Conclusions of the EU-Moldova High-Level Energy Dialogue, 5 June 2025

Following the sixth meeting of the EU-Republic of Moldova High-Level Energy Dialogue held in Chișinău on 5 June 2025, the Parties:

1. Agreed that weaponization of energy supplies by the Russian Federation is unacceptable and that continuous contingency planning, underpinned by the equipment requested by Moldova through the EU Civil Protection Mechanism, is key to ensuring security of supply. Congratulated Moldova on its complete shift away from Russia-linked sources of gas and electricity supply during the last 3 years.
2. Stressed the need to continue working, together with the ENTSO-E, Energy Community Secretariat, Romania and Ukraine, to increase cross-border electricity flows capacities between the Ukraine-Moldova block and the rest of the European Continental Grid that is sufficient for Moldovan needs during both summer and winter consumption peaks. Commission is looking forward to studying the Winter Plan for the 2025-2026 heating season upon its completion by Moldovan authorities.
   
   
3. Recognized the pivotal role of the emergency support package of EUR 30 million announced by the Commission on 4 February 2025 in mitigating the consequences of the failure by Gazprom to abide by its contractual commitments in delivering gas to the districts of the Republic of Moldova located on the Left Bank of the river Nistru. Moldova thanks Commission for the prompt intervention that helped avert a humanitarian crisis in the region and reiterates that it will not impede gas flows there. Parties reaffirmed their conviction that the most sustainable solution would build on fulfilling the conditionalities that unlock further financing for gas purchases from the European market.
   
   
4. Endorsed, in collaboration with the Energy Community Secretariat, the Action Plan for the Energy Independence and Resilience of Moldova, supported by the Energy Pillar of the EUR 1.9 billion Growth Facility.
   
   
5. Welcomed the progress made on the 2-year Comprehensive Strategy for Energy Independence and Resilience of Moldova, which was agreed upon in February and is supported by up to EUR 250 million foreseen for 2025.
   
   
6. Recalled Moldova and the Commission’s common commitment to fully phase out Russian fuels, as indicated in the Government Decision on full phaseout of Russia-linked energy sources passed on March 13 and the Commission’s RePowerEU Roadmap adopted on 6 May and reaffirmed their shared ambition to achieve full coupling of Moldova’s electricity market with the EU by early 2027.
   
   
7. Commended Moldova for its ongoing efforts to ensuring energy affordability for all Moldovan citizens, particularly the most vulnerable households, schools, hospitals, and businesses, as set out in the Comprehensive Strategy for Energy Independence and Resilience, by supporting measures that directly alleviate energy costs and promote sustainable, efficient energy solutions for all.
   
   
8. Commended Moldova for its achievements in implementing the norms of the EU energy acquis, which were rewarded with a total score of 66% in the 2024 Energy Community Implementation Report.
   
   
9. Stressed the need to continue working towards the full implementation of the Energy Community acquis as a key priority, with a particular focus on the full transposition and implementation of the Clean Energy Package and the Electricity Integration Package.
   
   
10. Welcomed the adoption by Moldova of its National and Energy Climate Plan with its updated target to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 68.5% by 2030 and its objective of achieving climate neutrality in 2050.
    
    
11. Reiterated their support for achieving these objectives by accelerating electrification, improving energy efficiency, securing critical infrastructure through increased digitalization, promoting the utilisation of green and innovative technologies (battery storage, heat pumps, smart meters, higher usage of EVs, etc.) and attracting financing and technical assistance in this regard.
    
    
12. Recognized the significant importance of EU assistance to the national effort to increase energy efficiency, with specific focus on residential sector and socially vulnerable communities, through scaling up of the programs like Moldova Residential Energy Efficiency Fund (MREEF) and Eco-vouchers. Moldova expresses sincere gratitude to the Commission for this support.
    
    
13. Welcomed the progress on electricity interconnections, such as the planned commissioning of the Vulcănești-Chișinău 400 kV Energy Independence Line by the end of 2025 and a new interconnection with the EU via Bălți-Suceava 400 kV OHL by the end of 2027. In this context, Parties emphasized the importance of identifying sustainable solutions to advance on the Strășeni-Gutinaș 400 kV OHL interconnection project.
    
    
14. Acknowledged the upcoming designation of the nominated electricity market operator and launch of the Day Ahead and Intra-Day electricity markets in Moldova, as well as ongoing implementation of the necessary legislative, regulatory and corporate measures to advance the coupling of Moldovan energy market with the EU.
    
    
15. Emphasized the significance of the upcoming first balancing capacity auction in autumn 2025 for the resilience of Moldovan grid, as well as the need to work together towards identifying a solution to advance on deployment of BESS capacities, which was set back due to the cancellation of previously committed funds from other sources.
    
    
16. Welcomed the progress in decarbonizing Moldovan energy mix and expanding decentralized renewable generation, including through the recently concluded first wind and solar capacity auction and the second one to be announced by the end of 2025 with a storage component.
    
    
17. Commended Moldova for conducting a transparent procedure and designating an independent gas supplier for a time-limited Public Service Obligation.
    
    
18. Agreed to continue, with the support of the Energy Community Secretariat, further opening and liberalising the gas market in line with the Roadmap for the Energy Resilience and Independence of Moldova, while taking due account of the country-specific challenges. Moldova will implement fully the gas network codes and finalize all outstanding issues related to the acquis on gas supply security.
    
    
19. Welcomed the ongoing work and its progress to remove obstacles to the maximised use of existing natural gas infrastructure in the Central and South-East Europe Energy Connectivity High-Level Group, notably the cooperation between the TSOs along the Trans-Balkan Route to develop an attractive capacity product to support Ukraine, and encourage the development of solutions in the route whereby the positive features of the new proposed special product are offered in fully compliance of the EU internal market legislation.