Moldova reaches halfway point in EU accession screening
The Republic of Moldova has reached the halfway point in the bilateral screening process for EU accession and has completed the analysis of two more clusters: Cluster 2 – Internal Market and Cluster 6 – External Relations.
The last chapter analyzed this week was Chapter 31, which plays a key role in strengthening security and enhancing Moldova’s international image.
Officials from Chișinău presented to European Commission experts in Brussels how Moldova’s national legislation aligns with EU law in the fields of foreign policy, security, and defense.
“Aligning with EU foreign policy, security, and defense will enhance our country's resilience to regional and global challenges. This exercise will show us where we stand today in relation to EU policies, particularly in strengthening political dialogue with other states and international organizations, preventing conflicts, combating terrorism, addressing hybrid threats, and implementing and aligning with international restrictive measures,” said Carolina Perebinos, Secretary of State at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
According to the European Union's assessment, the Republic of Moldova is at a moderate to good level of preparedness in the area covered by this chapter. In recent years, Moldova has made significant progress in aligning with the EU’s restrictive measures—from 64% in 2022 to 92% in 2024, as reported by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Chișinău.
In defense, according to the same source, Moldova continues to contribute to maintaining peace, security, and international stability by participating in international crisis management missions, including those led by the European Union and the United Nations.
Moldova’s increased contribution to international security is also due to the assistance provided by the European Union through the European Peace Instrument, with a total of 137 million euros allocated so far for equipping the National Army with modern military equipment.
Following the bilateral screening meeting, the European Union will review the information presented by Moldova and prepare an evaluation report, which is necessary for the future launch of accession negotiations under Cluster 6 “External Relations,” as stated in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ report.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
