Resolution on taking stock of Moldova’s path to the EU

The European Parliament adopted by 448 votes to 45, with 43 abstentions, a resolution on taking stock of Moldova’s path to the EU.

The text adopted in plenary was tabled by the EPP, S&D, Renew, Greens/EFA, ECR groups and Members.

Parliament reaffirmed its commitment to Moldova’s future membership of the EU and acknowledged that its place is in the EU. It also reiterated its call on the Commission and the European Council to start the EU accession negotiations with Moldova by the end of 2023. In this regard, it stressed the importance of continuing the country’s reform process, not only in order to achieve the political objective of EU membership, but above all to tangibly improve the living standards of the population, especially of the more vulnerable groups, and to provide the younger generations with attractive prospects for life and work in the country.

Increased financial and technical assistance should be increased by the EU and its Member States to facilitate the process of the country’s swift and effective integration into the EU. The Commission is called on to swiftly disburse the next instalment of the ongoing macro financial assistance for Moldova and to identify additional funds for Moldova during the revision of the multiannual financial framework in 2023.

Parliament also welcomed the Commission’s proposal to create a dedicated Ukraine facility to support the recovery, reconstruction and modernisation of the country and considered that the Commission should work towards the inclusion of Moldova in the revised IPA III Regulation.

On the other hand, while welcoming the Moldovan authorities’ considerable efforts to advance the reform agenda in order to progress towards EU membership, Parliament called on them to continue to work towards its full and effective implementation, as well as on democracy, governance and rule of law reforms in general, as a demonstration of their ambition to prepare for EU membership and to fulfil the obligations of an EU Member State.

Regarding trade relations, Parliament welcomed the renewal of the temporary trade liberalisation measures to support Moldova’s economy by suspending all tariff-rate quotas and called for their further extension.

The resolution strongly condemned the unprecedented hybrid operations orchestrated by Russia, conducted through its criminal proxies, which are subverting electoral processes in Moldova by means of illicit financial support to political parties, with a view to undermining the security, sovereignty, and democratic foundations of the country. Parliament welcomed the fact that on 18 September 2023, Moldova joined the EU Civil Protection Mechanism as a participating state.

Parliament welcomed the adoption by the Council of a new sanctions framework to target actions aimed at destabilising Moldova, including attempts to undermine its sovereignty and independence by means of corruption.

Lastly, the EU and its Member States are called on to:

- continue to help Moldova to ensure its energy independence, including by increasing its generating capacity, connectivity, diversification and energy efficiency;

- increase their support for the rehabilitation and upgrading of Moldova’s transport infrastructure, including through the laying of a European-gauge track connection from Chișinău to Iași (Romania), as a way of supporting the EU-Ukraine Solidarity Lanes and Moldova and Ukraine’s economies.