EU disburses €157 million to Moldova under Growth Plan at 10th Association Council

The European Union and the Republic of Moldova held the tenth meeting of the Association Council on 5 October 2026 in Brussels, reaffirming their strategic partnership and Moldova’s path toward EU membership, according to a press release issued by the Council of the EU. The gathering was chaired by High Representative Kaja Kallas, who led the EU delegation alongside Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos, while Prime Minister Vasile Tofan headed the Moldovan delegation. The meeting marked the disbursement of €157 million under the Moldova Reform and Growth Facility. Both parties welcomed the recent opening of clusters 1 (fundamentals) and 6 (external relations). The talks signaled that Moldova’s future is firmly anchored in the European Union.

The parties acknowledged Moldova’s continued alignment across all chapters of the EU acquis, highlighting progress on the rule of law, justice reform, and the fight against corruption. They looked forward to the opening of the remaining clusters and emphasized the importance of broad societal support for accession. This includes strategic communication on the benefits and obligations of membership and countering disinformation. The EU underlined the need for Moldova to strengthen an independent, impartial, and professional judiciary, including through the vetting of judges and prosecutors. It also stressed the importance of building a solid track record of corruption investigations, prosecutions, and final court rulings.

The latest €157 million payment follows the successful completion of 18 reforms during the most recent reporting period. Total performance-based EU financing paid to Moldova under the Facility now stands at approximately €661 million. The EU welcomed Moldova’s commitment to macroeconomic stability and economic reforms, underscoring the importance of sound monetary policy amid inflationary pressures. Moldova was encouraged to use Facility assistance to support growth-enhancing reforms and continue to improve the business environment. Progress on public administration reform and the role of a professional civil service were also recognized.

The EU and Moldova strongly condemned the increasingly frequent violations of Moldova’s airspace by Russian drones and missiles, which pose a serious risk to the safety of the Moldovan population. The EU reaffirmed its unwavering support for Moldova’s independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognised borders. Both sides noted that strengthening Moldova’s resilience against the security consequences of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine also contributes to the stability and security of Europe. The EU commended Moldova’s commitment to democratic processes and electoral integrity despite large-scale Russian interference and hybrid threats. Under the European Peace Facility, the EU has allocated €317 million between 2021–2026.

The Association Council welcomed Moldova’s efforts to strengthen energy resilience, with the EU reaffirming its readiness to continue supporting the country. Both parties emphasized the importance of deepening sectoral cooperation and Moldova’s gradual integration into the EU internal market. They saluted the benefits of Moldova’s inclusion in the Single Euro Payments Area (SEPA), which facilitates cheaper money transfers with EU countries. Participation in the Common Transit Convention simplifies cross-border trade, while integration into the EU “Roam-Like-At-Home” arrangements makes mobile communications more affordable for travellers. The meeting reinforced the shared strategic objective of Moldova’s EU accession.