Prime Minister Alexandru Munteanu met today Marnix van Rij, Alternate Executive Director for Moldova at the International Monetary Fund (IMF). The officials discussed the current regional situation and referred to the positive conclusions of the most recent IMF mission report for Moldova.

The report was examined at the IMF Executive Board’s meeting on February 27, 2026, during which the launch of discussions on a new Program with the country was supported. Prime Minister Munteanu welcomed the positive assessment of the macroeconomic developments Moldova and the recommendations made by the IMF Executive Board for the coming period.

The PM emphasized that the government was focused on implementing reforms to advance the European integration path, stimulate economic growth and strengthen the country’s security and resilience. According to the IMF Report, Moldova is experiencing renewed economic growth after the challenges of recent years, backed by structural reforms and increased investments, including with the help of the European Union.

"The economy of Moldova is recovering after multiple shocks. We estimate an economic growth rate of 2.7 percent in 2025 and 2.3 percent in 2026, relying on a good harvest, strong domestic demand and substantial financing from the EU," the IMF conclusions read.

The IMF Executive Board positively assessed the implementation of ambitious structural reforms and the maintenance of prudent macroeconomic policies on the path to EU accession, which will help strengthen stability and raise citizens’ standard of living.

Also, the IMF Executive Directors and management supported the launch of discussions on a new cooperation programme under a Policy Coordination Instrument (PCI). Deepening the dialogue with the IMF will help consolidate reforms, strengthen economic resilience and provide support for the country’s European integration path.

An important topic of the discussions was the fight against corruption and the combating of disinformation, which remain priorities for Moldova. IMF Alternate Executive Director Marnix van Rij stressed the importance of aligning the efforts and assistance of all Moldova’s partners, in order to ensure the greatest possible impact of external support, expressing openness for constructive dialogue with the Moldovan authorities.

The government has established an environmental alert status for the Dniester River basin for 15 days, starting from 16 March 2026. The decision is based on the analysis of risk indicators carried out by the responsible institutions and on the requests submitted today to the National Crisis Management Center (NCMC) by the Environment Ministry and the National Public Health Agency (ANSP).

“We are taking this decision to make sure we prevent any risk to the population’s health. Because of the continuous wave of pollution with oil products, the risk of the pollution spreading, and the exceedance of contaminant levels in the northern area of the Dniester River, it is necessary to mobilize resources quickly. The competent institutions will continue to monitor the situation, intervene in the affected areas, inform the population and provide the necessary recommendations,” said Prime Minister Alexandru Munteanu.

From the moment the leak of polluting substances was detected, the competent institutions activated mechanisms for continuous monitoring of the situation. Anti-pollution booms and absorbent materials were installed at points identified as critical, water samples are being taken continuously, and the test results are being evaluated in real time.

At present, there are clear indications that the pollution wave continues to move downstream and in the Naslavcea–Soroca area, there are recorded exceedances of the permissible values for oil products and aromatic hydrocarbons. Even if, at some points, the values may temporarily fall back within acceptable limits, the substance continues to come in waves, which makes it difficult to accurately anticipate its evolution. For this reason, it was considered necessary to move to a more intensive management regime of the situation.

The draft decision approved by the Government proposes the establishment of an alert status for a period of 15 days in the administrative–territorial units located in the Dniester River basin, including the districts of Drochia, Soroca, Balti municipality, Sangerei, Floresti, Soldanesti, Telenesti, Rezina, Calarasi, Orhei, Dubasari, Chisinau municipality, Criuleni, Anenii Noi, Tighina, the administrative–territorial units on the left bank of the Dniester, as well as partly: Briceni, Edinet, Ocnita, Donduseni, Rascani, Glodeni, Falesti, Ungheni, Nisporeni, Straseni, Hancesti, Ialoveni, Cimislia, Causeni and Stefan Voda.

“The alert status does not mean that the situation has become critical, but that the authorities are establishing in advance a legal mechanism that allows the prevention of its aggravation. This regime gives the authorities more important levers,” said Serghei Diaconu, Director General of the National Crisis Management Center (NCMC).

According to the NCMC Director, the alert status will allow the authorities to boost technical interventions, impose temporary restrictions on water abstraction and use in sectors where analyses indicate exceedances of the permissible values, and rapidly mobilize additional resources.

Environment Minister Gheorghe Hajder stressed that, in the coming days, additional booms would be installed at the Dubasari reservoir, in order to prevent the oil substance from passing beyond the Dubasari dam. In addition, local public institutions and private economic agents will inventory underground water wells, state institutions will verify alternative water sources, and the districts and localities that are supplied with water from the Dniester, on the Naslavcea–Dubasari segment, will not use the water for household purposes over the next 48 hours.

In sectors where there are risks, local authorities will inform citizens to avoid using water from the Dniester River for drinking, watering animals, or other activities until parameters return to permissible limits.

“What we see today on the river is not a natural accident, but the direct consequence of the war at our border. Russia’s aggression is hitting us ever harder—from drones violating our airspace to the pollution of our essential water resources with direct risks to public health. We must call things by their name: the sole culprit for this massive pollution of the Dniester is the Russian Federation. The government and the Environment Ministry will continue to monitor the situation and take all necessary measures. We stay on duty to protect the health of our citizens,” said the environment minister.

The heroes who fell on the Cosnita plateau, defending the independence and territorial integrity of Moldova at the 1992 Transnistria War, today were commemorated through a Peace March. Prime Minister Alexandru Munteanu took part in the event.

“The Cosnita plateau is a place of memory and sacrifice. The future of Moldova was decided here. Ordinary people – farmers, teachers, workers – became defenders of this country. It was a trial for our young state, but Moldova did not give in. Moldova has stood firm and chosen a clear path: the path of freedom, the path of democracy, the European path,” said the PM.

The prime minister paid tribute to those who had lost their lives for the freedom of Moldova and expressed gratitude to the veterans of the Transnistria War, noting that their sacrifice stays a lesson in responsibility and solidarity for the younger generation and for society as a whole. At the same time, the prime minister stressed that the brutal war waged by the Russian Federation in Ukraine was a reminder of how fragile peace is and how high the price of freedom can be.

The PM also referred to government’s efforts to support veterans and the families of those who fell in the war. To strengthen social protection and gradually increase state support, the Law on War Veterans has been adopted.

“We will continue to do more for veterans, because true respect is not expressed only in words. Respect must be seen in actions, but the greatest duty we have towards veterans is to build a strong Moldova: a united, free and secure Moldova. A country where people live without fear, children grow up in peace and stay at home,” declared Prime Minister Alexandru Munteanu.

The Peace March is held annually, on March 14, on the main street in Cosnita, in memory of the more than 40 heroes who lost their lives on the plateau.