On the 2023 and 2024 Commission reports on Moldova

MOTION FOR A EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT RESOLUTION

on the 2023 and 2024 Commission reports on Moldova

(2025/2025(INI))

The European Parliament,

– having regard to the Commission communication of 30 October 2024 entitled ‘2024 Communication on EU enlargement policy’ (COM(2024)0690), accompanied by the Commission staff working document entitled ‘Republic of Moldova 2024 Report’ (SWD(2024)0698),

– having regard to the Commission opinion of 17 June 2022 on the Republic of Moldova’s application for membership of the European Union (COM(2022)0406) and the joint staff working document of 6 February 2023 entitled ‘Association Implementation Report on the Republic of Moldova’ (SWD(2023)0041),

– having regard to the Commission analytical report of 1 February 2023 on Moldova’s alignment with the EU acquis (SWD(2023)0032),

– having regard to the proposal of 9 October 2024 for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on establishing the Reform and Growth Facility for the Republic of Moldova (COM/2024/0469),

– having regard to the Commission communication of 9 October 2024 on the Moldova Growth Plan (COM/2024/0470),

– having regard to the Council conclusions of 17 December 2024 on enlargement,

– having regard to the visit of the delegation of the Committee on Foreign Affairs to Moldova on 25-27 February 2025,

– having regard to Rule 55 of its Rules of Procedure,

– having regard to the report of the Committee on Foreign Affairs (A100000/2025),

A. whereas, following Moldova’s application for EU membership of 3 March 2022, the European Council granted it candidate status on 23 June 2022 and subsequently decided to open accession negotiations on 14 December 2023;

B. whereas in June 2024 negotiations about Moldova’s EU accession started;

C. whereas the Association Agreement, which includes a Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area (AA/DCFTA), remains the basis for political association and economic integration between the EU and Moldova, and a regular political and economic dialogue is ongoing between the two sides;

Progress with EU-accession related reforms, in particular on the rule of law and governance

1. Commends Moldova’s exemplary commitment and steady progress with EU accession-related reforms despite significant internal and external challenges, which has made it possible for accession negotiations to start in June 2024;

2. Recognises that EU-Moldova relations have entered into a new phase, with intensifying cooperation and gradual alignment across all policy areas; welcomes the progress achieved in the bilateral screening process since this started in July 2024 and the recent closing of screening for cluster 1 (fundamentals); commends the ambition of the Moldovan Government to open negotiations on cluster 1 (fundamentals), cluster 2 (internal market) and cluster 6 (external relations) in the coming months;

3. Believes that Moldova’s capacity to consolidate its current progress with EU accession-related reforms and sustain the ambitious pace towards EU membership will require the strong and genuine support of a parliamentary majority after the elections in autumn 2025;

4. Notes that both the constitutional referendum on European integration, held on 20 October 2025, and the presidential election, held on 20 October and 3 November 2024, confirmed the support of a majority of the Moldovan people for the country’s goal of EU membership and the required pro-European reforms; underlines that this referendum and election were held in the context of a hybrid campaign by Russia and its proxies, which entailed various forms of manipulative interference to destabilise the country, illicit financing of political actors, disinformation campaigns and cyberattacks;

5. Notes that the upcoming parliamentary elections in autumn 2025 will be of crucial importance for the continuation of Moldova’s pro-European trajectory; is concerned about the likely intensification of foreign malign interference and hybrid attacks ahead of the elections; calls for the EU to increase its support for the Moldovan Government’s efforts to counter such interference in the country’s democratic process, including through additional sanctions listings, an extension of the mandate of the EU Partnership Mission in Moldova (EUPM) and the granting of additional support thereto, and the sharing of expertise in foreign information manipulation and interference;

6. Stresses the importance of strategic communication, combating false narratives about the EU and its policies and highlighting the concrete short- and long-term benefits of EU accession for the people of Moldova;

Socio-economic reforms

7. Welcomes the Commission’s Moldova Growth Plan, which is aimed at supporting Moldova’s socio-economic and fundamental reforms and enhancing access to the EU’s single market; welcomes the Reform and Growth Facility for Moldova, which underpins the Growth Plan and is worth EUR 1.9 billion, making it the largest EU financial support package for Moldova since its independence; underlines that the Facility provides Moldova with EUR 520 million in non-repayable support and an 18 % pre-financing rate, demonstrating the EU’s recognition of the urgency of supporting Moldova’s reforms and resilience;

8. Reiterates that the Moldovan people’s support for European integration can be strengthened with a tangible improvement in their livelihoods, by strengthening state institutions and by fighting corruption and oligarchic influence; calls on the Moldovan authorities to ensure the meaningful involvement of civil society organisations and social partners in order to strengthen trust in democratic institutions and processes and boost public support for EU accession-related reforms;

