The European Parliament adopted a resolution with the initiative to start negotiations on Moldova’s accession to the European Union by the end of 2023 following it has fulfilled nine recommendations of the European Commission.

This was posted on social media on Wednesday by Romanian MEP Siegfried Muresan, who chairs the European Union-Moldova Parliamentary Association Committee.

According to him, the resolution was adopted by an overwhelming majority of votes: 555 – “for”, 49 – ” once morest” and 26 abstentions, reports Interfax.

“This shows that the European integration of Moldova has the support of MEPs from all over Europe and all pro-European political groups. Moldova is very important for our security, for all EU countries (…) And the most reliable way in which we can ensure a long-term the stability of Moldova, as well as of all of us, is the European integration of the country,” Muresan stressed.

At the same time, he accused Russia of trying to “slow down the European path of the Republic of Moldova.”

“That is why we, the European Parliament, in the adopted resolution, ask the European institutions to increase financial and technical assistance to Moldova, both for the implementation of the reforms necessary for European integration, and for new measures to support the population,” Mureşan said.

He explained that the European Parliament asks the European Commission to transfer to Moldova as soon as possible the remainder of the macro-financial assistance in the amount of 150 million euros, approved in 2022, as well as budgetary support in the amount of 105 million euros.

“We also expect the Commission to propose as soon as possible the new support package for Moldova requested by the European Council in March. In addition, the European Parliament is in the process of approving additional macro-financial assistance in the amount of 145 million euros. (…) In order to strengthen With the support of Moldova, we also ask for the strengthening of the EU Security Center in Moldova, including by increasing financial allocations for this center,” Muresan said.

In early April, Moldova received a grant of 10 million euros from the European Union, and in May another 40 million euros will come to the country in the form of a loan. These 50 million euros are allocated as financial support to Moldova as part of the ongoing macro-financial assistance operation for a total of 150 million euros.

In August 2022, the European Commission has already paid Moldova 50 million euros as part of the first payment. In January 2023, she proposed to increase the current macro-financial assistance to the republic by another 145 million euros. This proposal is under consideration by the European Parliament and the EU Council.