EU-Moldova Summit Concludes with Joint Declaration

We, the leaders of the European Union (EU) and the Republic of Moldova (hereinafter Moldova), held our first EU - Moldova Summit in Chisinau, Moldova on 4 July 2025 and concluded the following:

1. Today's Summit marks a significant milestone in the deepening of EU - Moldova relations and reaffirms our shared commitment to peace, security, stability, and prosperity across Europe. It also reflects how far our partnership has come and the tangible benefits it brings to our citizens. The future of Moldova and its citizens lies within the European Union.
2. The EU and Moldova are cooperating more closely than ever, both politically and economically, in the face of escalating threats to regional security caused by Russia's unjustified and unprovoked war of aggression against Ukraine. We restate our resolute condemnation of Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine. In this context, we stand together in countering these threats and reaffirming the EU's unwavering support for Moldova's sovereignty, stability, resilience, and economic development.
3. The EU reaffirms its steadfast commitment to supporting Moldova on its reform path towards EU membership. Moldova confirmed its strong and constant commitment and determination to pursue this strategic objective with unwavering dedication, including by enshrining the EU accession in the Constitution of Moldova following 2024 referendum. We welcome the reform progress made by Moldova despite the significant challenges caused by external factors.
4. Enlargement is a geostrategic investment in peace, security, stability and prosperity. We reiterate our commitment to advancing Moldova's EU accession process swiftly and based on credible reforms and the principle of own merits in line with the Copenhagen criteria. We welcome Moldova's strong engagement in the screening process and commitment to work with determination towards completing alignment with the EU acquis. We look forward to the next steps in Moldova's accession process, opening negotiating clusters, starting with the fundamental cluster as soon as possible when the conditions are met.
5. We reaffirm that the future of Moldova must be determined freely and democratically by its citizens, without external pressure, foreign interference, or manipulation. We strongly condemn the persistent and increasing hybrid threats posed by Russia aiming to undermine democratic elections in Moldova, including information manipulation and interference, and the use of large-scale electoral corruption through local proxies. The EU remains committed to support Moldova's resilience in combating destabilising actions, including through the EU Partnership Mission in Moldova (EUPM) and stands ready to mobilise any other available instruments. We stress the importance of continued mutual efforts in strategic communication by improving public awareness of the tangible benefits of EU's assistance and European integration. In light of the upcoming elections, we also underscore the need to further counter electoral corruption to uphold transparency, accountability and the integrity of the electoral process, with EU support and in line with European standards.
6. The EU commends the efforts and continued commitment by Moldova to pursue resolutely a reform agenda focused on efforts to strengthen the rule of law and fundamental rights including the rights of persons belonging to minorities. We recognise the central importance of a strong, independent, and impartial judiciary for Moldova's democratic transformation and its EU path. We further acknowledge that combating corruption remains a key pillar of democratic resilience and essential to strengthening public trust. Progress has been made in judicial reform, including efforts to strengthen judicial independence, improve transparency, and modernise court administration. Moldova reaffirms its commitment to advancing reforms to ensure a justice system that upholds the rule of law and delivers for all citizens. The EU will continue to support Moldova in this endeavour.
7. We welcome Moldova's efforts in the fight against serious and organised crime, in particular firearms and drugs trafficking, migrant smuggling and the trafficking in human beings. In that respect, we support the continuous cooperation with Europol under the existing operational and strategic cooperation agreement. We reaffirm the need to continue the existing comprehensive dialogue on all migration-related issues, including legal migration, migration management, international protection and illegal migration.
8. We underline the strategic importance of the EU–Moldova Association Agreement and the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area (DCFTA), which have firmly anchored Moldova's economy in the EU. The EU is Moldova's largest trading partner and export destination, giving Moldovan producers direct access to the world's largest single market. This drives growth, supports jobs, and raises standards for both businesses and consumers. We recognise the positive impact of the EU temporary trade liberalisation measures. These measures have had a positive impact on trade, stimulating exports and contributing to socio-economic development of Moldova. We reiterate our commitment to transition from these temporary trade liberalisation measures to improving reciprocal trade liberalisation, on a permanent basis, as soon as possible, as stipulated under Article 147 of the Association Agreement.
9. We welcome the €1.9 billion Moldova Growth Plan as a transformative investment in Moldova's future. The plan will help Moldova grow faster, more sustainably, create better jobs, and bring real opportunities to people in every region across the country. It will speed up reforms, strengthen public services, and prepare Moldovan businesses and workers to compete and succeed in the EU Single Market. We express our strong commitment to advancing the Reform Agenda and to leveraging the resources from the Growth Plan for high quality projects with a large impact on economic growth. We also express our commitment to effectively implement the list of priority investment projects. We welcome the payment of the pre-financing of the Reform and Growth Facility amounting to €270 million.
10. We welcome Moldova's participation in the Economic Reform Programme for the second consecutive year, which aims to accelerate economic reforms to sustain macroeconomic stability and support fiscal sustainability, to the full benefit of citizens and businesses.
11. We welcome the deepening of cooperation between the European Union and Moldova in the field of Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP). Through the EU–Moldova Security and Defence Partnership, our cooperation is expanding across areas of shared strategic interests. We value our strong cooperation on the European Peace Facility, which has provided €197 million in support to Moldova, and our cooperation through the EUPM. The EU values Moldova's contributions to EU missions and operations under the Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP), and its increased alignment with CFSP positions and EU restrictive measures, including in response to Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine. We underline the importance of Moldova continuing the positive trend towards a full alignment, including in line with the need to respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all states. Moldova reaffirms its determination to continue this positive trend, in line with its European aspirations and in defence of a rules-based international order.
12. We reconfirm the EU's solidarity with and support to Moldova in countering hybrid and cyber threats posed by Russia and stand ready to continue supporting Moldova's digital transformation and cyber security, including through Cyber Rapid Response Teams.
13. We welcome the progress Moldova has made to strengthen its energy security, improve its resilience and reduce its dependence from Russian supplies, and look forward to further progress in this regard. We strongly condemn Russia's continued weaponisation of energy thus aiming to destabilise political situation in Moldova. In the face of Russia's continued pressure on the energy sector, the EU and its Member States have acted decisively and stood in solidarity with Moldova and its people by providing crucial support to citizens and businesses during the energy crisis and advancing reforms to integrate Moldova fully into the EU energy market. The EU encourages Moldova to continue energy market reforms, including implementation of the Energy Community acquis. The EU will continue to support Moldova in its efforts towards energy efficiency, independence, diversification and interconnectivity with the EU, including through the Vertical Gas Corridor.
14. We underline the strategic importance of connectivity as growing priority in the EU-Moldova cooperation. The EU acknowledges the role Moldova can play as a transport hub. We look forward to Moldova's active engagement in the Trans-European Transport Network governance mechanisms to realise our shared vision of closer integration and a seamless regional transport system.
15. The EU remains a committed partner in supporting Moldova's efforts to build strong institutions, expand opportunities for young people, and strengthen social cohesion. In this regard, we reaffirm our readiness to support Moldova's efforts to gradually participate in relevant EU programmes, policies, and elements of the internal market ahead of full membership.
16. We welcome the decision of the European Payments Council in March 2025 to include Moldova in the geographical scope of the Single Euro Payments Area (SEPA) and look forward for Moldova to be able fully to access all its benefits.
17. We reaffirm our strong and unwavering support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Moldova within its internationally recognised borders. The EU and Moldova share a commitment to a comprehensive, peaceful, and lasting reintegration of the country. We call for a withdrawal of all Russian military personnel and ammunition from the Transnistrian region of Moldova. The EU will continue to support Moldova's reintegration efforts and will ensure that the European path remains open and inclusive to all its citizens.

