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(1) The Union is founded on the values referred to in Article 2 of the Treaty on the European Union (TEU), which include democracy, the rule of law and respect for human rights. Those values form part of the accession criteria established at the Copenhagen European Council in June 1993 (Copenhagen criteria), which constitute the conditions of eligibility for Union membership.

(2) The Union enlargement process is built on established criteria, fair and rigorous conditionality and the principle of own merits. A firm commitment to ‘fundamentals first’ approach, which requires a strong focus on the rule of law, fundamental rights, the functioning of democratic institutions and public administration reform, as well as on economic criteria, remains essential. Progress depends on implementation by the Republic of Moldova (Moldova) of the necessary reforms to align with the Union acquis.

(3) Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine further showed that Union enlargement is a geo-strategic investment in peace, security and stability. The Union is fully and unequivocally committed to the Union membership perspective of Moldova. Moldova’s orientation and commitment towards the Union is a strong expression of its strategic choice and place in a community of values. Moldova’s EU path needs to be firmly anchored in tangible and concrete progress on reforms.

(4) It is in the common interest of the Union and Moldova to advance with the reforms to its political, legal and economic systems with a view to its future Union membership and to support its accession process. The prospect of Union membership has a powerful transformative effect, embedding positive democratic, political, economic and societal change and contributes to strengthening Moldova’s resilience.

(5) It is necessary to bring forward some of the advantages of Union membership before accession. Economic convergence is at the heart of those benefits. Currently, the convergence of Moldova in terms of GDP per capita expressed in purchasing power standards remains low at 29 % of the Union average and is not progressing fast enough. Moldova’s diaspora should also be considered as an important contributor to Moldova’s social and economic development.

(6) As accession negotiations with Moldova opened in June 2024, it is important to provide necessary support to Moldova’s accession track. Furthermore, it is important that support be brought to levels that are comparable with other candidate countries engaged in accession negotiations and that commensurate resources are ensured.

(7) The implementation of the Growth Plan for Moldova requires the appropriate funding under a dedicated new financing instrument (the ‘Facility’). The Facility is to assist the country in implementing reforms for sustainable economic growth and advance on the fundamentals of the enlargement process.

(8) Given Russia’s unjust war of aggression against Ukraine, which has profoundly impacted Moldova’s security, economy, and citizens’ livelihoods, as well as the ongoing and unprecedented hybrid attacks targeting the country and its democratic institutions, the Facility should aim to support Moldova in facing significant challenges, in particular as regards economy, energy, food and value chains. It is appropriate for the Facility to provide support to Moldova in a timely manner and to enable Moldova to strengthen its resilience against foreign information manipulation and interference (FIMI) in its sovereignty, democratic processes and institutions.

(9) To achieve the goals of the Growth Plan for Moldova, emphasis with respect to investment areas should be placed on sectors that are likely to function as key multipliers for social and economic development: connectivity, infrastructure, including sustainable transport, decarbonisation, energy, green and digital transitions, agriculture and food industry, rural development, as well as education, labour market participation and skills development, with a particular focus on children and youth and on raising the standard of living throughout the country.

(10) The Facility should build on the Association Agenda with Moldova as well as the work of the Economic and Investment Plan for the Eastern Partnership in Moldova which spearheaded investments in critical sectors such as connectivity, energy efficiency and energy security while avoiding stranded assets, business development, and competitiveness. Enhanced access to the Union single market, through the implementation of the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area, improved infrastructure and participation in Union programmes and policies, subject to Moldova’s alignment with the relevant Union single market rules, will deliver immediate and tangible socio-economic benefits.

(11) Sustainable transport infrastructure is essential to improve connectivity between Moldova and the Union and it should contribute to the integration of Moldova in the Union’s transport network. In the revised trans-European transport network (TEN-T), the Commission extended the Baltic Sea – Black Sea – Aegean Sea European Transport Corridor to Moldova. The TEN-T is the reference for funding sustainable transport infrastructure, including for environmentally friendly means of transport, such as railways as well as digitalisation of transport. Cross-border energy infrastructure projects and interconnections with Member States and Union enlargement partners are essential for regional energy security and integration within the Union.

(12) The Facility should support investments and reforms that promote Moldova’s path to the digital transformation of the economy and society in line with the Union vision for 2030 presented in the Commission communication of 9 March 2021, entitled ‘2030 Digital Compass: the European way for the Digital Decade’, fostering an inclusive digital economy that benefits all citizens. The Facility should strive to facilitate Moldova’s achievement of the general objectives and digital targets with regard to the Union. As outlined by the Commission in its communication of 15 June 2023, entitled ‘Implementation of the 5G cybersecurity Toolbox’, the 5G cybersecurity Toolbox should be the reference for Union funding to ensure security, resilience and the protection of integrity of digital infrastructure projects in the region.

(13) The support under the Facility should be provided to meet general and specific objectives, based on established criteria and with clear payment conditions. Those general and specific objectives should be pursued in a mutually reinforcing manner. The Facility should support the enlargement process by accelerating the alignment with Union values, laws, rules, standards, policies and practices (‘acquis’) with a view to Union membership, accelerate progressive integration of Moldova in the Union single market, and accelerate its socio-economic convergence with the Union. The Facility should also foster good neighbourly relations.

(14) In addition to boosting socio-economic convergence, the Facility should also help accelerate reforms related to the fundamentals of the enlargement process including rule of law, fundamental rights, inter alia, the rights of refugees, of persons belonging to minorities, including national minorities and Roma, as well as the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) persons. It should also improve the functioning of democratic institutions and public administrations; public procurement, state aid control and public finance management; the fight against all forms of corruption and organised crime; quality education and training as well as employment policies; and the country’s green transition, climate and environmental objectives.

(15) The Facility should help Moldova in its preparation for Union membership in line with the existing enlargement methodology.

(16) The Facility should complement the existing Economic and Financial Dialogue without compromising its scope, thereby enhancing economic integration and preparation for the Union’s multilateral surveillance of economic policies.