President Maia Sandu says the Republic of Moldova has reached the stage where it must begin the next round of negotiations for European Union accession, but Hungary’s stance on Ukraine is blocking the process, News.ro reports.
In an interview with Rock FM, Sandu discussed Moldova’s path toward EU integration and rejected the idea of proceeding without a veto right for Moldova and Ukraine.
“No one has raised this issue or discussed it. Of course, we want to become a full-fledged member. We are ready to start the next phase of negotiations. Hungary’s refusal regarding Ukraine is blocking this process, but we already know what reforms we need to implement. Whether the official process begins or not, we are already moving forward with the required measures,” Sandu said.
The president stressed that Moldovan authorities must align national legislation with European standards.
“We have a lot of work ahead. It’s an invisible front — one that citizens may not see or fully understand — but we must succeed in aligning our legal framework with the EU’s and addressing citizens’ immediate needs. We aim to stimulate economic growth despite the uncertainty caused by the war in Ukraine. We are determined to move forward, and we have Parliament’s support — that’s what matters most,” Sandu stated.
When asked whether Moldova might separate its EU accession path from Ukraine, Sandu reaffirmed that enlargement must remain merit-based.
“Both countries should advance to the next stage because that’s what the European Union itself says. It’s a merit-based process. The European Commission has confirmed in its reports — and we’ll have another report in a week — that both Moldova and Ukraine have fulfilled their commitments. I hope to see a decision soon that allows both countries to move forward,” Sandu told Romanian media.