Subscribe here: [ Ссылка ] In its report on EU enlargement, the European Commission highlighted the progress made by Ukraine and Moldova and the setback suffered by Georgia.
So, according to the Commission, “provided that” Ukraine and Moldova meet all the conditions, “the Commission looks forward to the opening of negotiations on the ‘clusters’, starting with the fundamentals, as soon as possible in 2025”.
Moldova has continued to steadily progress on its EU accession path, despite significant challenges arising from Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine and hybrid actions against Moldova, the European Commission said today with the adoption of its annual Enlargement Package.
The Commission said the opening of accession negotiations in December 2023 had been an important recognition of Moldova’s determination to pursue reforms on the path of EU accession despite facing continuous Russian interference.
“Following the first intergovernmental conference in June 2024, the analytical examination of the acquis (the screening) is progressing smoothly. Subject to Moldova meeting all the conditions, the Commission is looking forward to the opening of negotiations on clusters, starting with the fundamentals, as soon as possible in 2025,” the EC said.
The Commission and Moldova have together developed a Growth Plan that will boost support to relevant reform and investment priorities and extend certain benefits of participation in the single market, the EC says in its 2024 Communication on EU Enlargement Policy.
The Communication noted that, voting on 20 October 2024 in a referendum on EU accession, the Moldovan people had supported by 50.38% the proposal to enshrine EU accession in the Constitution.
The Commission said Moldova had further improved its alignment with EU common foreign and security policy; it continued implementing a comprehensive justice reform and deoligarchisation efforts, and had launched investigations and prosecution of illegal financial flows and voter bribery.
Moving forward will require consolidating reforms focusing on the efficient functioning of institutions within their designated roles and competencies as well as enforcing transparent and standardised appointment and dismissal procedures, the report said, adding that continued reforms would be needed to increase convergence with the EU and integration into the Single Market.
On 30 October 2024, Josep Borrell Fontelles, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the European Commission in charge of a stronger Europe in the World, and Olivér Várhelyi, European Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement, give a press conference on the 2024 « enlargement » package, following the weekly meeting of the von der Leyen Commission in Brussels.
The European Commission adopted its annual Enlargement Package, providing a detailed assessment of the state of play and the progress made by Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, Georgia, the Republic of Moldova, Ukraine and Türkiye, on their respective paths towards EU accession. The assessments are accompanied by recommendations and guidance on the reform priorities.
Enlargement is a historic opportunity both for the acceding countries and for the current Member States and the EU as a whole. There are significant socio-economic, political and security advantages of a bigger and stronger Union.
European Commission President, Ursula von der Leyen, said: “The tense geopolitical context makes it more compelling than ever that we complete the reunification of our continent, under the same values of democracy and the rule of law. We have already taken great strides over the last years towards integrating new Member States. And enlargement will remain a top priority of the new Commission”.
The enlargement process continues to be merit-based and depends on the objective progress made by each of the partners. This requires determination to implement irreversible reforms in all areas of EU law, with special emphasis on the fundamentals of the enlargement process. Democracy, the rule of law and fundamental values will continue to be the cornerstones of the EU's enlargement policy. EU membership remains a strategic choice.
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