Moldovan president, EU Commissioner discuss strengthening culture sector, sport's development with European support

President Maia Sandu today received European Commissioner for Intergenerational Fairness, Youth, Culture and Sport Glenn Micallef. The official's visit comes in the context of the signing of the Agreement on Accession to the Creative Europe programme, which will allow artists and organizations of Moldova to access European funding, partnerships and projects starting from January 1, 2026.

During the discussion, the officials addressed the essential role of culture and sport in strengthening democratic resilience, through promoting social cohesion and the fundamental values of peace, freedom and democracy.

The cultural sector of Moldova has undergone significant transformations in recent years – from establishing the National Cultural Fund and increasing employees’ incomes to renovating a significant number of cultural institutions through the European Village programme and opportunities within the Access to Culture 2025 National Programme. President Maia Sandu emphasized that cultural development also supported promotion of tourism, valorizing Moldova's heritage and traditions and bringing benefits to the national economy.

The head of state also reviewed the investments from the last four years, aimed at promoting sport as a national priority, through renovating infrastructure and increasing scholarships for performance sportspeople. Commissioner Micallef, for his part, highlighted that the advancement on the European path would bring new development prospects for this sector.

The discussions reaffirmed the shared determination of Moldova and the European Union to invest in people, culture, traditions and sports performance, benefiting the citizens and the European future of the country.