European Commissioner for Enlargement, Marta Kos, delivered a speech before the Parliament of the Republic of Moldova, in which she reaffirmed the European Union’s support for the Republic of Moldova’s accession and commended the progress the country has made in its European integration process. Furthermore, the European official announced an additional €30 million in support to help mitigate energy costs.

“The European Commission’s 2026 Enlargement Report on the Republic of Moldova has confirmed the remarkable progress you have achieved for the fourth consecutive year. You are not only moving toward Europe; you are taking significant strides toward accession to the European Union. Your efforts are recognized and appreciated across the entire continent. Europeans see a country that stands up against foreign interference and hybrid attacks. They see a nation that has made a clear choice in favor of Europe,” stated Marta Kos from the Parliament’s central rostrum.

The European official’s visit comes just days after the publication of the European Commission’s 2026 Enlargement Report, which notes progress by the Republic of Moldova across all negotiating chapters—with 25 of these showing a higher level of preparedness for accession. The Commission has also proposed a roadmap under which the Republic of Moldova could conclude accession negotiations by the first half of 2028, provided it maintains the current accelerated pace of reforms. In her remarks, the Commissioner emphasized that the next major objective for the Republic of Moldova is meeting the interim benchmarks related to the fundamentals—the so-called IBARs. The independence of the judiciary, the fight against corruption, and the strengthening of democratic institutions remain critical criteria for assessing the country’s level of preparedness for EU accession.

Marta Kos announced that a positive assessment regarding the Republic of Moldova’s fulfillment of these interim benchmarks is expected to be finalized soon. In the coming period, the European Commission and the Member States will begin discussions on the conditions for concluding negotiations, which would pave the way for the Republic of Moldova to move toward the closure of negotiating chapters. “If the Republic of Moldova continues to implement reforms at the same pace as in previous years, we believe you could close up to 25 of the 35 negotiating chapters by next year. This could set the country on a credible path toward concluding accession negotiations by early 2028. This is a very ambitious goal. You can count on our support at every stage of this process,” she stated.

Regarding EU financial assistance, Marta Kos announced that the European Union has proposed an additional €30 million in support for the Republic of Moldova, aimed at mitigating the impact of high energy costs on vulnerable individuals. Furthermore, a new financial support package will be prepared in 2027 for implementation starting in 2028; this will ensure the continuity of investments outlined in the €1.9 billion Growth Plan, which is currently underway and runs until the end of 2027. European funds will be directed toward infrastructure development, the modernization of schools, and improved access to drinking water, contingent upon the progress made by the Republic of Moldova in implementing reforms.

For his part, the Speaker of the Parliament, Igor Grosu, highlighted that the most significant message conveyed by the European Commission is the confirmation that the Republic of Moldova’s goal of EU accession is achievable. “We have set the objective of concluding accession negotiations by early 2028, and the Commission indicates that this timeline—while ambitious—is attainable, provided we maintain the current pace of reforms. Our confidence is backed by tangible results and a European assessment confirming that we can succeed. We will continue at the same pace, ensuring we are prepared for accession by our targeted deadline,” stated Igor Grosu.