VIDEO // Romanian president says there is European-wide consensus to support Moldova, Ukraine, despite nuances on pace of accession to EU

President of Romania Nicusor Dan today reaffirmed, at the end of the informal European Council summit in Cyprus, Bucharest’s unconditional support for the European integration of Moldova and Ukraine. At a news conference, the Romanian head of state addressed the diplomatic sensitivity of “linking” the two states in the accession process, highlighting Ukraine’s recent military progress and the need for an ambitious European budget for the 2028–2034 period.

Asked whether Moldova, given its smaller size, might benefit from a faster accession process than Ukraine, President Nicusor Dan acknowledged the existence of an intense debate among EU leaders.

“Here there is a debate, and we should not hide it. There is a discussion about the so‑called coupling–decoupling between the two countries. There are countries that say that any state gained is a gain for the Union, and there are countries that say that Ukraine is in fact fighting for Europe, and that for the morale of the soldiers and for the morale of Ukrainian society, such a decoupling would be a discouraging factor,” the Romanian president noted.

Nicusor Dan specified that the discussion on Moldova’s European path stayed closely linked to the regional security context, noting that “Ukraine’s accession to the Union is somehow connected to Moldova’s accession.”

During discussions with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, European leaders received encouraging updates from the front line. According to President Dan, for the first time since the beginning of the conflict, territorial dynamics indicate a change of course in favor of the Ukrainian defense forces.

At the same time, the Romanian president welcomed the unblocking of the strategic 90 billion-euros loan and the launch of the 20th package of sanctions against the Russian Federation, stressing that even Hungary has dropped its opposition on these critical files.

Beyond enlargement dossiers, the President of Romania advocated for an “ambitious and large” European Union budget for the 2028–2034 financial cycle, one that directly addresses the security needs of the Eastern Flank and reduces economic disparities between member states.

In the opinion of Romania, the Union must consider new sources of financing, including the possibility of borrowing at the common level to accelerate development without placing additional pressure on national budgets.

Negotiations on the new multiannual financial framework are expected to be concluded by the end of 2026, providing predictability to member states and countries in the accession process starting from 2028.