Moldova Advances EU Bid with Enhanced Support and Key Reforms
Moldovan President Maia Sandu met with Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, on Tuesday to discuss the nation’s pursuit of EU membership. The meeting underscored Moldova’s dedication to European integration and outlined crucial steps towards realizing this ambition.
A Strong Partnershipfuels Moldova’s European Future
In a post on X, von der Leyen praised President Sandu’s commitment, stating, “She is fighting with her heart and soul for Moldova’s European future.” The European Commission pledged robust support, offering €50 million to bolster reforms and ensure economic stability.
Looking ahead, von der Leyen expressed optimism about opening a pivotal cluster of accession negotiations in 2025. “This is a strong signal of our commitment to Moldova’s EU path,” she emphasized.
Focus on Justice Reform and Judicial Vetting
The discussions highlighted Moldova’s unwavering dedication to reforming its justice system, a key requirement for EU membership. Von der Leyen underlined this commitment, stating that Moldova is “committed to reforming its justice system on its path to the EU.”
To further solidify judicial integrity, the leaders discussed a roadmap to accelerate the vetting process for judges. The EU also committed to increasing its support for this initiative to €10 million.
President Sandu echoed the sentiment of strong partnership and emphasized the meeting’s fruitful outcomes. “Today, we reaffirmed our strong partnership and discussed advancing Moldova’s EU path, boosting economy, reforming justice, and strengthening overall resilience,” Sandu wrote on X.
Securing a Second Term Amidst Accusations of External Interference
Sandu’s re-election in October and November, marked her second term as Moldova’s president. Her victory arrived amidst allegations of external interference, with Sandu accusing “criminal groups” of attempting to buy 300,000 votes. She claimed to possess “clear” evidence to support these accusations.
Russia responded to these allegations, with Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov challenging Sandu to present concrete evidence.
Constitutional Amendment Reflects Public Support for EU Membership
A referendum held concurrently with the first round of the presidential election in October demonstrated the Moldovan people’s unwavering support for EU membership. Voters overwhelmingly approved a constitutional amendment paving the way for the country’s eventual EU integration.
