MEPs urge EC to “immediately open” Moldova’s EU talks: “EU must act now”
Fifty-five Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) from 19 EU member states have signed a letter to the President of the European Council, António Costa, urging the “immediate opening” of accession negotiations with the Republic of Moldova. This announcement was made by Victor Negrescu, Vice-President of the European Parliament, who initiated this action.
Victor Negrescu shared on his Facebook page, “This is a powerful political message: the European Parliament wholeheartedly supports the European future of the Republic of Moldova, recognizes the reforms that have been implemented, and insists that the choices of Moldovan citizens, as expressed in the parliamentary elections, be valued and respected.”
The source notes that “this initiative has the backing of key leaders in the European Parliament and demonstrates Europe’s unity and solidarity with the Republic of Moldova at a crucial time for the entire region.” It emphasizes that “there is no mention of decoupling, but rather a focus on the support that must be provided for the Republic of Moldova's efforts.”
In conclusion, Victor Negrescu, the Vice-President of the European Parliament, stated, “The European Union must take action now to show its support for the democracy, resilience, and European aspirations of the citizens of the Republic of Moldova.”
The letter from the Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) follows the recent parliamentary elections, which reaffirmed a pro-European majority in Chisinau.
“Moldova, you have succeeded once again. You have clearly expressed your choice: Europe, democracy, and freedom. Our door is open, and we will be with you every step of the way. The future belongs to you,” stated Ursula von der Leyen, the President of the European Commission, shortly after the polls closed.
“The future of the Republic of Moldova is in Europe! In this historic step forward, the people of the Republic of Moldova have chosen the path of democracy, hope, and opportunity. They have chosen Europe. Europe is Moldova, and Moldova is Europe,” added Roberta Metsola, the President of the European Parliament.
Moldova completed screening in September
European Commissioner for Enlargement, Marta Kos, congratulated Moldova on 23 September on completing the screening process of its national legislation against that of the European Union, an “important step” on its path towards the EU.
“In just over a year, Moldovan experts have presented the degree of alignment of Moldovan legislation with that of the EU in all areas. To achieve this, Moldova has reviewed over 100,000 pages of EU legislation and established concrete plans for alignment with these norms. You have demonstrated, once again, that your country is well prepared for the next stage of EU accession”, said Marta Kos.
We note that the Republic of Moldova initiated the bilateral screening process in July 2024, which encompassed 35 chapters of the Acquis Communautaire and involved a detailed analysis of the compliance of national legislation with EU norms, a mandatory step prior to opening accession negotiations.
The authorities of the Republic of Moldova are currently awaiting a favorable decision from the EU Council on the official opening of accession negotiations with the EU.
Previously, the President of the European Council, António Costa, announced that the European Union will open the pre-accession procedure for the Republic of Moldova after the parliamentary elections this autumn.
