76 Years of European Unity and Solidarity and 20 Years of Celebrating Europe Day in the Republic of Moldova
On 9 May 2026, 76 years will have passed since the adoption of the Schuman Declaration, which laid the foundations of the European Union (EU) and contributed to the creation in Europe of an area of peace, democracy, prosperity, solidarity, and cooperation.
The Republic of Moldova has celebrated Europe Day since May 2006, and this year marks its 20th anniversary celebration at the national level.
The year 2026 is marked by several important milestones related to the country’s European integration process:
21 years since the adoption of the first Republic of Moldova–European Union Action Plan within the framework of the European Neighbourhood Policy (22 February 2005);
17 years since the launch of the Eastern Partnership (7 May 2009);
12 years since the signing of the Association Agreement between the Republic of Moldova and the European Union, including the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area (signed on 27 June 2014 and ratified on 2 July 2014 by the Parliament of the Republic of Moldova);
12 years since the entry into force of the European Union’s decision on visa liberalisation for citizens of the Republic of Moldova (28 April 2014);
4 years since the Republic of Moldova was granted EU candidate country status (23 June 2022);
2 years since the official opening by the European Union of accession negotiations with the Republic of Moldova (25 June 2024).
European integration continues to open up a broad range of opportunities and prospects for the inhabitants of both banks of the Nistru River: sustainable development and modernisation projects, confidence-building programmes, improved living standards, higher-quality and more competitive public services (social, medical, educational, etc.), visa-free travel for citizens of the Republic of Moldova within the European Union, as well as favourable conditions for foreign economic activity, among others.
Advancing the process of accession to the European Union also stimulates the development of reintegration policies, including the restoration of a unified socio-economic space, ensuring access for young people throughout the country to quality education in line with European standards, as well as the adoption of more prompt measures to improve the human rights situation in the eastern districts of the country.
The attractiveness of the European Union and the right bank of the Nistru River has already been confirmed among the inhabitants of the Republic of Moldova living in the Transnistrian region (357 thousand hold citizenship of the Republic of Moldova, while 338 thousand possess national biometric passports), as well as among the region’s economic agents (100% of foreign trade operations are carried out on the basis of Moldovan authorisation documents and through legally controlled customs checkpoints; 71% of exports are directed to the European Union market, while 48% of imports come to the region from the same market).
The active involvement of the European Union contributes to the effective management of the severe energy crisis in the eastern districts of the country, artificially caused by external factors, as well as to supporting the framework approach to the settlement of the Transnistrian conflict exclusively through peaceful means, at the negotiating table, and with full respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the country.
The European Union is a strategic partner of the Republic of Moldova. Through its multifaceted support, it contributes to the advancement of vital structural reforms, the strengthening of institutional capacities, and the reinforcement of statehood and national security. At the same time, the EU contributes to building a safer, more prosperous, and more stable future, as well as to creating solid preconditions for the peaceful and sustainable reintegration of both banks of the Nistru River.
Wishing the Republic of Moldova new achievements within the great European family!
Happy Europe Day!
