Marta Kos: “EU prepared to open all accession clusters; Moldova needs to make further progress”
The Republic of Moldova has made significant progress on its European path and the European Union (EU) is ready to open all negotiation clusters officially. However, the Republic of Moldova still has a lot of work to do in the new year and, at this point, cannot be decoupled from Ukraine in the accession process, on which there is no full consensus at EU level, says European Commissioner for Enlargement, Marta Kos.
"You have made significant progress, and the message I heard today (December 18 - editor's note) during the meeting with the European Council is that European leaders are very supportive of the enlargement process. They view this as an opportunity to ensure prosperity and stability in Europe. The Republic of Moldova is already part of this expansive area that can contribute to these goals. What happened today is very positive. The Republic of Moldova has demonstrated rapid progress and undergone the fastest possible screening process. We are ready to officially open all the negotiation clusters," said Marta Kos on a Pro TV show.
According to the Commissioner, the Republic of Moldova has proven for the fifth time that it is a "very stable" country in its progress toward the European Union, despite facing some "nasty and harsh" campaigns from Russia.
When asked to clarify the difference between an invitation to officially open negotiations and the technical opening of these negotiations, she noted, "Moldova has actually received this invitation for the accession process in the past."
"Now we need a green light, in other words, an official decision to open all the clusters. However, there is no difference regarding what Moldova needs to do. The most important point is that Moldova should now implement all the necessary reforms to align its legislation with that of Europe," explained the European Commissioner.
Marta Kos emphasized that the negotiations for the country's accession to the EU are "complicated." She stated, "We must consider the broader geopolitical context. You started this process alongside Ukraine, and now is not the time to disengage."
In the coming year, the Republic of Moldova will have much to accomplish on its path toward European Union accession, with two key pillars to address, as specified by the European official.
"Truly, we are waiting for some legal steps to open the clusters, but this does not prevent us from continuing the accession process. Next year, the Republic of Moldova will have a great deal of work to do, and we will assist, of course. First and foremost, the negotiation process aims to align all national legislation with European standards. This will require significant effort, encompassing the rule of law, the supremacy of law, the functioning of state institutions, aspects related to the internal market, and Cluster VI, which concerns external relations. The second fundamental pillar is strengthening the economy. We need to ensure that when you join the EU, you will have the capacity to thrive," emphasized Marta Kos.
We remind you that during the last European Council of this year, held on December 18 and 19 in Brussels, the topic of European Union enlargement is being discussed.
The European Union acknowledged, in the conclusions published by the Danish Presidency of the Council of the EU after the General Affairs Council meeting on December 16 in Brussels, the significant progress made by the Republic of Moldova in its accession process and confirmed that all six negotiation clusters are ready to be opened.
However, European officials caution that the pace of reforms, particularly in justice and the fight against corruption, must be maintained and reinforced through concrete results.
"The Council welcomes the fact that the Republic of Moldova has successfully completed the screening process and that all six clusters are ready to be opened, in accordance with the enlargement methodology and the negotiating framework," state the conclusions from the EU Council.
