Moldova’s Pivotal Vote: Defining Its European Path

On October 20th, Moldova will vote on EU membership and elect a president, shaping its future and testing the EU’s resilience against Russia’s malign hybrid interferences.

Moldova’s journey towards the EU has been long and demanding, filled with significant milestones and complex geopolitical considerations. The official start of EU accession negotiations in June 2024 was a landmark achievement that capped years of crucial reforms. These were accelerated following Moldova’s application for EU membership in March 2022, based on the conditions from the European Commission when Moldova was granted candidate status. This momentous step a few months later in June the EU represents more than just bureaucratic progress. It symbolises Moldova’s strategic decision to align with the European project, distancing itself from its Soviet past.