The European Committee of the Regions’ Working Group on Moldova convened its second meeting today in Chișinău, bringing together local and regional representatives from Moldova and the European Union to assess progress in the country’s EU accession process and to strengthen cooperation at all levels of government.
During the meeting, participants examined the state of play of Moldova’s EU accession process, focusing in particular on effective decentralisation reforms and the capacity of local administrations to implement EU legislation and programmes.
A dedicated session on EU integration and access to funding for local and regional authorities highlighted the crucial role of LRAs in delivering reforms on the ground and ensuring that European investments translate into tangible improvements for citizens.
Speaking during the session, Adrian Teban, Mayor of Cugir (Romania) and member of the EPP-CoR Group, stressed the importance of multilevel cooperation in the accession process: “Multilevel governance is essential to ensuring the process of EU accession advances, with clearly defined responsibilities and competences at the national, regional and local levels. We must also ensure adequate human resources are available, however the administrative system must be modernised and brought up to European standards in order to fully maximise their potential. With technical and financial assistance from the EU and international partners, Moldova must continue to enact reforms and take measures to further build administrative capacity, allowing for the more efficient implementation of EU projects.”
Alongside Adrian Teban, the EPP-CoR Group is represented in the Working Group by Siim Suursild (Estonia), Member of Pärnu City Council and Marcin Kuchciński (Poland), Councillor of the Warmińsko-Mazurskie Region. Their participation reflects the EPP-CoR’s commitment to supporting Moldova’s progress on decentralisation, local democracy, and alignment with EU standards.
Role and Objectives of the Working Group
Established by a decision of the CoR Bureau on 1 April 2025, the Working Group serves as a key platform for political dialogue and technical cooperation, ensuring that local and regional authorities (LRAs) are fully engaged in Moldova’s European path. Meetings take place twice a year — once in Brussels during the CoR’s Enlargement Day and once in Moldova.
Through the Working Group on Moldova, the CoR aims to foster structured cooperation with Moldovan partners and reinforce the role of LRAs in the enlargement agenda. The Group’s objectives include:
• Assisting in the effective implementation of the EU acquis at local and regional levels;
• Providing a venue for LRAs to contribute to the enlargement process within the framework of the Stabilisation and Association Council;
• Promoting dialogue and cooperation on issues of mutual interest between EU and Moldovan local and regional authorities;
• Creating a stable framework for sustainable cooperation, including the exchange of best practices and facilitating contacts with EU institutions;
• Promoting European values such as democracy, the rule of law, good governance, anti-corruption, human rights, equality and a sustainable market economy;
• Preparing Moldovan local representatives for future participation in the CoR after accession.