EU Commissioner Visits Moldova as Humanitarian Aid Shifts to Long-Term Inclusion
EU Commissioner Lahbib made her first visit to Moldova, noting the country has taken in more than two million people since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine and still hosts around 140,000 Ukrainian refugees. The EU has provided over €93 million in humanitarian aid since 2022, but with the Refugee Response Plan ending this year, support is shifting from emergency relief to long-term inclusion in national systems. Moldova also deployed around 50 firefighters to Greece and hosted Ukraine's aerial firefighting capacities.
Impact and considerations
The shift from emergency relief to national-system inclusion will affect services for Ukrainian refugees and host communities in Moldova, with implications for operating conditions and workforce mobility in the region.
Key points
- EU Commissioner Lahbib made her first visit to Moldova as Commissioner, saying the country is advancing on its EU path.
- Since Russia's full-scale invasion, Moldova has taken in more than two million people and still hosts around 140,000 Ukrainian refugees.
- The EU has provided over €93 million in humanitarian aid since 2022 for cash support, healthcare, shelter and protection.
- The Refugee Response Plan ends this year, with aid shifting from emergency support to long-term inclusion in national systems.
- Moldova deployed around 50 firefighters to Greece and hosted Ukraine's aerial firefighting capacities.
- Moldova joined the EU Civil Protection Mechanism in 2023, and its Urban Search and Rescue Team will reinforce European crisis response.
Sources and time
- Primary source
- European Commission
- Other sources
- 0
- First source publication
- 11 Sept 2026, 23:34
- Page published
- 12 Sept 2026, 00:03
- Last updated
- 11 Sept 2026, 23:34
- Original links
- European Commission Press Corner：Press Remarks by Commissioner Lahbib in Moldova (opens in a new tab)Primary source · en · Published 11 Sept 2026, 23:34