Moldova advances EU accession negotiations: Negotiating Positions for three clusters approved by Parliamentary Commission

Moldova is making significant progress in its European integration process, after members of the Parliamentary Commission on Foreign Policy and European Integration approved the consultative opinions on the country’s Negotiating Positions regarding three essential clusters.

The meeting also included the chairpersons of relevant parliamentary committees, whose work aligns with the chapters to be negotiated with the European Union. Discussions focused on the following clusters:

• Cluster 3 – Competitiveness and Inclusive Growth: aiming to stimulate the business environment, create investment opportunities, and promote innovation.

• Cluster 4 – Green Agenda and Sustainable Connectivity: focused on energy transition, sustainable infrastructure, and environmental policies.

• Cluster 5 – Resources, Agriculture, and Cohesion: targeting agricultural modernization, regional development, and natural resource management.

According to the Directorate of Communication and Public Relations of the Parliament, the Negotiating Positions correspond to the structure of the screening reports for each cluster. The documents include:

• an executive summary and current situation analysis;

• requests for accelerated integration;

• plans for aligning the legal and institutional framework with the European acquis;

• implementation and anti-corruption measures;

• supporting dossiers in case transitional periods are requested.

On September 22, the Bureau for European Integration also organized public consultations with civil society, academia, and the private sector to discuss the commitments Moldova will undertake within these three clusters.

The bilateral screening process concluded yesterday in Brussels, after analyzing over 100,000 pages of national legislation in comparison with European law. The process lasted 15 months, taking place in Chișinău, Luxembourg, and Brussels, involving experts from various public institutions.

Moldova obtained EU candidate country status on June 23, 2022, and in December 2023, the European Council decided to open accession negotiations. The approval of the Negotiating Positions for these clusters represents a strategic step towards full alignment with European standards, strengthening the country’s economic and investment prospects.