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MOTION FOR A EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT RESOLUTION

P10_TA(2026)0260

on the 2025 Commission report on Moldova

(2025/2258(INI))

Committee on Foreign Affairs

PE782.290

European Parliament resolution of 8 July 2026 on the 2025 Commission report on Moldova (2025/2258(INI))

The European Parliament,

– having regard to the Commission communication of 4 November 2025 entitled ‘2025 Communication on EU enlargement policy’ (COM(2025)0690), accompanied by the Commission staff working document of 4 November 2025 entitled ‘Republic of Moldova 2025 Report’ (SWD(2025)0758),

– having regard to Regulation (EU) 2025/535 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 18 March 2025 establishing the Reform and Growth Facility for the Republic of Moldova1,Moldova,

– having regard to the Reform Agenda under the Republic of Moldova’s (hereinafter ‘Moldova’) Growth Plan for the years 2025-2027,

– having regard to the Presidency conclusions on enlargement of 16 December 2025,

– having regard to the Joint Declaration following the firstsecond Republic of Moldova-EU Summit of 422 JulyJune 2025,2026,

– having regard to the outcomes of the ninth EU-Republic of Moldova Association Council meeting on 4 June 2025,

– having regard to the report of the Committee on Foreign Affairs (A10-0164/2026),

A. whereas on 22 September 2025, Moldova concluded the bilateral screening that began on 10 July 2024; whereas Moldova is ready to formally open negotiations on all six clusters for EU accession negotiations; whereas negotiations on cluster 1 (Fundamentals) were formally opened on 15 June 2026;

B. whereas the Government of Moldova has signalled its ambitious yet achievable objective to provisionally close accession negotiations by early 2028 and to join the European Union by 2030;

1. Commends Moldova for its continued exemplary commitment to EU accession and its steadfast progress with related reforms despite significant internal and external challenges, such as persistent hostile Russian interference; welcomes the Commission’s assessment that Moldova made progress across all chapters and achieved the biggest annual progress among the candidate countries; considers this progress particularly remarkable given the extraordinary geopolitical pressure under which the country continues to operate; encourages Moldova to maintain the pace of reforms, so that progress translates into tangible benefits for citizens and businesses, strengthening economic development, resilience and convergence with the European Union in line with its stated ambition to provisionally close accession negotiations by early 2028;

2. Welcomes the opening of accession negotiations on cluster 1 (Fundamentals) on 15 June 2026 following the successful completion of the bilateral screening process in September 2025 and the subsequent start of technical talks on the negotiation clusters; welcomes the Commission’s assessment that all six negotiation clusters are ready to be opened; urges the Council to take a merit-based approach and formally open theall clusters without any further delay, starting with the fundamentals cluster;delay; reminds the Member States of the principle of sincere cooperation under Article 4(3) of the Treaty on European Union, which requires them to refrain from any measure which could jeopardise the attainment of the Union’s objectives, and therefore urges them to avoid blocking or delaying accession negotiations based on bilateral issues; emphasises that opening accession negotiations would signal that the EU recognises and rewards Moldova’s concrete achievements, reinforcing the credibility and integrity of the enlargement process; welcomes the adoption of road maps on the rule of law, on public administration and on democratic institutions, and the updated National Programme for Accession to the European Union for the period 2025–2029; commends the progress already achieved by Moldova at the technical level in the transposition of the EU acquis;

3. Underlines that the pace of the Moldova’s accession process should reflect the significant progress it has made on reforms; calls on the Commission to actively facilitate and provide preparatory support, including technical assistance, follow-up verifications and administrative capacity building, to enable Moldova to make progress in the negotiations effectively and in all clusters simultaneously;

16. Expresses its readiness to continue supporting the Parliament of Moldova through mutually agreed democracy support activities that respond to the needs of that institution, its elected members and staff; highlights the formal opening of the European Parliament Eastern Partnership office in Chișinău on 7 November 2025, demonstrating Parliament’s commitment to deepening its engagement with Moldova and the entire Eastern Partnership region; welcomes, in this context, the renewed memorandum of understanding signed by President Metsola and the Speaker of the Moldovan Parliament Igor Grosu in March 2026;

17. Welcomes the organisation of the first-ever EU–Moldova Summit in July 2025 as a major political milestone in EU–Moldova relations and a strong political signal of support for Moldova’s sovereignty, democratic stability and European path; notes the Joint Declaration following the second EU-Moldova Summit on 22 June 2026, which highlights both Moldova’s commitment to continuing to strengthen the rule of law and the EU’s encouragement to further step up efforts in the areas of judiciary reform and the fight against corruption;

18. Stresses the importance of countering disinformation regarding the European integration process; urges the Commission, the European External Action Service (EEAS) and the Moldovan Government to step up their joint strategic communication efforts to improve the visibility of the EU in Moldova; highlights the need for targeted campaigns to explain the tangible, daily benefits of preparations for EU accession and EU-funded projects to the Moldovan public, particularly in rural areas and regions;

