The delegation of the National Bank of Moldova (BNM), led by Governor Anca Dragu, is currently in Brussels for a series of meetings with officials of the European Commission and the European Payments Council (EPC). During the meetings, key aspects of the integration of the Republic of Moldova into the European financial structures are discussed.

NBM representatives had relevant discussions with the Director General of the Neighborhood and Enlargement Negotiations (DG NEAR) Mr. Gert Jan Koopman, with Mr. John Berrigan, Director General of the Directorate - General for Financial Stability, Financial Services and Capital Markets Union (DG FISMA) of the European Commission, with Mrs. Elena Flores, Director of International Economic and Financial Relations, Global Governance, DG ECFIN at European Commission and with Mr. Giorgio Andreoli, Director General of the European Payments Council (EPC).

An important topic was Moldova's progress in the process of joining the Single Euro Payments Area (SEPA) - the NBM submitted in January 2024 the application for integration in this system and received in August the confirmation from the EPC, a major step in European financial integration of Moldova. For the implementation of the decision, the NBM initiated a legislative and technical harmonization project, with the assistance of a Twinning project financed by the EU; the SEPA accession file has been completed, thus demonstrating Moldova's compliance with the SEPA criteria for non-European countries.

In addition to joining SEPA, the meetings underlined NBM's commitment to the application and transposition of essential European directives such as Basel III, PSD-2 and to the improvement of the IT infrastructure aimed at preventing and combating money laundering and terrorist financing (AML/CFT), as well as the permanent collaboration for strengthening the regulatory and supervisory framework of the financial sector. Also, in the context of an increased importance of the single European currency in the currency flows of our country's economy, the opportunity of the natural transition to the euro reference currency was mentioned - a benefit for the population and the business environment of the Republic of Moldova.

"These discussions reflect the NBM's commitment to maintain financial stability, thus strengthening the European path of the Republic of Moldova and underlining the vital role of the NBM in preparing the country for the accession to the European Union. By adopting EU rules, Moldova's banking sector will operate according to European rules, which will allow European investors to increase interest in the local banking market, increase competition in the sector, increase the quality of banking services and the security of transactions", concluded the Governor of the National Bank of Moldova.

The NBM delegation also includes the Director of the Department of Infrastructure, Payments and Supervision of Other Institutions, Victor Șușu and Aliona Străjescu, Director of the Department of International Relations and European Integration.