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The European integration is gaining momentum: several candidate countries are striving to join the “EU-family”: among them is Moldova. The country becomes an attractive destination for developers: e.g. for the eleventh time, the Invest Moldova Agency organises a “business week” to invite potential investors, international companies, financial institutions and public authorities. The event will be structured around three main pillars: Moldova in the EU-wide economic integration, sector-specific investment opportunities and country’s export facilities.
Background
During September 28 and October 2, the Moldova Business Week (MBW), becomes the country’s leading platform in promotion investment, business cooperation and international economic partnerships. The main MBW’s program items include: e.g. the establishment of closer contacts with business leaders and investors, arranging fruitful meetings with the EU and international stakeholders showing investment opportunities, projects and initiatives in the country’s economic development, as well as revealing adequate information on Moldova’s investment climate and potential sectors’ facilities.
Basically, the MBW-2026 is the national platform for promoting Moldova as an investment destination and economic partner: the present venue is mainly oriented on such issues as – Moldova in the EU-wide economic integration, – country’s sectoral investment profiles, and – services’ export opportunities.
More in: e.g. https://moldova.travel/en/current-situation-in-moldova/; and in: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VVeN9zFMDdA
Moldova: basic facts and a short narrative
Republic of Moldova, is a small, landlocked country in Eastern Europe, situated between Ukraine from the north and east-south, and Romania from the west, stretching between rivers Prut and Dniester. The country’s 2.4 million people reside on about 33,843 square kilometers; with 43 percent of urban population and about 57 percent rural (data from 2023).
Moldova is the parliamentary republic: the head of state, the President Maia Sandu; the head of government Prime Minister Vasile Tofan.
The country gained independence at the end of August 1991 (following the collapse of the Soviet Union); official currency – Moldovan leu (MDL), the national bank began issuing its own currency in 1993. By mid-1990s Moldova managed to stabilize the leu, bring inflation under control and balance national budget.
Additionally, on security issues in: https://www.crisisgroup.org/europe/eastern-europe/moldova
More on investment opportunities in: https://invest.gov.md/en/home-2/
The region has been historically known as Bessarabia, and until 1812 it was an integral part of the Romanian principality as Moldavia; then, it was ceded to Russia by its suzerain, the sultan of the Ottoman Empire. Bessarabia remained a province of the Russian Empire until the end of World War I, when it became a part of Greater Romania; then, it reverted to Russian control in 1940–41 and again after the World War II, when it was part of the Ukrainian territory, first the autonomous entity and later on as the Moldavian Soviet Socialist Republic. Upon the collapse of the Soviet Union in August 1991, the republic declared its independence and acquired the name Moldova; it became a member of the United Nations in 1992.
As Brittanica notices, the economic transition was impeded by the fact that much of Moldovan industry was located in the separatist region of Transdniestria (an enclave located on the east bank of the Dniester River), which had proclaimed independence from Moldova in 1990, resulting in a brief civil war. Although a cease-fire was declared in 1992, relations remained tense between Moldova and Transdniestria.
Thus, Moldova’s road to nationhood has been bumpy: from the first efforts at nation-building to the country’s pursuit of peace and prosperity in the 21st century. Source and citation from: https://www.britannica.com/place/Moldova
More on the states’ political economy and investment issues in: https://invest.gov.md/en/doing-business-in-moldova/
Moldova’s international and the EU-integration status
Moldova’s global and regional status is in a “fruitful balancing” position: e.g. Moldova became the UN full member state in 1992, following its declaration of independence from the Soviet Union. Moldova has acquired the EU’s Accession Candidate Status granted in June 2022; the formal Moldova-EU accession negotiations officially opened in June 2024; the country’s government has set an ambitious target to be ready for full EU accession by 2028-30.
Source: https://www.crisisgroup.org/alr/europe-central-asia/moldova/moldova-votes-eu-obstacles-clutter-path-membership
Moldova applied for the EU membership in March 2022; already in three months, the states was granted official EU candidate status and formally opened accession negotiations. In order to provide support Moldova’s integration into the EU, the European Commission composed a growth plan in October 2024, which aimed to boost socio-economic convergence with the EU and accelerate fundamental reforms. The accession plan is based on three pillars: a) supporting Moldova’s socio-economic development and fundamental reforms; b) enhancing state’s access to the European markets, and c) increasing financial support through a dedicated Reform and Growth Facility.
