European Commission to Present Aid Package to Moldova by Summer

President of the European Council Charles Michel promised substantial macro financial assistance to Chisinau. According to him, the decision on negotiations with Ukraine and Moldova on joining the EU will be made before the end of the year. The EU countries asked the European Commission to present a package of support to Moldova before the summer, President of the European Council Charles Michel said during an official visit to Chisinau on Tuesday, March 28. He promised that the macro financial assistance package would be “substantial and weighty.” In addition, Charles Michel said that the EU Council would have to make a decision on opening negotiations with Ukraine and Moldova on joining the European Union before the end of 2023. “It will be a political decision, taking into account the report that the European Commission will draft, and I sincerely hope that a positive decision will be possible by the end of the year,” he said. Progress on the path to the EU will have “tangible and positive results” for the people of Moldova, the President of the EU Council assured. He also emphasized the EU solidarity with the people of Moldova and recalled that in 2022 Brussels raised more than a billion euros to support the stability of Moldova, especially in the energy branch. And we are ready to do more,” Charles Michel added. Brussels calls on Chisinau to continue reforms "You are increasingly becoming the target of hostile Russian intelligence. In recent months, Russia and its proxies have been increasingly trying to destabilize your country using energy, cyberattacks, staging protests and other subversive activities. We strongly condemn these attempts to destabilize your country,” President of the European Council said. He noted the firm commitment of the Moldovan government to reforms, despite these difficult circumstances, and called for further implementation of the nine steps on the path to the EU proposed by the European Commission, in particular the reform of the judiciary, the fight against corruption and the depoliticisation of state institutions. “These reforms are vital to meet the expectations of the Moldovan people and to strengthen your overall resilience,” Charles Michel noted. Together with Moldovan President Maia Sandu, they discussed arrangements for the European Political Community Summit to be held on June 1 in Chisinau. The day before, during a visit to Bucharest, Charles Michel promised the Romanian government to continue strengthening the security, stability and resilience of the neighboring country and mentioned the importance of the EU launching a new civilian security and defense mission in Moldova as soon as possible.