Politician · country

Ursula von der Leyen on Moldova

Strong EU accession advocate (strong)

TL;DR

Ursula von der Leyen strongly supports Moldova's European Union accession path, highlighting its remarkable progress and committing significant EU aid.

Key Points

  • She attended the first-ever EU-Moldova Summit in Chișinău on July 4, 2025, alongside the European Council President, to demonstrate support for accession.

  • The Commission adopted the €1.9 billion EU Growth Plan for Moldova in March 2025 to support reforms and economic transformation.

  • In October 2021, she stated the EU stands with Moldova to help overcome difficulties, including providing €60 million in budget support amid a gas crisis.

Summary

Ursula von der Leyen expresses strong and consistent support for the Republic of Moldova’s trajectory toward European Union membership, often framing its future as inherently part of the European family. She has publicly recognized Moldova's "remarkable progress on its EU path," specifically noting achievements like joining the Single Euro Payments Area (SEPA) and the EU’s roaming scheme, positioning these as concrete steps toward full integration. The President of the Commission has also been instrumental in deploying substantial financial backing to bolster the country’s resilience against external pressures and support its necessary domestic reforms.

Her support has materialized through significant financial packages, such as the adoption of the substantial EU Growth Plan for Moldova, intended to double the economy over a decade and underpin EU accession reforms. Furthermore, she has personally engaged at high-level forums, including heading to Chișinău for the first-ever EU-Moldova Summit to reaffirm political and economic backing amidst ongoing hybrid attacks. This consistent high-level attention underscores a commitment to advancing the partnership, particularly in areas like economic integration, connectivity, and energy resilience.

Frequently Asked Questions

Ursula von der Leyen holds a strongly positive position, advocating for Moldova’s accession to the European Union. She consistently praises the country’s reform efforts and its concrete steps toward greater integration with the EU.

Her stance has not fundamentally changed; rather, it has deepened and become more action-oriented. She has moved from offering support during crises to championing the full EU accession path with significant financial backing.

The Commission President has described Moldova's progress on its EU path as remarkable. She has pledged that Moldova’s place is within the European Union and committed to ensuring all Moldovans will benefit from this process.

Sources5

* This is not an exhaustive list of sources.