Background

Moldova presented its membership application to the EU on 3 March 2022, shortly after Russia began its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. In December 2023, EU Member States agreed to open accession negotiations, as Moldova had met previously set preconditions. The first intergovernmental conference, marking the formal opening of accession negotiations, took place on 25 June 2024. The October 2024 referendum, organised in parallel to presidential elections won by Maia Sandu, approved the inclusion of EU accession as a goal in the Moldovan Constitution. The September 2025 parliamentary elections reconfirmed the country's pro-European direction. The EU and Moldova completed the entire screening process for all thematic negotiating clusters in September 2025. The opening of the Cluster 1 (fundamentals) negotiations took place on 15 June 2026. During the EU–Moldova Summit on 22 June 2026, Moldovan President Maia Sandu stated that her country is ready to open all remaining clusters. The summit joint declaration stated that the EU 'looks forward to the opening of the other clusters, in line with the merit-based approach', as the European Commission had already recommended that the Council open them. The speech of the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, at the June summit is seen by some as preparation for decoupling Moldovan accession negotiations from the Ukrainian ones.

The reforms in the country are financially supported by the Growth Plan for the Republic of Moldova worth almost €1.9 billion for the 2025-2027 period, whose use requires implementation of previously agreed reforms. As 93 % of required reforms have already been implemented, €504 million has been disbursed. A further €523 million can still be unlocked in 2026, pending implementation of agreed reforms.

The Commission's 2025 report notes that Moldova has continued to progress on its EU accession path despite the attempts by Russia and its proxies to destabilise it, including through posing threats to its energy security and supply.

European Parliament position

The AFET committee adopted its 2025 report on Moldova on 3 June 2026. The report commends Moldova's commitment to EU accession, underlining the European Commission's assessment that the country made 'the biggest annual progress among all candidate countries'. Concerning judicial reform, the report notes the Commission's positive assessment of progress made, and recalls the country's commitment to implement the Venice Commission recommendations. The report finds securing an inclusive, predictable and legally robust vetting process of judges to be 'critical to ensuring public trust in the judiciary … and reinforcing the rule of law as a cornerstone for EU integration'. The report condemns attempts by Russia and its proxies to destabilise Moldova by disseminating disinformation, sowing division within society and undermining Moldova's democratic institutions. It states that lessons learnt in tackling foreign information manipulation and interference (FIMI) campaigns and protecting the electoral process and democratic institutions in Moldova should be applied in the EU and in other candidate countries. Finally, the report calls on the Council to open the negotiation clusters without further delay.

Own-initiative report: 2025/2258(INI); Committee responsible: AFET; Rapporteur: Sven Mikser (S&D, Estonia).