9. Calls on Moldova to implement the Reform Agenda, which outlines the key socio-economic and fundamental reforms to accelerate the growth and competitiveness of Moldova’s economy and its convergence with the EU on the basis of enhanced implementation of the AA/DCFTA;

10. Strongly calls for the acceleration of Moldova’s gradual integration into the EU and the single market by associating the country to more EU programmes and initiatives; congratulates Moldova on its inclusion in the geographical scope of the Single Euro Payments Area payment schemes, facilitating transfers in euros and reducing costs for Moldova’s citizens and businesses;

11. Notes that the recent decision of the US administration to suspend support for civil society, independent media, key reforms and infrastructure projects has created additional urgent needs in Moldova regarding which the EU would need to step in;

Energy, environment and connectivity

12. Condemns Russia’s instrumentalisation of energy against Moldova, most recently by halting gas supplies to the Transnistria region on 1 January 2025 and thereby provoking a humanitarian crisis; applauds the Commission’s immediate proposal of a support package worth EUR 250 million; calls on the Moldovan Government to continue the diversification of gas and electricity supply routes in order to ensure Moldova’s energy security and resilience;

Rule of law and good governance

13. Underlines that comprehensive justice reform remains key for the success of Moldova’s democratic and EU accession-related reforms; recognises Moldova’s sustained efforts to build an independent, impartial, accountable and professional judicial system and conclude the vetting process by the end of 2025; calls, therefore, for the EU to continue actively supporting the process of vetting both judges and prosecutors;

14. Notes that Moldova has achieved some progress in the fight against and prevention of corruption; highlights the need to ensure enhanced coordination among all key anti-corruption and justice institutions in order to implement comprehensive reforms and to ensure that they have adequate resources and capacities; stresses that results in terms of prosecution and conviction in corruption cases need to be delivered in order to ensure public trust in the ongoing reforms;

15. Expresses its readiness to continue supporting the Parliament of Moldova through mutually agreed democracy support activities that respond to the needs of the institution, its elected members and staff;

Cooperation in the field of common foreign and security policy (CFSP) and progress on resolving the Transnistria conflict

16. Welcomes Moldova’s consistent cooperation on foreign policy issues and the significantly increased rate of its alignment with the EU’s CFSP positions and restrictive measures; invites it to continue to improve this alignment, including on restrictive measures against Russia, and to cooperate on preventing the circumvention of sanctions against Russia and Belarus related to Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine;

17. Expresses its support for the EUPM in Moldova and calls on the Member States to contribute the necessary experts in anticipation of a potential intensification of hybrid threats; encourages the Moldovan authorities to make full use of the EUPM’s expertise to enhance its preparedness, in particular in view of repeated electoral interference ahead of parliamentary elections in autumn 2025; calls for the EU to draw lessons from the experience gained in Moldova in protecting the electoral process and democratic institutions in the EU itself;

18. Reiterates its full commitment to Moldova’s territorial integrity and to the peaceful resolution of the conflict, based on the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Moldova in its internationally recognised borders, with a special status for the Transnistrian region; hopes that the confidence-building measures in place will foster trust between Chişinău and Tiraspol;

19. Welcomes Moldova’s keen interest in contributing to the EU’s common security and defence policy and the fact that Moldova is the first country to sign a security and defence partnership with the EU;

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20. 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

This is the first report that addresses the Commission’s assessment of Moldova’s preparations for EU membership as part of the 2023 and 2024 enlargement packages.

Since being granted candidate status in 2022, Moldova has achieved significant progress on its European integration path. The report highlights the key reforms of the democratic institutions and economy and the internal and external challenges that Moldova is facing, such as the impact of Russia’s brutal war of aggression against Ukraine, energy blackmail and unprecedented interference and hybrid operations by Russia and its proxies, aiming to destabilise Moldova, its institutions and democratic processes.

The report also addresses the deepening of Moldova’s ties with the EU, which have never been stronger. The result of the constitutional referendum held last year confirmed the support of the people of Moldova for anchoring their future within the EU. In this new strategic phase of EU-Moldova relations, cooperation is advancing across policy areas that include economic and social convergence, energy and security.

ANNEX: ENTITIES OR PERSONS FROM WHOM THE RAPPORTEUR HAS RECEIVED INPUT

Pursuant to Article 8 of Annex I to the Rules of Procedure, the rapporteur declares that he received input from the following entities or persons in the preparation of the draft report, prior to the adoption thereof in committee:

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