Accession of Moldova to the European Union (EU) is on the agenda for future enlargement of the EU.
Following an application by Moldova in March 2022, Moldova was officially granted candidate status by the EU on 22 June 2022.
On 14 December 2023, the European Council decided to open accession negotiations with Moldova. Accession negotiations officially began on 25 June 2024, simultaneously with those with Ukraine. Moldova set a target date of 2028 for EU Accession.
It is one of nine current EU candidate countries, together with Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, Turkey and Ukraine.
History
European perspective The European Parliament passed a resolution in 2014 stating that "in accordance with Article 49 of the Treaty on European Union, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine, as well as any other European country, have a European perspective and can apply for EU membership in compliance with the principles of democracy, respect for fundamental freedoms and human rights, minority rights and ensuring the rule of rights".
Membership application After the outbreak of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, President of Moldova Maia Sandu signed the application for EU membership on 3 March 2022, together with Igor Grosu, President of the Moldovan Parliament; and Natalia Gavrilița, Prime Minister of Moldova.
Questionnaire On 11 April 2022, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and European Integration of Moldova Nicu Popescu received a questionnaire from the European Commission (EC) following a meeting with the European Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement Olivér Várhelyi as a result of Moldova's application for candidacy. The response to the first part of the questionnaire was submitted back to the EC through the Delegation of the European Union to Moldova's head Janis Mazeiks by the Prime Minister of Moldova Natalia Gavrilița on 22 April, while the responses to the second part were submitted on 12 May 2022.
Recommendation On 17 June 2022, the European Commission formally recommended that the European Council grant the Republic of Moldova the perspective to become a member of the European Union and candidate status for accession, with a number of conditions for the opening of accession negotiations.
In 2026, in a letter addressed to European Council President António Costa, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz argued that Moldova and the Western Balkan candidate states should be brought closer to the European Union through “innovative solutions” and an accelerated accession process. He proposed measures such as privileged access to the EU internal market, closer participation in EU institutions and gradual integration into specific EU policy areas prior to full membership.
Candidacy On 23 June 2022, Moldova received the status of candidate together with Ukraine. Both countries received candidate status under the commitment of structural reforms. Moldova's structural reforms include: improving economic efficiency reducing corruption better enforcing property rights reducing the size of state-owned enterprises improving energy efficiency improving the labour market
On 22 June 2023, EU Neighbourhood and Enlargement Commissioner Olivér Várhelyi provided an oral update on Moldova's progress toward the reforms.
On 13 September 2023, during the State of the European Union Address, President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen stated that the future of Moldova is "in our Union".
In its June 2024 EU enlargement report, the European Commission expressed concern over the dismissal of Octavian Armașu as governor of National Bank of Moldova as a risk to good governance and central bank independence in Moldova. |website=Europa.eu His dismissal was likewise scrutinised by the International Monetary Fund.
On 20 October 2024, Moldova narrowly voted to amend its constitution to include the aim of becoming a European Union member state in the 2024 Moldovan European Union membership constitutional referendum.
On 28 September 2025, the pro-European Party of Action and Solidarity retained power in the parliamentary election. This was welcomed by President von der Leyen as a vote for "Europe. Democracy. Freedom".
On 11 July 2026, the new designated prime minister, Vasile Tofan, stated that the goal of his cabinet would be to sign an agreement on EU accession by the end of 2028.
Negotiations
The 2023 enlargement package report was released by the European Commission on 8 November 2023, including updates on Moldova's acquis alignment and a recommendation for the Council to open accession negotiations.
On 14 December 2023, the European Council decided to open accession negotiations with Moldova. On 21 June 2024, the European Union agreed to start membership negotiations with Ukraine. Accession negotiations officially opened on 25 June 2024, at the same time as those with Ukraine. Accession negotiations on the first cluster, Fundamentals, were expected to be officially opened in April 2025.
The screening process was completed on 22 September 2025. Informal opening of all chapters began on 17 March 2026 to bypass Hungary's veto, and the first cluster was officially opened on 15 June 2026.
During the Third Accession Conference with Moldova on 14 July 2026, Cluster 6 (External Relations) was formally opened along with the two chapters inside of it: Chapter 30 (External Relations) and Chapter 31 (Foreign, Security & Defence Policy).
