Brussels, 21 May 2024
On 21 May in Brussels, the European Union and the Republic of Moldova (hereinafter “Moldova”) held the eighth annual meeting of the Association Council under the EU-Moldova Association Agreement. The Council was chaired by the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Mr Josep Borrell. The Prime Minister of the Republic of Moldova, Mr Dorin Recean, led the Moldovan delegation. The Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement Negotiations, Mr Olivér Várhelyi also took part in the meeting.
The EU reiterated that the future of Moldova and its people lies within the European Union, and reaffirmed its commitment to assist Moldova in its reform path towards membership. In particular, the EU commended the Moldovan government’s continued commitment to reforms in the areas of rule of law, anti-corruption, democratic institutions, public administration, and the economy, despite challenges stemming from Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine and hybrid actions against Moldova itself. The Association Council welcomed the historic decision by the European Council of 23 June 2022 to grant candidate status to the Republic of Moldova and of 14 December 2023 to open accession negotiations.
Participants looked forward to the swift adoption by the Council of the negotiating framework once Moldova has taken the relevant steps set out in the Commission’s recommendations of 8 November 2023, with a view to organise the first intergovernmental conference without delay.
The Association Council took note of the state of play of implementation of the Association Agreement, including its Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area (DCFTA). The Association Council welcomed the adoption and the swift operationalisation of the National Plan for the Adoption of the Acquis (NPAA).
The EU commended Moldova’s sustained efforts to pursue a comprehensive justice reform, underlining the importance of an independent, impartial, accountable and professional judicial system in line with European standards and the recommendations of the Venice Commission as an indispensable condition of the EU integration process.
In view of the upcoming presidential elections and referendum on Moldova’s EU path, the EU recalled the importance of transparent, inclusive and competitive electoral process, and called on Moldova to continuing dialogue with the Venice Commission and ODIHR in order to ensure that measures to counter malign interference remain in line with international standards.
Looking forward, participants emphasised the importance of deepening further sectoral cooperation with Moldova and its integration in the EU internal market. Structural reforms, such as in the energy sector or in modernisation of telecommunication, payment and banking system will bring tangible benefits of European integration to Moldova and its citizens. Moldova recalled the submission of its application to join the Single Euro Payments Area (SEPA) in February 2024 and expressed its commitment to undertake all the necessary steps for full membership. The Association Council welcomed the signature of a joint declaration by telecommunication operators based in the EU and in Moldova to voluntarily lower data and voice roaming charges, and Moldovan efforts to further align to the EU roaming acquis in an effort to lower roaming charges and bring Moldova into the EU roaming area.
The Association Council welcomed Moldova’s submission in January 2024 of its first Economic Reform Programme and its participation in the Economic and Financial Dialogue, the highest level of engagement that the EU has with third countries on economic matters.
The Association Council welcomed the EU’s decision to extend the autonomous trade measures and the agreement on the carriage of freight by road, for another year, thereby granting Moldova temporary full trade liberalisation and road freight transport liberalisation. The Association Council welcomed the launch of the EU-Moldova High-Level Dialogue on Transport.
The EU welcomed Moldova’s firm and principled stance in condemning Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine and the significant increase in its alignment with the EU’s Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP) positions and restrictive measures. The EU expressed appreciation for Moldova’s efforts in welcoming and hosting people fleeing Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine. The EU also highlighted Moldova’s important contribution to the EU-Ukraine Solidarity Lanes by facilitating the export and import of essential goods. The EU invited Moldova to continue the good cooperation on preventing circumvention of EU sanctions against Russia and Belarus.
Both the EU and Moldova confirmed their close cooperation on security and defence and welcomed the signature of the EU-Moldova Security and Defence Partnership in the margins of the Association Council, elevating this cooperation to a new strategic level. The EU strongly condemned the repeated violations of Moldova’s airspace by Russian missiles and drones that were used for attacks on civilian infrastructure in Ukraine and welcomed Moldova’s decisive steps in responding to hybrid actions led by Russia and its proxies. The EU committed to continue its comprehensive support to Moldova’s resilience, including through the European Peace Facility and the EU Partnership Mission in Moldova, that has proved to be particularly valuable in countering hybrid and cyber threats.
The EU reiterated its commitment to facilitating a comprehensive, peaceful and sustainable settlement of the Transnistrian conflict, based on the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Moldova within its internationally recognised borders.
Participants welcomed the association of Moldova to EU programmes of the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF), Single Market Programme, Digital Europe and Union Civil Protection Mechanism since the last Association Council meeting. Today, in the margins of the Association Council, the EU and Moldova signed the association agreement to the Employment and Social Innovation (EaSI), too.
Moldova expressed its interest in strengthening cooperation at the local and regional level and proposed the establishment of a Joint Consultative Committee between the European Committee of the Regions and the local and regional authorities of Moldova that could serve as a platform for dialogue, collaboration, and sharing of best practices
Participants discussed the comprehensive EU support to Moldova. Since 2021, the EU has strongly reaffirmed its support and solidarity with Moldova by making available up to €2.2 billion in loans and grants. This significant funding is channelled through multiple financial instruments such as direct budget support, macro-financial assistance, EU programmes, and projects with international financial institutions guaranteed by the EU. A key priority has been the implementation of the EU’s Economic and Investment Plan for the Eastern Partnership in Moldova. It has helped translate policy priorities into tangible investment projects with high impact on economy, communities and Moldova’s citizens. The key sectors in which the Economic and Investment Plan has mobilised investments are energy, transport and access to finance for businesses.
