The high-level meeting was attended by European Commission President Ursula Von der Leyen and European Council President António Costa, who said that the EU “took priority” in Moldova’s European future.

The summit, a bullish step in Moldova’s search for European Union membership after a series of disruptive and controversial governments, came at a time of deepening regional instability driven by Russia’s war on Ukraine and a determination to limit the Kremlin’s influence in the country.

No Breakthrough, However Clear EU Commitment
Although no substantial decisions were made during the summit, the EU confirmed its willingness to remain engaged in Moldova’s European integration process. An accompanying joint statement stressed that progress was now expected: “We look forward to the next steps in Moldova’s accession process, including the [adoption of negotiating] clusters — to begin with, following conditions, the basic cluster.”

But Moldova’s EU aspirations are inextricably tied to Ukraine’s, as they are combined in a single negotiation package. And Budapest’s persistent veto on the opening of talks is still preventing any further progress for either candidate. 

Although a number of EU leaders have looked at the possibility of divorcing Moldova’s application from Ukraine’s to help your PAS in the next election, it’s off the table. The European Commission, Denmark (which holds the EU presidency), and Moldova itself all agreed that such a gesture could damage political ties with Ukraine.

Financial Backing Alongside Political Support
The EU also backed up its message with some concrete help. Moldova has been allocated EUR 270 million as part of a EUR 1.9 billion Moldova Growth Plan, which will be disbursed to the country. This money is designed to help the country develop its economy and underscore the EU’s belief that the country is moving in the right direction towards integration.

The ChiÈ™inău summit was not just a political statement, however, but also a source of encouragement for Moldova’s pro-EU leadership in an election year.