The European Commission has recommended that Moldova should be granted European Union candidate status, a first step in the long process of accession. The recommendation, announced by Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on June 17, will be discussed by leaders of the 27-nation bloc during a summit next week in Brussels. Launching accession talks requires unanimous approval from all member countries, IPN reports.
The European Commission concluded that Moldova has a solid foundation in place to reach the stability of institutions guaranteeing democracy, the rule of law, human rights and respect for and protection of minorities; macroeconomic policies have been reasonably sound and progress has been made in strengthening the financial sector and business environment but key economic reforms remain to be undertaken; the country has established a solid basis to further alignment with the EU acquis.
On this basis, the Commission recommends that Moldova be given the perspective to become a member of the European Union. It should be granted candidate status on the understanding that steps are taken in a number of areas.
President Maia Sandu hailed the decision as an “important moment”. “The Commission’s Opinion, which is an institutional assessment of the general preparedness level and in specific areas of our country for the EU candidate status, is the main reference point for the European Council’s discussion next week. We bank on the fact that the EU member states at the European Council’s meeting of June 23-24 will support the European Commission’s recommendation and will grant the candidate country status to our country. We know that the process will be difficult, but we are determined to follow this path, the purpose of which is to consolidate our country in the space of European values, on the path of progress and prosperity,” she stated.
Deputy Prime Minister Nicu Popescu, Minister of Foreign Affairs and European Integration, said this is a new historical day for Moldova in its European integration efforts. He said that together with the teams of the Presidential Office, the Government and Parliament, they are determined to step up the reforms expected by the citizens. “We realize that this process will be a complex one and will have a clear goal - to develop and modernize the Republic of Moldova and to obtain the EU candidate status. The Republic of Moldova belongs to the European Union – it is our country project. We are a European country. Our language, the Romanian language, is an official language of the Union. We have a European history with a European democratic political system,” stated Nicu Popescu.
The Republic of Moldova submitted an application for EU membership on March 3, 2022.