Latvia’s Foreign Minister: Moldova - very well prepared for EU accession. We are awaiting opening of next clusters

The Republic of Moldova is very well prepared for accession to the European Union, and Latvia is looking forward to the opening of the next clusters. Latvia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Baiba Braže made the statement during “Briefing” podcast, a co-production of TVR Moldova and the Institute for European Policies and Reforms (IPRE).

In a discussion with expert Daniel Vodă, the Latvian official emphasized that the Republic of Moldova has successfully started the process of accession to the European Union.

“The country is very well prepared, and Latvia is eagerly awaiting the opening of the next negotiation clusters and the European Commission’s report on the progress made by the candidate countries,” said Baiba Braže.

The minister stressed that the accession process should not be used by member states to settle political or bilateral disputes.

“There are situations where some member states have political or bilateral issues that they try to resolve through the accession process. This is not correct. Latvia has not acted in this way. We hope that other countries will not resort to such practices either,” Baiba Braže said.

She also noted that the Republic of Moldova’s experience in countering Russian interference is useful for Latvia ahead of its elections.

“Russia is currently a deeply authoritarian regime, with a single vertical of power, and everything revolves around the war. The war is the main factor of cohesion, but Russia is failing to achieve its objectives. This is also one of Russia’s weaknesses. It cannot win its war of aggression, because Ukraine wants to be free. Ukraine wants to be Ukraine, and not Russia,” Baiba Braže remarked.

The head of Latvian diplomacy underlined that she sees the Republic of Moldova as part of the European Union.

“We will all be in the European Union. A Europe at peace, more united, competitive and capable of defending its values, in which the Republic of Moldova is part of the EU. For me, Ukraine will defeat Russia in one way or another. There will be a lasting peace on the European continent. We will all be able to travel freely. We will all be in the European Union,” Baiba Braže concluded.

The Republic of Moldova opened its first EU accession negotiation cluster – Cluster 1 “Fundamental Values” – on 15 June 2026, during the second EU–Republic of Moldova Intergovernmental Conference held in Luxembourg.

Subsequently, on 14 July 2026, in Brussels, our country and the EU opened negotiations on Cluster 6 – “External Relations” – during the third Republic of Moldova–EU Intergovernmental Conference, making it the second group of chapters opened in the accession process.