Moldovan president says Moldova ready to open accession negotiations with EU on all chapter clusters

Moldova is ready to open negotiations on all clusters of chapters and the European Commission and the European Council confirm that we are prepared. We must not let this moment pass. We will keep our word and carry forward this responsibility – for our citizens, who deserve peace, security and prosperity at home, in the European family. President Maia Sandu has made statements to this effect following the EU – Moldova Summit, which took place in Brussels today.

At a joint news conference with President of the European Council António Costa, and the President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen, the head of state thanked them for the long‑standing partnership between Moldova and the European Union.

“Our joint declaration states it very clearly: Moldova’s future is in the European Union. Thus, last Monday, in Luxembourg, we opened negotiations on the first cluster of chapters – the one on fundamental values. The rule of law, democratic institutions and fundamental rights are at the core of the European project. In the area of the rule of law, change is real. In five years, we have climbed 25 positions in Transparency International’s Corruption Perceptions Index and 14 in the World Justice Project Rule of Law Index. Our courts have handed down convictions in major corruption cases. The vetting of judges and prosecutors is delivering results – 60 per cent of judges have already been evaluated – and we will complete this process in the near future. In just one year, citizens’ trust in justice has almost doubled. Those who believed themselves above the law have learned that the law is the same for everyone,” Maia Sandu said.

The official also presented the results achieved by the country in the field of fundamental rights. Moldova ranks 31st in the press freedom index compiled by Reporters Without Borders, the best result in the region. Last year, the country also entered the top ten countries for gender equality in the World Economic Forum ranking.

Referring to the economic field, Maia Sandu noted that the European Union is Moldova’s largest trading partner.

“More than half of our trade is with the EU. European investments have increased by almost 30 per cent in four years. The Growth Plan for Moldova is being translated into concrete projects. And for this, I thank you. Today we welcome three new agreements. Gebauer & Griller and the European Commission are signing a letter of intent for new cooperation that will link our automotive industry even more closely to the European one. The Commission and the advanced technologies park Moldova HiTech Park are joining forces to build an entrepreneurship and research center in medical technology. At the same time,  Education and Research Ministry is signing a framework agreement with the Commission’s Joint Research Centre, in order to advance together in the field of research and innovation,” she said.

President Maia Sandu highlighted the progress made by Moldova in the energy sector, stressing that the country had managed to eliminate its dependence on Russian energy resources, despite the challenges triggered by the energy crisis and the war in the region.

“In energy, the transformation is most visible. Four years ago, Moldova was entirely dependent on Russia, its only supplier. Today we are free from this dependence – a step that no government dared to take for three decades. We have connected our electricity grid to Europe. We have increased the share of renewables from 3 per cent to 25 per cent of the electricity produced in households. We did this in the middle of a crisis, with a war on our border. We turned our greatest vulnerability into a strength. We had the support of our citizens, despite the unprecedented economic hardship caused by rising prices. In the field of security, Moldova is already making a contribution. Our soldiers are taking part in peacekeeping missions in Kosovo, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Lebanon. Our firefighters intervene in Europe when disasters occur. We are sharing hard‑won experience from the front line of the struggle for democracy – facing Russian disinformation, cyberattacks and dirty money,” Maia Sandu said.

The official stressed that the reforms promoted by the Moldovan authorities  proved Moldova’s firm commitment to the European path and meet the expectations of citizens who have chosen integration into the European Union.

“We have made commitments and we are honoring them, even under difficult conditions. And we are doing more than the European Union asks of us. We have launched one of the most difficult reforms so far, the one of local public administration, in order to bring better public services closer to the people. We keep our word while facing a hybrid war: information manipulation, interference in elections, energy blackmail, cyberattacks – all meant to divide us and divert us from our European path. We have resisted. We have protected the integrity of elections. We have strengthened institutions and have not allowed dirty money to buy state power. We have invested in our cyber‑defense and built tools to counter external manipulation. We have built this democratic resilience, which is now the foundation of everything we are constructing and we bring it with us to the negotiating table,” she added.

In the context, Maia Sandu underlined that the enlargement of the European Union was the most important investment in the security and stability of the continent, and that Moldova was determined to make full use of the window of opportunity that has opened for accession.

“Today, in Brussels, Moldova’s partnership with the EU has become stronger. Our work is bearing fruit. Reforms are recognized and rewarded – with European funds, with investments, with trust. We will keep our word: we will continue to meet the conditions, with full responsibility. The alignment we have today is rare – a clear mandate from citizens, the pace of reforms at home and the recognition, in European capitals, that enlargement is the best investment in the security of the European Union. Such windows of opportunity open and close. Ours is open now. This is a race against time, which we want to win. We ask for only one thing – a merit‑based process. Moldova is doing its part. We count on the support of the 27 member states. As we move forward, every step brings concrete results for people – peace, safety and opportunities at home, in Moldova, in the European family,” Maia Sandu concluded.

The Moldova – European Union Summit took place in Brussels today. The meeting comes one week after the official opening of accession negotiations on the first cluster of chapters, “Fundamental values”, marking a new stage on the country’s European path.

During the event, leaders discussed the next steps in the negotiations and Moldova’s reform agenda. The summit’s agenda also includes topics related to the regional situation, the strengthening of cooperation in security and defense, energy, as well as the EU’s support for the economic development of Moldova.