Annex to the Declaration

DELIVERABLES AND PRIORITIES

Political engagement and accession process

• The EU will accelerate and further deepen its political and policy engagement with Moldova including, inter alia, through the holding of regular EU-Moldova Summits.
• The EU will support the process of offering Moldova observer or associated status in selected key EU agencies, including the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA), the European Medicines Agency (EMA), and the European Environmental Agency (EEA).

Cooperation in security, defence and building resilience

• The EU and Moldova will further strengthen their cooperation in Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP) and Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP), in line with the EU-Moldova Security and Defence Partnership. Moldova commits to increasing its contribution to CSDP missions and operations.
• EU support to Moldova in the modernisation of its defence capabilities will continue, including €60 million of the European Peace Facility (EPF) budget in 2025 and continuation of EPF support in 2026. The EU has contributed €197 million to Moldova under the EPF since 2021.
• The EU will continue to support Moldova in building the resilience of its institutions against foreign information manipulation and interference as well as hybrid threats by making available relevant instruments of support in this regard, including the EUPM, the Hybrid Rapid Response Teams, Cyber Rapid Response Teams, and assistance for strategic communication and cyber security.
• Moldova will continue to actively cooperate with the European Defence Agency, with a view to concluding an Administrative Agreement following the launch of technical consultations.
• The EU will support the involvement of Moldovan research institutions and innovators in the EU Defence Innovation Scheme (EUDIS), by facilitating access to innovation networks and enabling participation in thematic challenges and innovation calls, with the aim of stimulating dual-use and defence-relevant technologies in Moldova's industrial and academic ecosystem.
• The EU and Moldova will initiate structured cooperation under the EU Space Programme, with a view to enabling Moldova's progressive participation in programmes such as Copernicus for Earth observation and Galileo for satellite navigation, as well as contributing to GOVSATCOM services for secure government communications. The EU will provide technical assistance and capacity-building to facilitate Moldova's institutional readiness, regulatory alignment, and access to space-based data for public services, disaster risk management, agriculture, and border surveillance.
• The EU and Moldova will pursue work on further integrating Moldova into the European security and defence architecture by making full use of the Security and Defence Partnership and new EU initiatives in defence, including the ones presented in the White Paper for European Defence and Readiness 2030 and Rearm Europe.
• The EU and Moldova welcome the opportunity offered to candidate countries, including Moldova, to benefit from the new Security Action for Europe (SAFE) instrument by means of common procurement and potentially also industry participation.
• The EU and Moldova will continue their partnership under the EU Civil Protection Mechanism as well as the collaboration to develop a clear legal framework, regulating the status, rights and responsibilities of volunteers in disaster risk management.
• The EU and Moldova will continue to promote the ongoing activities of the EU Support Hub for Internal Security and State Border Management of Moldova that brings together EU representatives, agencies and Member States and to use it for strengthening security in Moldova and the region.
• The EU commits to financially support Moldova's participation as an observer in meetings of the European Judicial Network on Civil and Commercial Matters through the Justice Programme.

