The meeting of the working groups on economy took place in Chișinău
On May 5, 2026, a meeting of the working groups on economy, with the participation of experts from both banks of the Nistru River, was held at the Chișinău office of the OSCE Mission to Moldova.
During the meeting, experts from Chișinău informed about amendments introduced by the Parliament of the Republic of Moldova to the legal framework concerning value-added tax (VAT) and excise duties for economic agents from the Transnistrian region. The implementation of VAT and excise duties, as well as the abolition of tax exemptions, will be carried out gradually. The existing exemptions are temporary in nature and will cease entirely on January 1, 2030, when a unified fiscal regime will be introduced nationwide.
Regarding excise duties applied to the import of petroleum products (diesel fuel and gasoline), including for economic agents from the Transnistrian region, it was noted that, in accordance with Law No. 111/2025 amending Law No. 139/2018 on energy efficiency, obligated entities are required to pay contributions under the energy efficiency obligation scheme. Based on a methodology developed by the National Center for Sustainable Energy, energy efficiency improvement projects will be implemented, from which residents and economic agents of the Transnistrian region will also be able to benefit, provided they comply with national legislation requirements.
Concerning the import of plant protection products and veterinary medicines into the territory of the Republic of Moldova, including the Transnistrian region, experts from Chișinău once again emphasized the necessity for uniform application of import regulations. In the context of aligning national legislation with European Union standards, it was noted that only products included in the Register of Approved Plant Protection Products and Fertilizers may be imported into the country.
At the same time, the necessity for uniform compliance with standards by all economic agents involved in the production, import, and export of products of plant and animal origin was highlighted.
With regard to the collection of environmental pollution charges from industrial enterprises in the Transnistrian region, experts from Chișinău stressed the necessity to implement environmental legislation harmonized with European standards, including in such areas as air, water, and forest protection, waste management, and control of pollutant emissions.
The experts agreed to continue dialogue on the existing working platforms within the framework of the Transnistrian settlement negotiation process, maintaining interaction between inhabitants and economic agents of the Transnistrian region and the competent authorities of the Republic of Moldova.
