EU Opens Talks with Moldova, Ukraine for Membership
The 27 member states of the European Union (EU) confirmed the commencement of accession negotiations with Moldova and Ukraine on Tuesday, June 25th.
The announcement was made on Friday, June 21st, by the Belgian presidency of the Council of the European Union, according to AFP news agency.
EU finance ministers, meeting in Luxembourg, formally adopted the framework for accession talks with the two candidate countries. This action confirms an agreement in principle reached by EU ambassadors last week. The agreement paves the way for the formal launch of negotiations on Tuesday, June 25th, in Luxembourg.
Moldova submitted its application for EU membership on March 3, 2022. Less than a year later, the European Commission issued its opinion on Moldova's application to join the European Union. In December 2022, following Moldova's fulfilment of the European Commission's recommendations, EU leaders agreed to open accession negotiations with Moldova and invited the Council to adopt the negotiating framework after completing the relevant steps outlined in the Commission's report.
EU leaders paved the way for accession talks with Ukraine and Moldova in mid-December 2023. The European Commission determined on June 7th that both Ukraine and Moldova had met all the conditions necessary to begin formal negotiations.
Moldovan President Maia Sandu signed a decree on June 21st initiating negotiations on Moldova's accession to the European Union. President Sandu assured the public that Moldova has met all the recommendations set forth by the European Commission.
Deputy Prime Minister for European Integration Cristina Gherasimov was appointed as Moldova's Chief Negotiator in the EU accession process. The delegation representing Moldova in Luxembourg at the official launch of accession negotiations on June 25th will be headed by Prime Minister Dorin Recean.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
