Council Decision (EU) 2026/710 of 16 March 2026 on the position to be adopted on behalf of the Union within the EU-Republic of Moldova 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, as regards the establishment of the Public Administration Reform Sub-Committee and the endorsement of the establishment of the Joint Consultative Committee between the Committee of the Regions of the European Union and the elected local authorities of the Republic of Moldova
Date: 2026-03-16
Institutions: Council of the European Union
Subjects: Association Council (EU), European Committee of the Regions, European territorial cooperation, Moldova, administrative reform, association agreement (EU), joint committee (EU), public administration, regional and local authorities, regional cooperation




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Official Journal of the European Union


EN
L series













2026/710


20.3.2026







            COUNCIL DECISION (EU) 2026/710
         
of 16 March 2026
         
on the position to be adopted on behalf of the Union within the EU-Republic of Moldova 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, as regards the establishment of the Public Administration Reform Sub-Committee and the endorsement of the establishment of the Joint Consultative Committee between the Committee of the Regions of the European Union and the elected local authorities of 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 in the Republic of Moldova, based on common values, including respect for good governance.












(3)


The Agreement sets out the aims of political dialogue, including strengthening respect for good governance, which is central to enhancing the relationship between the Parties.












(4)


Article 4 of the Agreement on cooperation on domestic reform requires the Parties to 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 requires the Parties to promote mutual understanding and bilateral cooperation in the field of regional policy, including 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, with the objective of establishing channels of communication and enhancing exchange of information between national, regional and local authorities, socioeconomic actors and civil society.












(7)


Article 140 of the Agreement allows the Republic of Moldova to participate in all agencies of the Union open to the participation of the Republic of Moldova in accordance with the relevant provisions establishing those agencies, whereby the Committee of the Regions is a Union advisory body.












(8)


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 that the Association Council may decide to set up any special committee or body in specific areas necessary for the implementation of the Agreement.












(10)


The Association Council is to adopt a decision setting up the Public Administration Reform Sub-Committee and endorsing the establishment of the Joint Consultative Committee between the Committee of the Regions of the European Union and the elected local authorities of the Republic of Moldova.





HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:



Article 1
The position to be adopted on the Union’s behalf within the Association Council shall be to support the creation of the Public Administration Reform Sub-Committee and the endorsement of the establishment of the Joint Consultative Committee between the Committee of the Regions of the European Union and the elected local authorities of the Republic of Moldova, and shall be based on the draft decision of the Association Council attached to this Decision.


Article 2
This Decision shall enter into force on the date of its adoption.




Done at Brussels, 16 March 2026.


For the Council


The President

K. KALLAS
            





(1)  
            OJ L 260, 30.8.2014, p. 4, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/agree_internation/2014/492/oj.





DRAFT
DECISION No …/2026 OF THE EU-REPUBLIC OF MOLDOVA ASSOCIATION COUNCIL
of …
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 Committee of the Regions of the European Union and the elected local authorities of 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,

Whereas:







(1)


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 dialogue and cooperation between local authorities in the 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,












(2)


The establishment of an Public Administration Reform Sub-Committee represents an important step forward in strengthening relations between the Union and the Republic of Moldova and enhancing their policy dialogue in this crucial area, and that the endorsement of the establishment a Consultative Committee between the Committee of the Regions of the European Union (the ‘Committee of the Regions’) and the elected local authorities of the Republic of Moldova (the ‘Joint Consultative Committee’) would strengthen direct dialogue between them,












(3)


The Public Administration Reform Sub-Committee should serve as a platform for strategic policy dialogue and should facilitate discussions and coordination on key reforms in the area of public administration and it will play a central role in monitoring of the PAR roadmap implementation and providing guidance to ensure alignment with Union standards and best practices; The Joint Consultative Committee would serve as a platform to share the Union 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 stable form of cooperation with the Moldovan local authorities and allowing them to have an active role by co-leading the Joint Consultative Committee and co-shaping its agenda, and issuing recommendations.












(4)


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.












(5)


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.












(6)


In order to allow for expert level discussions on the key areas falling within the scope of the application of the Agreement, the Public Administration Reform Sub-Committee and the Joint Consultative Committee should be established,





HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS:



Article 1

Public Administration Reform Sub-Committee


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


2.   The Rules of Procedure of the Association Committee and of Subcommittees, set out in Annex II to Decision No 1/2014 of 16 December 2014 of the EU-Republic of Moldova Association Council, shall apply, mutatis mutandis, to the Public Administration Reform Sub-Committee.


3.   The scope of the Public Administration Reform Sub-Committee may be changed by mutual agreement of the Parties.



Article 2

Joint Consultative Committee


1.   The establishment of the Joint Consultative Committee, 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 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 shall adopt its own Rules of Procedure.


4.   The Joint Consultative Committee may submit recommendations to the Association Council.


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







ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec/2026/710/oj
ISSN 1977-0677 (electronic edition)