The European Council has welcomed the significant progress made by the Republic of Moldova on its path toward European Union accession, reaffirming the strong support of all 27 member states for the country’s integration efforts.
In the conclusions adopted Thursday evening in Brussels, EU leaders praised the Moldovan authorities for their firm commitment and effective actions to safeguard the integrity of the recent electoral process, despite hybrid threats and interference attempts by the Russian Federation aimed at undermining Moldova’s democratic institutions.
“The European Union will continue to work closely with the Republic of Moldova to enhance the country’s resilience and stability and to capitalize on its experience through lessons learned,” the official European Council Conclusions state.
The document also encourages Moldovan authorities, the Council, and the European Commission to maintain their momentum in the accession process, following a merit-based approach. According to the conclusions, the “Fundamental Values” cluster will be opened first and closed last, while the “Internal Market” and “External Relations” clusters will open once the necessary conditions are fulfilled.
Cristina Gherasimov, Acting Deputy Prime Minister for European Integration, welcomed the conclusions, describing them as a recognition of the reforms achieved and the joint effort of the government and citizens.
“The conclusions of the European Council meeting in Brussels give us great confidence. They represent an acknowledgment of the Government’s work and the progress our society has made on the path toward the EU. We thank the 27 EU leaders who reaffirmed their strong support for Moldova’s European course — a clear sign that the doors of the European Union are wide open for our country,” Gherasimov said.
The autumn European Council meeting also discussed EU enlargement and the progress of candidate countries, including Moldova, Ukraine, and Georgia.