On Tuesday 2 June in Brussels, the European Commission and Republic of Moldova reiterated their commitment to strengthening collaboration in the areas of education, employment and social and child policies, on the occasion of the second High-Level Dialogue on Labour, Skills, Education, Social and Child Policies, between Executive Vice-President for Social Rights and Skills, Quality Jobs and Preparedness Roxana Mînzatu, and Moldovan Minister of Labour and Social Protection Natalia Plugaru, and Minister of Education and Research Dan Perciun.
The EU is currently supporting Moldova in the areas of employment, social policies and education through the Neighbourhood, Development and International Cooperation Instrument (NDICI), with more than €27 million allocated to projects linked to these policies, according to a press release.
This support includes, in particular, improving school curricula, helping women and young people into work, and improving primary healthcare services.
“Today, we reviewed the progress that Moldova has achieved on its European path with, of course, a particular focus on education, skills, employment, social inclusion. I am very pleased to note the very good progress that Moldova has made under Chapter 26, education and culture,” the Executive Vice-President commented.
Since 2021, Moldova and its population have benefited from more than €16 million through Erasmus+. More than 5,000 Moldovans have taken part in learning mobility and capacity-building programmes, and 53 capacity-building projects have involved Moldovan organisations. “I know Moldova is not yet an Erasmus+ associated country, but it is moving ever closer towards this objective”.
She also welcomed “Moldova’s efforts to improve the quality of jobs while advancing Moldova’s accession process. A significant milestone has been reached and we discussed it: the adoption, on 25 December last year, of the law reforming labour inspection in Moldova. And strong labour institutions are backbone of our work to protect workers and essential to Moldova’s European pathways”.
“Today’s dialogue confirms a deep conviction: there is no competitiveness without quality jobs. Investing in human capital is not an expense, but the soundest investment a country can make,” Natalia Plugaru commented in turn.
“Moldova is ready to fully assume its role as a Member State, and we are already at work”. The country is also aligning itself with the EU roadmap for quality jobs, “and an adequate minimum wage will be examined by our Parliament this month. The Pay Transparency Directive is being drafted, because equal pay for women and men is a matter of fairness, not a mere formality”.
In 2025, Moldova became the first candidate country to sign a partnership with the European Labour Authority, the minister also added. (Original version in French by Solenn Paulic)