European Parliament will support Moldova’s acquis alignment; new memorandum signed in Brussels
The European Parliament is set to assist the Moldovan Legislature in enhancing its capabilities. A new Memorandum of Understanding was signed on Wednesday, March 18, in Brussels by Igor Grosu, the Parliament Speaker, and Roberta Metsola, the President of the European Legislative Forum.
The agreement renews a previous partnership signed in 2021 between former European Parliament President David Sassoli and then-Moldovan Parliament President Igor Grosu. The initial agreement expired at the end of their respective legislative terms.
Parliament Speaker Igor Grosu described the new memorandum as creating a legal framework that will facilitate better collaboration between the European Parliament and the Moldovan Parliament. He stated, “This framework will allow us to interact in a more orderly and predictable manner.”
Grosu emphasized the need for improved organization, noting that technical negotiations on various clusters and areas are already underway. He added that this memorandum will enhance the connections between committees of both parliaments and their respective political groups. Negotiations have also begun to establish a representative office in Brussels, similar to the permanent European Parliament office that opened in Chisinau in November 2025.
The memorandum aims to support the Republic of Moldova's path to European Union accession. The focus is primarily on reforms in Cluster I of the accession negotiations, particularly concerning fundamental values and the functioning of democratic institutions.
According to the memorandum, the European Parliament will assist in enhancing the quality of Moldova's legislative process and aligning national legislation with the EU's legal framework (acquis communautaire). It includes activities designed to strengthen the committees' capacities, particularly in planning and public policy analysis.
Furthermore, the Parliament Secretariat will benefit from professional training programs aimed at modernizing parliamentary administration. The agreement also seeks to improve interactions between the parliamentary majority and opposition, as well as among different parliamentary factions.
The memorandum includes support for enhancing communication between the Moldovan legislature, citizens, the media, and non-governmental organizations.
Activities outlined in the new memorandum
Specific activities include study visits to European institutions, training programs for young Moldovan parliamentarians focused on the accession process, and initiatives dedicated to women parliamentarians.
Additionally, the agreement explicitly includes efforts to combat disinformation and foreign interference in Moldova's information space. These activities will be part of the Triangle for Democracy Program, which engages parliamentarians, the media, and civil society.
Another key aspect of the agreement involves monitoring the recommendations from international election observation missions to strengthen electoral standards.
In November 2025, the European Parliament opened an office focused on relations with Eastern Partnership countries within the EU Delegation in Chisinau. On December 5, 2025, during the 16th meeting of the Moldova-EU Parliamentary Association Committee, both parties expressed their willingness to collaborate on the six clusters of accession negotiations with the EU.
The implementation of the activities outlined in the new memorandum will be overseen by the Democracy Support and Election Coordination Group of the European Parliament, which has designated the Republic of Moldova as a priority country. Every autumn, both parliaments will jointly establish an activity plan for the upcoming year.
