Anca Dragu, President of the National Bank of Moldova, made this statement during a meeting with Petra Larke, Sweden's ambassador to Moldova, at which they discussed recent developments in the financial sector, as well as progress in harmonizing Moldova's national financial legislation with EU legislation. The dialogue focused on Moldova's integration into the European financial market, with an emphasis on joining the Single Euro Payments Area (SEPA) in 2025, which demonstrated the country's ability to harmonize its specific system and legislation—including in the areas of preventing and combating money laundering and terrorist financing—with EU requirements. In this context, the head of the National Bank emphasized that joining SEPA is the result of concerted efforts reflecting a determination to accelerate structural reforms which effectively integrate Moldova into the European Union's economic area and have a direct impact on citizens, the business environment, and foreign economic relations. As Anca Dragu noted, in less than a year since joining SEPA, Moldovan citizens and companies have saved more than 13 million euros on cross-border payments in euros. "This money remains in the economy and supports the business environment, while our financial system is becoming more stable and attractive to investors. This is a concrete step toward a more interconnected and competitive economy at the European level, and the National Bank will continue to implement the necessary reforms so that the benefits of European financial integration reach every citizen and every entrepreneur," Anca Dragu emphasized. She also noted the NBM's contribution to aligning the regulatory framework with European standards, including through the process of ensuring legislative equivalence with the requirements of the European Banking Authority. // 12.08.2026 — InfoMarket