First in EU accession process: European Parliament, parliament of Moldova launch joint working groups on negotiation chapters

MEP Siegfried Muresan, President of the European Parliament Delegation for Relations with Moldova, has announced the launch of an unprecedented initiative aimed at accelerating the country’s European integration. During the programme, At 360 Degrees, broadcast on Radio Moldova, the European official detailed the parliamentary support strategy for the six topic-related negotiation clusters.

Parliamentary clusters to boost negotiations

The main novelty of the meeting of the EU–Moldova Parliamentary Association Committee, which will take place at the European Parliament on May 5, is the creation of specialized working structures. Siegfried Muresan said that these groups would mirror the official negotiation structure of the European Union.

“We have proposed to the members of Moldova’s parliament and the members of the European Parliament that, within this Parliamentary Association Committee, we launch working groups that will work exactly on the chapters and clusters of the negotiations on accession to the European Union,” Muresan noted.

The central goal is to mobilize European expertise, in order to support the  Moldovan legislature in adopting the necessary reforms. This is about: - accelerating reforms: debating and addressing, at parliamentary level, all laws and reforms that must be implemented within the six clusters; - transfer of expertise: using the knowledge of specialists from the European Parliament to help colleagues in Moldova’s parliament move forward more quickly; - political and technical support: assisting the Moldovan authorities and the representatives of the European Commission in the negotiation process.

Official request to open the first political negotiations

In addition to technical assistance, the May 5 meeting will pursue an ambitious political goal. Siegfried Muresan announced that, together with the co-chair of the committee, Marcel Spatari, he would propose a joint declaration meant to put pressure on the accession timetable.

“We propose to officially request the start of political negotiations on at least one cluster during the next month, by the end of the Cypriot Presidency of the Council of the European Union,” the MEP said.

Muresan stressed that, although negotiations at technical level were progressing very well, it is essential to open the political level for at least one cluster by the end of next June, with all other clusters to be opened politically by the end of 2026.

Moldova, shoulder to shoulder with EU member states

Siegfried Muresan highlighted the intensity of Moldova’s diplomatic activity, mentioning President Maia Sandu’s participation in the European Political Community (EPC) Summit in Armenia and Igor Grosu’s visit to Denmark, where he is taking part in the Conference of Presidents of Parliaments from EU Member States and candidate countries. This constant presence on international platforms confirms the country’s progress on the path of integration.

“Moldova is consolidating its position, promoting the European cause and making progress week by week on the path of European integration,” the MEP underlined.

The launch of these “parliamentary clusters” is, in the opinion of the European official, a tool to “further energize the negotiations between the Commission and the Government,” ensuring that the voice of citizens and legislative rigor are directly represented on the road to Brussels. Moldova continues to advance on the path of European integration and political support for accession to the European Union remains strong, says MEP Siegfried Muresan.