The President of the European Council, António Costa, stated that he is grateful to Romania for the support given to the Republic of Moldova, reports newsmaker.md. Statements to this effect were made on September 3, during a visit to Bucharest.
During a press statement alongside António Costa, the President of Romania, Nicușor Dan, stated that he discussed with the European official about the accession process of the Republic of Moldova.
“We also discussed the European Union’s expansion process and, of course, our interest in ensuring that the Republic of Moldova’s accession process continues at a steady pace,” Nicușor Dan communicated.
Regarding the Republic of Moldova, the President of the European Council said: “I am grateful for Romania’s strong support for the Republic of Moldova and its path towards European integration. Each expansion has made Europe stronger politically and economically. It is one of Europe’s most important geopolitical investments. It is an investment in our security, stability, and prosperity. What applied to past expansions applies to the Western Balkans, Ukraine, and of course, Moldova. All represent significant opportunities for the future of our union and we must maintain the real momentum recorded in the accession process, a merit-based process, recorded this year, in which very important stages have been reached”.
The Republic of Moldova, together with Ukraine, achieved the status of candidate country for accession to the European Union in June 2022. The two states officially launched the accession negotiations in June 2024.
On June 15, 2026, the 27 member states of the EU officially opened the first accession negotiation cluster with the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine. The “Fundamental Values” cluster – the first to open and the last to close – is considered the backbone of the entire process. It covers the rule of law, the judicial system, fundamental rights, and the fight against corruption, and acts as a central axis of the entire accession process.