INSIDE MOLDOVA EU signals further support for Moldova | Government launches new infrastructure agency | Airport concession case advances | FlyOne faces scrutiny over ownership and expansion

Moldova’s European integration agenda remained in focus this week, as EU officials signaled readiness to provide additional support for the country’s security and the European Commission announced plans for roadmaps for candidate countries making rapid progress. Moldova also secured a €4.32 million grant to strengthen the National Army, while the U.S. ambassador-designate to Moldova was sworn in.

At home, the government launched a new institution tasked with implementing strategic infrastructure projects, while the National Bank raised its key policy rate to 9% amid mounting inflationary pressures. In the justice sector, prosecutors requested six-year prison sentences for former prime minister Iurie Leancă and other defendants in the Airport concession case, while two former Criuleni district officials received prison sentences in a case involving European funds. Separately, an investigation examined FlyOne’s rapid international expansion and its ongoing dispute with Moldovan authorities over the company’s ownership structure.

EU signals additional support for Moldova as Brussels prepares new accession roadmaps

The European Union is prepared to provide Moldova with additional support for protecting its citizens and strengthening national security, including through European funding, should the authorities in Chișinău request it. Romanian MEP Siegfried Mureșan, the European Parliament’s rapporteur for the EU’s 2028–2034 multiannual budget, said the EU has maintained since the beginning of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine that it is ready to support Moldova in whatever way the country considers necessary to protect its citizens. On Thursday, August 17, Mureșan was designated Prime Minister of the Romanian state by the President of Romania, Nicușor Dan.

Separately, the European Integration Bureau welcomed European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen’s announcement that the Commission would prepare roadmaps for candidate countries advancing rapidly toward EU membership. The roadmaps are expected to establish clear priorities, deadlines and concrete reform targets, providing greater clarity on the next stages of the accession process without predetermining either the date of accession or the pace of negotiations.

Von der Leyen said Moldova and Ukraine had made progress toward EU membership alongside Western Balkan candidate countries. The European Integration Bureau described the initiative as an important political signal that the reform efforts of advancing candidate countries are being recognized.

Police said fragments that could have come from a drone were discovered on land near Colonița, in Chișinău municipality. The discovery followed checks carried out after a powerful explosion was reported southwest of the village, in the direction of Tohatin.

New U.S. ambassador prepares to take office

U.S. ambassador-designate Joseph Mark Burkhalter was sworn in before U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio. The U.S. Senate confirmed Burkhalter as ambassador to Moldova on August 8. The post had been without a permanent ambassador since Kent Logsdon completed his mandate in Chișinău in June 2024.

Meanwhile, Moldova will receive a €4.32 million grant to strengthen the capabilities of the National Army. The government approved the signing of an agreement between the Ministry of Defense and the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR).

The funding will be used to purchase equipment and technology for the National Army, including resources for responding to crises and natural disasters. Authorities say the project will modernize the army’s logistical and operational capabilities and improve its emergency-response capacity.

Government launches new infrastructure agency

Prime Minister Vasile Tofan announced the creation of the National Office for Infrastructure Development “Moldova – Proiect,” a new institution intended to serve as a single structure for implementing the government’s strategic projects. The government will propose Mircea Eșanu, currently director of the Public Services Agency, to head the institution. Tofan said the new structure is intended to accelerate the implementation of major infrastructure projects.

Meanwhile, Energy Minister Dorin Junghietu said another increase in natural gas tariffs was “very likely” because of European gas prices and continued market volatility. The regulated tariff already increased on September 1 from 14.42 lei to 20.3 lei per cubic meter. According to the minister, the potential size of another adjustment should become clearer after Energocom reports its average gas purchase price for September.

The government also launched the “STOP-DROG” platform through the Ministry of Education and Research, Ministry of Internal Affairs and General Police Inspectorate. The platform allows members of the public, including students, to anonymously report drug-related risks without creating an account or providing personal information.

Parliamentary commission identifies irregularities at state-owned enterprises

The parliamentary commission investigating the management of several state-owned enterprises said its findings point to excessive remuneration and bonuses, unregistered or poorly managed state property and procurement conducted without tenders or under questionable circumstances.

Commission chairman Dinu Plîngău said lawmakers intend to propose legislative changes concerning asset declarations by managers, an inventory of state property and the liquidation of enterprises that exist only on paper. The commission was established in July following a ZdG investigation into the head of MoldATSA, and Parliament extended its activity by another 30 days on September 3.

The National Bank of Moldova increased its key policy rate by 1.5 percentage points to 9% annually, maintaining a restrictive monetary policy amid what it described as intensifying domestic and external inflationary pressures and geopolitical uncertainty.

Expert-Grup executive director Adrian Lupușor said higher financing costs would particularly affect the state budget, which relies heavily on bank borrowing to finance its growing deficit, as well as individuals and businesses with existing or planned loans. He said the effect on the credit market could nevertheless be more limited because Moldovan banks continue to have substantial liquidity.

Prosecutors seek prison sentences in Airport concession case 

Prosecutors requested a six-year prison sentence for former prime minister Iurie Leancă in the criminal case concerning the 2013 concession of Chișinău International Airport. Similar sentences were requested for several other defendants, including former Economy Minister Valeriu Lazăr, former Public Property Agency head Tudor Copaci and former MP and airport director Petru Jardan.

Prosecutors allege that the airport was concessioned in the interests of a “criminal organization” and that the defendants reduced the share of revenue that was supposed to reach the state budget from 8% to 1%. They also allege that the tender was simulated, causing financial damage to the state.

In a separate case, a first-instance court sentenced former Criuleni District Council president Vitalie Rotaru to nine years in prison and former vice-president Sergiu Ceauș to eight years. The court also ordered the recovery of 798,300 lei described as illicit proceeds and imposed fines totaling 850,000 lei.

According to the Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office, the case concerned the alleged diversion of European funds. Prosecutors said Rotaru extorted approximately €50,000 from the de facto manager of two EU-funded projects in exchange for facilitating the transfer of around 2.67 million lei representing the local authority’s contribution to the projects.

FlyOne’s international expansion comes under scrutiny amid ownership dispute with the state

A ZdG investigation examined how FlyOne expanded over the past decade from a Moldovan airline into an international group with operations in several countries. According to the investigation, the company’s beneficiaries valued the business at approximately €1 billion in litigation with the Moldovan state.

In Armenia, FlyOne’s Moldovan shareholders partnered with a locally influential family connected to Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s governing party, while the airline has operated flights using the Armenian government aircraft and became one of the country’s major taxpayers. In Romania, FlyOne reported a 41% increase in revenue in 2025, reaching more than 268 million Romanian lei. In Uzbekistan, its shareholders partnered with two local businessmen in a company reporting share capital exceeding 23 million Moldovan lei.

The expansion comes as FlyOne remains in a dispute with Moldovan authorities over its ownership. The Council for the Examination of Investments of Importance to State Security extended by another 60 days the deadline for implementing a change-of-control requirement concerning Fly One SRL. The Council said founders identified in an Intelligence and Security Service order as persons affiliated with Vladimir Plahotniuc cannot conduct investment activities in sectors related to state security. FlyOne board chairman Vladimir Cebotari denies that Plahotniuc was involved in the company or that political connections contributed to its expansion.