EU–Moldova: Parliamentary Committee calls for opening accession negotiations on three clusters

The EU–Moldova Parliamentary Association Committee is urging the European Council to initiate accession negotiations on three clusters. This request is included in the Declaration adopted at the meeting held in Chisinau today. The committee members referred to the European Commission's report on EU enlargement and reiterated that Moldova had achieved notable progress in the European integration process. The meeting in Chisinau revives the work of the Parliamentary Association Committee, being the first held during the current legislative period.

“The Parliamentary Association Committee requests the initiation of negotiations on three of the six clusters by the end of this year — on those first three clusters for which Moldova is best prepared and most advanced. The official position of the Association Committee is for these negotiations to start by the end of this year and for a solution to be found to move on to the next stage. Moldova is ready and deserves this,” said Siegfried Muresan, co-chairman of the EU–Moldova Parliamentary Association Committee.





The three chapters for which the opening of accession negotiations is requested relate to fundamental values, the internal market and external relations, Marcel Spatari, co-chairman of the EU–Moldova Parliamentary Association Committee, said. 

“The message we convey today is that Moldova has made important progress in the European integration process and must accelerate the pace of transposing European standards, in order to fulfill its commitments as soon as possible,” declared Marcel Spatari, MPP of the Action and Solidarity Party (PAS) and co-chairman of the EU–Moldova Parliamentary Association Committee.





The meeting in Chisinau brought together six MEPs from four EU member countries — Sweden, Poland, Lithuania, and Romania — as well as representatives on behalf of all parliamentary parties of Moldova.

The discussions focused on the reforms implemented by Moldova, security risks, the capitalization of the 1.9-billion-euros support package provided by the EU and economic development opportunities.

“It is important to continue transposing directives, as well as to develop the economy, make sure that we have a functional rule of law, transparent institutions, and a justice system that is central in Moldova. We also discussed security, the risks posed to Moldova by the hybrid war launched by the Russian Federation’s authorities. Moldova and the EU are better coordinating their actions today in combating disinformation, cyberattacks, hybrid attacks and for this, we need to deepen cooperation in security and resilience,” Marcel Spatari noted.

The European parliamentarians appreciated the efforts of the authorities in advancing European integration and assured that the European Parliament would continue to support Moldova and its citizens.

“We came to tell our colleagues in the parliament of Moldova and the citizens of RM that the European Parliament will continue to side with the citizens and support the European integration of Moldova, as we have done in recent years. Whenever we were called upon in the EP to vote on issues concerning Moldova, this vote was always positive, with an overwhelming majority. Moldova has friends in the European Parliament,” Muresan stressed.

Following the meeting in Chisinau, the creation of working groups on six negotiation clusters was agreed upon, thus supporting the EU accession process. At the same time, meetings of the EU–Moldova Parliamentary Association Committee will be held regularly, twice a year.

In December, the European Council is set to decide on the opening of cluster negotiations with Moldova. The summit will be held in Denmark, the country which currently holds the presidency of the European Council.