The European Union delegation states that, if these transfers had been made through the SWIFT system, the total costs would have reached approximately 12.5 million euros. Through SEPA, the fees amounted to only 917 thousand euros, and the average cost of a transaction dropped from a minimum of 20 euros to 1.11 euros.

Out of the total transactions, about 75% – approximately 625.2 thousand – were incoming transfers. Of these, nearly 516.8 thousand were made to individuals, with a cumulative value of over 533.4 million euros. The money mainly represented remittances, salaries and financial support from relatives abroad.

Companies have primarily used SEPA for international payments and settling imports. They have made approximately 126.8 thousand external transfers, amounting to a total value of 3.3 billion euros.

The EU delegation emphasizes that the significant reduction in transfer costs contributes to increasing the competitiveness of Moldovan companies in the European market and demonstrates the concrete economic benefits of integrating the Republic of Moldova into the European payments area.

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According to the NBM, during the meeting with the Governor of the Central Bank of Austria, Martin Georg Kocher, the two parties discussed strengthening bilateral cooperation, macroeconomic stability, the development of modern payment infrastructure and deepening collaboration within international platforms.

On the other hand, during a meeting with the executive director of the Austrian Financial Market Authority, Mariana Kühnel, discussions focused on cooperation in the field of banking supervision and the insurance sector, as well as on the exchange of experience in the process of aligning national legislation with EU standards.

Another topic was related to the modernization of the insurance market and the implementation of the principles of the European Solvency II Directive. According to the BNM, the parties agreed on the importance of exchanging experiences between supervisory authorities and strengthening institutional dialogue in areas of common interest.

At the same time, Anca Dragu appreciated the support offered by the Central Bank of Austria for the activities of the Joint Vienna Institute, a regional training center that contributes to the strengthening of the institutional capacities of central banks and public authorities in the region.

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Mariana Rufa mentioned that the results are already visible: the share of Moldovan exports to the EU market has increased from about 35% in 2014 to approximately 66% at present, against the backdrop of legislative harmonization and company investments. According to her, the companies that have adapted to European requirements have invested in modernization, human resources, and quality standards, which has allowed them to expand into the European market.

A relevant example is the viticulture sector, which has increased its competitiveness after the removal of export restrictions on the EU market. Also, in recent years, Moldova has begun exporting poultry meat to the European market, as a result of investments in compliance with food safety standards and the strengthening of institutional capacities.

“Entrepreneurs understand the opportunities and realize that it is much more interesting for them to sell to a market of 450 million consumers than to a market of 2.4 million consumers,” mentioned Anca Dragu.

Another major advantage for companies is the country’s adherence to the SEPA European payment system. According to the National Bank, the reduction in euro transfer costs has generated savings of around 8.8 million euros in the first months of operation, amounts that have remained at the disposal of companies and citizens.

In parallel, BNM continues to assess the alignment of the legislative and banking supervision framework with EU standards. Gaining recognition from the European Banking Authority could boost the confidence of foreign investors and facilitate access to European capital on the Moldovan market.

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In her intervention, Anca Dragu spoke about the modernization of the financial sector in the Republic of Moldova and its alignment with European standards. According to the governor, the process is supported, among other things, by integration into the Single Euro Payments Area, the development of the MIA instant payment system, and the strengthening of financial supervision.

The Governor of the BNM emphasized that professional dialogue and cooperation with institutions in Romania contribute to strengthening the position of the Republic of Moldova in the European financial space. She mentioned that alignment with EU legislation and practices remains one of the institution’s priorities.

The conference included discussions about developments in the banking system, the capital market, and consumer behavior for financial products. The event is part of the series of conferences organized within the “Bucharest Leaders’ Summit: United for a Better World”, which brings together representatives of public institutions, the economic and academic environment from various fields of activity.

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On the agenda of the discussions was also the recognition of the equivalence of the prudential banking framework of the Republic of Moldova with that of the EU. Another topic was the impact on the economy of the process of operational connection to the Single Euro Payments Area (SEPA).

“In recent years, we have made decisive progress in modernizing our payment infrastructure and adopting digital transformation, guided by a clear objective: building an inclusive, interoperable financial system that aligns with European standards,” declared Governor Anca Dragu.

During the meeting, the implementation status of the Reform Agenda related to the Growth Plan for the Republic of Moldova was analyzed, and discussions were held on the developments in aligning the national regulatory and supervisory framework in the financial field with EU legislation.

