Moldova has taken a big step toward joining the European Union. It did this just like Ukraine. Both countries sent important papers to the EU. They did this without waiting for Hungary’s permission.
Daniel Vodă, a spokesman for the Moldovan government, told European Pravda about this. He said the Moldovan government approved three “roadmaps” last week. These roadmaps are needed to start talks with the EU. The goal is to let the EU Council decide if Moldova is ready. Then, talks can begin on the first group of topics for joining the EU.
Roadmaps are like plans. They show what a country will do to meet EU rules. Usually, the European Commission must check these roadmaps first. After that, the EU Council invites the country to start talks. But this time, Moldova and Ukraine sent their roadmaps early. They sent them to Brussels and to the Polish presidency of the EU Council. They did this before the official checks.
European Pravda said that Kyiv and Chișinău sent these roadmaps to Brussels on May 15. This was not announced by the EU at the time. This is different from the usual way the EU works with new candidate countries. The usual process is slower. It also needs agreement from all members, including Hungary.
Hungary has blocked progress for both Moldova and Ukraine. Hungary has used its veto power to stop talks from starting. Because of this, both countries sent their roadmaps early. Ukraine worked closely with the Polish presidency and the European Commission. Their goal was to avoid long delays and keep the process moving.
This move by Moldova and Ukraine is unusual. It breaks the usual EU rules for new members. But it shows how much they want to join the EU. They want to move forward despite political problems.
The European Commission’s job is to check if the roadmaps meet the needed standards. After this, the EU Council must approve starting the talks. The roadmaps cover many topics. These include reforms, laws, and rules. The countries must follow these to join the EU.
Moldova’s government says it is ready to do the work. The roadmaps focus on the first “cluster” of topics. These include political reforms and rule of law. These areas are very important to meet EU standards.
By sending these papers early, Moldova and Ukraine hope to speed things up. They want the EU Council to act soon. They want talks to begin. This will bring them closer to full EU membership.
The process to join the EU usually takes many years. It has many steps. Candidate countries must change laws and meet strict rules. They also need support from all EU members. But Hungary’s veto has made it hard for Ukraine and Moldova to move fast.
Hungary’s reasons for blocking progress come from political disagreements. These include issues with minority rights and foreign policy. Hungary says it will not allow talks to start until its demands are met.
Sending roadmaps early shows Moldova and Ukraine do not want to wait for Hungary’s okay. They try a new way to keep the process alive. The Polish presidency of the EU Council supports this. Poland has strongly backed Ukraine and Moldova in their EU efforts.
The EU says it supports Ukraine and Moldova’s European goals. But it also says all members must agree before talks start. The situation is still tricky.
Experts say this step may cause tensions inside the EU. Some may see it as skipping rules. Others think it is needed to support countries wanting to join.
Now, Moldova and Ukraine wait for the European Commission to finish checking the roadmaps. After that, the EU Council will decide if talks can start.
This is an important time. It shows Moldova and Ukraine’s strong will to join the EU. It also shows the challenges inside the EU.
The future of talks will depend on political decisions soon. Both countries hope to pass the hurdles and get closer to the European Union.
