European parliament initiates talks before end of this year on Moldova's accession to EU

CHISINAU. April 19 (Interfax) - The European Parliament has adopted a resolution initiating the start of talks on Moldova's accession to the European Union before the end of 2023, after it fulfils nine recommendations of the European Commission.

A report on that was published on social networks by Siegfried Muresan, a member of the European Parliament from Romania, who leads the EU-Moldova Parliamentary Association Committee.

The resolution was adopted by a majority of votes: 555 members of the parliament voted for it, 49 voted against it and 26 abstained, he said.

The European Parliament in the adopted resolution asks European institutions to increase financial and technical assistance to Moldova, both for reforms needed for European integration and for new measures to support the population, he said.

The European Parliament is asking the European Commission to provide to Moldova as soon as possible he remaining macrofinancial assistance in an amount of 150 million euro approved in 2022, as well as budget support in an amount of 105 million euro, he said.

He also said he expects the European Commission to propose as soon as possible a new package of measures to support Moldova requested by the Council of the European Union in March. Besides, the European Parliament is in the process of approving additional macrofinancial assistance in an amount of 145 million euro, Muresan said.

Moldovan President Maia Sandu supported the European Parliament resolution on social networks on Wednesday.

"Today, the Republic of Moldova has reconfirmed that it is welcome to the big European family. In the adopted resolution, the European Parliament asked to start by the end of 2023 talks on accession to the EU and noted the importance of our country for the united and strong Europe. Moldova's place in the European Union is what our citizens demand, our institutions are working for that purpose, and we have all support from the European sates to become a EU member," Sandu said.

"The State establishments will fulfil the recommendations of the European Commission so that we are ready to start talks on accession. European Moldova is a way our citizens have chosen. We will say that out loud, in one voice, in the citizens' assembly on May 21," Sandu said.

In early April, Moldova received from the EU a grant in an amount of 10 million euro, and another 40 million euro in the form of a loan will be provided to the country in May. This 50 million euro was provided as financial assistance to Moldova amid the current macrofinancial assistance worth 150 million euro.

In August 2022, the European Commission already paid Moldova 50 million euro as the first payment. In January 2023, it suggested increasing the current macrofinancial assistance to Moldova by another 145 million euro. This proposal is now being considered by the European Parliament and the Council of the European Union.