Moldova, Croatia to cooperate more actively on European, economic, regional agenda

The strengthening of the Moldovan-Croatian partnership, regional cooperation and the use of Croatia’s experience in the European integration process have been the main topics of a meeting between Prime Minister Alexandru Munteanu and his Croatian counterpart Andrej Plenković in Dubrovnik.

The central subject of the discussions was the cooperation on the European agenda, including through the exchange of expertise in transposing the EU acquis, managing accession negotiations and strengthening institutional capacities.

Prime Minister Alexandru Munteanu thanked Croatia for its constant support to Moldova, both through political backing and expertise. “Croatia is an important partner for Moldova and a relevant example of European transformation. We want to build on this experience in our process of modernization and preparation for EU accession,” said Prime Minister Munteanu.

The officials also discussed the role of the Three Seas Initiative in developing regional connectivity projects in the fields of energy, transport and digitalization. The PM emphasized that recent challenges in the energy sector confirmed the need for increased investments in resilient infrastructure and secure regional connections.

As for the economic dimension, the sides analyzed opportunities to diversify trade, increase Moldovan exports and attract Croatian investments. The officials also discussed the possibility of organizing a Moldovan-Croatian Business Forum.

The dialogue also covered development cooperation projects supported by Croatia in Moldova, as well as bilateral collaboration in education, science, innovation, social security, energy and infrastructure. Croatia committed to allocate 600,000 euros for the period 2025–2027, through the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), to support children, families and refugees. Ongoing projects include initiatives on energy efficiency, education and digital skills, targeting vulnerable and rural communities.

At the end of the meeting, Prime Minister Alexandru Munteanu reiterated the invitation extended to his Croatian counterpart to pay a visit to Moldova and highlighted the government’s interest in maintaining an active political dialogue with Croatia.