The decision by the European Union member states to give the green light for the opening of accession negotiations with the Republic of Moldova crowned the efforts made by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European Integration (MFAEI) in this regard. “This evolution strengthens to a greater extent our country’s position within the European family of peace, stability and security,” reads the Ministry’s report for 2023, IPN reports.
According to the Ministry, together with the obtaining of the EU candidate status and receiving of the nine recommendations formulated by the European Commission, Moldova advanced in this desideratum and carried out actions that ultimately led to the European Commission’s recommendation of November 8, 2023 to open accession negotiations with Moldova and to the EU member states’ decision of December 14 to open accession negotiations with Moldova.
The year 2023 was marked by the implementation of the nine recommendations in the proportion of 94%, according to the European Commission’s assessment.
In April, for the first time in the history of the relationship with the European Union, Moldova sent its contributions to the European Commission’s enlargement report. Also, on October 27, the Cabinet approved the National Plan for Accession to the European Union - a document that resulted from the intense cooperation of numerous institutions and active consultations with civil society.
Moldova’s integration into the European energy market continued by joining the central energy supplier Energocom to the EU’s common natural gas purchase platform and ensuring Moldelectrica’s association as an observer member of ENTSO-E.
The authorities of the Republic of Moldova and the European Commission facilitated the signing of the voluntary declaration between mobile operators of the Republic of Moldova and those of the European Union. Thanks to the declaration, as of January 1, 2024, citizens travelling in the EU will benefit from reduced roaming charges for voice calls and data roaming.
The Republic of Moldova is the candidate country with the best dynamics for implementing the Community acquis, with progress made in nine of the 35 negotiation chapters, namely: Free movement of capital (Chapter 4); Public procurement (chapter 5); Company law (Chapter 6); Financial services (chapter 9); Energy (chapter 15); Taxation (Chapter 16); Social and labor policy (chapter 19); Customs union (Chapter 29); Foreign, security and defense policy (Chapter 31).
On the security dimension, the EU Partnership Mission to the Republic of Moldova (EUPM Moldova) started work in May 2023, underlining the MFAEI’s commitment in the dialogue with EU institutions and to strengthening national security.
In an assumed approach, the Republic of Moldova strengthened its alignment with the EU’s restrictive measures by adopting several restrictive measures regimes in 2023, including those targeting the Russian Federation. Moldova ensured an increase in the alignment rate from 64% in 2022 to 88% in 2023.
