The Presidents of the European Council, António Costa, and of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, assured Moldovan President Maia Sandu of the European Union’s full support for Moldova on its road to EU membership, on Friday 4 July in Chișinău, at the first bilateral EU/Moldova Summit (see EUROPE 13673/20).
“Moldova’s future lies within the EU”, declared Mr Costa at the end of the summit. He recalled the conclusions of the European Council of Thursday 26 June, which had invited the Council of the EU to take further steps in the accession negotiations - i.e. to open the first negotiating chapter on fundamental rights - “ when the conditions are met”. Ms von der Leyen confirmed that the European Commission was ready to open “all chapters” of the accession negotiations.
Both were unable to say whether the first chapter of EU accession negotiations would be opened in time for the general election to be held this autumn. Hungary is blocking the opening of accession negotiations with Ukraine and the EU countries have not taken the political decision to ‘decouple’ the EU accession negotiations with Moldova and Ukraine.
This will happen “sooner than later”, promised Mr Costa. This will take “a little while”, admitted Ms von der Leyen.
In their joint declaration adopted at the end of the summit, Moldova and the EU reiterate their commitment to making swift progress in Moldova’s accession process “based on credible reforms and the principle of own merits”.
With regard to economic cooperation, Ms von der Leyen announced the payment of €270 million in pre-financing under the €1.9 billion Moldova Reform and Growth Facility for the period 2025-2027 (see EUROPE 13594/24).
“This means a new regional hospital in Bălți, the restoration of district heating in Chișinău and a reduction in electricity and gas bills”, said the President of the Commission in her opening speech at the bilateral summit. She announced as well the end of telephone roaming charges between the EU and Moldova. Since March, when Moldovan banks joined the SEPA payments area, money transfers to and from the EU have been cheaper.
The EU and Moldova have reiterated their commitment to moving from temporary trade liberalisation measures to permanent measures “as soon as possible”.
On security issues, the two partners “strongly condemn the persistent and increasing hybrid threats posed by Russia aiming to undermine democratic elections in Moldova, including information manipulation and interference, and the use of largescale electoral corruption through local proxies”. And, in order to counter Russia’s “continued weaponisation of energy” to destabilise the country, the EU is encouraging Moldova to “continue energy market reforms, including implementation of the Energy Community acquis” in this sector.
To see the EU/Moldova Summit declaration: https://aeur.eu/f/hq2 (Original version in French by Mathieu Bion)