On March 24, 2025, Chișinău hosted the 15th edition of the EU–Republic of Moldova Civil Society Platform – a vital dialogue framework aimed to strengthen cooperation between civil society and public authorities, in the context of advancing the country’s European Union accession process.
EBA Moldova welcomed the organization of this meeting, which brought to the forefront a series of critical topics for Moldova’s European future: from the rule of law and human rights protection to justice, the environment, and good governance.
In her opening remarks, Liliana Palihovici, Co-Chair of the Platform, emphasized the importance of a well-structured and functional public consultation mechanism. She highlighted that transparent consultations, conducted within a reasonable timeframe and with real access to draft public policy documents, are essential for civil society to make a meaningful contribution to the decision-making process.
One of the central topics of discussion was the Moldova Growth Plan, recently approved by the European Parliament. With a total budget of €1.9 billion, the plan was presented as a strategic opportunity to boost economic development through investments in key sectors: agriculture, healthcare, infrastructure, energy, and justice.
Participants emphasized that this support package should facilitate Moldova’s transition toward a modern, competitive, and sustainable economy – one in which productivity and added value become top priorities. The need to stimulate investments in research and innovation was also underlined, as well as the importance of developing effective professional training and reskilling programs.
The meeting concluded with the adoption of a joint statement, which included key conclusions from the discussions and strategic recommendations for accelerating the reforms needed in the European integration process.
The event was part of the “Civil Society for European Integration” project, funded by the European Union in the Republic of Moldova and co-funded by Friedrich Ebert Stiftung Moldova. The project is implemented by Expert-Grup in collaboration with IPRE, Institutum Virtutes Civilis, and Friedrich Ebert Stiftung Moldova.