Socio-economic reforms

21. Welcomes the good progress achieved so far in implementing the Moldova Growth Plan and its underpinning Reform Agenda, which is aimed at supporting Moldova’s socio-economic and fundamental reforms and enhancing its access to the EU’s single market; welcomes the disbursement of EUR 270 million in pre-financing and EUR 207.9207,9 million in additional support from the Reform and Growth Facility for Moldova, including the second tranche in March 2026 totalling EUR 189 million, as a result of the country fully achieving 24 out of a total of 26 reform steps with a deadline of December 2025; calls on Moldova to continue working towards completing the remaining two reform steps with a deadline of 2025 and supports it in this endeavour; calls on the Commission to streamline internal procedures to ensure the timely assessment and disbursement of funds upon the adoption in Moldova of legislation, drafts of which the Moldovan authorities had previously submitted and consulted on;

22. Calls on the Commission to provide administrative and technical assistance to the Moldovan authorities to ensure the timely and effective absorption of funds from the Reform and Growth Facility; calls on the Moldovan Government to ensure effective communication, transparency, visibility and accountability regarding the use of funds from this facility, including through the constructive involvement of civil society;

23. Calls for the 2027 EU budget to provide targeted administrative and technical assistance to prepare Moldova for the transition to the new structure of the upcoming multiannual financial framework (MFF) and the Global Europe instrument; stresses the need to assist the Moldovan administration in adapting to the future ‘Europe’ pillar delivery model; stresses that the allocation and release of funds must remain strictly conditional upon the fulfilment of agreed reform milestones, macro-financial stability, sound financial management, transparency of budget implementation and the existence of effective safeguards against fraud, corruption and conflicts of interest; reiterates its call on the Commission to include in the EU’s next MFF an adequate specific country allocation for Moldova within the future Global Europe ‘Europe’ pillar and to begin preparing Moldova to efficiently use future pre-accession funds; insists that explicit and transparent pre-accession allocations are necessary to track expenditure effectively and prevent the dilution of funds within broad geographic pillars;

24. Commends the agreement reached on 24 July 2025 on the review and update of the trade terms of the EU-Moldova DCFTA2,DCFTA, which offers stability and predictability for EU and Moldovan operators, and increases the country’s attractiveness for investors; notes that the agreement coincided with the expiry of the autonomous trade measures granted to the country since July 2022, which suspended import duties and quotas on Moldovan exports to the EU and thereby helped Moldova reorient its trade towards the EU to mutual benefit; highlights that the EU is Moldova’s biggest trading partner, accounting for 67.567,5 % of total exports and 54.154,1 % of total imports in 2025, as well as for 86 % of foreign direct investments (FDI) in 2024, consolidating its position as the central pillar of FDI in Moldova’s economy; stresses the importance of EU direct investments in Moldova’s economy in facilitating the country’s economic integration into the EU single market, generating employment and business opportunities and improving the livelihoods of citizens;

25. Welcomes the deepening of Moldova’s economic integration into the EU single market and encourages further steps towards gradual sectoral integration and an ambitious, gradual and sustainable liberalisation of trade, including through the expansion and easing of tariff-rate quotas and, where appropriate, their progressive elimination, in line with the revised DCFTA framework, in order to deliver tangible economic benefits, strengthen Moldova’s resilience and support its European integration path; calls on the Commission, in particular, to explore the further progressive liberalisation of trade in agri-food products, including the removal of remaining non-tariff barriers and increased support for regulatory alignment, in particular as regards sanitary and phytosanitary standards and technical barriers to trade and the introduction of semi-automatic increases in tariff quotas, linked to utilisation rates and compliance with EU standards, while ensuring appropriate safeguard mechanisms for EU producers;

33. Welcomes the ongoing implementation of the national strategy on trafficking in human beings adopted in September 2023; calls on Moldova to further strengthen its legal and institutional framework, including by introducing more effective tools for public authorities to investigate and prosecute emerging forms of exploitation;

34. Notes that the legal and institutional framework for the rights of persons with disabilities in Moldova needs further alignment with the EU acquis and relevant international standards; calls in particular for aligning the framework for accessibility with the European Accessibility Act3;Act;

35. Is concerned by the Chișinău city authorities’ attempts to ban Chișinău Pride and by the violent attacks against the peaceful march by counter-protesters; condemns the misinformation and targeted online disinformation campaigns propagated by Russian-affiliated local media in Moldova; calls on Moldova to ensure the right to freedom of assembly for all;

59. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, and to the President, Government and Parliament of the Republic of Moldova.

EXPLANATORY STATEMENT

The report addresses the Commission’s assessment of Moldova’s preparations for EU membership as part of the 2025 enlargement package.

