VIDEO // Moldovan PM: “Our goal is to complete technical work required to conclude the negotiations by early 2028 and prepare Moldova for membership by 2030”

Moldova aims to complete the technical work required to conclude accession negotiations with the European Union by early 2028 and be ready for EU membership by 2030. Prime Minister Vasile Tofan made statements to this effect at a news conference held after the 10th meeting of the Moldova–European Union Association Council, which took place in Brussels today.

The PM noted that the European integration was Moldova’s national project.

“The political, technical, financial and security support we receive on behalf of the European Union is essential to moving this project forward. We are deeply grateful for this support and do not take it for granted. Our goal is to complete the technical work required to conclude the negotiations by early 2028 and prepare Moldova for membership by 2030,” Vasile Tofan said.





Fereastră în fereastră (iframe)

The prime minister said that Clusters 1 and 6 had been opened in the last summer, and the Moldovan authorities are working to open the remaining clusters and ensure the timely assessment of the interim benchmarks.

“It is an ambitious timetable. But we are not afraid of ambitious tasks. We are not asking for lower standards or shortcuts. We believe in a predictable, merit-based process, in which progress on reforms is followed by progress in the negotiations,” the PM said.

Another topic addressed by the prime minister was the implementation of the Growth Plan. According to him, during the latest reporting period, Moldova fulfilled 18 reform commitments, on the basis of which the European Commission is disbursing an additional 157 million euros.

“Under the Reform Agenda, we have so far fulfilled approximately 95 per cent of the measures planned for the concerned period,” Vasile Tofan said.

The funds will contribute to financing investments in transport, energy, water and sewage systems, healthcare and education.

The prime minister also highlighted the results of economic integration. In the first half of the year, approximately two-thirds of Moldova’s goods exports were directed to the European Union, amounting to around 1.3 billion euros, an increase of more than 10 per cent.

Vasile Tofan also mentioned the concrete benefits of closer ties with the EU, including Moldova’s connection to SEPA, the simplification of freight transport through the Common Transit Convention and lower roaming costs with the European Union.

“These are very concrete examples of European integration,” the PM said.

At the same time, the prime minister stressed that responsibility for implementing the reforms lied with the Moldovan authorities.

“Brussels can provide us with access to the market, funding, expertise and political support. But Brussels cannot make our institutions function better. It cannot implement projects on our behalf. It cannot simplify our procedures. This part of the work must be done in Chisinau,” Vasile Tofan said.

The prime minister also addressed the security situation and noted that repeated violations of Moldova’s airspace by Russian drones and missiles pose a risk to the population and civilian infrastructure.

“For us, air surveillance and air defense are clear priorities,” Tofan said.

Energy security was another topic discussed. According to the prime minister, the government has prepared for the cold season and worked to ensure supplies, but the main challenge this winter will be the affordability of energy prices.

“Our responsibility as a government is to ensure supplies and protect the most vulnerable households from the impact of the energy price shock,” Vasile Tofan said.

The prime minister also emphasized the European Union’s support for diversifying supply sources, developing energy interconnections, reforming the market and protecting vulnerable consumers.

“A few years ago, much of what we discussed at this Association Council would have seemed distant: accession negotiations, integration into the European market, SEPA, European roaming, new energy interconnections and deeper cooperation in the field of security. Today, these are concrete realities,” the prime minister concluded.

Vasile Tofan said he was leaving the Association Council with a clear work programme, but also with confidence.

“Moldova has made significant progress; the European Union has stood by us at every important stage and now we have the opportunity to take the next steps together.

For Moldova, the task is to continue delivering results—in reforms, investments, security and protecting our citizens throughout the coming winter,” Vasile Tofan said.

During the today’s meeting of the Moldova–EU Association Council, the past 12 months of cooperation between Moldova and the European Union were reviewed. Officials also discussed reforms implemented in such areas as security, justice, the economy and energy.

The Association Council is an annual high-level dialogue format between  Moldova and the European Union, established under the Association Agreement signed in 2014.