Moldova's New PM Vasile Tofan Forms Government, Aims for EU Membership

Moldova’s parliament approved Vasile Tofan as prime minister with 53 votes on 21 July 2026, ending three weeks of uncertainty. The new cabinet, largely retained from the previous government, was sworn in on 22 July in the presence of President Maia Sandu. Tofan’s programme, titled “European Economy, Effective State,” pledges to revive the economy, cut the 20 billion‑lei budget deficit, privatise at least ten state companies and accelerate the EU accession process – targeting a formal accession agreement by the end of 2028 and full membership by 2030. He indicated that his first foreign visit would be to Romania, followed by Brussels, emphasizing Moldova’s strategic partnership with the EU.

In his first government meeting, Tofan announced a fiscal‑reform overhaul to be published by 6 August, aiming to simplify taxes, raise selective excises on harmful products and unify the VAT rate gradually. He also ordered weekly monitoring of 29 major infrastructure projects, budgeted at 23.5 billion lei for the year, to improve transparency and speed implementation. Additionally, the parliament ratified a €40 million European Investment Bank loan to modernise 20 schools, and the cabinet passed a law establishing a national certification system for health‑care professionals, aligning Moldova’s standards with EU norms.

The government, backed by President Sandu and the Party of Action and Solidarity (PAS), seeks to strengthen ties with the EU, improve public services and attract investment, positioning EU integration as a historic opportunity for the current generation.