The report welcomes the positive assessment by the Commission of Moldova’s progress across all negotiation chapters and its continued exemplary commitment and steadfast progress with EU accession-related reforms despite significant internal and external challenges. It notes the positive start of the implementation of the Reform and Growth Plan for Moldova and the Reform and Growth Facility that underpins it.

Moldova’s European path was confirmed in the parliamentary elections of 28 September 2025, which resulted in a renewed pro-European majority. Moldova’s parliament and government should use this strong political mandate to accelerate the pace of key reforms in line with the stated ambition to provisionally close accession negotiations by early 2028. Genuine and tangible results need to be delivered in order to justify the trust of the Moldovan citizens and ensure their continued support for the European integration of Moldova.

ANNEX: DECLARATION OF INPUT

Pursuant to Article 8 of Annex I to the Rules of Procedure, the rapporteur declares that he included in his report input on matters pertaining to the subject of the file that he received, in the preparation of the draft report, from the following interest representatives falling within the scope of the Interinstitutional Agreement on a mandatory transparency register1, or from the following representatives of public authorities of third countries, including their diplomatic missions and embassies:

1. Interest representatives falling within the scope of the Interinstitutional Agreement on a mandatory transparency register

.

2. Representatives of public authorities of third countries, including their diplomatic missions and embassies

Government of the Republic of Moldova

Mission of the Republic of Moldova to the European Union

The list above is drawn up under the exclusive responsibility of the rapporteur.

Where natural persons are identified in the list by their name, by their function or by both, the rapporteur declares that he has submitted to the natural persons concerned the European Parliament’s Data Protection Notice No 484 (https://www.europarl.europa.eu/data-protect/index.do), which sets out the conditions applicable to the processing of their personal data and the rights linked to that processing.

3.6.2026

MINORITY POSITION

pursuant to Rule 56(4) of the Rules of Procedure

on behalf of the ESN Group on the 2025 Commission report on Moldova

While recognising the sovereign right of the Republic of Moldova to determine its own political and economic future and while supporting constructive relations between the European Union and Moldova, we do not share the report’s underlying assumption that EU membership constitutes the only or the most appropriate framework for cooperation.

EU enlargement towards countries with unresolved territorial disputes, substantial economic disparities and significant dependence on external financial assistance, risks imposing new financial and political burdens on existing Member States. The accession process should not be driven by geopolitical considerations alone, nor should enlargement be presented as a strategic instrument in broader regional confrontations.

We support a partnership with Moldova that can deliver tangible benefits to both sides without creating additional financial obligations for European taxpayers or further complicating the functioning of the Union.

We advocate a model of cooperation and strategic partnership rather than full EU membership and consequently oppose the report.

INFORMATION ON ADOPTION IN COMMITTEE RESPONSIBLE

Date adopted

3.6.2026

Result of final vote

+ : 58

- : 16

0 : 3

FINAL VOTE BY ROLL CALL BY THE COMMITTEE RESPONSIBLE

58

+

ECR

Adam Bielan, Alberico Gambino, Geadis Geadi, Rihards Kols, Jaak Madison, Arkadiusz Mularczyk, Sebastian Tynkkynen, Ivaylo Valchev

PPE

Mika Aaltola, Wouter Beke, Ioan-Rareş Bogdan, Loucas Fourlas, Michael Gahler, Rasa Juknevičienė, Sandra Kalniete, Łukasz Kohut, Ondřej Kolář, Andrey Kovatchev, Ilia Lazarov, Reinhold Lopatka, Antonio López-Istúriz White, David McAllister, Gabriel Mato, Davor Ivo Stier, Michał Szczerba, Riho Terras, Matej Tonin, Željan Zovko

PfE

Jaroslav Bžoch

Renew

Petras Auštrevičius, Dan Barna, Helmut Brandstätter, Bernard Guetta, Nathalie Loiseau, Urmas Paet, Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann, Hilde Vautmans

S&D

Robert Biedroń, Tobias Cremer, Elio Di Rupo, Elisabeth Grossmann, Hana Jalloul Muro, Costas Mavrides, Sven Mikser, Alessandra Moretti, Matjaz Matjaž, Tonino Picula, Thijs Reuten, Chloé Ridel, Nacho Sánchez Amor, Marta Temido, Nicola Zingaretti

Verts/ALE

David Cormand, Sergey Lagodinsky, Hannah Neumann, Mounir Satouri, Villy Søvndal, Thomas Waitz

16

-

ECR

Marion Maréchal

ESN

Tomasz Froelich, Alexander Sell, Stanislav Stoyanov

NI

Ľuboš Blaha, Grzegorz Braun, Kostas Papadakis

PPE

Christophe Gomart

PfE

Mieke Andriese, Jordan Bardella, António Tânger Corrêa, Pierre-Romain Thionnet, Matthieu Valet

The Left

Marc Botenga, Danilo Della Valle, Giorgos Georgiou

3

0

PfE

Kinga Gál, Annamária Vicsek

The Left

Rima Hassan

Key:

+ : in favour

- : against

0 : abstentions