A new meeting of the Working Groups on economic issues
On 19 August 2026, the second meeting this year of the Working Groups on economic issues took place at the Chișinău office of the OSCE Mission to Moldova, with the participation of relevant experts from both banks of the Nistru River.
During the meeting, experts from the Ministry of Economic Development and Digitalization, the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Environment, the State Tax Service, the Customs Service, the Environment Agency, the Environmental Protection Inspectorate and the National Food Safety Agency discussed issues related to the uniform application throughout the country of legislation on customs and tax regulation, environmental protection and food safety, aligned with European standards. The discussions took place in the context of measures aimed at ensuring the gradual integration of the Transnistrian region into the national economic, customs, fiscal and legal framework.
Representatives of Chișinău also informed the experts from Tiraspol about the progress of the dialogue between the Republic of Moldova and the European Union regarding the application of EU import quotas to steel products originating in the Republic of Moldova. In addition, discussions continued on the practical aspects of the application of value added tax and excise duties, following up on the discussions held during the meeting of the sectoral working groups on economic issues on 5 May 2026.
A separate topic of discussions concerned the application of the forthcoming Government decision on the application of VAT and excise duties to goods imported into the territory of the Republic of Moldova by economic operators from the Transnistrian region. The decision is intended to ensure the implementation of Law № 1417/1997 of the enactment of Title III of the Tax Code, Law № 1054/2000 on the enactment of Title IV of the Tax Code, as well as Law № 67/2026 on the establishment of the Convergence Fund and amending certain normative acts (value added tax and excise duties).
In this context, representatives of the Ministry of Finance explained the provisions of the draft normative act and their implications for citizens and economic agents in the region. It was emphasized that the implementation of the proposed measures is aimed at ensuring fairness in the tax sphere, addressing competitive imbalances, and increasing budget revenues. At the same time, it was noted that the financial resources accumulated would be channelled through the Convergence Fund towards infrastructure modernization and the implementation of projects and programmes supporting the business environment and residents of the Transnistrian region. The Fund will be replenished through domestic sources and external contributions, as well as through taxes paid by economic agents from the left bank of the Nistru River and the municipality of Bender.
During the dialogue, experts from Chișinău pointed out that a phased approach would allow the business community to adapt to the new conditions, mitigate the immediate financial impact on prices and prevent possible disruptions to trade activities. To this end, priority has been given to categories of goods with a limited social impact on final consumers, which will make it possible to implement the measure without significant fluctuations in the prices of everyday goods.
At the same time, it was noted that, as part of the process of harmonizing tax regulation, it will be necessary to analyse the categories of goods with higher social impact, including consumer goods and products of significant importance to the population and economic activity. Through such a strategic, phased approach, it is intended to achieve tax policy objectives in a balanced manner, while simultaneously increasing tax compliance and preserving economic and social stability.
During the meeting, experts from the Ministry of the Environment presented to the Tiraspol experts the legal requirements concerning the issuance of integrated environmental permits to economic operators from the Transnistrian region, in accordance with the provisions of Law № 227/2022 on industrial emissions. They emphasized the mandatory nature of compliance with national legislation by all economic agents registered with the Public Services Agency.
Regarding control measures concerning economic agents in the region, representatives of the National Food Safety Agency informed the experts from Tiraspol of the provisions of the national legislation in this area, emphasizing the need for the relevant structures in the region to ensure, without exception, the free movement of the Agency’s staff and to eliminate all artificial and unlawful obstacles.
The meeting also addressed aspects related to the collection of customs duties applicable to commercial activities, the export of strategic goods by enterprises from the region, as well as the restoration of traffic on the bridge over the Nistru River between the settlements of Bâcioc and Gura Bâcului.
The discussions took place in a constructive atmosphere, and the participants expressed their willingness to continue the dialogue in order to address existing economic challenges for the benefit of residents on both banks of the Nistru.
