Janis Mazeiks: “Moldova and Ukraine Will Be Assessed Separately”

Janis Mazeiks, head of the European Union (EU) Delegation to Moldova, said that Moldova and Ukraine will be assessed separately in the process of joining the EU. After Moldova starts EU accession negotiations, its progress will be considered separately from that of Ukraine, although both countries have been granted candidate status at the same time. Such clarifications were made by the head of the EU Delegation in Chisinau, Janis Mazeiks. “Once the negotiations begin, they will represent separate processes. There will be a very thorough examination of Moldova and Ukraine on the merits. We will not rely on, for instance, individual successes of countries in certain chapters. It will be examined by achievements,” the official said. Janis Mazeiks adds that Moldova has fulfilled important conditions recommended by Brussels, but there are also some backlogs, especially in the justice sector: the prosecutor-general has not been appointed yet and the Supreme Court of Justice is not full. We recall that on 3 March 2022, President Maia Sandu signed an application for Moldova’s accession to the European Union. On 17 June 2022, the European Commission published an opinion on the accession application, by which it recommended that the EU Council grant Moldova candidate status in a situation where measures are taken in a number of spheres. On 23 June 2022, the European Council admitted Moldova’s European perspective and decided to grant it the status of a candidate country for EU accession.