Moldova and the EU

UPDATE : THE MOLDOVA CITIZENSHIP BY INVESTMENT LEGISLATION HAS BEEN REPEALED (JUNE 2020)  
 

Moldova's Citizenship by Investment Programme is to be seen in context of Moldova's relationship with the European Union and other regional powers. Moldova has signed numerous agreements such as the EU-Moldova Association Agreement, the Deep and Comprehenseive Free Trade Agreement, a Free Trade agreement with China and Turkey and is also a member of the World Trade Organisation and the Community of Independent States. Acquiring Moldovan citizenship thus means that one is acquiring citizenship in a country which has entered into an association agreement with the EU and is aiming to become a candidate for EU membership. 

Moldova - EU Relations

Moldova and the European Union has signed an association agreement in 2014 and came into force on the 1st of July 2016. This agreement established an economic and political association between the Republic of Moldova and the EU and aims at enhancing the cooperation in relation to laws, economic policy, justice and energy. The agreement also regulates the access to the European Investment bank. The main aim of the Association Agreement is to commit the republic of Moldova to make reforms in order to converge its laws and regulations to those of the European Union. 

Moldova Schengen Visa Free Regime

Since April 2014, Moldovan citizens with a biometric passport can travel to the Schengen Area without the need of a visa. Moldovan citizens may also stay in all the 26 countries forming part of the Schengen Area for 3 months in every 6 months. 

Trade Relations between Moldova & the EU

The European Union is the most important trading partner of Moldova and the latter benefits from reduced or no tariffs for its exports to the EU. After the signing of the association agreement, Moldova's trade has shifted more towards the EU and around two thirds of Moldova's exports went to the EU, second to Russia and Belarus. In the EU, the majority of the exports goes to Romania, Germany, Italia and the UK and includ machinery, applicances, mineral, transport and chemical products. 

Moldova & EU Membership

President of the European Council has visited the Republic of Moldova and emphasized on the importance of the relations between the EU and Moldova. Both parties discussed the implimentation and progress on the association agreement in view of Moldova to become accepted as a candidate country to join the European Union.