Growth Plan for the Republic of Moldova
Europe stands firmly by Moldova’s side – today and every step of the way on the path to our Union. We can start bringing the Moldovan economy closer to ours already now. Today I’m in Chișinău to present a support package with the potential of doubling the size of the country’s economy in a decade. To do so we invest in jobs, growth, services and infrastructure – from new hospitals in Balti and Cahul to the road from the capital to Odesa. We open the doors to our Single Market to Moldovan companies. And we support Moldova’s reform efforts
Commission adopts €1.9 billion support package to underpin Moldova's economic growth plan on its path to the EU
On 10 October 2024, the European Commission proposed a Growth Plan for the Republic of Moldova (hereinafter Moldova), worth up to EUR 1.9 billion for 2025-2027. The Growth Plan is underpinned by a Reform and Growth Facility – the financial instrument – and the funding is conditional on Moldova’s fulfilment of reforms agreed between the EU and the Government of Moldova in the so-called Reform Agenda for Moldova.
This is the largest ever EU financial support package for Moldova. It will support Moldova’s economic convergence with the EU over the next decade and help bring the country closer to EU membership by accelerating reforms and improving Moldova’s access to the EU’s single market. In addition, the Growth Plan will mobilise investments for jobs and growth and, most importantly, transform the lives of ordinary citizens.
In March 2025, the Regulation establishing the Reform and Growth Facility was approved by the Council and the European Parliament.
At the first-ever EU-Moldova Summit in July 2025, President von der Leyen announced the release of EUR 270 million in pre-financing under the Growth Plan.
In September 2025, the European Commission made the first regular payment under the Growth Plan, following its assessment that Moldova had met four reform indicators from its Reform Agenda. These reforms included the development of open and competitive electricity and gas markets, as well as measures to guarantee energy security. The fulfilment of these reforms unlocked funding worth EUR 18.9 million.
At the same time, the European Commission also launched a Call for Expressions of Interest and called on businesses to invest in the country.
The Growth Plan has three clear objectives:
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Accelerate socio-economic and fundamental reforms
These reforms are set out in the Reform Agenda, and fulfilling the agreed reform steps is required to unlock Growth Plan funding. The reform steps are closely aligned with Moldova’s accession process, so fulfilling them also brings Moldova closer to EU membership. The reforms are clustered around seven categories:
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Promoting economic competitiveness and private sector development - improving the business environment and SME support, implementing the new industrial policy and promoting exports and investments.
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Strengthening connectivity, digital infrastructure, and structural reforms to close Moldova’s connectivity gap in key sectors such as transport, spatial development and digital.
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Improving economic governance - strengthening public finance management and competition policy, improving financial control and addressing inefficiencies of the state-owned enterprises.
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Increasing social capital by supporting reforms in the areas of education, skills, inclusive employment and labour market opportunities, social protection and health.
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Supporting the green transition to help Moldova decarbonise its economy, improve its climate resilience, resource productivity, circularity and biodiversity protection.
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Improving energy security and efficiency and reducing dependency on energy imports.
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Finally, strengthening the rule of law, the judiciary, the fight against corruption and organised crime and speeding up the reform of Moldova’s public administration.
2. Enhance access to the EU’s single market
The Moldova Growth Plan will help Moldova make full use of the opportunities offered by the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area (DCFTA), and participate in EU programmes and policies, subject to Moldova’s alignment with the relevant EU rules.
The Growth Plan proposes immediate steps that Moldova can take to reap the benefits of the single market in five key areas, once the required standards are met:
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Free movement of goods & integration in supply chains
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Facilitation of trade & transport connections
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Integration into the EU energy market and decarbonisation
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Integration into the Digital Market
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Access to the Single Euro Payments Area (SEPA)
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Increase financial assistance to support the implementation of socio-economic and fundamental reforms and help trigger investments
Moldova is undertaking reforms for its socio-economic development. This includes investing in economic competitiveness and economic resilience, notably in energy and connectivity infrastructure, economic governance, social capital, and the green transition.
This investment together with the related reforms will help attract foreign investment, improve the business environment, support small and medium sized enterprises, improve skills and qualifications and strengthen trade and exports. Altogether, this will help to increase Moldova’s economic convergence with the EU.
Through a dedicated Reform and Growth Facility for Moldova, the EU is making available unprecedented funding to finance these large-scale reforms. In addition, the funding under the Growth Plan will help leverage investments from both the public and private sectors.
The Reform and Growth Facility
The Reform and Growth Facility Regulation entered into force on 22 May 2025.
Financial support under the facility will only be disbursed upon the successful implementation of reforms in the Reform Agenda. The Reform Agenda was prepared by the Moldovan government and negotiated with the European Commission.
Payments under the facility
In the Reform Agenda, reforms are split into quantitative and qualitative steps, which serve as payment conditions. Each step has a deadline for its implementation.
Payments from the facility are subject to strict conditionality. There are three sets of conditions: preconditions, general conditions and performance conditions:
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Pre-conditions include the continued upholding of and respect for democratic principles.
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General conditions include macro-financial stability, sound public financial management, transparency and oversight of the budget. Both general and pre-conditions must be fulfilled at all times.
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Performance conditions are defined in the Reform Agenda and determine the value of individual payments. The more performance conditions are met, the greater the amount of the disbursement.
Payments are carried out twice a year. Following Moldova’s request for payment, the Commission assesses whether the general conditions and pre-conditions are met and to what extent the relevant performance conditions have been achieved. In case the necessary conditions are not met, the Commission will suspend or deduct a corresponding amount from the payment.
Reform and Growth Facility Scoreboard
The scoreboard below displays the progress in the implementation of the Reform and Growth Facility, including the Reform Agenda steps fulfilled and the amounts disbursed so far.
Key Milestones
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10 Oct 2024: The Commission announces the EUR 1.9 billion Growth Plan for Moldova, underpinned by a Reform and Growth Facility for 2025-2027
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22 March 2025: The European Parliament and the Council approve the EUR 1.9 billion Growth Plan for Moldova
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7 May 2025: The Reform Agenda is adopted by Moldova
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9 May 2025: The Facility Agreement between EU and Moldova is signed by Commissioner Kos and Prime Minister Recean in Chisinau
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4 July 2025: Pre-financing of EUR 270 million is announced at the first ever EU-Moldova Summit
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9 Sept 2025: After having assessed that Moldova has fulfilled four reform indicators, the European Commission announces the first regular payment under the Growth Plan (EUR 18.9 million) and calls on businesses to invest in the country
The new Growth Plan for Moldova is another example of the EU’s support for the country’s security, peace and prosperity. It will strengthen Moldova’s economy and create opportunities for all Moldovan citizens. The plan is a recognition of the impressive results that Moldova has already achieved on its EU path. It will drive further progress on fundamental and socio-economic reforms. Moldova’s future is in the European Union.
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Press statement by Ursula von der LEYEN, President of the European Commission
Thank you very much, dear Maia,
It is always a pleasure for me to come and see you here in Chișinău. I can feel Europe's pulse beating here. Moldova has shown time and again how vibrantly European it is. And you have shown time and again how personally committed you are to the accession path of your country to the European Union. There is a big milestone ahead for the people of Moldova. Citizens will soon go to the polls to decide sovereignly whether to anchor Moldova's European future in your constitution. I encourage Moldovans to use their vote and express their free choice. It is for you, the Moldovans, to decide. It is your sovereign choice what to do with your country, and no one can interfere. Of course, speaking as President of the European Commission, I believe that Moldova's place is in our European Union.
Since you were granted candidate status in June 2022, you have made remarkable progress. You completed very important steps forward. You have initiated important justice reforms. You have intensified the fight against corruption. And you have worked hard to loosen the grip of oligarchs on your economy and society. All of this demonstrates your attachment to our common values. Values of respect for democracy and the rule of law.
The second key dimension is your economic integration in our Union. I have come here to emphasise that your economy and our Single Market should come closer. And we can start right now, even before you join our Union.
Dear Maia,
I know that you have an ambitious economic plan for Moldova. And the European Union will support it. We believe that we can help you double the size of your economy in a decade. That means good jobs and a better quality of life for Moldovans. Our support to you is built on three pillars. First, we invest. We will invest EUR 1.8 billion in your economy over the next three years. And we will focus these investments on sectors that will generate economic growth and public services. There is already a good pipeline of projects. We will renovate schools, for example. We will build two new hospitals, in Bălți and Cahul. We will invest in better connections in your country, and with your neighbours – like the road between Chișinău, Iași and Odesa, or bridges over the Prut river. We will also invest in your energy network, with powerlines that connect you to the European grid. And finally, we will roll out broadband internet throughout the country. Second, we will open doors to more areas of our Single Market to Moldovan companies. For example, you will have access to the Single Payments Area. This will enable secure and faster transfers of money and minimal fees, which is good for business. This will provide more financial opportunities for your SMEs.
Third, we support your reform efforts – the reforms you want to undertake to modernise your economy. For example, improving your business environment, making your energy sector ready for the green transition, and train people for the jobs of tomorrow.
Dear Maia,
Moldova, like all our European countries, has gone through difficult times, with the COVID-19 pandemic and the consequences of Russia's war on Ukraine. I know that Moldovans are strong, resilient and that they will power through. Rest assured that the European Union stands firmly by Moldova's side. We stood by your side during the pandemic. We delivered more than 600,000 doses of vaccines. We helped you deal with the arrivals of Ukrainians fleeing Putin's war. We helped stabilise your electricity grid by connecting it to ours, as you were just describing. And now we will be by your side as you steer your economy on the path to growth and prosperity. So, dear Maia, we are with Moldova and its brave and hard-working people. And we will be with Moldova every step on your path to the European Union.
Thank you very much.
Factsheet - Growth Plan for the Republic of Moldova
The Growth Plan, which is the largest EU financial support package since Moldova's independence, will boost Moldova's economy, bring the country closer to EU membership by accelerating reforms, and provide significant financial assistance.
