A dozen EU member states have made a joint push to move forward the accession process for candidates Ukraine and Moldova and formally kickstart membership talks by the end of June, according to a letter to the Belgian EU presidency, seen by Euractiv.
Moldovan citizens will go to the polls for presidential elections and a referendum on the country’s future EU integration in October, but for Chisinau's pro-EU government, the bigger challenge until then is the fight against Russian disinformation.
The European Union on Tuesday (21 May) signed a security and defence pact with Moldova to help the pro-Western country boost its ability to tackle threats from Russia.
Several EU member states called on Tuesday (21 May) for the bloc to start membership negotiations with Ukraine and Moldova by the end of June, but several technical and political obstacles remain for the decision to be taken.
Moldova's parliament voted on Thursday (16 May) to hold a referendum in October on EU membership, the cornerstone of President Maia Sandu's policies, alongside a presidential election.
The 'Weimar Triangle' of Germany, France, and Poland is looking to activate joint investment to prop up Moldova’s frail public finances amid increasing Russian pressure on the EU candidate country, German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said on Tuesday.
Moldova’s decision to join the EU's sanctions regime against Russia last November has fueled Moscow's already vast campaign of disinformation and hybrid warfare against the EU candidate country
Moldova's Parliament on Thursday (21 March) endorsed an appeal to press on with a drive to join the European Union, but the opposition walked out of the vote and separatists in the Transnistria region urged authorities to drop their claim to the enclave.
EU leaders are set to give the political green light to open accession talks with Bosnia and Herzegovina on Thursday (21 March), but the outcome still hangs in the balance as several member states aim to tie the decision to progress on Ukraine and Moldova.
Moldova on Tuesday (19 March) expelled a Russian diplomat over the opening of polling stations for Russia's presidential election in the breakaway region of Transnistria after summoning the Russian ambassador.
A senior official in ex-Soviet Moldova said on Wednesday (13 March) Moscow was breaking laws by printing ballot papers in the separatist region of Transnistria ahead of this weekend's Russian presidential election.
Moldova's spy chief said on Tuesday (5 March) that Russia was planning fresh attempts to meddle in the country's internal affairs by provoking protests, interfering in upcoming presidential elections, and disrupting plans to join the European Union.
Moldova's breakaway Transnistria region asked Russia on Wednesday (28 February) to help its economy withstand Moldovan "pressure", at a meeting of hundreds of officials dismissed by the pro-European Chisinau government as a propaganda stunt to gain headlines.
Russia’s “hybrid warfare” against Moldova is expected to increase in intensity through 2024, focusing on Moldova’s planned constitutional referendum on joining the EU expected to happen in November.
KYIV, UKRAINE - With Ukraine's and Moldova's hopes for an opening of EU accession talks taking centre stage in Kyiv on Tuesday (21 November), European Council President Charles Michel sought to reassure them that the matter remained a priority for the bloc, despite warnings of a tough decision at the EU December summit.
Moldova will continue working together with the EU to keep "cleaning its system from the toxic influence of criminal oligarchs" as part of a concerted push to advance its EU membership bid, the country's Foreign Minister Nicu Popescu told Euractiv.
With the European Commission's enlargement report out, the ball is now in the court of EU leaders to decide how to proceed with the accession process - and their own reform homework.
In a boost for the bloc's floundering enlargement process, the European Commission recommended on Wednesday (8 November) opening accession talks with Ukraine and Moldova - as well as potentially Bosnia, at a much later stage - once they finalise implementing key outstanding reforms.
Starting EU accession negotiations with the Republic of Moldova by the end of this year is in the fundamental interest of the people of Moldova and the people of the EU, writes Siegfried Muresan.
Moldova's pro-European President, Maia Sandu, said Russia's Wagner paramilitary force was the main force behind an attempt to foment a coup against her, she told the Financial Times in an interview published on Friday (6 October).
Moldova's parliament began moves on Wednesday (4 October) to prevent members of the banned pro-Russian Shor (Șor) party running in local elections for other parties or as independent candidates.
Moldova will uphold its gas supply contract with Russia's Gazprom in order to ward off crises over power prices in the country and hardship in its breakaway Transnistria region, Energy Minister Victor Parlicov said on Thursday (21 September).
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Wednesday (13 September) made the case for enlargement as a 'catalyst for progress' of the bloc but failed to put forward concrete targets.
The new leader of Moldova's region of Gagauzia expressed gratitude at her inauguration on Wednesday (19 July) to a wealthy magnate convicted in absentia for fraud and stood by her calls for closer ties with Russia.
