The Republic of Moldova Accelerates Reforms for EU Accession: Authorities Aim to Complete Preparations by 2030

The Republic of Moldova aims to complete the preparations required for accession to the European Union by 2030, following the timetable established within the negotiation process.

President Maia Sandu emphasizes that the country’s European path must be based on merit and on meeting all the necessary conditions, without shortcuts.

A Merit-Based Process

According to the President, the authorities in Chișinău are following the standard accession procedure and are focusing their efforts on implementing the reforms and achieving the objectives established within the negotiations with the European Union. Maia Sandu believes that, at the current pace, the Republic of Moldova can be ready for accession by 2030.

The Republic of Moldova and Ukraine: Different Paces of Preparation

Regarding the common European path of the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine, President Maia Sandu explained that the two countries can advance together when they simultaneously meet the technical conditions for opening negotiation clusters. However, each country maintains its own pace, depending on its level of preparedness and the complexity of reforms in different areas.

Some chapters may be easier for the Republic of Moldova to address, while Ukraine may make faster progress in other areas. Therefore, the coordination of the two accession processes does not exclude differences in the pace at which the two countries advance.

2028 – The Target Year for Fulfilling the Conditions

An important interim objective is 2028, by which the authorities in Chișinău aim to fulfill all the necessary conditions to continue the negotiations at the same pace. This timetable is being pursued by both the Moldovan authorities and their European partners.

Maia Sandu expressed confidence that the Republic of Moldova will be able to maintain the pace of reforms. According to the President, the European Commission consistently recognizes the speed at which the country is advancing along its integration path, even though the Republic of Moldova started the negotiations later and has to make up for lost ground.

Accession Negotiations Enter the Cluster Opening Stage

The Republic of Moldova opened accession negotiations on the first cluster, “Fundamentals,” on 15 June 2026, during the second EU–Republic of Moldova Intergovernmental Conference held in Luxembourg.

Subsequently, on 14 July 2026, the Republic of Moldova opened negotiations on Cluster 6, “External Relations.” This cluster covers chapters related to external relations, as well as foreign, security and defence policy.

An Accelerated Path, Conditional on Reforms

The progress already made and the objectives set for the coming years point to a European integration process focused on meeting the accession criteria. For the Republic of Moldova, the coming period will be crucial for implementing the necessary reforms and maintaining the pace of negotiations, with the objective of preparing the country for accession to the European Union by 2030.