In March 2025, the Council of the European Union gave its final green light on the financial pillar of the plan, the Reform and Growth Facility. The facility supports Moldova’s reforms, and provides about €385 million in grants and €1.5 billion in loans; this is the largest EU financial support package since Moldova’s independence and comes on top of other substantial EU support to the country.
Reference to: https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/policies/moldova/
EU’s enlargement issues: a review
Nine candidate countries are racing to get into the European Union: (although, three of Europe’s wealthiest democracies are stiving to stay out). Two candida states – Ukraine and Moldova – have finished screening their laws according the EU accession’s rulebook; for example, Montenegro has already closed 18 of 33 needed negotiating chapters, and Albania hopes to conclude talks by 2027. Thus, for the candidate countries, EU membership is transformative: the benefits of EU membership are different for the wealthy and already integrated countries. Aspirants like Ukraine and/or Moldova can gain a “geopolitical anchor”, access to the EU funds and a pace of need reforms’ framework. For example, the projected political benefits of accession are less tangible to voters than economic convergence or democratic consolidations: i.e. therefore for countries that already have prosperity, stability and access to free EU market, the EU has to make a stronger political case for membership. As to Moldova, the security concerns are probably the most vital; particularly the shifting transatlantic relationship and Russia’s ongoing war in Ukraine are increasing in importance both externally and internally. Hence, in the coming accession’s referenda, the voters ultimately would weigh geopolitical risks against very concrete private and domestic interests.
Decades of European integration process has shown that economic integration does not automatically translate into the political integration; and the same is true for the states’ attitude to accession. This “pattern” has unchanged since Norwegians rejected membership twice, in 1972 and 1994; Switzerland, rather than seeking a seat at the table, decided recently to deepen its bilateral arrangements with the EU instead. And so has been the August 2026 referenda in Iceland, when voters rejected reopening accession talks by 52.8 percent to 47.2 percent; but Iceland remains in the European Economic Area and the Schengen Area.
For Moldova (as well as for Ukraine) and the Western Balkans, the enlargement issue is evidently about security, funding and implementing resilient and sustainable reforms. Therefore, politicians in the EU’s headquarters are “modernising” their ways of communication with the candidate states and “better explaining” the benefits of the membership, focusing on the political influence, participation in decision-making, deeper economic integration and strategic weight in European security architecture.
The so-called dividing line in the EU-wide political economy is not about the “polar options” – pro-EU versus anti-EU; if the EU wants to remain an attractive geopolitical project, it needs not only to ask candidates what they must do to join, but also to explain clearly what the membership would give them in return.
Reference to: https://www.euronews.com/my-europe/2026/09/03/why-so-many-countries-want-to-join-the-eu-except-europes-richest
Moldova’s transformation: available support
Various EU institutions and bodies provide sufficient assistance in deepening its political, economic and administrative structures and supporting Moldova’s reforms and bolstering resilience: the EU is stepping up its alignment with the Union.
In March 2025, the European Parliament approved €1.9 billion the “Reform and Growth Facility”, which constitutes the largest EU financial support package for Moldova since the country’s independence. Grants and low‑interest loans aim to accelerate its socio-economic reforms, strengthen its resilience and advance its EU integration process. This package is part of the broader Growth Plan for Moldova, which aims to help the country double its economy within a decade while fostering socio-economic stability.
Then, also the European Commission has proposed a package worth €250 million to support the country’s energy independence and resilience: i.e. the EU funds should help reduce energy bills for Moldovan consumers, support Moldova’s decoupling from Russia’s energy supplies and integrate Moldova into the EU energy market. The Commission will include adequate pre-accession funds for Moldova in the EU’s next long-term budget.
Besides, Moldova is the second-largest beneficiary of the European Peace Facility, an EU instrument to prevent conflicts and strengthen international security and stability: e.g. this targeted support for Moldova already amounted to about €200 million for 2021–2025.
More in: https://www.europarl.europa.eu/topics/en/article/20180126STO94113/enlargement-how-do-countries-join-the-eu