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The EUAA and the Republic of Moldova have signed their first Roadmap for Cooperation, establishing a three-year framework to strengthen Moldova’s asylum and reception systems and support its alignment with the Common European Asylum System and EU standards.

The Roadmap was signed by EUAA Executive Director Nina Gregori and Daniella Misail-Nichitin, Minister of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Moldova, during a bilateral meeting held on 28 September in the margins of the EUAA State of Asylum Conference 2026 in Malta in the presence of the European Commission and Vice President Antonella Sberna of European Parliament. 

The Roadmap provides a common strategic and operational framework for cooperation, responding to Moldova’s identified needs and priorities while taking into account its EU accession process, developments in the EU asylum framework and the implementation of the Pact on Migration and Asylum. 

Cooperation will focus on three broad areas: supporting Moldova’s continued alignment with the Common European Asylum System, strengthening the capacity and quality of the asylum procedure, and further developing the reception system. 

Activities under the Roadmap will include support on asylum legislation and policies, asylum-related data and statistics, training, contingency planning and crisis preparedness, as well as access to the asylum procedure and the quality and consistency of asylum decisions. The cooperation will also cover Country Guidance, Country of Origin Information, interpretation, quality assurance and exchanges involving judges working on international protection cases. 

The Roadmap also places a strong focus on strengthening reception systems in line with EU standards, including reception conditions, centre management and procedures, as well as the identification and referral of applicants with special needs and vulnerable groups. 

A key element of the cooperation will be strengthening national ownership and sustainable capacity. EUAA support will include exchanges with EU Member States, study visits and access to the European Asylum Curriculum, while supporting Moldova in developing procedures, guidance, training and quality mechanisms that can be maintained within the national system. 

The cooperation takes place in the context of Moldova’s ongoing EU accession process, with migration and asylum falling under Chapter 24 of the EU acquis on Justice, Freedom and Security. The European Commission has identified further alignment of Moldova’s asylum legislation and strengthening of institutional capacity as areas for continued work.