On a visit to Moldova on Friday 9 May, the European Commissioner for Enlargement, Marta Kos, expressed the hope that all the chapters of the EU accession negotiations would be opened by the end of 2025.
“I strongly believe that we will be able to open clusters in Chapters 1, 2 and 6 as soon as possible, and then all of them by the end of the year”, she announced. Cluster 1 deals with fundamental rights, Cluster 2 with the internal market, while Cluster 6 covers external relations. The other three focus on competitiveness and inclusive growth, the green agenda and sustainable connectivity, and resources, agriculture and cohesion.
Ms Kos revealed that Moldova was “the best pupil” among the enlargement countries, and that the country was making rapid progress towards the EU. The Moldovan Prime Minister, Dorin Recean, believes that his country would succeed “in becoming a Member State of the European Union not in ten years or in twenty years, but in four years”. “Moldova can do it”, he promised.
The Commissioner also took advantage of her visit to sign documents relating to the implementation of the growth plan for Moldova, which could reach €1.9 billion (see EUROPE 13602/30) to help the country catch up with EU countries. According to Ms Kos, this plan is “an expression of the EU’s trust in Moldova for its European orientation and its investment as a future member of the EU”.
“This funding provides a smart framework for investments and reforms. We want to achieve sustainable growth, which is also essential to attract foreign investment and achieve high living standards for your people”, she emphasised.
The Commissioner explained that the aim was to double the size of the Moldovan economy and create “100,000 new working jobs over the next ten years”. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)