Moldova EU accession blocked by Hungary over Ukraine link
Moldova's EU accession is ready to begin the next stage of European Union negotiations, but the process is currently blocked by Hungary's refusal due to its link with Ukraine's bid.
President Maia Sandu made the statement during an interview with Rock FM in Romania while on an official visit to Bucharest.
"Of course, we want to succeed in achieving full membership. We are ready to start the next stage of negotiations, but this is blocked by Hungary's refusal in relation to Ukraine," declared President Sandu. "Yet, we largely know what reforms we must execute, and regardless of whether the official process begins, we are already implementing the necessary next steps."
She added: "There is a significant amount of work to do; it is a vast, largely unseen effort that citizens may not fully grasp. We must succeed in adjusting our national legal framework to the European one, and simultaneously solve the immediate problems of the citizens, striving to revive economic development despite the deep uncertainty the war in Ukraine represents for our economy. We have work to do, we are determined, and critically, we have the support in Parliament."
When asked about the possibility of a decoupling of R. Moldova from Ukraine in the EU accession process, President Sandu stated it would be fair for both countries to move forward:
"I very much hope a solution will be found so that both countries can move forward. As the EU emphasizes, this is a merit-based process. The European Commission established in its reports—we will receive another report in a week—that both Moldova and Ukraine have fulfilled their commitments and must move to the next stage. I sincerely hope a solution will be found so that both can proceed."
Moldova filed its application for accession to the European Union on March 3, 2022, three days after Ukraine. The Chișinău authorities have targeted 2028 for the signing of the EU Accession Treaty and 2030 as the deadline for Moldova's accession to the European Union. This timeline requires deep rule of law reforms in key areas such as justice, the rule of law, anti-corruption, press freedom, and the consolidation of democratic institutions.
President Sandu is currently in Bucharest, where she participated in the painting consecration ceremony of the National Cathedral. Her program for Sunday also includes a meeting with her Romanian counterpart, Nicușor Dan
Translation by Iurie Tataru
