BRUSSELS, June 22 (BV) – The European Union and Moldova pledged closer political, economic and security cooperation on Monday, with EU leaders reaffirming support for Moldova’s membership bid and welcoming the opening of the first cluster of accession negotiations.
In a joint statement issued after the EU-Moldova Summit in Brussels, the EU said Moldova’s future lies within the bloc and praised the country’s reform efforts despite what it described as unprecedented external pressures.
The summit came one week after the opening of the “Fundamentals” negotiation cluster, marking a significant step in Moldova’s accession process.
The EU pledged continued political, financial and technical support for Moldova’s integration efforts and welcomed progress in judicial reforms, anti-corruption measures and the alignment of Moldovan legislation with EU standards.
Brussels also highlighted the implementation of Moldova’s Growth Plan, under which the country has already received around 504 million euros in pre-financing and reform-related payments. An additional 528 million euros could be released if planned reforms continue throughout 2026.
Security featured prominently in the discussions. The EU reiterated support for Moldova’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and condemned what it described as Russian attempts to destabilise the country through cyberattacks, disinformation campaigns, energy pressure and other hybrid threats.
The two sides agreed to deepen cooperation in defence, cybersecurity and crisis management, while Moldova committed to maintaining a high level of alignment with the EU’s foreign and security policy positions.
The summit also highlighted progress in energy diversification, transport connectivity, digital integration and trade. EU officials welcomed Moldova’s entry into the Single Euro Payments Area (SEPA), as well as plans for closer integration into the EU’s internal market before full membership.
The EU further announced support for Moldova’s participation in additional European programmes, including Erasmus+, digital identity initiatives and climate-related cooperation frameworks.
The summit concluded with both sides reaffirming their commitment to accelerating Moldova’s EU accession process on a merit-based basis and holding regular EU-Moldova summits in the future.