The Impact of European Funds on the Economic Sustainability of the Republic of Moldova: an Empirical Analysis of Investment Strategies

Abstract

This research analyses the impact of European funds on the economic sustainability of the Republic of Moldova, exploring the country’s transition from a remittance-dependent growth model to one based on strategic investments and alignment with European Union standards. In the context of obtaining candidate country status in 2022 and the launch of the Growth Plan for Moldova (2025-2027), the article assesses the quality of the convergence process through the lens of 25 fundamental bibliographic sources and recent strategic documents. The methodology used is based on the SDG Mapping technique, which allows the correlation of European funding pillars with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the 2030 Agenda, in particular SDG 8 (economic growth), SDG 9 (industry and innovation) and SDG 13 (climate action). The analysis of the specialized literature highlights the fact that the efficiency of EU funds is not an automatic process, but is strictly conditioned by institutional quality and administrative absorption capacity. The results indicate that while EU financial assistance has strengthened Moldova's macroeconomic resilience to geopolitical shocks, long-term sustainability depends on modernizing business ecosystems and reducing regional disparities. The paper contributes to the literature by providing a framework for monitoring real convergence, demonstrating that European integration functions as a catalyst for the structural transformation of the Moldovan economy. UDC: [339.726:061.1EU]:338(478); JEL: E22, F02, G2, O11, Q01