The European Unio has not yet set a definitive date for the start of formal accession negotiations with Moldova but intends to move as quickly as possible to take advantage of a favorable “window of opportunity”, Reuters reported.
Speaking at a press conference in Chisinau on Friday, May 8, alongside Moldovan President Maia Sandu, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs Kaja Kallas highlighted that leadership changes in various countries have created a unique opening for enlargement.
“We haven’t set that date, but it’s clear that we need to move fast,” Kallas said. “We should move while nobody is against Moldova, because you never know when there comes a government that might have, you know, a bilateral issue”.
Kallas praised Chisinau’s “remarkable progress” in implementing sustainable reforms. She also assured the Moldovan leadership that the unrecognized Transnistria region – which has been outside Chisinau’s control since 1992 – would not be a hurdle to the country’s European future.
President Sandu reiterated Moldova’s commitment to the process, stating that the country aims to sign its EU accession treaty by 2028.
Strengthening regional security
The diplomatic push coincides with increased EU support for Moldova’s security amid Russia’s hybrid war. Kallas announced that she would propose doubling aid to Moldova through the European Peace Facility to €120 million annually, which would represent the EU’s largest defense package for a country after Ukraine.
Recent security assistance has already included a new radar system to help detect Russian drones that have frequently violated Moldovan airspace.
A unified path with Ukraine
Moldova’s integration efforts mirror those of neighboring Ukraine. During a meeting in Kyiv on April 26, Presidents Sandu and Volodymyr Zelensky emphasized that both nations have met the necessary criteria to begin formal negotiations. Zelensky noted that the two states are moving toward the EU as partners, with a shared goal of opening all six negotiation clusters simultaneously.
The two leaders have consistently rejected any “ersatz membership” models that would offer symbolic integration without full voting rights or access to the EU budget.
Zelensky reaffirmed Ukraine’s support for Moldova regarding the Transnistrian region, highlighting that increased energy and infrastructure connections between the two countries provide vital protection for the region.