Moldova adopted a declaration calling for unity for the sake of European integration.

The Parliament of Moldova approved a declaration on European integration, in which deputies call on the entire society and political forces to unite around the idea of ​​the republic joining the EU, the press service of the legislative assembly reported.

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The EU summit on December 14 decided to launch negotiations on future membership of the European Union with Ukraine and Moldova. In June 2022, the EU granted EU candidate country status to Ukraine and Moldova, setting several strict conditions for the formal start of accession negotiations. The EU has repeatedly admitted that such a decision was largely symbolic in order to support Kyiv and Chisinau in their confrontation with Moscow.

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“The Parliament approved the Declaration on European Integration of the Republic of Moldova. Deputies call on the entire society, including all political forces, to show unity and solidarity to consolidate political and social dialogue in the name of national interests and the strategic goal – integration and accession of the Republic of Moldova to the European Union. The draft Declaration was voted for 54 deputies (out of 101),”  a message published on the parliament’s website says.

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The document expresses the conviction that only Moldova’s accession to the European Union will ensure the future of the country as a sovereign, neutral, integral and democratic state, and the irreversible path of European integration and accession is the national priority project of the republic.

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The status of an EU candidate country, as well as the start of negotiations, does not necessarily mean that the country will join the European Union; these steps also do not oblige Brussels to anything. Obtaining candidate status is only the beginning of a rather long journey towards joining the EU. Turkey has been in candidate status since 1999, and has been “conducting” membership negotiations with the EU since 2005, North Macedonia has been a candidate since 2005, Montenegro since 2010, Serbia since 2012. Croatia was the last country to join the EU in 2013; the process took 10 years.