Moldova has shown determination in implementing reforms for EU accession and cluster negotiations with it could start in early 2025 - European Commission
This is the conclusion of the European Commission, which presented the 2024 Enlargement Package, conclusions and recommendations for the candidate countries. The European Commission noted that Moldova has made significant progress towards EU accession. The European Commission emphasized the level of Moldova's preparations for accession, mainly in 5 key chapters: education and culture, regional policy, EU Customs Union, energy, environment and climate change. It is emphasized that the opening of the accession negotiations was an important recognition of Moldova's determination to continue reforms on the path of EU accession, despite the constant interference of Russia and the consequences of the war against Ukraine. Following the first intergovernmental conference in June 2024, the analytical examination of the legal framework (screening) is well underway. “If Moldova fulfills all conditions, the European Commission expects to start cluster negotiations, starting with the basic provisions, as soon as possible in 2025,” the EC said. Deputy Prime Minister for European Integration Cristina Gherasimov said that the European Commission's Enlargement Package shows that the efforts undertaken by Moldova have borne fruit, and this is reflected in the important progress recorded in almost every chapter. She specified that Moldova made progress in 31 of the 33 chapters, and did not regress in any chapter. Compared to the previous reporting period (2022-2023), the European Commission found that in 8 chapters - consumer protection and health, education and culture, transport, environment, customs union, regional policy and coordination of structural instruments, intellectual property rights, statistics - more progress has been made than in the previous year. In terms of preparation for the implementation of the European legislation, in just 12 months, improvements were registered in 5 chapters: energy, environment, education and culture, regional policy and coordination of structural instruments, customs union. “Moldova is on the right track. This report of the European Commission shows us that our country is strengthening its democracy and justice, defending its fundamental values, developing its economy and labor market, taking steps towards better education, providing its citizens with safer and cleaner energy, but also that we are now preparing our institutions for our future in the European Union,” Deputy Prime Minister for European Integration said. She said Moldova has excellent achievements, and the European Commission emphasized that they took place amid unprecedented hybrid attacks on our country and democracy. “Of course, we still have a lot of work to do, the report contains a number of recommendations on the steps we should take,” Cristina Gherasimov said, thanking all the state institutions and officials, civil society and the business environment that contributed to bringing Moldova even closer to the EU in 2024. // 31.10.2024 – InfoMarket
