EU-Moldova Association Council: EU to disburse €60 million to help Moldova manage its current energy crisis

The 6th EU-Moldova Association Council took place today, in Brussels. It reaffirmed the strong partnership and commitment to enhancing the political association and deepening the economic integration of Moldova with the EU, in the framework of the Association Agreement and its Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area (DCFTA).

The European Union and the Republic of Moldova have agreed to further strengthen and enhance cooperation in several key areas, in line with Moldova’s commitments under the EU-Moldova Association Agreement.

Additionally, the EU will help Moldova face its current severe gas supply crisis by providing €60 million through a new budget support programme. The funds are expected to be disbursed at the end of this year. The EU and Moldova stressed the importance of resilience against any potential efforts by third parties to use energy as a geopolitical weapon.

The new programme is in addition to the EU’s Economic Recovery package of up to €600 million for Moldova over the next three years. This includes the EU disbursing €36.4 million in budget support assistance and €50 million in emergency COVID-19 macro-financial assistance. This should contribute to Moldova having no immediate lack of liquidity for the coming months. All EU assistance is subject to strict conditionality, including when it comes to reforms in the energy sector.

In the margins of the Association Council meeting, the EU and Moldova agreed to launch a High-Level Political and Security Dialogue. This will aim to discuss global challenges, regional security and cooperation, joint initiatives on countering hybrid threats, enhancing cyber security, protection of critical infrastructure, strengthening of strategic communication, and the exchange of views on the Transnistrian conflict settlement.

Additionally, the day before the Association Council, the association of Moldova to Horizon Europe (the EU research and innovation programme for 2021-2027) was finalised. The programme is open to researchers and innovators from around the world, who can team up with EU partners in preparing proposals.

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Press release

Joint press statement following the sixth Association Council meeting between the European Union and the Republic of Moldova