The Association Council welcomed the ongoing work in Moldova, with the support of the European Commission, on an Economic Growth Plan to help delivering key economic reforms and investments over the coming years.
Both Moldova and the EU are dedicated to continuing working together to advance Moldova’s EU accession.
Press remarks by High Representative Josep Borrell after the EU-Moldova Association Council
Brussels, 21 May 2024
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Very much welcome, dear Prime Minister, dear Dorin Recean, and your delegation here in Brussels, for the annual review of our relations with Moldova.
We are meeting at the highest institutional level, together with Commissioner [for Neighbourhood and Enlargement, Oliver] Várhelyi and myself, you and your team, for the first time after the European Council decided to open accession negotiations with Moldova, which was certainly a very important step on your European path.
Today, we have confirmed that the relations between Moldova and the European Union have never been closer.
We have discussed many topics. Allow me to focus on three of them.
Firstly, I want to commend the impressive determination of the Moldovan government to advance on the European path – and that, despite internal and external challenges.
On the domestic front, key reforms are met with resistance from those who stand to lose from the fight against corruption and vested interests.
Externally, Moldova is directly exposed to the consequences of Russia’s aggression against Ukraine. You see Russian missiles and drones violating your airspace.
This difficult context has not prevented you, has not prevented Moldova, from making remarkable efforts to get closer to the European Union.
I want to use this opportunity to encourage you, my dear Prime Minister, to continue along this path. And, also, to ensure that the citizens all across Moldova, without exception, enjoy tangible benefits as a result of this process.
If they see the benefits that they [can] have in their ordinary lives, they will support the process, [more strongly].
You will organise a referendum on Moldova’s European path together with the presidential elections in October.
This will be a great day, [having] both presidential elections and a referendum on the European path. This will be the greatest opportunity for the Moldovan citizens to express themselves on their EU aspirations.
And at the same time, we expect that foreign interference, information manipulation and disinformation will only intensify in the run up to these votes. We know that, we suffer [from] that here in the European Union. Every time there is an electoral process, foreign interference, information manipulation and disinformation appear, and we have to fight against this threat to democracy.
This brings me to the second point, that the European Union continues [to stand] in full solidarity with Moldova.
We do that for many reasons. Because you belong to the European family, but also because we see Russia actively trying to destabilise your country. That is a fact.
From outside, but also [by] using local proxies, to interfere and intimidate politically and economically. Russia has introduced a ban on import of your fruits and vegetables, to mention a very concrete thing.
In order to face that, we have considerably stepped up our support for reforms and built up capacities to protect your country against destabilisation efforts.
We continue to strengthen your energy security and expand sectoral cooperation. I will ask Commissioner Várhelyi to say more on this.
I want to concentrate my last words on the third point which is how can we jointly address our shared security challenges and further increase Moldova’s resilience.
For that, today, Moldova has become the first country to sign a Security and Defence Partnership with the European Union. We have done that minutes ago.
This is the first country, many others will follow, in order to create a network of friends that builds a strong Security and Defence Partnership.
This will include an ever-closer cooperation in areas ranging from cybersecurity to countering hybrid threats and disinformation, training and capacity building and will open new areas of cooperation.
On the other hand, do not forget what we have already done. We launched a year ago – I was there -, [it was a] great pleasure to launch the civilian European Union Partnership Mission in Moldova.
I remember it was a memorable day. It was a step further for us to become a reliable partner. [It] will further enhance Moldova’s capacity to fight hybrid and cyber threats.
This also comes with financial support. We have been providing [almost] €140 million for the modernisation of Moldova’s armed forces through the European Peace Facility. It has already been done, more will come.
More will come because Moldova can count on the European Union to continue our comprehensive support for your security, stability and resilience, to strengthen your democracy, to impulse – to push for – your reform process on European course.
I think that the future of the Moldovan people – Moldova and its citizens – is in the European Union, and this is a battle that has to be won together.
Thank you, Prime Minister.
Q&A
Q. How do you think Russia will react after the official opening of the accession negotiations and how will you help us?
I have to repeat everything I said. I have to repeat everything I said during the meeting. We are providing support. Allow me to stress the importance of that support through the European Peace Facility – what we have done, what we will continue doing. The Commissioner has given a complete explanation of all the capacities we are providing to Moldova. Certainly, Russia is not very happy with the fact that Moldova is willing to be part of the European Union, but it is not a matter of Russia. It is a matter of Moldova. It is the Moldovan people and the Moldovan authorities who matter for us.
Q. High Representative, I would like to know what is your reaction to the decision [announced] just an hour ago by Spain to withdraw the Ambassador from Buenos Aires. Do you think this is a proportionate measure? Do you think this will help to resolve the tensions? Do you think that maybe these tensions could affect the overall relations between Argentina and the European Union, in cases like MERCOSUR?
What do I do? We are talking about Moldova. Argentina is very far away from Moldova. Nothing that happens in Argentina affects our relationship with Moldova, no? So, I can tell you afterwards whatever you want, but I think it would be very unpolite from my side to use this opportunity, instead of talking about Moldova and the EU-Moldova relationship, to go and discuss something which has nothing to do with that.
Link to the video: https://audiovisual.ec.europa.eu/en/video/I-257189
Source – EEAS