The European Union and Moldova have closed this Tuesday a new agreement to deepen their collaboration in the fields of education, employment, and social policies, with the aim of bringing Moldovan systems closer to EU standards and continuing to advance on the country's path to accession to the bloc, planned for 2028.
The understanding has been formalized in the second High-Level Dialogue between the Vice-President for Jobs of the European Commission, Roxana Minzatu, and the Moldovan Ministers of Labor, Natalia Plugaru, and of Education, Dan Perciun. During the meeting, both delegations reviewed the reforms already undertaken and identified the areas in which Brussels will continue to provide technical assistance and funding.
"What I see in Moldova is determination, commitment, and a remarkable ability to design and implement reforms, many of them complex and requiring great effort. These are qualities that will be essential as the country moves forward on its European path," Minzatu stated.
Among the agreed measures is the implementation of the Youth Guarantee, the European program designed so that young people can access employment, continue their training, or resume their studies.
In the educational field, the parties have discussed Moldova's participation in Erasmus+, a program from which, according to the Commission, the country has received 16 million euros since 2021 and in which Brussels has committed to continue working towards closer cooperation with the Moldovan authorities.
The authorities in Chisinau have claimed the progress made in adapting their internal regulations to European rules and have reiterated their willingness to accelerate reforms linked to the accession process, including provisions on adequate minimum wages, pay transparency, and regulation of work on digital platforms.
The Commission has also emphasized that it maintains over 27 million euros in active projects linked to education, employment, and social protection in Moldova, ranging from the modernization of curricula to initiatives to promote the labor market integration of women and young people and strengthen essential health services.
This aid is complemented by the funds contemplated in the Growth Plan for Moldova, whose social component could mobilize up to 236 million euros until 2027, depending on the pace at which the reforms committed by the Moldovan Government are implemented.