CHISINAU – Productive and forward-looking meetings held in Moldova reaffirmed the Transport Community’s and Moldovan authorities’ shared commitment to advancing policy reforms and developing critical connectivity projects, paving the way for Moldova’s closer integration into the European Union’s transport market.
Since becoming an observer in the Transport Community in November 2022, Moldova’s current level of engagement with the organisation signals its clear aspiration for full membership, a goal that would further bolster its convergence with EU standards. Moldova’s engagement with the Transport Community is supported by non-reimbursable funding from the European Union, under grant NDICI-GEO-NEAR/2023/452688 (the Grant Contract).
During yesterday’s meetings in Chisinau, discussions with the EU Delegation centered on enhancing support for Moldova’s ongoing journey towards European integration. Both sides acknowledged the importance of continued collaboration in strengthening Moldova’s institutional and technical capacities in the transport sector, a crucial area for the country’s economic and social development. Ms. Magdalena Mueller-Uri, Head of Cooperation section, highlighted the importance of tailored assistance in supporting Moldova’s institutional and regulatory reform and enquired about the progresses achieved under the Grant Contract.
Discussions with the representatives of Moldova’s line ministry commenced with a technical round dedicated to the waterborne transport sector. A key milestone of the day’s engagements was the meeting with His Excellency Andrei Spînu, Moldova’s Minister of Infrastructure and Regional Development. This meeting provided a platform for both parties to identify policy priorities that will strengthen Moldova’s transport sector and advance the necessary reforms to align its transport market with that of the European Union.
Mr. Matej Zakonjšek, Director of the Permanent Secretariat of the Transport Community emphasised that Moldova’s active engagement with the Transport Community is already yielding tangible results. One critical initiative currently underway is the procurement of the first technical assistance dedicated to the development of a national strategy for Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS). This innovative action, aimed at improving the efficiency and safety of Moldova’s transport infrastructure, is open for tender and accessible via the Transport Community’s website (https://www.transport-community.org/tenders/opne-tender-piu-technical-assistance-for-the-preparation-of-a-national-its-strategy-for-the-republic-of-moldova/) and the EU’s official journal of tenders (TED) (https://ted.europa.eu/en/notice/-/detail/500508-2024).
Reflecting on the progress made in implementing the shared agenda, HE Andrei Spînu reaffirmed Moldova’s commitment towards full membership in the Transport Community and underscored the importance of the continued support during Moldova’s negotiations on Chapters 14 (Transport policy) and 21 (Trans-European Networks) from the accession package.
Looking ahead, the focus will be on developing comprehensive Action Plans that will address key areas of the transport sector, including road infrastructure, road safety, rail, waterborne transport, and multimodality. These plans will be supported by targeted technical assistance and capacity-building programs designed to enhance Moldova’s administrative capabilities in line with EU requirements.
Yesterday’s meetings underscored the importance of sustained cooperation in advancing the reforms and projects that will bring Moldova closer to its EU aspirations. The collaboration between the Transport Community and Moldova sets a benchmark for best practices and illustrates the effectiveness of international cooperation in fostering integration and development.
