President: Moldova aims to conclude EU accession negotiations by 2028 and calls for stronger European mechanisms to protect rule of law after accession

President of the Republic of Moldova Maia Sandu participated today in the annual Conference on European Union enlargement, dedicated to the 2026 Enlargement Package, alongside European Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos. The President reiterated the objective of concluding accession negotiations by 2028 and welcomed the strengthening of European mechanisms to protect the rule of law, so that reforms are maintained after accession and the Republic of Moldova cannot be turned back from its European path.

The head of state welcomed the conclusions of the 2026 Enlargement Report, which confirms the Republic of Moldova’s progress in all 33 negotiation chapters. Our country has opened four of the six chapter clusters and is ready to open the remaining two. For the first time, the European Commission mentioned that the objective of concluding negotiations by the beginning of 2028, although ambitious, is achievable.

“We have demonstrated that Moldova can move forward even when its security is threatened,” the President said, referring to the progress achieved despite Russia’s war against Ukraine, energy crises, and attempts to destabilize the country.

The President thanked the European Commission and Commissioner Marta Kos for their support and emphasized that the Republic of Moldova’s progress must be recognized through concrete decisions by the member states, based on merit. The head of state also thanked the institutions involved, Parliament, civil society, the business community, local authorities, and the diaspora for their contribution to the reforms, stressing that 2027 must be a year of concrete results, particularly in terms of implementation.

“Not all decisions regarding enlargement depend on us. But one thing certainly depends on each of us: what kind of country we build at home. A country where the law is respected. Where people can work and live in safety. Where we are free, respected, and respectful of others. This is the Moldova we must build, regardless of how difficult the journey is. And this is the Moldova we want to bring into the European Union,” the head of state said.

The conference, organized by the Bureau for European Integration and the Institute for European Policies and Reforms, included a presentation of the 2026 Enlargement Report for the Republic of Moldova by Deputy Prime Minister for European Integration Cristina Gherasimov and brought together representatives of state institutions, civil society, local authorities, business community and European officials.