Moldova faces EU demand to fully enforce Russia sanctions

Moldova will be required to fully align with the European Union's sanctions against Russia as part of its accession process, Parliament Speaker Igor Grosu has said, underscoring one of the key obligations under the country's ongoing membership negotiations.

Speaking in an interview with Moldova 1 TV, Grosu said the requirement is linked to the recently opened second of six negotiation clusters, which covers foreign policy, trade, and security.

"If we want to become a member of the European Union, we must join the economic sanctions imposed on the Russian Federation to constrain its economy and ensure that our system is not used to circumvent or evade those sanctions," Grosu said.

He noted that alignment with the EU's restrictive measures is among the commitments Moldova must undertake as it advances in the accession talks.

Earlier, Foreign Minister Mihai Popșoi said Moldova has already aligned with around 80% of the EU's sanctions against Russia, including both individual restrictive measures and broader economic sanctions.

Moldova's accession negotiations are structured around 33 negotiating chapters grouped into six thematic clusters. While the opening of new clusters marks progress in the country's EU integration process, it neither guarantees membership nor sets a deadline for accession.

By Vafa Guliyeva