The Governor of the National Bank of Moldova (NBM), Ms Anca Dragu, had a meeting today at the NBM headquarters with members of the European Affairs Committees of the Senate and Chamber of Deputies of the Romanian Parliament. The discussions focused on strengthening bilateral dialogue in the context of the Republic of Moldova's European path, as well as evaluating the progress made by the NBM in aligning with European Union standards.
During the dialogue, the NBM Governor reaffirmed the importance of the strategic partnership between the Republic of Moldova and Romania, highlighting that the experience of bilateral cooperation has been materialized over the years through the exchange of best practices, modern policies, and concrete projects that contributed to strengthening the Republic of Moldova's financial system.
The discussions concentrated on the strategic pillars of the EU accession process, with a focus on the negotiation chapters managed by the NBM: the free movement of capital, financial services, and economic and monetary policy. Ms Anca Dragu highlighted the progress made by the Republic of Moldova's banking sector in recent years, in the context of structural reforms and alignment with European standards, mentioning that the domestic banking system is now stable, well-capitalized, and prepared to support Moldova's economic integration into the European space.
A central topic of the discussions was the integration of the Republic of Moldova's financial infrastructure into European payment systems. In this context, attention was drawn to the Republic of Moldova’s accession to the Single Euro Payments Area (SEPA) on 6 March 2025, a historic milestone in the financial integration process, achieved under the coordination of the NBM.
"Integration into SEPA represents one of the most remarkable examples of the Republic of Moldova's sectoral integration into the European Union. Today, we are talking about a concrete reality: the national financial system uses the same infrastructures as those in the European Union. This achievement reflects the trust of our external partners and confirms the Republic of Moldova’s consistent progress in the European integration process. We will continue the reforms so that the citizens of the Republic of Moldova can fully benefit from the economic security, opportunities, and prosperity that EU membership offers," said Anca Dragu, Governor of the National Bank of Moldova.
During the meeting, the constant and valuable support provided by Romania to the Republic of Moldova, including by the National Bank of Romania, in developing the financial system in Moldova, especially in the context of European integration, was emphasized. The NBM expressed deep gratitude for the assistance from Romanian authorities in preparing and submitting the SEPA accession application. The contribution of technical assistance projects, including through Twinning and TAIEX instruments, to the alignment of the Republic of Moldova's institutional and legislative framework to European standards, was also highlighted.
In its European integration journey, the National Bank aims to obtain, from the European Banking Authority (EBA), the recognition of the equivalence of the Republic of Moldova's prudential banking framework with that of the European Union. The first phase of the assessment, carried out by the EBA in December 2025, highlighted significant progress in aligning the regulatory and supervisory framework to European standards, confirming the direction of reforms promoted by the NBM.
Additionally, the discussions touched upon the economic developments in the Republic of Moldova over the last two years, which have reinforced international partners' confidence in the national economy. In 2025, our country received a new sovereign rating of BB-/B from S&P Global Ratings, and investments grew by over 20%, the highest rate recorded to date. These developments reflect, among other things, the stability and performance of the banking sector.
"Strengthening the stability of the financial sector and aligning with European standards contributes to increasing the trust of external partners and creating a predictable economic environment that can support the Republic of Moldova's sustainable development," stated Anca Dragu, Governor of the National Bank of Moldova.
During the meeting, Romanian officials reaffirmed their commitment to supporting and accelerating the Republic of Moldova's European integration process. Romania remains one of the main supporters of our country’s European path, and bilateral cooperation between the two countries contributes to strengthening a modern, stable financial system aligned with European standards, to the benefit of the Republic of Moldova's citizens and business environment.
The meeting was attended by the following representatives of the Romanian Senate: Rodica Cușnir, Chairwoman of the European Affairs Committee, and Senator Adelina Dobra. Representing the Chamber of Deputies were Deputies Mirela Furtună and Corina Atanasiu, and Deputy Mircea Fechet. The Romanian delegation was accompanied by Mr Marcel Spatari, Chairman of the Committee on European Integration in the Parliament of the Republic of Moldova, and H.E. Mr Cristian-Leon Țurcanu, the Ambassador of Romania to the Republic of Moldova.
