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1. The general objectives of the Facility shall be to:

(a) support the enlargement process by accelerating the alignment with Union values, laws, rules, standards, policies and practices (‘acquis’) through the adoption and implementation of reforms with a view to future Union membership;

(b) support the progressive integration of Moldova into the Union single market;

(c) accelerate the socio-economic convergence of Moldova’s economy with the Union;

(d) foster good neighbourly relations with Member States and Union enlargement partners, as well as people-to-people contact.

2. The specific objectives of the Facility shall be to:

(a) further strengthen the fundamentals of the enlargement process, including the rule of law and fundamental rights, the functioning of democratic institutions, including de-polarisation, public administration and fulfil the economic criteria; this includes promoting an independent judiciary, reinforcing security and stability, strengthening the fight against fraud and all forms of corruption, including high-level corruption, oligarchic influence and nepotism, organised crime, cross-border crime and money laundering as well as terrorism financing, tax evasion, tax fraud and tax avoidance; increasing compliance with international law; strengthening freedom and independence of media and academic freedom; combating hate speech; enabling an environment for civil society, fostering social dialogue; promoting gender equality, gender mainstreaming and the empowerment of women and girls, promoting children’s rights, non-discrimination and tolerance; ensuring and strengthening respect for the rights of refugees and persons belonging to minorities, including national minorities and Roma, as well as rights of LGBTI persons;

(b) move towards the full alignment of Moldova with the Union CFSP, including with Union restrictive measures;

(c) help mitigate challenges posed by Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine and attempts to destabilise Moldova, fight disinformation, hybrid threats, and FIMI, in particular by Russia, against Moldova’s sovereignty, democratic processes and institutions, as well as against the Union and its values;

(d) move towards harmonisation of visa policies with the Union;

(e) reinforce the effectiveness of public administration, build capacities and invest in administrative staff in Moldova; ensure access to information, public scrutiny and the involvement of civil society in decision-making processes; support transparency, accountability, structural reforms and good governance at all levels, including as regards their powers of oversight and inquiry over the distribution of and access to public funds as well as in the areas of public financial management and public procurement and State aid control; support initiatives and bodies involved in supporting and enforcing international justice in Moldova;

(f) accelerate the transition of Moldova to a sustainable, climate-neutral and inclusive economy, that is capable of withstanding competitive market pressures of the Union single market, and to a stable investment environment and reduce its strategic dependency by diversifying energy sources, including by improving interconnections with Member States and Union enlargement partners, in order to achieve energy security and independence;

(g) foster economic integration of Moldova with the Union single market, in particular through increased trade and investment flows, and resilient value chains;

(h) support enhanced integration with the Union single market through improved and sustainable connectivity in line with trans-European networks to reinforce good neighbourly relations, as well as people-to-people contact;

(i) accelerate the inclusive and sustainable green transition to climate neutrality by 2050, in accordance with the Paris Agreement and the European Green Deal and covering all economic sectors, particularly agriculture and energy, including the transition towards a de-carbonised, climate-neutral, climate-resilient and circular economy, while ensuring that investments respect the ‘do no significant harm’ principle;

(j) promote digital transformation and digital skills as a means of enabling sustainable development and inclusive growth;

(k) boost innovation, research, and cooperation between academic institutions and industry in support of the green and digital transitions, promoting local industries with a particular emphasis on locally based micro, small and medium-sized enterprises and start-ups;

(l) boost quality education, training, reskilling and upskilling at all levels, with a particular focus on youth, including tackling youth unemployment, preventing brain drain and supporting vulnerable communities, including refugees, and support employment policies, including labour rights, in line with the European Pillar of Social Rights, and fighting poverty;

(m) support activities to improve Moldovan citizens’ awareness of the benefits of the Union accession process, including through communication campaigns.