Cypriot EU Presidency launched preparations for official opening of Cluster 1 in accession negotiations with Moldova and Ukraine

The Republic of Moldova has received a new confirmation of progress on its European path, after the Cypriot Presidency of the Council of the European Union launched, on the evening of June 3, preparations for the official opening of Cluster 1 in accession negotiations with the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine.

The announcement marks an important stage in the process of negotiating accession to the European Union and reflects the progress made by the authorities in Chișinău in implementing the reforms required for European integration.

The Deputy Prime Minister for European Integration, Cristina Gherasimov, stated that under the Cypriot Presidency of the Council of the EU, new important steps have been taken to formally advance the process of the Republic of Moldova’s accession to the European Union.

According to the official, the decision is a signal that the enlargement policy remains a strategic priority for the European Union and that the Republic of Moldova continues to benefit from support for its European path.

Cristina Gherasimov emphasized that the authorities in Chișinău will continue implementing reforms, aligning with European standards and preparing for the official opening of all negotiation clusters.

The Deputy Prime Minister specified that, in the coming days, discussions will continue at the level of the Council of the European Union to finalize the process that will allow the formal opening of the first negotiation cluster. At the same time, she reiterated that the Republic of Moldova is ready to move forward based on its own merits and that each stage completed brings the country closer to the strategic objective of accession to the European Union.


“We are grateful to the Cypriot Presidency of the Council of the EU for the strong support and leadership it has shown in recent months, as well as for its continued efforts to advance the enlargement process. This marks an important step forward and reflects the steady progress of our country’s accession process to the EU,” said Daniela Morari, Head of the Mission of the Republic of Moldova to the European Union.


Cluster 1, called “Fundamental Values”, is the first group of negotiation chapters in the process of accession to the European Union and covers areas such as the rule of law, the functioning of democratic institutions, public administration reform, the judicial system and fundamental rights.

The Republic of Moldova obtained the status of candidate country for accession to the European Union in June 2022, and in December 2023 the leaders of the member states decided to open accession negotiations. In June 2024, the first EU–Republic of Moldova Intergovernmental Conference was officially launched, marking the beginning of the actual accession negotiations. The opening of Cluster 1 represents the next procedural step in this process and is considered an indicator of the progress made by the Moldovan authorities in moving closer to European standards.