The EU has officially started accession negotiations with Moldova. “Yesterday’s Accession Conference is the first milestone marking a new chapter in relations between the European Union and Moldova. The determination of the Moldovan authorities to clearly commit to the reform path has been key to this success. Our meeting is a well-deserved recognition of these efforts and the progress made by your country”, said the European Commissioner for Enlargement, Oliver Varhelyi, speaking at the first intergovernmental conference for Moldova which marks the opening of EU accession negotiations.
And things are moving on the Ukrainian front too. Signing of the EU-Ukraine security commitments, official opening of negotiations for Kiev’s entry into the club, with the usual Intergovernmental Conference and, on the way, a strong demonstration of unity at the leaders’ summit. The EU strikes a blow right at the end of the legislature. “We are witnessing a historic moment”, assures the President of the European Council Charles Michel, complimenting the efforts on reforms. “It seemed like just a dream and yet here we are,” echoed Volodymyr Zelensky. The agreement on long-term security commitments essentially provides for a deepening of cooperation on all fronts and, above all, the promise of 5 billion per year between now and 2027, through the Assistance Fund for Ukraine (with the constraint, however, of the leadership Council policy). Then there is the strengthening of Kiev’s defense industry in line with the EU defense strategy and the EU’s commitment to “continue to apply sanctions on Russia or to launch new ones”. The 27 also promise to start “integrating Ukraine” into the European single market.
