EU debates in the European Parliament the accession of Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova

The European Parliament is discussing on Tuesday, March 10, during its plenary session, the current stage and future prospects of the European Union’s enlargement. The debate is particularly important for the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine, as the two countries are currently viewed as moving toward EU membership in a possible “package deal,” regardless of their different levels of preparedness for integration.

EU rejects the idea of accelerated accession with limited rights
European institutions have rejected the concept of “reverse accession,” a proposal previously suggested to speed up Ukraine’s accession and, implicitly, that of the Republic of Moldova.

Instead, discussions are now focusing on the next three rotating presidencies of the Council of the European Union prioritizing the completion of Ukraine’s accession negotiations by the end of 2027. Under this scenario, negotiations with the Republic of Moldova could be finalized by the end of 2026.

Criteria Ukraine must meet for EU membership
To become a member state, Ukraine must comply with the so-called Copenhagen criteria. These include stable democratic institutions, respect for the rule of law, effective anti-corruption measures, and a functioning market economy.

In addition, national legislation must be aligned with EU law, a process that involves negotiating and implementing all 35 chapters of the EU acquis. Judicial reforms remain among the most important requirements, particularly as Ukraine continues to deal with the ongoing war.

Republic of Moldova linked to Ukraine’s negotiation progress
The Republic of Moldova’s European path is closely connected to that of Ukraine, with Brussels avoiding the separation of the two accession processes in order to prevent sending a discouraging signal.

At the same time, the end or stabilization of the conflict with Russia remains a decisive factor for Kyiv, which is facing an unprecedented situation for an EU candidate country. Moldova is also dealing with its own sensitive issue — the Transnistria conflict — which remains relevant in the context of accession negotiations.

Hungary remains the main political obstacle to enlargement
The accession process requires the unanimous approval of all 27 EU member states. At present, Hungary is considered the main political obstacle, with Budapest stating it would not vote in favor of Ukraine’s accession under current conditions.

Within the European Union, most member states — around 26, or 25 if Slovakia is excluded — are putting pressure on the Hungarian government to lift its veto.

Candidate status and accession negotiations
Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova received official EU candidate status in June 2022. Accession negotiations were formally opened in December 2023.

At the same time, a process of “early accession integration” is underway, aimed at accelerating reforms and gradually aligning the two countries with EU policies and mechanisms.

Concerns over a two-speed Europe
The proposal for accession with limited rights — without voting rights in the early stages but with gradual access to the single market, agricultural subsidies, and development funds — has been abandoned for the time being.

Such an approach would have violated rules established in 1993 under the Maastricht Treaty, which require the full implementation of EU legislation before any country can join the Union.

Several EU member states and candidate countries expressed reservations about the idea, fearing it could diminish the value of EU membership and create divisions within the bloc. There are also concerns that such a model could negatively affect advanced candidate countries such as Montenegro and Albania, as well as relations with close partners like Norway and the United Kingdom.

Pressure grows to accelerate Ukraine and Moldova’s accession
Despite these concerns, some European officials believe the EU has no real alternative but to accelerate Ukraine’s accession — and, together with it, that of the Republic of Moldova.

However, this strategy could open a series of political and administrative risks that many leaders in Brussels admit have not yet been fully assessed.