Energy

• The EU will continue to provide technical assistance for the implementation of energy market reforms, and the establishment of competitive electricity and gas markets. The EU will support the increase of local renewable energy capacity and other efforts aimed at the decarbonisation of Moldovan energy mix, as outlined in the recently adopted National Energy and Climate Plan.
• Under the Growth Plan, Moldova commits to finalise the construction of 400 kV Vulcanesti – Chisinau overhead power line before the end of the year, as well as to scale up its eco-voucher programme to help further lower electricity and gas bills, and to further roll out the Residential Energy Efficiency Fund to provide incentives for multi-apartment residential buildings and individual houses renovation, including vulnerable households.

Digital

• The EU welcomes Moldova's ambition and supports all ongoing efforts to join the EU "Roam Like at Home Area" as of 1 January 2026, subject to a positive assessment.
• Moldova will transpose, as a matter of priority, the EU's Digital Services Act (DSA) by establishing a normative framework for an efficient interaction with major online platforms, including Very Large Online Platforms and Engines (VLOPSEs). Moldova and the EU will explore mechanisms for cooperation between Moldova's and the EU's responsible enforcement authorities, including capacity building measures for Moldova's designated regulatory authority, upon Moldova's adoption of its national law for digital services.
• Following the adoption and ratification of the necessary amendment of Moldova's Association Agreement to the Digital Europe Programme the EU will finalise all remaining internal procedures to allow the full operationalization of the EU Cybersecurity Reserve for Moldova, ahead of the September parliamentary elections.
• The Commission will launch an AI Tool to ensure speedy and efficient approximation of the EU acquis, to support the reforms needed in Moldova's accession process.
• The EU and Moldova will launch a new initiative 'WIFI4Moldova' to provide free Wi-Fi access in public buildings and public spaces in underserved areas, enhancing digital connectivity and fostering social inclusion.
• The EU and Moldova will work jointly under EU4InnovationEast to support more than 100 start-ups in high added value sectors for the country's growth and competitiveness, including through a joint EU-Moldova seed-fund, technology transfers and reinforced local innovation hubs.
• Moldova will take necessary steps to align with the EU Toolbox on 5G Security, in line with its commitments under the Reform Agenda.

Transport

• The EU and Moldova welcome the implementation of the EU-Moldova road freight transport agreement and Moldova's active participation as an observer in the Transport Community, which support Moldova's integration into the EU transport market.
• The EU and Moldova will work together to advance Moldova's integration into the Single European Rail Area, in line with its progress in aligning with EU legislation, as well as through the deployment of the EU Standard Gauge rail infrastructure to facilitate the progressive integration of Moldova's rail system with the EU network.

Competitiveness

• The EU will support the Moldovan Horizon Europe Office to address significant structural challenges in Moldova's research and innovation ecosystem and to boost the competitiveness of researchers, innovators and SMEs in Moldova.

Social dimension of EU integration: People to people contacts and measures for youth

• The EU and Moldova welcome that Moldova has recently become the first non-EU country to sign a Cooperation Arrangement with the European Labour Authority (ELA).
• The EU and Moldova welcome the launch of the High-Level Dialogue on Labour, Skills, Education, Social, and Child Policies advancing inclusive social development, improving education and workforce readiness, and promoting the well-being of all citizens.
• Moldova will launch a pilot scheme – mirroring the EU school fruit, vegetables and milk scheme, signalling Moldova's determination to translate European values into concrete benefits for its citizens
• The EU will support Moldova in advancing its accession process to the Creative Europe Programme, in view of its association tentatively as of 1 January 2026.
• The EU looks forward to Moldova's accession to the Erasmus+ programme.
• The EU will involve Moldova in various EU programmes and initiatives, including the Union of Skills, the Cultural Compass, and the EU Strategy on Intergenerational Fairness.
• The EU supports Moldova's interest to implement the European Child Guarantee.