On 12 February 2026, the Governor of the National Bank of Moldova, Ms. Anca Dragu, had a bilateral meeting with Mr. Gert Jan Koopman, Director-General of the Directorate-General for Enlargement and Eastern Neighbourhood (DG ENEST) of the European Commission.
The discussion took place in Brussels, where Ms. Dragu is set to attend the international conference "2025: end of an era? And now?", organised by the National Bank of Belgium on 13 February 2026.
The dialogue primarily focused on Moldova's accession to the Single Euro Payments Area (SEPA), the implementation of European Commission recommendations in the context of preparation for European Union (EU) accession, alignment of national legislation with EU laws and international standards, as well as the macroeconomic developments and future prospects of Moldova's financial system.
During the meeting, Ms. Anca Dragu praised the fruitful cooperation with the European Commission in the accession process and participation in SEPA, highlighting the immediate, direct, and tangible economic impact of SEPA payments for citizens and businesses.
"The European Union is about people and for people. In this spirit, the Republic of Moldova is aligning with European standards, implementing reforms, and accelerating the integration processes, so that citizens and the business environment directly benefit from these changes. We are already seeing the real impact of European financial integration – more accessible services, lower costs, and a more dynamic financial market. In just three months, SEPA has transformed the payments market in the Republic of Moldova, achieving a clear dominance: seven out of ten euro transfers are now processed through this system rather than SWIFT. This is a remarkable result, reflected in a reduction of costs by over 90%, generating savings of millions of euros for the national economy and direct benefits for the people and the economy of the Republic of Moldova," emphasised the NBM Governor.
In this context, Ms. Anca Dragu stressed the importance of enhancing cooperation in Moldova's European integration process, as well as the opportunities for technical assistance offered by the EU. Additionally, topics concerning the evaluation of the equivalence of Moldova's banking prudential framework with that of the European Union were discussed, in line with the methodology of the European Banking Authority.
The Directorate-General for Neighbourhood and Enlargement (DG NEAR) of the European Commission is responsible for developing and implementing EU policies in the areas of EU enlargement and neighbourhood policy. It provides support to candidate countries in the accession process, monitors their progress, and supports the promotion of reforms.
