European Parliament calls for the start of negotiations on Moldova's accession to the European Union
The European Parliament voted a resolution calling for the start of negotiations on Moldova's accession to the European Union by the end of 2023, after the nine recommendations set out by the European Commission have been met. The announcement was made by MEP Siegfried Mureșan.
According to him, the resolution was adopted by a large majority, 555 votes in favour, 49 against and 26 abstentions. This shows that Moldova's European integration enjoys the support of MEPs from all corners of Europe and from all pro-European political groups, the MEP said.
"Accession to the European Union is what the citizens of the Republic of Moldova want and it is something for which the authorities in Chisinau have worked very hard over the past year, making significant progress towards the reforms needed for European integration. The Russian Federation wants to prevent this and that is why it is trying by all means to destabilise the situation in the country and to halt Moldova's European course", Siegfried Mureșan added.
Thus, the European Parliament asks the European Commission to transfer the remaining funds of the €150 million macro-financial assistance adopted in 2022, as well as the €105 million budget support announced by the European Commission in November 2022, to Moldova as soon as possible.
"In order to increase support for Moldova, we also call for the strengthening of the European Union Security Hub in Moldova, including by increasing financial allocations to this hub, as well as the creation of a sanctions regime against oligarchs who, together with the Russian Federation, want to destabilise the Republic of Moldova," the MEP adds.
At the same time, the European legislator also calls for full liberalisation of trade between the European Union and Moldova and the gradual integration of the Republic of Moldova into the EU Single Market.
