EU Expansion Chief Commends Moldova’s Progress, Urges Faster Reforms for EU Accession

The European Union’s Expansion Commissioner, Marta Kos, praised Moldova for its significant progress in its EU accession journey. She emphasized that although Moldova has performed remarkably among candidate countries, much remains to be done before full EU membership can be realized. Her comments came during a conference titled “2025 Expansion Report: Progress and Future Priorities for the Republic of Moldova” held in Chișinău.

Moldova’s Achievements Recognized

Marta Kos noted that Moldova stands out as a leading candidate, particularly commending the nation’s determination to join the EU. She described Moldova as “the best students in my class” during her fourth visit to the country this year. The commissioner expressed her gratitude and acknowledged Moldova’s impressive progress, which was highlighted in the recent Expansion Report.

Reforms Needed for EU Accession

Despite the commendations, Kos urged Moldovan leaders to accelerate their reform agenda. She stated that while Moldova has ambitious goals, achieving them realistically depends on the speed of current reforms. Kos highlighted the need for 2026 to be a year of implementation to ensure the success of the accession process.

• Key figures:
  • Maia Sandu – President of Moldova
  • Cristina Gherasimov – Deputy Prime Minister for European Integration
  • Marta Kos – EU Expansion Commissioner
  • Alexandru Munteanu – Prime Minister of Moldova
• Priority areas identified:
  • Judicial reforms
  • Anti-corruption efforts

Support for Moldova’s EU Aspirations

Munteanu, the new Prime Minister, echoed Kos’s remarks, asserting that the nation’s European aspirations are unwavering. He expressed Moldova’s commitment to concluding negotiations and signing the Accession Treaty by 2028. In his discussions with Kos, he emphasized the need for continued support and collaboration to bolster Moldova’s democratic resilience.

Recent Developments

Officials discussed the implementation of the Growth Plan for Moldova. They acknowledged the strict monitoring system being applied for this plan. Additionally, they highlighted the benefits brought about by Moldova’s recent accession to the Single Euro Payments Area (SEPA), starting from January 1, 2026, as well as joining the “Roam Like at Home” initiative within the EU.

Looking Ahead

The European Commission’s recent annual Expansion package underscores the EU’s support for Moldova’s ambitious goals. The document aims for Moldova to potentially conclude accession negotiations by 2028. Romania has also advocated for the opening of all negotiation clusters with Moldova to facilitate its European integration.