EU begins preparations for Moldova accession talks

The European Union has begun preparatory steps toward launching accession negotiations with Moldova, the country’s Deputy Prime Minister for European Integration, Cristina Gherasimov, said, pointing to renewed momentum under the bloc’s Cypriot presidency.

In a statement posted on Facebook, Gherasimov said the presidency of Cyprus in the Council of the European Union had taken “new important steps” to formally advance Moldova’s path toward membership.

“Under the presidency of Cyprus in the Council of the EU, new important steps have been taken to formally advance the accession process of the Republic of Moldova to the European Union. This is an important signal that enlargement remains a strategic priority for the European Union and that Moldova continues to enjoy support on its European path. For us, this moment means continuing the work started domestically: reforms, alignment with European standards, and preparation for the official opening of all negotiation clusters,” she said.

The move signals continued political backing within the EU for enlargement, although the start of formal negotiations does not guarantee eventual membership and comes without a fixed timeline.

According to a previous report by Politico, citing diplomatic sources in Brussels, the European Union is expected to open accession talks with Moldova and Ukraine on June 15 at an intergovernmental conference in Luxembourg.

Any decision to formally launch negotiations requires unanimous approval from all EU member states.

By Tamilla Hasanova