News about European integration
Within the framework of Moldova’s chairmanship of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe, the High-Level Conference on Social Rights “European Social Charter” is taking place in Chisinau on March 18-19.
UPDATED. Moldovan medical institutions generate up to 3500 tons of medical waste annually. Their volume continues to grow as the number of medical interventions increases. However, some of this waste has nowhere to go: due to gaps in the system, some medical institutions are forced to store anatomical and pathological waste in refrigerators.
On the occasion of the High-Level Conference on Social Rights – the European Social Charter, held in Chișinău (Republic of Moldova) on 18-19 March 2026, the President of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities, Marc Cools, highlighted the need for decisive multilevel action towards achieving social justice.
Security will be ensured by less bureaucracy but better import controls by government agencies.
The funds from the European Union will be used for investments in energy, water supply and social services, including support for children and youth. This was stated by Prime Minister Alexandru Munteanu, commenting on the European Commission’s decision to allocate 189 million euros within the Reform and Growth Mechanism for Moldova.
The document on the Transnistrian conflict settlement mentioned in the public space is an unofficial tool for discussion, often used in diplomacy to stimulate dialog. It does not represent a political decision, an approved strategy or an official settlement plan. This was emphasized today during a press briefing by Deputy Prime Minister Valerii Chievir.
The European Commission announced on March 17 the allocation of 189 million euros under the Reform and Growth Mechanism for Moldova, following the country’s successful completion of 24 reforms.
Opinion: Without economic instruments, financial mechanisms and legal guarantees, larger administrative entities may have the same limitations as the current ones. This is the opinion expressed by representatives of the littoral community during the discussion of the forthcoming reform of local public administration.
On March 17, Moldova moved to a new stage of the accession process to the European Union – the beginning of technical negotiations on the last three clusters within the acquis communautaire.
IMF Deputy Executive Director Marnix van Reij is on a two-day working visit to Chisinau to hold consultations with the Moldovan leadership on a new cooperation program.
Moldova’s economy “looks better and better”. The projected growth for 2025 is 2.4%. The country’s rating has risen three notches. Lending to the private sector has grown “fantastically”. Anca Dragu, Governor of the National Bank of Moldova (NBM), said this at a public lecture for young people.
The results of DNA tests on suspects, accused persons and defendants will be automatically compared with EU databases, subject to personal data protection measures. Such changes are envisaged in the draft amendments to the Law on Forensic Genomic Registration.
Moldovan Customs and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) will continue close cooperation aimed at facilitating the exchange of international experience, digitalizing processes and equipping with modern control equipment in order to optimize operational activities and strengthen cross-border security.
Moldova will strengthen the protection of personal data of citizens and companies. The Parliament plans to ratify the Protocol to update the Council of Europe Convention for the Protection of Individuals with regard to Automatic Processing of Personal Data. This is intended to ensure stricter privacy guarantees and secure cross-border information exchange.
For Ukraine, as for other Central and Eastern European countries outside the eurozone that are already largely integrated into supply chains and trade with the EU, the additional benefits of euro adoption seem limited, but the risks are substantial.
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze called the OSCE Moscow Mechanism report on human rights violations during protests and dispersals of anti-government rallies in spring 2024 “permeated with lies.”
In Moldova, one mayor’s office has, on average, about 2,700 inhabitants. This is 18 times less than, for example, in Latvia, with which Moldova is comparable in terms of territory and population. The density of mayoralties makes Moldova one of the most fragmented in Europe: there are 27 mayoralties per 1,000 km², while in Georgia there are almost 30 times fewer.
The European Union’s enlargement process should take place in waves, says MP Marcel Spatar, chairman of the parliamentary commission for European integration. He emphasized that, apart from Moldova and Ukraine, the Western Balkan countries are showing significant progress in the accession negotiations.
In the Nomad Passport Index 2026 ranking published this week, Romania shared silver with Greece and Ireland.
The top leadership of the Council of Europe, ministers and other high-ranking European officials, as well as UN representatives will come to Chisinau for the Conference on Social Rights – “European Social Charter”.
