The European Council praises Moldova’s EU progress but withholds a date for opening talks with Chisinau
The European Council congratulates the authorities of the Republic of Moldova for their strong commitment and effective measures taken to safeguard the integrity of the recent electoral process. This recognition is based on the conclusions adopted on Thursday, October 23, regarding the Republic of Moldova.
European leaders, meeting yesterday in Brussels, welcomed the significant progress made by the authorities in Chisinau in the process of accession to the European Union and reaffirmed the EU's firm support for the country's European path, but did not provide further clarity on the opening of the chapter-negotiation process.
"A diplomatic issue, which will be resolved", said Romanian President Nicușor Dan, after the end of the Council meeting on October 23.
The text of the seventh and last item on the Council's agenda, the one referring to our country, highlights the good organization of the parliamentary elections of September 28, stipulating that the elections were free and fair, despite "the hybrid activities carried out by Russia with the aim of undermining the country's democratic institutions".
Also, the European Council emphasizes that the European Union will continue to work closely with the Republic of Moldova to strengthen its resilience and stability, as well as to capitalize on the experience gained by Chisinau in this process.
As for accession, EU leaders encourage the Republic of Moldova, the Council and the European Commission to continue working on the process, "in accordance with the merits-based approach".
According to the conclusions, "the thematic group on fundamentals will be opened first and closed last", and the other groups will be opened "when the conditions are met, in accordance with the enlargement methodology".
The European Council also took note of the European Commission's assessment that the thematic groups on fundamentals, the internal market and external relations are ready to be opened.
Asked about the discussions on the Republic of Moldova at the end of the European Council meeting, Romanian President Nicușor Dan stated for Moldova 1 TV that "there is, at least at a symbolic level, even if not officially, a link between the accession process of Moldova and that of Ukraine", also mentioning Hungary's antagonistic position towards Ukraine's accession.
"Until this diplomatic issue is resolved, and it will be resolved, the Republic of Moldova will not waste time and, in collaboration with the European Commission, will take the necessary technical steps, which it must anyway take in a formal accession process, so that, by the time the diplomatic issue is resolved, time will already have been gained", the Romanian head of state stressed.
The European Council conclusions on Ukraine also express the European Union's firm support for Ukraine's path to EU accession, while welcoming the significant progress Kiev has made so far, despite the challenging circumstances.
As regards the opening of the chapter-by-chapter negotiation process with Ukraine, and therefore with the Republic of Moldova, as the countries move along the path of European integration, the Council assures that it will return to this subject "at the next meeting"*, which will take place this December.
