Moldova to Establish Office for European Integration

The government of Moldova has decided to create a separate structure responsible for coordinating the processes of joining the European Union. This was announced by the press service of the Moldovan cabinet.

The newly established Office for European Integration will be responsible for coordinating the internal aspects of Moldova's accession to the EU. This includes aligning national legislation with EU law and informing the public about the advantages of EU membership.

The head of this office will be the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and European Integration of Moldova, Nicu Popescu. He emphasized that the creation of this office aims to consolidate deep sectoral expertise in areas that are often highly technical, allowing for an acceleration of the implementation of the acquis communautaire and progress on the 35 negotiation chapters.

According to the head of the Moldovan Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Moldova has already completed 94% of the actions recommended by the European Commission regarding EU accession.

In addition, the Moldovan government has approved an action plan for the year 2024, consisting of 546 measures, half of which are part of the National Plan of Action for European Integration.

It is worth noting that on November 8, the European Commission recommended starting negotiations on EU accession for Moldova and Ukraine. The final decision on the start of negotiations is expected to be made by the leaders of member countries at the meeting on December 14-15.

Meanwhile, on December 21, Moldovan President Maia Sandu made an unofficial visit to Kyiv to discuss EU accession. On the Day of Dignity and Freedom, Sandu and the Zelensky family honored the memory of activists who died during the Revolution of Dignity. Volodymyr and Olena Zelensky, along with Maia Sandu, placed candles at the cross on the Alley of the Heavenly Hundred Heroes in Kyiv. They also paid tribute to the memory of deceased activists near their portraits. A bell rang in honor of the fallen participants of the Revolution of Dignity.

Earlier, the European Commission recommended Ukraine and Moldova to start negotiations on EU accession, but both countries must fulfill certain conditions. The EU expects its future members to align with the foreign policy direction, including adherence to the EU's sanctions policy.

Over the past year and a half, Moldova has joined four sets of sanctions imposed by the EU against Russia. However, at the beginning of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Moldova stated that it would not immediately join sanctions against Russia.