European Commission - Speech [Check Against Delivery] Commissioner Roswall's keynote address at the Green Finance and Investment Forum, Moldova Chi ș inău, 29 June 2026 Prime Minister, Minister Hajder, ladies and gentlemen, distinguished guests, I am delighted to join today's event. I am delighted that you have chosen ‘Green Finance and Investment' as your theme for this conference. How to finance our transition to a...
European Commission - Speech [Check Against Delivery] Commissioner Roswall's keynote address at the Green Finance and Investment Forum, Moldova Chi ș inău, 29 June 2026 Prime Minister, Minister Hajder, ladies and gentlemen, distinguished guests, I am delighted to join today's event. I am delighted that you have chosen ‘Green Finance and Investment' as your theme for this conference. How to finance our transition to a greener, cleaner, and more resilient economy is a fundamental question. It matters not only for our industry, financial institutions, rural communities and local authorities – but for the whole society and all of us. So, the question is how we get there and how we mobilise the funding we need. I can think of no better setting to discuss this question. Because we need to remember that there is no such thing as a transition without collaboration – across sectors, over borders, and between regions. And that's why today's Forum – with public authorities, financial institutions, investors, development partners and the business community– is so important. At its core, the green transition is about resilience. It's about building a society – and economy – that can thrive and prosper for generations to come. That can weather global and economic shocks – whether they are caused by climate change, real wars and trade wars, biodiversity loss, pandemics or something else entirely. Environmental policy is one of the central pillars of this transition. But today, environmental policy is so much more than simply protecting nature. Environmental policy has become economic policy. Why? Because healthy ecosystems and nature are the foundation for healthy economies. They clean our air, stabilise our soils, pollinate our crops, and define our climate. Take water, for example. It grows our food, powers our businesses, provides electricity, delivers our trade, and nourishes our societies. Imagine a society without clean, abundant water? Factories shut up shop and businesses close down, our homes are dark, and our fields are parched. So, it is no surprise to me when I see studies showing that more than half of global GDP is moderately or highly dependent on nature. Or, when I read that more than 7 out of 10 companies in the euro area are critically dependent on nature. In fact, I would argue that all of GDP, and all companies, rely on nature in one way or another. This means that, when we invest in ecosystems – or in sustainability – we are not being generous to nature, we are investing in our future. And we have evidence to prove it. We have seen how restoring wetlands means less flooding. We know how the circular economy creates new business opportunities while reducing pressure on ecosystems. Or how protecting grasslands benefits farmers. And that's why environmental policy is the cornerstone of our plans to build a competitive economy, and a sustainable, resilient future. For example, in the EU, our Nature Restoration Regulation is the first comprehensive law of its kind – and supports the restoration of ecosystems. And last summer, the European Commission adopted a Nature Credits Roadmap to boost private investments in nature positive actions. We have also scaled up biodiversity funding and aim to contribute up to 10% of our budget in 2026 and 2027. I am very pleased that Moldova is so interested in these topics. You have made important progress in recent years. The opening of the first negotiation cluster is a milestone in accession talks – and it should be celebrated. It demonstrates Moldova's commitment, and it shows what's possible. Now, Moldova needs to focus on dedication on decarbonisation. On ecosystem protection. And on the circular economy. I believe that the green transition – and the environmental action that underpins it – is the compass that can guide Moldova's path to the EU. A lot of work has been done already to align your legislative frameworks with that of the EU. But as you know, this is an ongoing journey. Let me share some thoughts on how to get to our shared destination. First of all, we need visionary decision-makers to look beyond the next elections. They need to make the green transition a priority. Deciding how to spend limited resources is never easy. Especially when the results of these decisions may not be visible in the short term. But in the medium to long term, environmental policy, the circular economy, and restoring and protecting our ecosystems mean better economic performance, greater quality of life, and bigger opportunities for business. However, decisions alone are not enough. You also need to ensure that you have an efficient administration to turn the decisions into concrete action. To design environmental rules – and then to implement and enforce them. It is good to have laws on paper. But they also need to work on the ground. This is a challenge everywhere – not just here. However, in Moldova, only a fraction of the budget is being directed to environmental policy. So, there is enormous potential for action. The EU is determined to support Moldova's efforts. Take the EU-Moldova Growth Plan, for example. This 1.9-billion-euro package ties financial disbursement directly to green, structural, and administrative reforms. There are other important projects underway across Moldova. Millions of euros in EU funding are improving water resilience, energy security, air quality, and more. A 200-million-euro loan from the European Investment Bank is backing a reforestation programme that will fight climate change and strengthen rural economies. And the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development is financing efforts to modernise solid waste infrastructure in Moldova. As we speak, we are also looking into exactly how much funding Moldova needs to become compliant with EU environmental legislation. By the end of this year, we will have a much clearer idea of these financing needs – and then the hard work really begins. Ladies and gentlemen, I like to think of enlargement as a stool that rests on three legs. Aligning with EU legislation is one of these legs – and I commend the ongoing efforts. Having the administrative capacity to implement the new legislation is another leg – and here more work is needed, as you know. And – crucially – the investments needed to bring Moldova's environmental standards up to EU standards. This is the final leg of the accession “stool”. Moldova needs serious financing plans backed by serious political commitment to address serious investment gaps. This will be essential as we advance on the environment chapter. Now, let me finish with an important point. Nature is the backbone to all our infrastructure. So, when we invest in it, we are not choosing nature over growth, we are choosing the kind of growth that lasts. The EU is committed to this process, and to Moldova. And I'm here to lend a hand, not to point the finger. So, I look forward to hearing your thoughts on the green transition. I look forward to joining you on Moldova's path to EU accession. And I look forward to working with you to build healthy ecosystems; a resilient, competitive economy; and a prosperous future for people across Moldova and around Europe. SPEECH/26/1475
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