EU membership prospect gives Moldova strength to pursue key reforms, president says – Moldpres

This article is published under the cooperation agreement between Armenpress and Moldpres. The prospect of joining the European Union gives Moldova the strength to carry out important reforms and achieve tangible results, Moldpres reported, citing Moldovan President Maia Sandu at the opening of the EU-Moldova Summit in Brussels on June 22. “We are doing even more than what is required of us, undertaking truly difficult reforms in order to be ready for EU integration,” Sandu said. According to the president, the opening of the first negotiation cluster marked a historic moment for Moldova and created an opportunity that should be fully utilized. “It is wonderful to be back in Brussels among friends. Last Monday, we launched the first phase of accession negotiations on the Fundamentals cluster, a moment of real opportunity. Such moments are rare, and we must make the most of them,” Maia Sandu said. She stressed that the prospect of joining the EU is a driving force behind the reform process, adding that the Moldovan authorities are implementing major changes to accelerate the country’s European path. The Moldova-European Union Summit is a high-level dialogue format established by the two sides that reflects the increasingly close partnership between Moldova and the EU, as well as the country’s unwavering commitment to joining the European community. This year’s meeting comes one week after the official launch of accession negotiations on the first cluster, Fundamentals, marking a new phase in Moldova’s European integration process. During the summit, leaders are expected to discuss the next steps in the negotiations and Moldova’s reform agenda. The European Commission and the European Council have confirmed that Moldova is ready to begin negotiations on all chapters, as envisaged under the merit-based accession process. The summit agenda also includes discussions on the regional situation, strengthening cooperation in the fields of security and defence, energy issues, and EU support for Moldova’s economic development. At the conclusion of the meeting, joint press statements are expected from Moldovan President Maia Sandu, President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen, and President of the European Council António Costa. The Brussels summit is the second of its kind between Moldova and the European Union. The first high-level meeting was held in Chișinău on July 4, 2025.