EU–Moldova Parliamentary Committee proposes opening at least one negotiation cluster by the end of Cyprus presidency
The European Union-Republic of Moldova Parliamentary Association Committee will propose the opening of accession negotiations for the first cluster on Tuesday, May 5.
Romanian MEP Siegfried Mureșan, chairman of the European Parliament delegation for relations with the Republic of Moldova, stated that a decision regarding Moldova's EU accession should be reached by the end of June, during the Cypriot presidency of the Council of the European Union.
The Republic of Moldova's process of EU accession involves aligning its national legislation with 35 negotiation chapters, which are organized into six thematic groups, referred to as clusters.
Mureșan emphasized the goal of politically opening all clusters by the end of the year during the "La 360 de grade" program on Radio Moldova. He said, "The negotiations at the technical level are progressing well, but we need to open the negotiations at the political level. At least one negotiation cluster should be opened by the end of the Cyprus presidency, and all clusters before the end of this year."
He noted that this proposal will be presented for approval at the meeting of the European Union-Republic of Moldova Parliamentary Association Committee on Tuesday.
Mureșan highlighted that the European Union is stepping up its support for the Republic of Moldova and is preparing further actions to advance the accession negotiations. At the upcoming meeting in Brussels, working groups focusing on the six negotiation clusters will be established, involving MEPs and Moldovan parliamentarians.
The goal is to leverage MEPs' experience and support to help Moldovan deputies implement reforms across the six negotiation clusters, which encompass a wide range of state functions, including the economy, justice, and environmental protection.
"All the legislative elements that need to be addressed by the Parliament of the Republic of Moldova, including the laws required for adoption and the implementation of necessary reforms, will be discussed at the parliamentary level," Mureșan said.
The Republic of Moldova submitted its application for EU accession on March 3, 2022. By June of that year, it achieved candidate status, and in December 2023, the European Council decided to open accession negotiations. After the official launch of the negotiations in June 2024, a bilateral screening process will begin, leading to the commencement of technical negotiations on the first clusters by the end of 2025.
According to an announcement made by Romanian President Nicușor Dan on May 4, during the European Political Community meeting in Yerevan, Armenia, a response regarding the launch of official accession negotiations with the Republic of Moldova will be made public by the end of June this year.
