EU–Moldova Parliamentary Association Committee calls for opening accession negotiations on all chapters

EU–Moldova Parliamentary Association Committee has called on the EU Council to open, without delay, accession negotiations for all clusters of chapters, stressing that this step would confirm recognition of Chisinau’s progress and strengthen the credibility of the enlargement process. The appeal is included in the final declaration adopted at the 17th meeting of the EU–Moldova Parliamentary Association Committee, held in Brussels.

The Parliamentary Association Committee discussed the state of Moldova’s EU accession negotiations, the country’s economic situation, as well as the geopolitical and security context, and calls on the European Council “to formally open negotiations for all clusters of chapters without any further delay, starting with the ‘Fundamentals’ cluster during the Cypriot Presidency of the Council and continuing with the other five clusters by the end of 2026,” the Declaration states.

At the same time, the Association Committee “underlines that the formal opening of accession negotiations would send a clear signal that the EU recognizes and rewards Moldova’s achievements, thereby strengthening the credibility and integrity of the enlargement process.”

The Association Committee firmly condemns the actions of the Russian Federation, including attacks on energy infrastructure and the illegal overflight of the airspace of the Republic of Moldova by drones and missiles, which are considered serious violations of sovereignty and threats to regional security.

“It firmly condemns the repeated incursions of Russian drones and missiles into the airspace of the Republic of Moldova, which since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine have exceeded 50 cases; underlines that these are serious violations of sovereignty and involve significant risks to the safety of civilians and regional stability; highlights that such actions are part of a broader pattern of hybrid threats aimed at destabilising the country and bringing it back into Moscow’s sphere of influence,” the Declaration further states.

In the declaration, the Committee welcomes the “record” pace of reforms implemented by the authorities in Chisinau, as well as the launch of technical negotiations on all six clusters of accession chapters. The document highlights the major financial support provided by the EU, including the €1.9 billion package dedicated to reforms and economic growth.

The integration of the Republic of Moldova into important European initiatives, such as “Roam Like at Home” and the SEPA area, is also appreciated as bringing direct benefits to citizens and the business environment.

Particular emphasis is placed on cooperation with Romania, especially in the field of energy security. Electricity interconnection projects are considered essential for reducing energy dependence and enabling integration into the European market.

The declaration reflects major security concerns. The Committee condemns attacks on energy infrastructure and underlines their impact on the country’s energy stability, calling for intensified cooperation between the EU and Moldova in defence, cybersecurity and crisis management.

The meeting was co-chaired by MP Marcel Spatari and MEP Dan Barna, Vice-Chair of the European Parliament Delegation for relations with Moldova. The head of the European Parliament delegation, Siegfried Mureșan, took part in the discussions online.

On the Moldovan side, the meeting was attended by several high-ranking officials, including Deputy Prime Minister for European Integration Cristina Gherasimov, Secretary General of the Government Alexei Buzu, Minister of Energy Dorin Junghietu and Deputy Secretary General of the Ministry of Justice Stela Braniște.

From the European Union, participants included Gert Jan Koopman, Director-General for Neighbourhood and Enlargement Negotiations (DG NEAR), Cristian Pîrvulescu, Co-Chair of the EU–Moldova Civil Society Platform, and Deren Derya, Head of the EEAS Division for the region.

The agenda focused on Chisinau’s main priorities: EU accession negotiations, justice reform, economic developments in the context of the Growth Plan and the future EU multiannual budget, as well as security and energy challenges.

On the margins of the meeting, Marcel Spatari held a bilateral meeting with Sven Mikser, rapporteur for the Republic of Moldova in the European Parliament’s Committee on Foreign Affairs.