CHIȘINĂU – The Republic of Moldova took another step towards safer, modern and better regulated rail transport with the presentation of five new practical documents prepared for its Railway Agency.
The Presentation Workshop, held on 7 May 2026 in Chișinău, was opened by Mr Mircea Păscăluță, State Secretary of the Ministry of Infrastructure and Regional Development, together with representatives of the Permanent Secretariat of the Transport Community and Moldova’s Railway Agency.
The workshop presented the final five deliverables prepared under the project “Technical Assistance to Support Moldova in the Implementation of the EU Rail Transport Acquis”. In simple terms, these documents are practical tools that will help the Railway Agency carry out its daily work in line with EU rail rules and standards.
Experts presented guides covering issuing licences for railway undertakings, issuing safety certificates for railway undertakings, issuing safety authorisations for railway infrastructure managers, preparing supervision strategies and plans, and carrying out railway safety audits.
These documents will support the Railway Agency in applying Moldova’s legislation on railway safety and licensing, which is being aligned with relevant EU requirements.
As Moldova’s Railway Agency was established in 2023 and is still developing its full operational capacity, this support comes at an important moment. It will help the Agency prepare for its future responsibilities, including issuing licences, safety certificates and safety authorisations in a clear, consistent and transparent way.
These steps are also important for the gradual opening of Moldova’s railway market. A well-functioning railway market requires strong institutions, clear rules and reliable safety procedures. This is equally important for operators, passengers, businesses and the wider economy.
Improving railway safety remains one of the key priorities in rail transport. After the new documents are formally introduced, the Railway Agency will also need to put in place effective supervision plans and carry out audits to make sure that railway companies and infrastructure managers follow the required safety standards.
The workshop also offered participants the opportunity to learn from practical experience in railway safety regulation and sector reform. Examples from Serbia and other regional partners were presented, helping participants better understand the challenges and practical steps involved in implementing safety and licensing procedures.
The activity was financed by the European Union under the NDICI-GEO-NEAR/2023/452688 grant awarded to the Permanent Secretariat of the Transport Community. The project supports preparatory activities aimed at facilitating the progressive integration of Georgia, the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine into the activities of the Transport Community.
