CHISINAU/BELGRADE – The Permanent Secretariat of the Transport Community has completed technical assistance supporting the Republic of Moldova’s Ministry of Infrastructure and Regional Development in aligning draft national legislation with EU rules on railway and maritime safety. Carried out at the request of the European Commission, the assistance also contributed to the Commission’s assessment of Moldova’s alignment with the relevant EU legislation.
The work focused on two draft legal acts: a ministerial order setting out the structure and content of railway accident and incident investigation reports, and a government regulation on safety inspections of roll-on/roll-off passenger ships and high-speed passenger craft.
Both drafts were reviewed against the corresponding EU requirements. The assessment identified gaps and inconsistencies, checked legal references and updated the tables showing how EU provisions are reflected in Moldova’s draft legislation. The findings provide a basis for further amendments by the Moldovan authorities and support the European Commission’s review.
For railway safety, the recommendations focus on ensuring that the draft rules for investigation reports fully reflect EU requirements. A consistent reporting structure helps make investigation findings clear and supports efforts to prevent future accidents.
For maritime safety, the assessment identified further steps, including adopting the pending national regulation on passenger registration and preparing for a future connection to the EU inspection database ahead of accession. It also highlighted the need to ensure sufficient numbers of qualified inspectors through training and cooperation with other maritime administrations.
The completed assistance provides Moldova’s authorities with practical recommendations to advance legislative alignment and strengthen their capacity to apply EU transport safety rules.
This technical assistance was financed by the European Union under the NDICI-GEO-NEAR/2023/452-688 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 Transport Community activities.
