The reconfirmation of the European course of the Republic of Moldova, by the vote of September 28, brings to attention the scenarios regarding the accession to the European Union. European leaders point out that a customized response is needed, but the integration process remains complicated by a series of major obstacles that the state faces.
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“We want to adhere to the EU in one step, with the reunited country, but, in the situation we will not have this possibility – because you know that the Russian Federation maintains its illegal troops on the territory of the Republic of Moldova and this is the largest obstacle for the reunification of the country – for this situation there is a second scenario,”said Maia Sandu after the parliamentary elections last Sunday, in which the pro-European, step party, won over 50% of the votes, an almost double percentage of the patriotic block, the main opposition formation with pro-Russian affinities. PAS gets over 50 of the 101 mandates of the Parliament, thus ensuring the pro-European leadership of the future government in Chisinau.
The Republic of Moldova officially submitted its candidacy for accession to the European Union on March 3, 2022, and on June 23, 2022, the European Council granted the Republic of Moldova the status of candidate. So far, the state has gone through a screening process of the legislation, that is, each chapter has been analyzed to see where there is already harmonization between the EU legislation and that of the Republic of Moldova. The stage of the negotiations on the chapters follows, but they cannot start and cannot be completed without a unanimous vote of the EU Member States.
Accession, earlier with 2 years
So far, “Moldova in the EU until 2030” was the most optimistic scenario promised by current government. However, on the eve of the parliamentary elections, the clock was scheduled to sound two years earlier, an analysis published by the Center for Policies and Reforms shows – CPR.
In fact, the new term coincides with the end of the current mandate of the European Commission, whose member, Marta Kos, an expansion commissioner, said on several occasions that he wants to become an EU member during his term. In fact, other states have begun to target the same term, but they have the status of candidate for several years. Montenegro, who became a candidate in 2010 and Albania, who obtained the status in 2014.
Hungary’s blockage
However, the negotiations regarding the accession of Moldova to the EU are blocked, the Government of Hungary, refusing to approve the opening of negotiations with Ukraine, a state whose file is related to that of the Republic of Moldova. The President of the European Council, Antonio Costa, initiated discussions to advance the request of Ukraine to access the EU and begin negotiations by bypassing the vote of all the Member States, as required by the current regulation. Costa proposed to change the rules so that the negotiations could start with the vote of a qualified majority, instead of unanimity.
In addition to the opposition of Hungary, the new proposal also meets the opposition of several states, including France, the Netherlands and Greece. The negotiations are carried out separately on each chapter, being a total of 6 “negotiation clusters” for 33 chapters, and the conclusion of each chapter also requires a unanimous vote.
scenarios
“There is also the variant of an accession in two steps, as in the case of Cyprus” – Siegfried Mureșan, president of the Delegation of the European Parliament for relations with the Republic of Moldova.
The Republic of Moldova does not only face the blockade of Ukraine regarding the accession, but also with the problem of the Transnistrian separatist region. After the 1992 war, Russia kept troops in Transnistria, which currently has about 1,500 military, most of them now locals. Their main objective is the guarding of a large Soviet armament warehouse.
“The situation in the Transnistrian region is not an obstacle to the accession of the Republic of Moldova to the European Union. The desired scenario is for the Republic of Moldova to adhere to the European Union in one step, with the reunited country. If this is not possible due to the illegal presence of Russian troops in the Transnistrian region, there is also the variant of a two steps, as has happened in the case of Cyprus. Essential is for the Republic of Moldova to advance based on the progress already obtained and not be blocked by this situation ”explains for the “truth” the MEP Siegfried Mureșan, president of the delegation of the European Parliament for relations with the Republic of Moldova.
Regarding a possible decoupling from the file of Ukraine, the MEP shows that the version is not excluded. “The Republic of Moldova and Ukraine have started together the European road, but the rules are clear: each state adheres when it is prepared, based on its own merits. The accession can occur together or separately. For the Republic of Moldova there is no opposition. The difficulties appear in the case of Ukraine from Vladimir Putin’s friends in Hungary. the president of the delegation also points out. The negotiations are worn separately anyway, on each file.
“The European leaders must come with a reaction to the result of the elections in the Republic of Moldova and the best reaction would consist of a unanimous decision on the start of the chapters” – Victor Negrescu, vice president of the Parliament
The Vice -President of the European Parliament, Victor Negrescu, initiated an approach to support the negotiations to access the Republic of Moldova. According to him, the determined result of the parliamentary elections in the Republic of Moldova must be followed by an equally determined response to the European leaders:
“I believe that European leaders must come up with a reaction to the result of the elections in the Republic of Moldova and the best reaction would consist of a unanimous decision on the beginning of the chapters on the accession of the Republic of Moldova to the European Union. It would be confirmed that the Republic of Moldova is getting closer to the accession to the European Union and it would be an adequate response to the Republic of Moldova. In which they voted in these elections, the support for the European course of the Republic of Moldova.
The Vice -President of the European Legislature also shows that the discussions for changing the voting method are wider. “The President of the European Council, Antonio Costa, proposed to change the voting method, not to exist unanimously, to have a qualified majority in what these decisions regarding the start of the chapters and maybe even the extension, an approach that I personally support and who believe that also benefits from the support of the majority of the European Parliament. We will see if this proposed method can be effectively implemented ”, the European leader for “Adevărul” also explains.
Cyprus joined the European Union in 2004, but the EU legislation does not apply throughout the island, in the north being a separatist region only recognized by Ankara. Therefore, the state is in a situation similar to that of the Republic of Moldova. In the context of taking over the rotary presidency of the Council of the European Union, on January 1, 2026, Cyprus affirms its firm support for the European course of the Republic of Moldova and gives assurances that it will promote the expansion agenda.
