EUROPEAN COMMISSION

Brussels, 15.12.2025

COM(2025) 756 final

2025/0389(NLE)

Proposal for a

COUNCIL DECISION

on the position to be taken on behalf of the European Union in the EU-Republic of Moldova Association Council as regards the establishment of the Public Administration Reform Sub-Committee under the Association Agreement between the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community and their Member States, of the one part, and the Republic of Moldova of the other part, and on the endorsement of the establishment of the Joint Consultative Committee between the European Committee of the Regions and the Republic of Moldova

2025/0389 (NLE)

Proposal for a

COUNCIL DECISION

on the position to be taken on behalf of the European Union in the EU-Republic of Moldova Association Council as regards the establishment of the Public Administration Reform Sub-Committee under the Association Agreement between the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community and their Member States, of the one part, and the Republic of Moldova of the other part, and on the endorsement of the establishment of the Joint Consultative Committee between the European Committee of the Regions and the Republic of Moldova

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and in particular Article 217, in conjunction with Article 218(9) thereof,

Having regard to the proposal from the European Commission,

Whereas:

(1)The Association Agreement between the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community and their Member States, of the one part, and the Republic of Moldova, of the other part 1 (‘the Agreement’) entered into force on 1 July 2016.

(2)The Preamble to the Agreement acknowledges the Parties’ commitment to advancing reforms and approximation processes forward in the Republic of Moldova, based on common values, namely including respect for good governance.

(3)Article 3 of the Agreement refers to the goal of political dialogue, which is to strengthen respect for good governance, central to enhancing the relationship between the Parties.

(4)Article 4 of the Agreement on cooperation on domestic reform, requests the Parties of the Agreement to cooperate in order to ensure that their internal policies are based on common principles, in particular stability and effectiveness of democratic institutions.

(5)Article 47 of the Agreement focuses on enhancing cooperation in the field of management of public finances ensuring the development of budget policy and sound systems of public internal control and external audit, aligned with the fundamental principles of accountability, transparency, economy, efficiency and effectiveness.

(6)Article 107 of the Agreement outlines the goal to promote mutual understanding and bilateral cooperation in the field of regional policy, on methods of formulation and implementation of regional policies, including multi-level governance and partnership, with special emphasis on the development of disadvantaged areas and territorial cooperation, hereby establishing channels of communication and enhancing exchange of information between national, regional and local authorities, socio-economic actors and civil society.

(7)Article 140 of the Agreement allows the Republic of Moldova to participate in EU agencies relevant to the implementation of the Agreement, whereby the European Committee of the Regions is an EU advisory body.

(8)Article 436 (1) of the Agreement empowers the Association Council to take decisions for the purpose of attaining the objectives of the Agreement.

(9)Article 439 (2) of the Agreement provides for the Association Council to establish any special committee or body in specific areas necessary for the implementation of the Agreement.

(10)The Association Council will decide on establishing the Public Administration Reform Sub-Committee and endorsing the establishment of the Joint Consultative Committee between the European Committee of the Regions and the Republic of Moldova.

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 1

The position to be taken on the Union's behalf in the Association Council established by the Association Agreement between the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community and their Member States, of the one part, and the Republic of Moldova, of the other part, will support the creation of the Public Administration Reform Sub-Committee and endorse the establishment of the Joint Consultative Committee between the European Committee of the Regions and the Republic of Moldova, and shall be based on the draft act of the EU Association Council with the Republic of Moldova attached to this Decision.

Article 2

This Decision is addressed to the Commission.

Done at Brussels,

(1)    OJ L 260, 30.8.2014, pp. 4–738

EUROPEAN COMMISSION

Brussels, 15.12.2025

COM(2025) 756 final

ANNEX

to the

Proposal for a Council Decision

on the position to be taken on behalf of the European Union in the EU-Republic of Moldova Association Council as regards the establishment of the Public Administration Reform Sub-Committee under the Association Agreement between the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community and their Member States, of the one part, and the Republic of Moldova of the other part, and on the endorsement of the establishment of the Joint Consultative Committee between the European Committee of the Regions and the Republic of Moldova

