NEWSLETTER President of R e p u b l i c o f Moldova, Maia Sandu, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, and European Council President Antonio Costa at the EU–Moldova Forum on July 4, 2025, in Chi s in a u. Ju l y 2025 The Moldova-EU summit: between political PR and achievements Topics of the edition: 1. Cătălin Done, deputy­director, ESGA: In this election campaign, representatives of state institutions should come up with a revised social contract between the state and the citizens 2. Natalia Stercul, executive director of APE: The Moldova-EU Summit as a political barometer or catalyst for the European path 3. Mădălin Necșuțu, journalist, TVR Moldova: Why the European path needs more substance and less political PR 4. Mihai Mogîldea, deputy director, IPRE: There is complete openness on the part of the European Union states to support our path towards EU accession M oldova is taking concrete steps towards the European Union, but there are several obstacles to overcome before the country can achieve its goal of joining the bloc. The autumn parliamentary elections are a decisive turning point for the country’s European future. Not only is a victory for pro-European forces needed, but also a credible alliance to carry this goal forward. The EU-Republic of Moldova summit on 4 July was intended to be a political signal from the EU that Brussels stands with the pro­European parties. Even if it did not live up to the scale of the 2023 European Political Community summit, the event brought the top two EU leaders – European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Antonio Costa – to Chișinău. They came to Chișinău not only to show political support for President Maia Sandu and the pro­European government in Chișinău, but also to bring with them the first tranche of EUR 270 million from the total financial support package of EUR 1.9 billion. This capital injection is equivalent to about 10% of Moldova’s current GDP, and if spent strategically, the European money could generate more prosperity through the construction of hospitals, roads, schools and other infrastructure that Moldova so badly needs to raise living standards. It is important that the money is not wasted on immediate populist and electoral measures, but is invested in medium- and long-term projects that will generate added value for the economy and improve citizens’ living standards. Mădălin Necșuțu Foreign Policy Association together with Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung offer you a newsletter on foreign policy and European integration issues of the Republic of Moldova. The newsletter is part of the“Foreign Policy Dialogue” joint Project. Monthly newsletter, No. 7(23 3), Ju l y 2025 1