EU member states approve opening of first negotiation cluster; deputy PM for European integration says decision confirms recognition of progress achieved by Moldova

The 27 member states of the European Union today unanimously adopted the common negotiating position for the official opening of the first group of chapters – “Fundamental Values”, the cluster that underpins the entire process of preparation for EU accession. Deputy Prime Minister for European Integration Cristina Gherasimov has made statements to this effect.

According to the official, the decision represents an important step in the negotiation process with Moldova.

“This decision confirms the recognition of the reforms carried out and the progress achieved by our country, as well as the confidence of the 27 EU member states in Moldova and its citizens. The second Intergovernmental Conference Moldova – European Union will take place on in Luxembourg on June 15. The delegation of Moldova will be led by Prime Minister Alexandru Munteanu,” said Cristina Gherasimov.

The decision was welcomed by Daniel Voda, an associate expert in foreign policy and strategic communication at the Institute for European Policies and Reforms (IPRE). He emphasized that “this is a strong signal that our country is moving forward, ever closer to the EU.”

“Very good news for Moldova. The European Union is taking an important step forward: the member states have agreed to open the first negotiation cluster with Moldova and Ukraine. The ‘Fundamentals’ cluster is the basis of the accession process: rule of law, democratic institutions and fundamental rights. It is a clear recognition of the work done and a powerful signal that Moldova is moving forward, ever closer to the European Union,” underlined Daniel Voda.

Moldova submitted its application for accession to the European Union on March 3 2022, and on June 23, 2022 it got candidate country status, with a recommendation to continue reforms. In November 2023, European assessments confirmed Moldova’s progress and recommended the opening of accession negotiations, a decision approved by EU leaders in December 2023. On 25 June 2024, the accession negotiations officially started.

In September 2025, Moldova completed the bilateral screening with the EU – a stage that examines the compatibility of national legislation with the European acquis. In mid-December 2025, the country launched technical discussions on the first negotiation chapters.

The Cypriot Presidency of the Council of the European Union on June 3, 2026, launched the preparations for the official opening of Cluster 1 in the accession negotiations with Moldova and Ukraine. Cluster 1, called “Fundamental Values”, is the first group of negotiation chapters in the EU accession process and includes such areas as: rule of law, the functioning of democratic institutions, public administration reform, the judicial system and fundamental rights.