Moldovan authorities are ready to begin EU accession negotiations in September, announced Cristina Gherasimov, Deputy Prime Minister for European Integration, during an interview with Moldova 1.
According to Gherasimov, Chisinau has completed the essential technical stage of the accession process — the screening, which involved a detailed comparison between national and EU legislation.
“We are at the end of the screening. The European Council has determined that Moldova is ready to open the first cluster of negotiations — the one on fundamental values,” Gherasimov stated.
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Focus on the Rule of Law and Democratic Institutions
The accession process will begin with the fundamental values cluster, which includes the rule of law, justice reform, and fundamental rights, considered the cornerstone of European integration. To guide this phase, the Moldovan government has already adopted three reform roadmaps focusing on:
- Public administration,
- The justice sector,
- The functioning of democratic institutions.
“We have accomplished everything necessary from a technical standpoint to open negotiations. Our reform efforts have been acknowledged and appreciated in Brussels,” Gherasimov added.
Broad EU Support and Strategic Partnerships
Gherasimov emphasized that Moldova enjoys the unanimous backing of all 27 EU member states. During recent diplomatic visits to Lithuania, Latvia, and Finland, she secured further commitments of support in critical areas such as:
- Countering disinformation,
- Training civil servants,
- Investments in green energy.
Combating Disinformation Amid Regional Tensions
In the context of the ongoing hybrid warfare in the region, driven by the Russian Federation, Gherasimov warned of the heightened threat of disinformation and called on Moldovan citizens to rely on official and trustworthy sources of information.
“It’s not the first time our country has been targeted by campaigns designed to create fear and instability. It’s important to trust that our citizens can discern between truth and manipulation,” she said.
Moldova’s next step toward EU integration will formally begin this September, marking a historic moment in the country’s European path.