Analysis of the EU’s assistance to Moldova

The European Union has intensified its political and economic cooperation with Moldova, which is one of the largest financial recipients from the EU per capita. The EU assistance is increasingly moving towards a sectoral approach. Major projects focus on strengthening democratic institutions and public administration, supporting civil society, human rights and freedom of media, reforming the social assistance and educational system, and improving border control and management. The financial assistance to Moldova has proved to be generally relevant, effective and efficient for Moldova’s modernisation process. However, Moldova’s domestic constraints and lack of more strategic vision on the EU side for its relations with Moldova is an essential obstacle in ensuring the EU long-term sustainable contribution to the country’s development and Europeanisation.