Moldova accelerates EU accession path with strategic infrastructure and EBRD backing
During the World Economic Forum, Prime Minister Alexandru Munteanu secured continued support for Moldova’s European trajectory in high-level meetings with EU Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos and EBRD President Odile Renaud-Basso.
The Prime Minister emphasized that international backing remains vital for Moldova’s strategic goal of joining the European Union. He presented the Government’s recent measures to accelerate economic growth and align with EU standards.
Progress on EU Reforms
Commissioner Marta Kos praised Chisinau’s progress in implementing the national Growth Plan. Specifically, the Government has already completed over 90% of the reforms required to unlock the next tranche of EU financial assistance.
"The support from our partners gives us confidence that our European path is yielding results for all citizens," stated Prime Minister Munteanu. A consolidated report on these reforms will be submitted to the European Commission by the end of January.
Strategic Energy and Transport Links
Talks with EBRD President Odile Renaud-Basso focused on critical infrastructure projects designed to link Moldova more closely with Romania and the broader EU market.
A key highlight is the Vulcănești–Chișinău power line, which is nearing completion. Technical testing for this energy link is scheduled for February–March 2026, marking a decisive step toward energy independence from traditional eastern sources.
Expanding Cross-Border Connectivity
The Government’s investment agenda includes several landmark projects:
Power Grid: Construction of the Strășeni–Gutinaș and Bălți–Suceava strategic electrical lines.
Railways: A 25-kilometer European-gauge electrified rail segment between Iași and Ungheni to facilitate modern train transit.
Roads: Development of the A1 Motorway, Moldova’s first highway, which will connect Romania (via the A8) to Chisinau and Odesa.
EBRD as a Key Institutional Investor
The EBRD remains Moldova’s largest institutional investor, with a current portfolio of 67 active projects valued at €1.1 billion (approx. 21.5 billion MDL).
To date, the bank has invested nearly €2.9 billion across 193 projects in the country. Approximately 64% of these funds are dedicated to infrastructure, while 24% focus on supporting small and medium-sized enterprises.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
