Moldova receives €157 million after completing 18 reforms
The EU paid Moldova €157 million after completion of 18 reforms, bringing performance-linked financing to about €661 million. At the Association Council in Brussels, both sides welcomed two opened negotiating clusters and discussed the remaining ones. The council also called for concrete progress on corruption cases and continued scrutiny of judges and prosecutors as accession negotiations advance.
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A payment tied to completed reforms
Moldova received a new €157 million payment under the EU Growth Plan at the tenth Association Council in Brussels on October 5. Kaja Kallas linked the disbursement to progress on the country’s reform commitments and urged the authorities to sustain that pace.[1], [2]
Prime Minister Vasile Tofan led Moldova’s delegation; enlargement commissioner Marta Kos also attended the meeting. The Commission’s payment followed completion of 18 reforms during the latest reporting period. It brought total performance-based financing under the Reform and Growth Facility to approximately €661 million.[1]
Judicial reform remains on the accession agenda
The council welcomed the opening of negotiating cluster 1, covering fundamentals, and cluster 6, covering external relations. Both sides described membership as a shared strategic objective and discussed opening the remaining clusters. They called for continued vetting of judges and prosecutors, an independent and professional judiciary, and concrete progress on corruption investigations, prosecutions and final court rulings. The discussion also stressed broad public support for accession and an inclusive reform process.[1]
Security support and easier cross-border transactions
Participants discussed energy resilience and the EU–Moldova Security and Defence Partnership, including the EU mission’s support for crisis management and responses to hybrid threats. European Peace Facility allocations for 2021–2026 totalled €317 million. They also welcomed measures affecting everyday cross-border activity: inclusion in the Single Euro Payments Area to make transfers cheaper, the Common Transit Convention to simplify trade, and roaming arrangements to make mobile communications more affordable for travellers.[1]
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