The key facts

  • Moldova plans to join the latest EU sanctions package against Russia and Belarus, achieving 100% compliance.
  • Minister Popsoi noted the absence of technical obstacles but warned of possible economic consequences for trading companies.
  • EU accession requires Chisinau not only to adopt sanctions but also to change its visa policy, which may affect citizens of Russia and Belarus.

Full alignment with the EU sanctions regime

Moldova intends to complete the process of integration into the European Union's sanctions policy, by joining the last remaining package of restrictions against Russia and Belarus. Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of the republic Mihai Popsoi stated at a conference in Chisinau that the country already applies 91% of the European restrictive measures. The remaining step concerns the sectoral sanctions imposed by the European Union back in 2014, which the authorities call a

Implementation mechanisms and economic risks

According to the minister, from a technical standpoint there are no obstacles to immediately joining the remaining measures, and the relevant agencies are already working out the necessary mechanisms. However, Popsoi acknowledged that the introduction of new restrictions may entail economic consequences, especially for companies that maintain trade ties with Russia and Belarus. To minimize the damage, a special government commission will be created, which, after assessing the consequences, will propose support measures for affected businesses.

The visa issue as part of European integration

Full accession to the sanctions is one of Chisinau's key commitments in the process of joining the European Union. The second important condition mentioned in the context of integration is bringing the country's visa policy into line with the union's standards. This change may imply introducing a visa regime for citizens of Russia and Belarus, which has already previously drawn a reaction from the Russian State Duma.