Moldova EU bid: Costa vows to press ahead despite rejection
European Council President António Costa will continue to work with all EU leaders to advance the Republic of Moldova’s path towards membership of the bloc, official sources in Brussels have told Moldova 1.
"Enlargement is a priority for President Costa, who deems discussions on turning reform efforts into concrete measures essential, always in line with the merit-based approach," the sources said.
The Republic of Moldova was not on the agenda of last week's informal European Council meeting, and is not currently scheduled for the next formal one.
Mr Costa met the Republic of Moldova’s President Maia Sandu in Copenhagen on 2 October. The meeting took place on the sidelines of the European Political Community summit and focused on ways to accelerate progress towards European integration—an option confirmed by Moldovan citizens in the 28 September parliamentary elections.
During the informal meeting of European leaders in Copenhagen, Mr Costa's proposal to launch accession negotiations for the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine with a qualified majority—with the support of 15 member states, representing 65% of the EU population—was rejected by several European leaders, according to multiple sources from European diplomacy.
In this context, on 5 October, a group of 56 MEPs from 19 EU member states, representing the main democratic political families in the European Parliament, addressed a joint letter to European Council President António Costa. The document calls for the immediate opening of accession negotiations, chapter by chapter, with the Republic of Moldova.
Initiated by Romanian MEP Victor Negrescu, Vice-President of the European Parliament, the letter highlights the firm desire expressed by the citizens of the Republic of Moldova to integrate into the European Union, confirmed by their vote in the 28 September parliamentary elections. Consequently, the signatories are demanding the opening of negotiations on the acquis communautaire chapters be included on the European Council's agenda without delay and approved by member states. According to the MEPs, such a step would reconfirm the commitment of Moldovan citizens and signal that their European choice is respected and heard in Brussels.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
