Brussels – Moldova is making giant strides towards joining the twelve-star club. But it must not let up on reforms if it wants to open the first negotiating chapters in the coming months. And, above all, it must continue to defend itself against Russian interference. Starting with those through which, in all likelihood, the Kremlin will attempt to derail the parliamentary elections scheduled for next September, repeating a script already staged last autumn.
“Moldova has made good progress on its path towards the EU,” certified High Representative Kaja Kallas this afternoon (4 June) during a joint press conference at the end of the ninth meeting of the EU-Moldova Association Council. Specifically, she emphasised, there had been “impressive progress in combating corruption, in advancing the judicial reform, and in the protection of democratic values.”
Of course, she conceded, “reforms remain essential to keep the momentum going,” but no one in Brussels or Chisinau harbours serious doubts about the small Balkan country’s ability to carry them out. “Moldova belongs to Europe,” the head of EU diplomacy has insisted. The first EU-Moldova high-level summit is scheduled for next month, during which discussions will cover energy, digital, and education, among other topics.
The Commissioner for Enlargement, Marta Kos, even speaks of “record speed“ and does not exclude the possibility that Chisinau may open all 33 negotiating chapters by the end of the year, as the Moldovan Prime Minister, Dorin Recean, would like. On paper, this is not impossible. According to experts, Chisinau moves at double the pace compared to the other candidate countries, and all technical work could be completed by the end of 2027.
For the premier, “EU membership is no longer just a dream, but is taking place de facto.” The Commission, as reminded by Kos, has already forwarded three reports to the member states—one on the first cluster (fundamentals), one on the second (internal market), and one on the sixth (external relations)—and now expects a decision from the Council on the opening of the first negotiating chapters “as soon as possible”.
Chisinau has already begun to enjoy the benefits of gradual integration. According to this approach, Brussels allows citizens of candidate countries to experience the benefits of EU membership in advance, even before they actually join the club, by extending some of their internal policies (especially those related to the single market).
Great to meet HRVP @kajakallas ahead of the EU–Moldova Association Council & thank for the great support we receive for Moldova’s reform progress,regional security & the EU integration path.
Together, we’re building a future rooted in resilience, democracy & a shared EU destiny. pic.twitter.com/jYH7jz8uYq
— Dorin Recean (@DorinRecean) June 4, 2025
In the case of Moldova, at least three instruments of this strategy are at work: the €1.9 billion Growth Plan signed last month to support infrastructure development (the first tranche of which is expected to arrive in a few weeks), the extension to the Balkan state of the Single Euro Transfer Area (better known by its English acronym SEPA), and the possibility of participating in the 150 billion SAFE Fund for the rearmament of the Old Continent, through the joint purchase or production of armaments for the participating countries.
However, the path to the EU is not all sunshine and roses, especially for those who gravitated towards the Soviet Union. The Kremlin has various weapons at its disposal to prevent new states from approaching the EU. One of these is the energy bargain. Last winter, Brussels
has fielded a two-year strategy to protect Moldova’s energy security.
Furthermore, Chisinau must protect itself from Russian interference in its democratic processes, such as those recorded last autumn during the presidential elections, later won by pro-European Maia Sandu, and the referendum which led on the inclusion in the Constitution of the goal of joining the EU.
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Next September, voters will be called upon to renew the national parliament. According to Kallas, that appointment with the ballot box “will be one of the main targets of Moscow’s hybrid war“, which will probably resort to “a web of money, online content and coercion to try to influence the vote”. Brussels will offer all possible support to Chisinau, the former Estonian premier assured: a civilian mission and a team of experts to dismantle illicit financing networks, as well as a team to counter hybrid threats. Will that be enough?
According to Recean, the Kremlin is aiming to rig the elections in order to install a pro-Russian puppet government in Chisinau that would agree to Moscow’s sending “10,000 soldiers” to Transnistria. The Federation’s aim would be to provoke a “humanitarian crisis” in the secessionist region and “use it against Ukraine and Romania.”
English version by the Translation Service of Withub
