Moldova clears path for EU accession as technical talks decouple from Ukraine
Moldova could launch "technical negotiations" with the European Union for all six policy clusters in early 2026, according to the Deputy Prime Minister for European Integration Cristina Gherasimov.
Following a government meeting on December 17, Gherasimov stated that the Moldovan government is fully prepared for this milestone. A formal decision is expected within the first weeks of 2026.
The announcement follows high-level talks in Brussels with the incoming Cypriot Presidency of the EU Council, which takes the helm on January 1. Gherasimov expressed strong confidence that the negotiation process will move into high gear, covering the final three thematic clusters of EU law.
Currently, Moldova has received the "green light" to begin technical talks on the first three clusters, which include essential areas such as fundamental values, the internal market, and foreign policy.
Technical breakthrough and EU monitoring
This development has effectively cleared the path for the European Commission to begin daily monitoring of Moldova's progress starting January 1.
"This is a significant breakthrough," Gherasimov said. "The technical process is now unblocked, meaning that from the start of the year, our progress will be under the direct monitoring of the European Commission, leading to a steady advancement of the negotiations."
EU consensus and the Ukraine factor
Despite geopolitical tensions, Gherasimov confirmed that all 27 EU member states—including Hungary—now support opening negotiations with Moldova. However, political advancement remains complicated because Moldova and Ukraine are currently coupled in the same stage of the accession process.
"There is currently no political decision for our colleagues in Ukraine; consequently, the political process for Moldova remains at its current stage," the Deputy Prime Minister noted.
When asked about the possibility of Moldova moving forward independently of Ukraine, Gherasimov explained that the technical phase naturally allows for separate trajectories.
"Once technical negotiations begin, each candidate state receives a customized set of priorities for every chapter. These roadmaps look different for each country, making a natural decoupling inevitable," she clarified.
Focus on justice reform
The European Council recently acknowledged Moldova's "important progress" following a meeting in Brussels on December 16. EU officials confirmed that the country has successfully completed the screening process for all six negotiation clusters.
However, Brussels issued a reminder that the pace of accession depends on "concrete results." European officials warned that Moldova must maintain its momentum in cleaning up the justice system and intensifying the fight against corruption to stay on track for full membership.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