LEGISLATIVE ACTS AND OTHER INSTRUMENTS    

DECISION No X/2025

OF THE EU-REPUBLIC OF MOLDOVA ASSOCIATION COUNCIL

of … [date]

as regards the establishment of the Public Administration Reform Sub-Committee under the Association Agreement between the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community and their Member States, of the one part, and the Republic of Moldova of the other part, and the endorsement of the establishment of the Joint Consultative Committee between the European Committee of the Regions and the Republic of Moldova

THE EU-REPUBLIC OF MOLDOVA ASSOCIATION COUNCIL,

Having regard to the Association Agreement between the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community and their Member States, of the one part, and the Republic of Moldova, of the other part (‘the Agreement’), and in particular Article 436 in conjunction with Article 439 thereof,

RECOGNISING that Public Administration Reform (PAR) is a fundamental pillar of the enlargement process, and strengthening capacities of the public institutions will be crucial for the Republic of Moldova to advance on its EU integration path, and that dialogue and cooperation between local authorities in the European Union and those in the Republic of Moldova may provide an integral contribution to the development of their relations and to the integration of the Republic of Moldova into the Union,

ACKNOWLEDGING that the establishment of an annual PAR Sub-Committee represents an important step forward in strengthening EU and the Republic of Moldova relations and enhancing policy dialogue in this crucial area, and that the endorsement of the establishment of the Joint Consultative Committee (JCC) between the European Committee of the Regions and the elected local authorities of the Republic of Moldova would strengthen direct dialogue between them,

NOTING that the PAR Sub-Committee will serve as a platform for strategic policy dialogue and will facilitate discussions and coordination on key reforms in the area of public administration and that it will play a central role in monitoring of the PAR roadmap implementation and providing guidance to ensure alignment with European standards and best practices; and that the JCC would serve as a platform to share the EU best practices on local and regional governance and matters linked to the implementation of the Association Agreement at the territorial level, thus providing a consistent and a stable form of cooperation with the Moldovan local authorities and allowing them to have an active role by co-leading the JCC and co-shaping its agenda, and issuing recommendations.

Whereas:

(1)Pursuant to Article 436 of the Agreement, the Association Council has the power to take decisions for the purpose of attaining the objectives of the Agreement.

(2)Pursuant to Article 439 (2) of the Agreement, the Association Council may decide to set up any special committee or body in specific areas necessary for the implementation of this Agreement, and shall determine the composition, duties and functioning of such bodies.

(3)In order to allow for expert level discussions on the key areas falling within the scope of the application of the Agreement, the PAR Sub-Committee and the JCC should be established.

HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS:

Article 1

Public Administration Reform Sub-Committee

1.The Public Administration Reform Sub-Committee is hereby established.

2.The Rules of Procedure of the Public Administration Reform Sub-Committee shall be governed and applied mutatis mutandis in accordance with Article 16 of the Rules of Procedure of the Association Committee set out in Annex II to Decision No 1/2014 of 16 December 2014 of the EU-Republic of Moldova Association Council.  

3.The scope of the established Public Administration Reform Sub-Committee may, upon mutual agreement of the Parties, be amended or otherwise modified.

Article 2

Joint Consultative Committee

1.The establishment of the Joint Consultative Committee between the European Committee of the Regions and the Republic of Moldova, comprised by an equal number of representatives of the Committee of the Regions, on the one hand, and elected representatives of local authorities of the Republic of Moldova, on the other hand, is hereby endorsed.

2.The Joint Consultative Committee with the Republic of Moldova shall, on its own initiative, carry out its activities with a view to promoting dialogue and fostering cooperation between local authorities.

3.The Joint Consultative Committee with the Republic of Moldova shall adopt its own Rules of Procedure.

4.The Joint Consultative Committee with the Republic of Moldova may submit recommendations to the Association Council.

5.Expenditure related to meetings of the Joint Consultative Committee with the Republic of Moldova, including organizational arrangement, participation of their delegates and support staff, as well as, travel and subsistence expenses, shall be borne by the European Committee of the Regions and by the Government of the Republic of Moldova.

Article 3

This Decision shall enter into force on the date of its adoption.

Done at …,

For the Association Council

The Chair