Moldova may complete EU negotiations a year earlier than Ukraine

Insufficient results in the fight against corruption and implementation of the necessary reforms are slowing Ukraine’s progress towards the European Union compared with Moldova. This is the conclusion of the annual EU enlargement report, published by the European Commission on its official website on November 4. Financial Times has also reported on these assessments. According to the European Commission’s official website.

To speed up progress, Kyiv must substantially accelerate changes in the justice system, the fight against corruption, and the rule of law. To support Ukrainian reforms, Brussels has established a special working group. Its task is to help implement changes in the rule of law more quickly.

According to the European Commission, Moldova has a chance to conclude its accession negotiations with the EU by early 2028. Ukraine will likely need about one more year to do so.

The difference in potential pace is also reflected in the indicative targets for provisionally closing negotiation chapters by 2027:

• Moldova could provisionally close 25 chapters;
• Ukraine — seven.

These figures are not a guaranteed outcome: they reflect the European Commission’s indicative plans, whose implementation depends on meeting the necessary conditions.

Different rates of progress are also set out in the European Commission’s working roadmap: it outlines a more cautious timetable for Ukraine’s accession negotiations than for Moldova.

At the same time, Brussels’ assessment also contains positive findings. The European Commission noted that Ukraine continues its reforms despite the full-scale war. It also assessed the work of specialized anti-corruption agencies, finding that they generally remain independent and effective. However, Kyiv is expected to deliver more tangible results both in combating corruption and reforming the judicial system.

We previously reported:

• Even after joining the EU: Ukraine is urged to limit access to the agricultural market and subsidies
• EU accession to be mapped out by reforms and deadlines: a plan is being prepared for Ukraine and three other countries
• On June 15, the EU will open the first negotiation cluster for Ukraine and Moldova
• The EU has announced the final conditions for Ukraine’s accession across three clusters
• The European Commission has given Ukraine the green light for accession, but Hungary stands in the way