European Parliament Urges Accelerated Moldova’s Accession to the EU
Members of the European Parliament from 19 EU member states have sent an open letter to European Council President António Costa, urging an immediate advancement to the next negotiation phase for Moldova’s accession to the European Union.
The letter states that 55 deputies support the initiative to open new negotiation clusters without delay, signaling a strong political message of unwavering support for Moldova’s European future.
European Parliament Vice-President Victor Negrescu confirmed that this initiative aims to reaffirm support for Moldova’s reforms and democratic choice, expressed clearly at parliamentary elections.
Since Moldova, alongside Ukraine, received candidate status for EU membership in June 2022, the European Council in December 2023 decided to begin accession negotiations with both countries, covering 33 chapters of European legislation.
These negotiations are organized into six thematic clusters: rule of law, internal market, external relations, competition and inclusive growth, ecology and energy, resources, agriculture, and political cohesion.
Notably, no chapters can be concluded until the key sections on judiciary and fundamental rights, as well as justice, freedom, and security, are finalized.
The duration of these negotiations remains uncertain, but Moldovan authorities are optimistic about joining the EU sometime before 2030, provided that reforms continue and support from the EU remains strong.
In this context, it is also noteworthy that the European Union is exploring innovative ways to bypass Hungary’s veto on the accession of Ukraine and Moldova, highlighting the political complexity of the process and the ongoing strategic challenges in the region.