CHIȘINĂU – The Republic of Moldova is moving towards a smarter, safer and more efficient transport system with the presentation of the final results of EU-funded technical assistance, provided by the Transport Community, for the development of its Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) Strategy.
Launched in December 2024, the technical assistance, delivered under the EU-funded project supporting the participation of Georgia, the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine in the Transport Community, is the first and largest technical assistance contract awarded by the Transport Community to Moldova under this grant.
The event, held at the Ministry of Infrastructure and Regional Development in Chișinău, brought together representatives of Moldova’s institutions, experts, and partners involved in preparing the Strategy and its supporting measures.
Opening the event, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Infrastructure and Regional Development, Mr Vladimir Bolea, and Director of the Permanent Secretariat of the Transport Community, Mr Matej Zakonjšek, highlighted the importance of this work for Moldova’s transport reform and its closer integration with the European Union transport market.
The technical assistance’s main goal was to help Moldova build the policy, legal and institutional foundations needed to introduce Intelligent Transport Systems. In simple terms, this means using modern technologies and better data to improve how transport works.
Once implemented, the ITS Strategy is expected to help improve traffic management, increase road safety, and support better public transport services. It should also make transport operations more transparent and efficient, helping reduce congestion, shorten travel times, and lower the environmental impact of transport.
One of the most important results of the technical assistance is the preparation of a broad legislative package designed to support the future rollout of ITS in Moldova. In total, around 230 documents were prepared, including draft legal acts, explanatory notes and tables showing alignment with EU rules. These cover road, rail, maritime, inland waterway and aviation transport, as well as cross-cutting measures.
The development of the ITS Strategy and its supporting legislative package is also an important contribution to Moldova’s Reform Agenda under the Growth Plan agreed with the European Commission, especially in the area of connectivity and digital infrastructure. It also supports Moldova in addressing priorities identified in previous European Commission Progress Reports.
The event also recognised the strong contribution of the Ministry of Infrastructure and Regional Development of Moldova, other national authorities that provided input throughout the process, and the consultant team whose expertise helped deliver this complex assignment.
During the presentation, the consultant team shared the main results of the assignment, while State Secretary at the Ministry of Infrastructure and Regional Development of Moldova, Mr Nicolai Mîndra, outlined the next steps for implementing ITS in Moldova.
This development of the ITS Strategy for Moldova is 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 Transport Community activities.
