Vilnius pushes to accelerate Moldova's EU accession talks
Lithuania supports accelerating Moldova's European Union accession and believes Chișinău is ready to open all remaining negotiation clusters, Foreign Minister Kęstutis Budrys said on Friday in Vilnius.
Budrys made the remarks during a joint press conference with visiting Moldovan Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Mihai Popșoi.
Enlargement as EU presidency priority
Budrys stressed that EU enlargement will be a strategic priority when Lithuania takes over the rotating Presidency of the Council of the European Union on January 1, 2027.
“When we talk about enlargement, we naturally think first of the countries that are closest to us, and the Republic of Moldova is among them,” Budrys said. “We expect the opening of the remaining four negotiation clusters for Moldova to be finalized by the end of the Irish presidency on January 1.”
“Lithuania firmly supports accelerating this process, and our relationship is not limited to cooperation within the European Union—we enjoy very intensive and close bilateral ties,” the Lithuanian foreign minister added.
Once all negotiation clusters are formally opened, the accession process will advance toward technical reviews and the fulfillment of interim benchmarks. Budrys noted that Lithuanian backing extends beyond EU integration to encompass economic partnerships, defense and security cooperation, and institutional capacity-building in Moldova.
Chișinău counts on Baltic expertise
Popșoi praised Vilnius for its steadfast support, emphasizing that Chișinău relies on Lithuania's upcoming EU presidency to maintain reform momentum.
“Lithuania's expertise is immensely valuable for the Republic of Moldova, helping us better understand the challenges ahead and prepare for the next negotiation phases and European reforms,” Popșoi said. “Moldova is ready to open the remaining four negotiating clusters on its own merits, and we count on Lithuania's backing as it prepares to lead the Council of the EU in 2027.”
The bilateral discussions covered Moldova's judicial and governance reform agenda, procedural steps toward EU membership, bilateral economic cooperation, and evolving regional security challenges.
High-level meetings in Vilnius
During his working visit, Popșoi was received by Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda, thanking him for Vilnius’s constant political and diplomatic backing.
“I had the honor of meeting President Gitanas Nausėda and personally thanking him for Lithuania's steadfast support for Moldova's European journey,” Popșoi said. “In defining moments for our country, the support and experience of European friends matter enormously. We have partners who believe in Moldova's European future.”
Popșoi's itinerary in Vilnius also included talks with the Speaker of the Seimas, Juozas Olekas, as well as the chairs of the parliamentary committees on foreign affairs and national security, Remigijus Motuzas and Rimantas Sinkevičius, and presidential foreign policy advisor Asta Skaisgirytė.
The Moldovan foreign minister was also scheduled to address a panel discussion organized by the Center for Geopolitics and Security Studies in Vilnius, focusing on Chișinău's European integration and regional security priorities.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
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