The annual economic and financial dialogue of the EU with regional partners is a high-level meeting organized by the Economic and Financial Affairs Council (ECOFIN) in Brussels. The main purpose is to guide candidate and potential candidate countries in preparation for EU accession.

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The head of BNM mentioned that integration into SEPA has significantly reduced the costs of euro transfers and brought significant savings for citizens and companies. According to her, over 70% of cross-border euro payments are already processed through this system. At the same time, Anca Dragu highlighted the impact of the MIA Instant Payments system, used by every second bank account holder in Moldova.

In her speech, the BNM governor also discussed the results of monetary policy, which allowed the return of inflation to the target range of 5% at the beginning of 2026. According to her, this evolution, supported by structural reforms, contributed to strengthening external confidence in Moldova, including through the appreciation of the country’s sovereign rating by three steps in the last two years.

In the end, Anca Dragu noted that the cooperation between Moldova and Romania is measured in implemented reforms, in consolidated institutional capacity, and in real benefits for people and companies. “It is a partnership that helps us build stronger institutions and bring the Republic of Moldova closer to the standards of the European Union,” emphasized the governor of the BNM.

“Bucharest Leaders’ Summit: United for a Better World” brought together representatives of public institutions, the economic, academic, and diplomatic environment, and is dedicated to international cooperation and solutions for sustainable development.

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During the discussions, the BNM Governor also mentioned that the launch of technical negotiations on the accession of the Republic of Moldova to the European Union for all six groups of chapters confirms the progress made by the country in the European integration process.

Anca Dragu also emphasized that the upgrade of Moldova’s sovereign rating by Moody’s agency, from B3 to B2, while maintaining a stable outlook, represents the best level achieved by the country in the last 25 years. According to the governor, this decision sends a positive signal to investors and facilitates access to external financing under more advantageous conditions.

Referring to economic developments, Dragu stated that economic prospects remain sensitive to external shocks, and the BNM closely monitors inflationary developments and, if necessary, will intervene with appropriate monetary policy decisions to maintain price stability.

The meeting took place within the framework of the World Bank and IMF spring meetings, which are held in Washington from April 13 to 18.

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According to BNM, in less than a year since its acceptance and just a few months after operational interconnection, SEPA has become the main channel for cross-border euro payments of the Republic of Moldova, radically changing the way money flows to and from Europe.

The transfers made to European standards, available from October 6, have already generated concrete benefits for citizens, the diaspora, and the business environment, confirming the rapid adoption of the new payment infrastructure.

BNM specifies that, to date, over 377 thousand transfers have been made through SEPA. If these operations had been carried out through the traditional SWIFT system, the total costs would have reached approximately 6.6 million euros, compared to just 474 thousand euros through SEPA.

The Governor of the NBM, Anca Dragu, stated that integration into SEPA confirms the Republic of Moldova’s ability to adopt European financial standards and contributes to strengthening economic ties with the European Union. “Every saved euro turns into a resource for education, for the well-being of families, or for the capitalization of a local business”, mentioned the Governor of the NBM.

At present, approximately 81% of euro transfers made by Moldovans are processed through SEPA, compared to 73% in the first months of operation. Also, the business environment actively uses the system for commercial transactions, with companies making imports of over 1.7 billion euros through SEPA.

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The EU delegation in Chisinau specifies that, during this period, approximately 2.6 billion euros have circulated through SEPA, including personal transfers and business payments. At the same time, over 71% of all international transfers were made through this payment system.

SEPA brings together 41 European states and allows for quick, secure, and low-cost euro transfers. According to the EU Delegation, the accession of the Republic of Moldova, accomplished in October 2025, represents a significant step in the country’s European integration process.

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According to the head of the BNM, the Republic of Moldova delivers concrete results for investors.

During the panel “Success Stories – AIR on both banks of the Prut”, Anca Dragu emphasized the impact of the MIA instant payment system. “MIA is today the most modern instant payment system in the region, with over 800 thousand users. For investors, this ecosystem means immediate liquidity and lower operational costs,” specified the BNM governor.

The BNM Governor stated that Moldova remains open to European capital and good practices. Also, Anca Dragu mentioned progress in liberalizing foreign exchange operations, developing the capital market, and facilitating access for foreign investors.

The event was attended by the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economic Development and Digitalization, Eugen Osmochescu, the Minister of Energy, Dorin Junghietu, and the Minister of Economy from Bucharest, Irineu Darau.

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