Moldova praised as EU accession frontrunner despite Russian sabotage campaign
The European Commission has singled out Moldova as the strongest performer among EU candidate countries, praising its internal reforms and resilience against Russian interference. Enlargement commissioner Marta Kos told reporters in Brussels on Wednesday that Moldova, along with Albania and Montenegro, is “on track” for EU accession by 2030. She described Moldova as “the best performer,” showing “strong determination” to implement reforms.
Moldova’s progress comes despite a relentless campaign of hybrid attacks from Russia, including drones entering its airspace, cyberattacks, and the recruitment of Moldovan citizens to commit sabotage. The country has also faced disinformation campaigns and an estimated 100,000 votes bought in its 2024 presidential elections in favor of an anti-EU candidate. EU foreign affairs chief Kaja Kallas noted, “For the first time, we have opponents who are interfering in our accession process.”
Resilience and cooperation
Moldova has collaborated with EU countries to counter Russian interference, and its experiences have helped refine the EU’s toolbox for countering hybrid threats, according to the Commission’s progress report. On Tuesday, hackers accessed personal data from government databases, with Prime Minister Vasile Tofan suspecting a state actor. Russian military forces have controlled the Transnistria region since 1992, but Kallas assured Moldova’s PM in May that Transnistria would “not become an obstacle” to EU admission.
While Ukraine hopes to join the EU by 2028, the Commission called that target “ambitious” given the country’s size. Michael Gahler, a German centre-right MEP dealing with Ukraine, said 2028 is “achievable” if reforms continue, but noted that Ukraine has yet to open talks on integrating its agricultural sector. Accession talks with Georgia, Serbia, and Turkey remain frozen due to democratic backsliding, though Kos said it is “time for a fresh start” with Serbia after the opposition won parliamentary elections. Bosnia and North Macedonia face internal divisions and bilateral disputes.
