EU agrees to historic summit with Moldova amid cautious accession talks
- The European Union will hold its first summit with Moldova in Chisinau on July 4, indicating an intent to strengthen political ties.
- The draft declaration notes an openness to discuss Moldova's EU accession, though it remains ambiguous on the timeline and conditions.
- Criticism of Russia's interference and influence in Moldova is a central theme, suggesting challenges ahead as Moldova navigates its path to the EU.
Moldova will host the European Union for a summit in Chisinau on July 4, marking a significant step towards deeper political relations. This summit represents the first of its kind between the EU and Moldova, indicating a serious commitment from Brussels to enhance engagement with the country. The draft declaration from the summit suggests the EU aims to accelerate and deepen its political and policy interactions with Moldova, although it remains ambiguous regarding the timeline for the country’s accession process. Moldova's EU candidate status was granted in June 2022 alongside Ukraine. Despite the cautious optimism surrounding the accession talks, the declaration hints at uncertainties as it refers to opening negotiating clusters, particularly with the fundamental cluster related to essential rule of law legislation. The vagueness surrounding the accession speed reflects differing opinions among EU member states, which must unanimously decide on accession-related matters.