On 21 May 2025, the First Deputy Governor of the National Bank of Moldova (NBM), Mr. Petru Rotaru, together with other NBM representatives, participated in the bilateral screening session for Chapter 17 "Economic and Monetary Policy", organised in the context of the preparation for the European Union (EU) accession negotiations. The NBM team is part of the official delegation of the Republic of Moldova (RM), led by the Deputy Prime Minister for European Integration, Cristina Gherasimov. The meeting was also attended, in online format, by the members of the National Working Group responsible for the given chapter.
This stage of the bilateral screening with the EU provided the Moldovan side with an opportunity to present in detail the level of alignment of the legal and institutional framework applicable to the process of economic and monetary policy formulation with EU standards and regulations. Representatives of the European Commission assessed the existing measures in the field of economic and monetary policy, as well as the progress made in strengthening the independence of the NBM, the prohibition of monetary financing of the public sector by the central bank, and the prevention of privileged access of public institutions to financial institutions.
The bilateral screening was also an opportunity for a technical dialogue aimed at identifying possible deviations from EU rules and establishing future reform directions. The event marked an essential step in our country's European journey, reflecting the authorities' firm commitment to aligning economic and monetary policies with EU standards and practices.
"Participation in the bilateral screening for Chapter 17 marks an important milestone in bringing the Republic of Moldova closer to the European family. We continue the integration process with responsibility and determination, by implementing the necessary reforms in key areas - in particular in the economic and monetary fields, in order to increase the resilience of the financial sector, strengthen the institutional independence and governance mechanisms of the central bank, thus ensuring a sustainable and beneficial accession for all citizens," said Petru Rotaru, First Deputy Governor of the NBM.
Chapter 17 "Economic and Monetary Policy" is part of Cluster No. 3 "Competitiveness and Inclusive Growth" and is one of the 33 chapters covering key EU policy areas that the Republic of Moldova is negotiating during the accession phase. The EU acquis in the field of economic and monetary policy includes, among other things, specific rules requiring the independence of central banks in Member States, prohibiting direct financing of the public sector by central banks, and forbidding privileged access of the public sector to financial institutions.