Maia Sandu: We need to start the next stage of negotiations for EU accession, but it is blocked by Hungary's refusal in relation to Ukraine

President Maia Sandu stated that the Republic of Moldova is in the phase where the next stage of negotiations for joining the European Union must begin, but she stated that this is blocked by Hungary's refusal in relation to Ukraine. Maia Sandu also stated that the Republic of Moldova mostly knows what reforms it needs to make, regardless of whether the official process is open or not, writes News.ro.

Maia Sandu was asked, in an interview on Rock FM, about the integration file in the European Union and whether we can talk about a limited integration without the right of veto for the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine.

“No one has addressed, this is not the topic, we have not had these discussions. Of course, we want to succeed in becoming a full member. We are at the stage where we have to start the next stage of negotiations. This stage is blocked by Hungary's refusal in relation to Ukraine, but we mostly know what the reforms are that we have to do and, regardless of whether the official process is open or not, we are at any rate at the next stage in relation to the measures we have to carry out”, declared the president of the Republic of Moldova.

Maia Sandu explained that the authorities in the Republic of Moldova must adjust the legal framework to the European one.

“There is a lot of work, it is an invisible front, if you will, that the citizens do not see, they do not necessarily understand, but we must also succeed on this front, to adjust the legal framework to the European one, but also to solve the immediate problems of the citizens, to try to revive economic development, despite this uncertainty that the war in Ukraine represents for our economy. So we have to thing and we are determined, we have support in the Parliament, that is the most important”, Maia Sandu said.

She was also asked if there were voices that demanded the decoupling of the two countries from the process of integration into the European Union.

“It would be correct for both countries to move to the next stage, because that's what the European Union says. It's a meritocratic process. The European Commission has established in its reports, and we'll have a report in a week…both Moldova and Ukraine have fulfilled their commitments and must move to the next stage. I very much hope to see a decision, to find a solution, so that both countries can move forward”, he said Maia Sandu.