of a law on artificial intelligence on the recommendation of the European Commission, Logos Press reports.