The First Deputy Governor of the National Bank of Moldova (NBM), Petru Rotaru, participated in the opening of the workshop "Aligning Moldova's AML/CFT framework to EU standards", organised on 23 June 2025. The event took place within the framework of the Partnership for Good Governance programme of the European Union and the Council of Europe, which aims to support the Eastern Partnership countries in preventing and combating economic crime at national and regional levels.

The workshop brought together representatives of the National Bank of Moldova and the Service for the Prevention and Combating of Money Laundering. It was designed as a practical platform for strengthening institutional capacities in the fight against money laundering and terrorist financing, as well as for improving the processes of identifying and recovering assets derived from criminal activities.

In his speech, the First Deputy Governor Petru Rotaru emphasised the importance of international cooperation and European assistance in the process of aligning the national framework to EU standards and regulations:

"The continued support of European partners is a key element in the Republic of Moldova's alignment process with the EU acquis. By enhancing the capacities of our institutions and with the assistance of international partners, the Republic of Moldova can uphold its firm commitment to adopt the best European practices, effectively implementing the framework for combating money laundering and terrorist financing", emphasised the First Deputy Governor of the NBM.

The recent provisions of the EU legislative package in the field - Directive (EU) 2024/1640 and Regulation (EU) 2024/1624 - were among the central topics of the discussions. Participants analysed the areas where national legislation needs to be strengthened in order to fully meet European standards.

In this context, Mr. Petru Rotaru mentioned the progress made by the Republic of Moldova in aligning with international financial integrity standards, as confirmed by the Republic of Moldova’s acceptance into the European SEPA payments system, as well as by the new report of the MONEYVAL Committee of the Council of Europe, which reveals significant improvements in the prevention of money laundering and terrorist financing.

"The Directive includes essential elements related to beneficial ownership reporting and collaboration between institutions. By consolidating our efforts, we have demonstrated that we can successfully exchange experience, and the National Bank of Moldova remains deeply committed to improving the legal framework", the NBM official highlighted.

The workshop was also geared towards developing the technical expertise of institutions in the Republic of Moldova in the field of AML/CFT, while supporting the country's efforts to advance along the path of European integration and to ensure a safe, transparent, and compliant financial environment in line with international standards.