Moldova moves closer to EU membership goal despite ongoing PACE monitoring
Deputy Prime Minister Mihai Popșoi and PACE official Petra Bayr confirmed that Moldova is making significant strides toward democratic consolidation. While the country remains under monitoring, officials expressed optimism regarding its European trajectory.
During high-level talks in Strasbourg, PACE President Petra Bayr emphasized that monitoring is a standard procedural tool, not an exception. She noted that some EU members remained under observation for two decades after joining the bloc.
Bayr praised Chișinău's current momentum, suggesting Moldova could join the European Union by 2030. However, she identified three critical areas for continued focus: judicial reform, economic stability, and the eradication of legacy corruption.
Tangible legal reforms
Foreign Minister Mihai Popșoi argued that Moldova’s democratic institutions have reached the maturity required for "post-monitoring" status. He highlighted that such a transition would provide a vital signal to both citizens and international investors.
To support this claim, Popșoi cited a measurable decline in complaints filed against Moldova at the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR). This trend, recently acknowledged by the ECtHR President, serves as an objective indicator of improved judicial quality.
Ensuring equal access to justice
The European official stressed that reform must reach beyond the capital. A key priority remains ensuring equal access to justice for rural populations to ensure the rule of law protects all citizens.
Chișinău remains confident that upcoming objective evaluations will facilitate the transition to the post-monitoring phase. This shift would mark a definitive step in Moldova’s integration into the European democratic framework.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
