Eduardo González
The Minister of Foreign Affairs, José Manuel Albares, held a telephone conversation yesterday with the Deputy Prime Minister for European Integration of Moldova and chief negotiator for her country’s accession to the EU, Cristina Gherasimov, who thanked Spain for its support for the aspirations Europeans of Chisinau.
“I have spoken with the Deputy Prime Minister of Moldova, Cristina Gherasimov,” declared Albares through her official account on the social network X. “I have conveyed Spain’s support to Moldova’s European path, and to the Moldovan people and Government in a difficult regional context,” he added.
“I have discussed Moldova’s European integration agenda with José Manuel Albares”, who “highlighted our commitment to continue implementing reforms,” Gherasimov announced through the same social network. “I have thanked Spain for its support on our path towards the EU and we have agreed to strengthen cooperation on EU matters,” she added.
Political contacts between Spain and Moldova have multiplied since the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Albares visited the country on March 16 of that year and the President of the Government, Pedro Sánchez, has since traveled to Moldova on two occasions: in June 2022, in a bilateral visit, and in June 2023, on the occasion of the Summit of the European Political Community.
Likewise, the Moldovan president, Maia Sandu, participated in the Grenada European Community Summit in October 2023, in which the leaders of the 27 member states supported the enlargement of the EU, considering it “a geostrategic investment in peace, security, stability and prosperity” and “a driving force to improve the economic and social conditions of European citizens, reduce disparities between countries and should promote the values on which the Union is based.”
It was precisely in the name of the Granada Declaration that the European Council approved, on December 15 (the last of the last Spanish Presidency of the EU Council), the start of negotiations for the accession of Ukraine and Moldova to the EU, after overcoming the blockade of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban. “Today is a historic day for Europe,” Pedro Sánchez declared that day through X.
Once the start of accession negotiations has been approved, Moldova, as a candidate country, must prepare to implement EU laws and standards, in accordance with the so-called Copenhagen criteria: the existence of stable institutions that guarantee democracy, the State of law, respect for human rights and respect for and protection of minorities.
When the negotiations are concluded, the Commission will give its opinion on the country’s ability to join the EU, which must then be approved by the European Council, unanimously, and by the European Parliament. If this phase is passed, the leaders of Moldova and the 27 States will meet at an intergovernmental conference in which all attendees will sign the accession treaty. Finally, said treaty must be ratified by all member countries, through national parliaments or by referendum.
Moldova’s relationship with the EU has been governed, since 2016, by the Association Agreement, which includes a Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Agreement (DCFTA) and which aims to stimulate economic integration and political association between Moldova and the EU. , allowing access to the internal market in exchange for the adoption of a part of the acquis. The plan contemplated in the Association Agreement and the Association Agenda includes reforms in the financial, justice and anti-corruption sectors.
