Today, 24 September 2026, the Governor of the National Bank of Moldova (NBM), Ms Anca Dragu, is in Brussels for a series of meetings with officials from the European Commission and the European Central Bank, focusing on reforms in the financial sector and the Republic of Moldova’s progress towards European integration.
The initial discussions were held with Ms Alexandra Jour-Schroeder, Deputy Director-General of the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Financial Stability, Financial Services and Capital Markets Union (DG FISMA), and focused on the Republic of Moldova’s progress in aligning its financial legislation with European Union standards, as well as on cooperation with the European Commission to implement reforms.
The Governor outlined the measures taken and the status of draft legislation within the NBM’s remit, including those relating to the free movement of capital, payment systems and financial services, as well as the independence of the central bank. Through these reforms, the NBM is contributing to the Republic of Moldova’s European integration and to strengthening a resilient, secure financial system that is aligned with EU standards.
“Alignment with European standards means greater security for people’s savings, clear rules for businesses and more accessible financial services. We have taken concrete steps, and our cooperation with the European Commission is helping us to implement these reforms effectively. Participation in SEPA is a prime example of what closer ties with the European Union mean: simpler euro transfers at lower cost for citizens and businesses,” said Governor Anca Dragu.
Data on payments made demonstrate the openness of the Republic of Moldova’s market to integration into the Single Euro Payments Area (SEPA). In the first 11 months following operational connection to SEPA, 1.1 million transfers were made via this system, accounting for over 80% of cross-border euro transactions.
At the same time, the instant payment system in MDL developed by the National Bank of Moldova, ‘MIA’ – a flagship project at regional level – is now used by one in every two people with a bank account, with the number of users already exceeding 1 million.
During the meeting, the NBM expressed its interest in continuing the technical dialogue with the Directorates-General of the European Commission, so that legislation aligned with EU rules can be implemented effectively and the modernisation of the financial sector can bring tangible benefits to citizens and the economy of the Republic of Moldova.
Also today, the NBM delegation, which includes Deputy Governor Tatiana Ivanicichina, is scheduled to hold meetings with Ms Maria Luís Albuquerque, the European Commissioner for Financial Services and the Savings and Investments Union, Mr Maarten Verwey, Director-General of the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Economic and Financial Affairs (DG ECFIN), and Mr Boris Kisselevsky, Head of the European Central Bank’s Representation in Brussels.