EU disburses $175M to Moldova as sides reaffirm path toward bloc membership

The European Union and Moldova reaffirmed their "strong partnership and shared commitment" to Moldova's EU accession on Monday, as the bloc announced the disbursement of €157 million ($175 million) funding to Chisinau.

The announcement came during the 10th meeting of the EU-Moldova Association Council in Brussels, where the two sides reiterated that Moldova's future is firmly anchored in the European Union, according to a statement.

The European Commission said the latest payment followed Moldova's "successful" completion of 18 reforms during the most recent reporting period.

The disbursement brings the total amount of performance-based EU financing paid to Moldova under the EU Growth Plan Facility to around €661 million.

During the meeting, the EU and Moldova also "strongly" condemned what they described as "increasingly frequent violations of Moldovan airspace by Russian drones and missiles."

The two sides said such incidents pose "a serious risk to the safety of Moldova's population."

The EU reaffirmed its "unwavering support" for Moldova's independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity within its internationally recognized borders.