News about European integration
Moldova takes another step towards freedom of capital movement. The National Bank of Moldova (NBM) has drafted a law amending the Law on Foreign Exchange Regulation – the so-called draft law on partial liberalization. The draft is currently at the stage of public consultations and will soon be submitted by the Ministry of Finance to the government for consideration.
The Ministry of Education and Research has launched public consultations on the draft Program for the implementation of the Development Strategy “Education 2030” for the period 2026-2030. The document defines concrete actions through which the reforms in the education system of the Republic of Moldova will be continued and strengthened in the coming years.
The European Union (EU) will allocate an additional €2 million to Moldova’s Reform Support Teams (RST) program, which directly integrates Moldovan experts into key ministries and agencies to accelerate the country’s alignment with EU standards and the implementation of the EU’s Economic Growth Plan.
The voluntary association process should not be rushed, but phased and improved with additional incentive mechanisms.
UPDATED. At the March 5 parliamentary session, an amendment was passed by PAS votes, according to which the members of the Commission for the Vetting of Prosecutors are appointed by at least 51 votes of deputies. Previously, this required a minimum of 61 votes. The amendment was necessary because last time the majority faction did not have enough votes to appoint Herman von Hebel, a Dutch citizen, to the commission.
On the evening of March 4, at a dinner in Brussels, EU ambassadors told the head of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, that they did not support the EC’s idea of Ukraine’s accelerated membership in the EU and urged the commission to present “more realistic” plans.
Azerbaijan remains a key transit point for foreign nationals staying in Iran. The Moldovan Ministry of Foreign Affairs urges compatriots who “could be in Iran” to keep in touch with the embassy in Baku to coordinate possible transit options.
As a result of leaving the CIS, Moldova’s state budget will save about 3.1 million lei in annual contributions. Moldova will pay almost the same amount this year to the Convention on the Danube Navigation Regime (Danube Commission).
The heads of parliaments of the states of the “Odessa Triangle”, which includes Moldova, Romania and Ukraine, advocated further strengthening of sanctions pressure on Russia, in particular with regard to its “shadow fleet”.
UPDATED. Moldova will be the subject of a special briefing on the European Union enlargement, which will be held on Wednesday, March 4, in Berlin. The meeting will focus on the progress of the country’s EU accession negotiations and reforms after the 2025 parliamentary elections.
The European Union is canceling duty-free imports of goods worth up to 150 euros, which will directly affect parcels from Asian marketplaces including AliExpress, Temu and Shein, according to Logos Press.
The process of preparation of the project “Modernization of agricultural machinery and post-harvest equipment” (MAME 2) was discussed by Ludmila Katlabuga, Head of the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Industry of MAIA, with the delegation of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).
Representatives of several large energy and construction companies from Greece, at a meeting with the leadership of the Moldovan Energy Ministry, expressed interest in investing in Moldova.
Microsoft has appointed Gabriela Popescu as regional manager for Romania, Moldova and the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), effective March 1.
In the current geopolitical context, a new approach to the country’s reintegration process is needed, participants in the round table “Prospects for Moldova’s reintegration” dedicated to the Transnistrian issue said.
The Ministry of Justice has drafted a bill to amend and supplement a number of regulations to prevent and combat attacks on information systems.
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.
Parliament today approved, by a vote of 62 deputies, in the second reading, the updated mechanisms for appealing decisions in the field of public and sectoral procurement, as well as concessions, Logos Press reported.
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.
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.
