President Maia Sandu welcomes the European Commission's opinion on the Republic of Moldova's EU candidate status: "It is the hope our citizens need"

The President of the Republic of Moldova Maia Sandu welcomes the opinion of the European Commission, which today recommended EU Member States to grant our country candidate status for accession to the European Union. At the same time, the head of state expresses her hope that our country will also receive a favourable decision from the European Council on 23-24 June.

"This opinion, which comes three and a half months after the Republic of Moldova applied for EU membership, strengthens our European aspirations, encourages us and reinforces our conviction that we are on the right path. It is also an enormous step, compared to where our country was in its relationship with the EU a year or three years ago," President Maia Sandu said after the European Commission expressed its position to the public.

The head of state underlines that today's recommendation by the Commission is based on the understanding that our country will make further efforts in key areas such as justice reform, fighting corruption, public administration and human rights. "These are exactly the areas where we have pledged to make changes to our citizens and we will deliver on our commitment," President Maia Sandu said, stressing that the European executive will monitor progress in these areas until the end of 2022.

The European Commission's opinion is an institutional assessment of our country's overall and sector-specific readiness for EU membership and the main point of reference for discussion at next week's European Council. As a result, the authorities in Chisinau count on the fact that the EU Member States will support the European Commission's recommendation and grant our country the status of candidate country at the European Council meeting on 23-24 June.

"This is an important moment for the future of the Republic of Moldova and it is the hope our citizens need. We know that this will be a complex process, but we are determined to take on this path, in order to anchor our country in the area of European values, progress and prosperity", President Maia Sandu emphasised.