The accession of the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine to the European Union

Written declaration No. 749 | Doc. 15584 | 29 June 2022

Signatories:

Mr Roberto RAMPI, Italy, SOC ; Ms Thórhildur Sunna ÆVARSDÓTTIR, Iceland, SOC ; Mr Alin-Gabriel APOSTOL, Romania, ALDE ; Ms Laura CASTEL, Spain, UEL ; Ms Lise CHRISTOFFERSEN, Norway, SOC ; Mr Titus CORLĂŢEAN, Romania, SOC ; Lord George FOULKES, United Kingdom, SOC ; Mr Paul GAVAN, Ireland, UEL ; Mr Antón GÓMEZ-REINO, Spain, UEL ; Ms Emine Nur GÜNAY, Türkiye, NR ; Mr Christophe LACROIX, Belgium, SOC ; Mr Joseph O'REILLY, Ireland, EPP/CD ; Mr Gianluca PERILLI, Italy, SOC ; Mr Aleksander POCIEJ, Poland, EPP/CD ; Mr Thomas PRINGLE, Ireland, UEL ; Lord Simon RUSSELL, United Kingdom, EC/DA ; Mr Stefan SCHENNACH, Austria, SOC ; Mr Frank SCHWABE, Germany, SOC ; Mr Birgir THÓRARINSSON, Iceland, EPP/CD ; Mr Andreas Sjalg UNNELAND, Norway, UEL

This written declaration does not reflect the position of the Assembly; only of those members that have signed it. It will not be considered further by the Assembly.

After Romania's accession in early 2007, the European Union directly borders with the Republic of Moldova. Therefore, the EU-Moldova relationship became very important in recent years. A new legal framework reflecting the Republic of Moldova's ambitious EU agenda was negotiated and sectoral integration in various areas accelerated. However, the path has not been smooth, and after years of hope for rapid European integration, the country returned to State capture.

After prolonged street protests in 2019, Moldovans succeeded in installing a pro-European government and Vladimir Plahotniuc, the oligarch who seized the State institutions, fled the country, for fear of prosecution. The new Moldovan Government promised to move the country forward, fight corruption and organised crime. But previously controlled institutions needed time to consolidate, and anti-corruption efforts did not yield the expected results. The country has nevertheless continued to move closer to Europe.

The European project was born out of the need to avoid war on the continent and to work towards prosperity; therefore, fighting external threats through unity, solidarity and shared values is essential.

Thus, the Parliamentary Assembly welcomes the announcement by the European Commission to grant EU candidate status to Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova, following their applications for EU membership, and to pledge continuous support to developing a mutual partnership that benefits all Europeans.