European Council President says Moldova made impressive progress in 2025, proving determination, institutional maturity

Moldova is among the countries that have made the fastest progress on the path to European integration, managing to complete the screening process in record time. President of the European Council Antonio Costa today made statements to this effect during the Euronews Summit on the European Union's enlargement

“Moldova and Ukraine have made impressive progress. Ukraine—a country at war, and Moldova—faced with repeated attacks on its democracy and sovereignty, have in one year managed to complete the screening of the EU acquis at record speed,” said Costa, emphasizing that Moldova had shown political will and administrative capacity in the accession process.

The official noted that the Growth Plan for the Western Balkans and Moldova, worth 6 billion euros, “is already changing the daily lives of people,” through the accession to the Single Euro Payments Area (SEPA), reducing waiting times at borders and expanding digital networks.

At the same time, Costa confirmed that, starting from January 2026, Moldova and Ukraine would join the European Union's free roaming area, a step considered symbolic for bringing the two countries closer to the common European space.

The European leader emphasized that the current geopolitical context makes the expansion of the European Union more necessary than ever and Moldova is among the positive examples of the deep transformation brought about by the pre-accession process.

“Today, the EU enlargement is not an abstract vision from a wish list; it is a process of transformation. It is essential to consolidate democracy, the rule of law. At the same time, these are three pivotal prerequisites for successful enlargement. We must be more demanding in terms of standards and more efficient and pragmatic in this process, in order to continue the path of deep reforms in accordance with the merit-based approach, while also preparing the EU to be ready, efficient and capable of welcoming new members,” said Antonio Costa.

In conclusion, the European Council president called on European leaders and candidate states “to prove the same visionary determination” that was at the heart of the European Union’s founding:

“Europe must not become a museum of past prosperity. We must continue to work to turn this realistic perspective of enlargement into a reality for the people of the Western Balkans, Ukraine and Moldova.”