The EU takes into account the separation of Chisinau from Kyiv, on the European road. The decision, announced before the parliamentarians in the Republic of Moldova
The EU considers to be given an important step to the Republic of Moldova in its process of accession to the EU, before the parliamentary elections that will take place at the end of September, placing it before Ukraine.
The EU takes into account the decoupling of Kiev de Chisinau during the European course. Photo: Archive
According to the scenario analyzed by European officials, the member countries of the European Union would vote for the opening of a first “negotiation cluster” for the Republic of Moldova, an essential legal step on the road to accession, after a meeting of EU ministers, according to three diplomats and a European official, notes the publication “Politico”.
Such a movement would provide a strong electoral impulse to President Maia Sandu, as well as to the formation founded by her, the Action and Solidarity Party (PAS), which campaign on a pro-EU platform and face sustained efforts to influence the vote.
“A way to open the first cluster must be found. It would transmit a signal to Russia. It would eliminate the argument from the Russian narrative, which claim that there are no progress on the path of accession to the EU.” said Siegfried Mureșan, Conservative MEP and the chairman of the EU -Moldova Association Committee in the European Parliament.
However, the allowing of Moldova to advance, while Ukraine remains waiting, risks arousing the dissatisfaction of Kiev, whose accession to the EU went in parallel with that of Moldova since both countries received a green wave from the European Council, in 2023.
“There is a danger of transmitting a wrong signal to the Ukrainians. At a time when the future of peace is discussed in Alaska, we must keep the prospect of accession to the EU as powerful as possible,” said a Ukrainian diplomat.
Both Chisinau and Kiev have implemented large reforms to join the EU, fulfilling all the necessary stages to open a first negotiation cluster, according to a European Commission spokesman.
“There is no objective reason to block the cluster 1”, added a spokesman to an email transmitted comment.
The problem is that the course of Ukraine is blocked by Hungary, whose prime minister, Viktor Orbán, made the opposition to Kiev's accession to the Community Bloc a central point of his own campaign in 2026.
Therefore, while the Republic of Moldova could obtain the approval of all 27 Member States for the opening of a negotiation cluster, at an informal meeting of the General Affairs Council on September 1, it is unlikely to receive unanimous support.
This situation puts the countries favorable to the EU expansion, including Denmark, which currently holds the EU Council Presidency in a dilemma.
If I maintain the candidacy of Moldova strictly related to that of Ukraine, they cannot advance with any of them. By allowing Moldova to take a step before September 28 would send a strong message to the pro-EU voters in Moldova, but could cause Ukraine's dissatisfaction.
According to a closely involved European diplomat in the process, several options are considered to show Ukraine that its continuous accession process, even if a negotiation cluster does not open, including providing access to the Horizon Europe program or the Erasmus student exchanges.
“There are many things that we can do to bring Ukraine closer to Europe in other ways than through the formal negotiation procedure. The most important thing is to continue to advance and transmit clearly that the opposition of Hungary is not considered legitimate, and the true reward is the completion of the process,” said the European diplomat for Politico.
Diplomats and officials also stressed that the situation could change rapidly, especially in the context of the meeting between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin, which will take place on Friday in Alaska.
