Brussels: Moldovan President Maia Sandu on Tuesday expressed gratitude to the European Commission for acknowledging Moldova's advancement in its EU accession discussions, as the European Union released a report evaluating the progress of its enlargement partners.
According to Anadolu Agency, European Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos highlighted 2025 as a promising year for engagement with candidate countries during a presentation at the European Parliament. Kos pointed out the substantial progress achieved by Moldova, Montenegro, Albania, and Ukraine towards EU membership. She also mentioned on social media platform X that Moldova had made the most significant progress, deepening cooperation with the EU despite facing ongoing hybrid threats and attempts to destabilize its EU trajectory.
President Sandu, reacting to Kos' comments on X, stated, "Thank you for recognising our progress, @EU_Commission. Moldova has shown that even in the hardest times, Moldova delivers - and that the European Union can count on us." Her remarks coincided with her working visit to Brussels, where she reported having a productive meeting with European Council President Antonio Costa.
During her visit, Sandu is scheduled to meet with Marta Kos, EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas, and other high-ranking European officials, as well as attend a conference. These engagements were announced in a Monday statement by the Moldovan presidency.
The visit follows the swearing-in of Moldova's new government, led by Prime Minister Alexandru Munteanu, after Sandu's Party of Action and Solidarity secured a majority in the legislature following a parliamentary vote in late September. The period leading up to the election was fraught with allegations of Russian interference, with President Sandu alleging that Russia was investing in political entities to gain influence in the parliament.
Moscow, however, denied these allegations, accusing Moldovan authorities of causing divisions by reducing polling stations in Russia while increasing them across European countries.