The Euronest Parliamentary Assembly adopted a resolution on the opening of accession negotiations with the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine until the end of this year. The document urges to gradually integrate the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine into the European Single Market, before the completion of the accession negotiations, IPN reports.

“We just adopted, in the Euronest Parliamentary Assembly in Chisinau, a resolution by which we request the European Commission and the Council of the EU to make the necessary approaches to open accession negotiations with the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine until the end of this year,” stated MEP Siegfried Mureșan.

The resolution on the strategic importance of opening EU accession negotiations with the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine was initiated by the European People’s Party Group and was adopted today by the Euronest PA by 36 votes in favor, no vote against and one abstention.

“In the text of the resolution, we also ask to gradually integrate the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine into the European Single Market, before the completion of the accession negotiations. This way, by the integration of the two countries into the Single Market, the citizens of Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova will swifter feel a part of the most important benefits of the accession to the European Union, such as the creation of new, stable and well-paid jobs, attraction of new European investors to the two countries, increasing of exports of Moldovan and Ukrainian products to the European Union and easier access to EU products at lower prices,” noted Siegfried Mureșan.

The Romanian MEP said it is strategically important to set clear time limits for completing the accession negotiations with the candidate countries towards the end of this decade at the latest.

The Euronest Parliamentary Assembly brings together 60 members of the European Parliament and 50 MPs of Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Moldova and, respectively, Ukraine. The participation of Belarus in the Euronest Parliamentary Assembly was suspended owing to the political situation in Minsk.

The tenth ordinary session of the Euronest Parliamentary Assembly is taking place in Chisinau during February 20-21.