Technical negotiations with the EU begin: Moldova receives green light
The Republic of Moldova is entering a new phase in its journey toward European Union membership, focusing on technical accession negotiations. This process aims to initiate discussions on key areas, such as Fundamental Values, the Internal Market, and External Relations. This occurs within a challenging regional context, characterized by the ongoing war in Ukraine and political obstacles from Hungary concerning Ukraine. Experts are advising the authorities to persist with reforms to take full advantage of the opportunity for EU accession.
The Executive Director of the Institute for European Policies and Reforms (IPRE), Iulian Groza, stated that moving to technical negotiations marks a significant shift in the relationship between the Republic of Moldova and the European Union.
“The major change is that we are indeed progressing to the next stage, where we will start negotiations on each of the 33 chapters that encompass the EU acquis, as well as the two additional chapters related to the political and economic criteria,” Groza explained during the show "Public Space" on Radio Moldova.
According to Groza, the European Commission has already set an ambitious timeline for the negotiations with Chișinău.
“The European Commission has committed to starting negotiations with Chișinău, which is promising, as the negotiation schedule is quite ambitious,” the IPRE director added.
Despite the political obstacles within the EU, including Hungary's stance towards Ukraine, Iulian Groza emphasized that the primary responsibility lies with Chișinău.
“The green light is on, and it will depend on us, first and foremost,” Groza declared.
He also pointed out that the goal of EU accession is already enshrined in the Constitution. Without political will, Groza noted that it must instead arise from the citizens of the Republic of Moldova, “who largely desire for Moldova to be part of the EU.”
** EU integration process must continue despite the hybrid war**
Alongside the progress in negotiations, the Republic of Moldova remains highly vulnerable from a security perspective.
WatchDog expert Grigore Guzun warns that the country has been experiencing a hybrid war for an extended period and that vigilance is crucial.
“We must understand that we have been in a hybrid war for some time now. If anyone thinks that the Russian Federation will become less involved, they are mistaken. We can observe that Russia is consistently changing its tactics here in the Republic of Moldova,” Guzun noted.
He stresses that Moscow is frequently altering its strategies, and that the process of European integration must proceed even in the face of these pressures.
Grigore Guzun believes that the current negotiation format was established to accelerate the process and take advantage of the political opportunity for accession when it becomes possible.
“Let's not wait for the EU member states or Hungary to vote on opening cluster negotiations. Instead, let’s continue developing and moving forward on our European path,” the expert suggested.
Moldova's EU accession: Advantage for Kiev
Angela Grămadă, President of the Association of Experts for Security and Global Affairs, noted during the same program that Moldova's progress towards EU membership is, in fact, beneficial for Ukraine as well.
“It is advantageous for Ukraine because a stable Moldova will eliminate some of the security challenges that could pose risks for the Ukrainian side,” Grămadă stated.
She emphasized that the authorities in Chișinău now have no room for political maneuvering: “The Ukrainian side must understand that the re-elected government in Chișinău has no other option but to move forward and turn those promises into realities that will bring the Republic of Moldova closer to the EU.”
Grămadă also pointed out that the Transnistrian region, which she views as an active security risk, should not be considered just a frozen conflict.
“It is a security risk for both the Republic of Moldova and its neighboring states. This risk could escalate if the Russian Federation decides to take action… The EU's position towards the eastern districts has been correct; it has treated the Republic of Moldova throughout this period as a unitary, sovereign, and independent state,” concluded Angela Grămadă on the public radio station.
The European Union is prepared to officially open all negotiation clusters with the Republic of Moldova, announced Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos. However, our country cannot currently be separated from Ukraine in the accession process, as there is no full consensus at the EU level on this matter. Consequently, the two states will continue their technical negotiations for accession to the European Union, as established by officials from Brussels.
