Irish Minister for European Affairs and Defence: Moldova made significant progress and demonstrated strategic alignment with EU values

The Republic of Moldova and its citizens have become an example of resilience, courage and determination, and the significant progress achieved in the European integration process has allowed the opening of negotiations on Cluster 6 “External relations”, just one month after the launch of negotiations on the first cluster “Fundamental values”. The message was delivered by the Irish Minister for European Affairs and Defence, Thomas Byrne, at the end of the Republic of Moldova – European Union intergovernmental conference held today in Brussels.

The official stated that the Republic of Moldova has demonstrated strategic alignment with the values of the European Union.

“Today we have a super Tuesday. We have the largest number of representatives at the Intergovernmental Conference. It is truly a historic day for the enlargement of the European Union. We opened the first cluster in June and today the Council decided to open Cluster 6 on external relations for the Republic of Moldova. This is truly significant progress. I was in Chisinau in March and at that time we could not even imagine that this would be possible. But the Republic of Moldova has repeatedly demonstrated strategic alignment with the values of the European Union,” said Thomas Byrne.

According to him, “the work carried out by the Government of the Republic of Moldova has registered remarkable progress.”

“The Republic of Moldova and its citizens serve as an example of resilience, courage and determination, which we can only admire within the European Union, and we congratulate you for this. Your commitment to joining the European Union demonstrates once again the importance of being part of the Union’s values of freedom and democracy,” said the Irish Minister for European Affairs and Defence.

Thomas Byrne stressed that it is very important for the Republic of Moldova to continue implementing all the necessary reforms.

“Over the coming months we will continue to monitor the progress of the Republic of Moldova within a consistent methodology. We will continue all the technical work. It is very important that the Republic of Moldova continues to implement all the necessary reforms and now is truly an excellent moment for the accession process,” the official said.

In conclusion, the Irish Minister for European Affairs and Defence had a special message for the Republic of Moldova and its citizens.

“We have no doubts whatsoever regarding the future of the Republic of Moldova and the future of its citizens within the European Union,” Thomas Byrne concluded.

Today, the Republic of Moldova opened negotiations for Cluster 6 “External relations”, within the third Republic of Moldova – European Union Intergovernmental Conference, which took place in Brussels.

Cluster 6 External relations is part of the structure of the accession negotiations with the European Union and consists of two negotiating chapters – Chapter 30, concerning the European Union’s common commercial policy, and Chapter 31, which covers foreign, security and defence policy.

The event takes place after, in June, the Republic of Moldova opened the first cluster of accession negotiations with the European Union – Cluster 1 Fundamental values, during the second EU – Republic of Moldova Intergovernmental Conference held in Luxembourg.