Chapter and screening dates Progression33 / 3333 / 337 / 330 / 33ClusterAcquis chapterScreening startedScreening completedChapter openedChapter closed1. Fundamentals 5. Public Procurement 2024-07-09 2024-07-11 2026-06-15 18. Statistics 2024-11-13 2024-11-14 2026-06-15 23. Judiciary & Fundamental Rights 2024-10-15 2024-10-17 2026-06-15 24. Justice, Freedom & Security 2024-09-23 2024-09-26 2026-06-15 32. Financial Control 2024-10-14 2024-10-14 2026-06-15 2. Internal Market 1. Free Movement of Goods 2025-02-18 2025-02-21 2. Freedom of Movement For Workers 2024-12-03 2024-12-03 3. Right of Establishment & Freedom To Provide Services 2024-12-05 2024-12-06 4. Free Movement of Capital 2024-12-16 2024-12-16 6. Company Law 2025-03-20 2025-03-20 7. Intellectual Property Law 2024-12-17 2024-12-18 8. Competition Policy 2025-01-20 2025-01-22 9. Financial Services 2025-02-03 2025-02-04 28. Consumer & Health Protection 2025-03-17 2025-03-19 3. Competitiveness and Inclusive Growth 10. Information Society & Media 2025-03-27 2025-03-28 16. Taxation 2025-05-15 2025-05-16 17. Economic & Monetary Policy 2025-05-21 2025-05-21 19. Social Policy & Employment 2025-04-03 2025-04-04 20. Enterprise & Industrial Policy 2025-05-22 2025-05-23 25. Science & Research 2025-05-12 2025-05-12 26. Education & Culture 2025-05-13 2025-05-13 29. Customs Union 2025-04-07 2025-04-08 4. Green Agenda and Sustainable Connectivity 14. Transport Policy 2025-06-10 2025-06-13 15. Energy 2025-07-10 2025-07-11 21. Trans-European Networks 2025-06-10 2025-07-11 27. Environment & Climate Change 2025-06-30 2025-07-04 5. Resources, Agriculture and Cohesion 11. Agriculture & Rural Development 2025-09-15 2025-09-17 12. Food Safety, Veterinary & Phytosanitary Policy 2025-09-08 2025-09-12 13. Fisheries 2025-06-02 2025-06-03 22. Regional Policy & Coordination of Structural Instruments 2025-09-18 2025-09-19 33. Financial & Budgetary Provisions 2025-09-22 2025-09-22 6. External Relations 30. External Relations 2025-02-05 2025-02-05 2026-07-14 31. Foreign, Security & Defence Policy 2025-03-21 2025-03-21 2026-07-14 Others 34. Institutions N/AN/AN/AN/A 35. Other Issues N/AN/AN/AN/A
November 2025 European Commission ReportAcquis chapterStatus as of Nov 2025Chapter Status as of August 2026 Overview3 chapters in early stage/with some preparation,15 chapter with some level of preparation,3 chapters with some/moderate preparation,9 chapters with a moderate level of preparation,1 chapter with moderate/good preparation,2 chapters with a good level of preparation26 chapters unopened, 7 chapters open.1. Free Movement of GoodsModerately preparedChapter unopened2. Freedom of Movement For WorkersSome level of preparationChapter unopened3. Right of Establishment & Freedom To Provide ServicesSome level of preparationChapter unopened4. Free Movement of CapitalModerately preparedChapter unopened5. Public ProcurementSome level of preparationChapter open6. Company LawSome level of preparationChapter unopened7. Intellectual Property LawModerately preparedChapter unopened8. Competition PolicySome level of preparationChapter unopened9. Financial ServicesSome level of preparationChapter unopened10. Information Society & MediaSome level of preparationChapter unopened11. Agriculture & Rural DevelopmentEarly stage / SomeChapter unopened12. Food Safety, Veterinary & Phytosanitary PolicyModerately preparedChapter unopened13. FisheriesModerately preparedChapter unopened14. Transport PolicySome / ModerateChapter unopened15. EnergyModerate / GoodChapter unopened16. TaxationSome level of preparationChapter unopened17. Economic & Monetary PolicySome level of preparationChapter unopened18. StatisticsSome level of preparationChapter open19. Social Policy & EmploymentSome / ModerateChapter unopened20. Enterprise & Industrial PolicySome level of preparationChapter unopened21. Trans-European NetworksSome level of preparationChapter unopened22. Regional Policy & Coordination of Structural InstrumentsModerately preparedChapter unopened23. Judiciary & Fundamental RightsSome level of preparationChapter open24. Justice, Freedom & SecuritySome level of preparationChapter open25. Science & ResearchModerately preparedChapter unopened26. Education & CultureModerately preparedChapter unopened27. Environment & Climate ChangeEarly stage / SomeChapter unopened28. Consumer & Health ProtectionSome / ModerateChapter unopened29. Customs UnionGood level of preparationChapter unopened30. External RelationsModerately preparedChapter open31. Foreign, Security & Defence PolicyGood level of preparationChapter open32. Financial ControlSome level of preparationChapter open33. Financial & Budgetary ProvisionsEarly stage / SomeChapter unopened34. InstitutionsNothing to adoptNothing to adopt35. Other IssuesNothing to adoptNothing to adopt Legend: