Soviet Moldovan resolution 132 of 1990 defined the summer time period from the last Sunday in March at 2:00 to the last Sunday in September at 3:00, matching the dates used in most of Europe at the time: https://web.archive.org/web/20211107050832/http://lex.justice.md/viewdoc.php?action=view&view=doc&id=298782&lang=1
It seems that in 1996 Moldova changed the end date to October like most of Europe, but kept the transitions at 2:00 and 3:00 rather than 1:00 UTC, which would have been locally 3:00 and 4:00. The TZ database currently shows Moldova with the transitions at 2:00 and 3:00 since 1997. The notices in the Moldovan government website and broadcaster showed the transitions at 2:00 and 3:00 until 2021: 2015 https://old.gov.md/en/node/7304 2016 https://old.gov.md/en/node/12587 2017 https://old.gov.md/en/node/20654 2017 https://old.gov.md/en/content/moldova-upholds-winter-time-night-28-29-october 2018 https://old.gov.md/en/content/moldova-switch-summer-time 2018 https://old.gov.md/en/content/cabinet-ministers-informs-about-switch-winter-time-28-october 2019 https://old.gov.md/en/content/moldova-switch-summer-time-31-march 2019 https://old.gov.md/en/node/31122 2020 https://old.gov.md/en/node/32771 2020 https://old.gov.md/en/node/34497 2021 https://trm.md/ro/social/moldova-trece-in-aceasta-noapte-la-ora-de-vara 2021 https://trm.md/en/social/republica-moldova-trece-la-ora-de-iarna1 However, since 2022, the notices showed the transitions at 3:00 and 4:00, matching the EU rule at 1:00 UTC: 2022 https://trm.md/en/social/in-acest-weekend-republica-moldova-trece-la-ora-de-vara 2022 https://old.gov.md/en/content/moldova-switch-winter-time 2023 https://moldova1.md/p/6587/ora-de-vara-2023-cum-schimbam-acele-ceasornicelor-si-cand-trecem-la-ora-de-vara 2023 https://old.gov.md/en/node/46662 2024 https://moldova1.md/p/26535/republica-moldova-trece-la-ora-de-vara-in-acest-weekend 2024 https://moldova1.md/p/37768/republica-moldova-trece-in-aceasta-noapte-la-ora-de-iarna 2025 https://moldova1.md/p/46349/republica-moldova-trece-la-ora-de-vara-pe-30-martie-cum-ne-afecteaza-si-ce-recomanda-medicii 2025 https://moldova1.md/p/60469/republica-moldova-trece-la-ora-de-iarna-ceasurile-se-dau-inapoi-cu-o-ora It seems that the changes to the end date and transition times were just done in practice without formally changing the resolution. In late 2025, the government said that the Soviet resolution was still in force, and proposed a new resolution to replace it and formally establish the EU rule: https://particip.gov.md/ro/document/stages/anunt-de-initiere-a-proiectului-de-hotarare-pentru-aprobarea-orei-oficiale-pe-teritoriul-republicii-moldova-si-a-orarului-de-vara/15500 https://gov.md/sites/default/files/media/documents/sedinte-de-guvern/2026-02/NU-1036-MDED-2025.pdf It plans to approve the proposed resolution on 25 February 2026: https://gov.md/en/node/9683 However, based on the notices, it seems that in practice Moldova already uses the EU rule since 2022. This was also the year when Moldova applied to join the EU. Regards, David
