News Feed

55 MEPs call for swift launch of Moldova's EU accession talks

2 min read
55 MEPs call for swift launch of Moldova's EU accession talks
Moldovan President Maia Sandu arrives for a meeting with the European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen (unseen) at the European Commission headquarters in Brussels on Dec. 10, 2024. (Nicolas Tucat/AFP via Getty Images)

55 Members of the European Parliament from 19 EU countries urged European Council President Antonio Costa to immediately advance Moldova’s EU accession talks, Vice President of the European Parliament Victor Negrescu announced on Oct. 5.


"It is a strong political signal: the European Parliament supports without reservation the European future of the Republic of Moldova, recognizes the reforms achieved and demands that the option of Moldovan citizens, expressed by the result of the parliamentary elections, be utilized and respected.”  Negrescu wrote on Facebook.

The MEPs wrote that Moldova’s recent free and fair elections confirmed the people’s clear desire to integrate into the EU, despite “external pressure and disinformation campaigns.”

The letter calls on Costa to place Moldova’s EU negotiations on the Council’s agenda without delay.

“The European Union must act now to demonstrate its support for democracy, resilience and the European ambitions of the citizens of the Republic of Moldova,” the MEPs wrote.

Moldova’s pro-European Action and Solidarity Party (PAS), supported by President Maia Sandu, recently won the country’s parliamentary elections, amid growing concerns over potential Russian interference.

PAS secured just over 50% of the vote, reaffirming public support for Sandu’s push toward European integration.

The opposition Patriotic Electoral Bloc, led by pro-Russian former President Igor Dodon, came in second with 24.19% of the vote.

The EU's accession process divides EU law into six thematic "negotiating clusters," each grouping related chapters that candidate countries must align with.

Ukraine formally launched accession talks with the EU in June 2024, but none of the six clusters has been opened yet.Hungary, under Prime Minister Viktor Orban, has consistently opposed Ukraine’s accession and has blocked related decisions.

Czechia’s populist Ano party wins parliamentary elections, threatening future aid to Ukraine
Ano party leader and billionaire Andrej Babis said on Oct. 4 that Ukraine is “not ready” to join the EU and that the Czech ammunition initiative should be taken over by NATO.
Avatar
Sonya Bandouil

North American news editor

Sonya Bandouil is a North American news editor for The Kyiv Independent. She previously worked in the fields of cybersecurity and translating, and she also edited for various journals in NYC. Sonya has a Master’s degree in Global Affairs from New York University, and a Bachelor’s degree in Music from the University of Houston, in Texas.

Read more
News Feed

By infiltrating Ukrainian positions in small infantry groups, Russia has accumulated around 200 troops within Pokrovsk, the General Staff reported. These personnel are engaging in "intense" small arms and drone clashes with Ukrainian troops in the city.

While Ukraine also lacks Western-supplied weapons, soldiers and commanders say shortages of basics — cars, drones and people — make holding back Russia extremely difficult. Even as Kyiv seeks U.S. approval for Tomahawks, they say critical, rudimentary gear is the more pressing need.

Russia faces an increase in the arson and “spontaneous combustion” of electrical panels, railway relay cabinets, and other infrastructure helping Moscow wage its war against Ukraine over the past week, a source at Ukraine’s military intelligence told the Kyiv Independent.

Video

The episode covers Russian war crimes in Pokrovsk and continued attacks on Ukrainian cities, including missile strikes on Kyiv and Kharkiv. While Moscow continues to reject a ceasefire with Ukraine, has President Trump finally shifted his approach to Russia?

Show More