Eurovision 2026: Teleradio-Moldova announces the list of 37 artists qualified for the live auditions

The Teleradio-Moldova company received 37 submissions from artists interested in representing the Republic of Moldova at the Eurovision Song Contest 2026. The deadline for submissions to the National Selection was December 7. Following this, the music producers reviewed the materials and accepted all contestants for the live auditions stage.

SME Alliance: Access to EU funds requires a simplified, more efficient process

The executive director of the Alliance of Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) of the Republic of Moldova, Liliana Busuioc, emphasizes the importance of clearly explaining the eligibility criteria for European-funded programs in a way that entrepreneurs can easily understand. She advocates for simplifying the processes involved, especially in light of the Economic Growth Plan, for which the European Union is set to provide nearly 2 billion euros in funding over the coming years.

ANRE nears completion of technical procedures required to reduce gas tariffs

The new natural gas tariffs are expected to be announced in January 2026. The clarifications were made on December 11 by the director of the National Energy Regulatory Agency (ANRE), Alexei Taran, at the meeting of the Parliamentary Committee for Economy, Budget and Finance.

MAIA reviews the losses farmers in southern Moldova reported

Farmers in southern Moldova face the greatest hardships, and the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Industry reviews options for additional support. Minister Ludmila Catlabuga said on the Moldova 1 TV programme “Bună Dimineața” that the climate situation and the losses recorded in the region justify the farmers’ concerns, and authorities work on stronger mechanisms to help them handle drought and other extreme events.

Authorities can impose fines up to 3.000 lei for illegal sales of pyrotechnic items, police

Chisinau police intensified checks in commercial areas before the winter holidays, after officers uncovered 26 cases of unauthorized pyrotechnic sales in a single day. They seized products worth 60.000 lei.

Health risk: Authorities destroy massive batch of unsafe margarine

Over 10 tons of margarine, used for cake preparation, were destroyed by the National Food Safety Agency (ANSA) after analyses revealed it contained harmful substances.

Central Election Commission promises rigorous oversight for March 2026 Comrat elections

The upcoming elections for the People's Assembly of Gagauzia are expected to be challenging. The vote will take place under new regulations, and any violations, particularly those involving illegal financing, will be subject to quicker sanctions. The regional electoral council must strictly adhere to national legislation, with oversight by the Central Electoral Commission in Chisinau. However, the current process is hindered by a significant issue: many members of the Council in Comrat have resigned, leaving the institution lacking the necessary personnel to organize the election.

“There are no plans to sell Giurgiulesti Port”, Deputy PM Osmochescu

The Giurgiulesti State Port will not be sold, and authorities are not currently conducting or examining such negotiations, assures Deputy Prime Minister Eugen Osmochescu, Minister of Economy and Digitalization.

Authorities send to court companies and individuals involved in 3.6 million lei wine smuggling scheme

Four companies from the Republic of Moldova and six individuals were sued for allegedly smuggling wine into the United States. They claimed that the wine, made from pomegranate juice, was sourced from Armenia, despite it actually being exported from Moldova. The value of the smuggled wine was over 3.6 million lei.

Mayor from Moldova volunteers to clear villagers’ gardens after work

The Tuzara commune in the Călărași district is now better equipped to tackle fires, heavy snowfall, and prolonged droughts. The city hall recently acquired a multifunctional tractor along with a complete set of equipment, including a trailer, a snowplow, a fire pump tanker, and a vegetation shredder. This new equipment will support local efforts to combat the increasingly severe effects of climate change.

New citizenship rules: Moldovan Embassy in Ukraine suspends acceptance of applications

The consular section of the Embassy of the Republic of Moldova in Ukraine will suspend the processing of citizenship applications starting December 23.

PSRM proposes twice-yearly indexed pensions and national birth support program

The deputies of the Party of Socialists of the Republic of Moldova (PSRM), currently in opposition, are proposing a large package of budgetary support. This package includes increased salaries, pensions, scholarships, additional support programs, and special allowances. However, they have not provided any cost estimates or outlined models for implementation.