Moldova is demonstrating openness to a gradual integration into the European Union. Moldovan Chief Negotiator Cristina Gherasimov told ntv that while she supports extra steps that might supplement the path to full membership, these intermediate phases must not permanently replace full membership; the ultimate goal, she stressed, must be full membership with all associated rights.
Gherasimov urged the EU member states to make clearer political decisions regarding the next steps in the accession process, noting that the 27 member states in the Council need to provide more clarity. She praised the EU Commission as an excellent and swift partner working with the candidate countries.
Moldova’s government is operating under an ambitious timeline for EU membership. The goal is to complete most of the legal alignment and negotiations by 2027. Ideally, negotiations should conclude in early 2028, with the accession treaty signed by the end of that year. While asking the EU not to rush, Gherasimov requested that the EU support Moldova halfway through if the enlargement process is truly performance-based.
The EU Commission assessed that Moldova is ready to open all six negotiation clusters. The EU already opened the “Fundamental Values” cluster in June and the “External Relations” cluster in July, with four clusters still pending.
However, Gherasimov also detailed the attempts by Russia to undermine Moldova’s pro-European trajectory through hybrid influence. She stated that Russian attacks have intensified since Moldova became an EU candidate and started the negotiation process. Examples cited include disinformation, illegal political financing, cyberattacks, and capitalizing on social discontent driven by rising prices. Russia’s objective, she noted, is not merely to affect individual elections, but also to diminish trust in state institutions and the European course itself.
Regarding the breakaway, pro-Russian region of Transnistria, Gherasimov confirmed that the Chisinau government favors peaceful reintegration. The region is increasingly connected to Moldova and the European market, benefiting from the deepened free trade agreement with the EU, as about 70 percent of its exports now go to the EU. Despite this, Gherasimov maintained that the outstanding issue is the withdrawal of Russian troops from Transnistria, a demand the Moldovan government has made to Russia for three decades.
In the autonomous region of Gagauzia, Russian influence remains strong. Nonetheless, the Deputy Prime Minister stated that the government plans to counter this through greater dialogue, providing more information, and strengthening the involvement of local people in political decision-making. She stressed that Gagauzia’s autonomy is legally guaranteed and that the Gagauz language and culture are part of a European Moldova; from this perspective, EU membership would offer the best possible protection for ethnic minorities and their languages.
