Moldova Closes 25 EU Chapters by Year-End as Ukraine Falls to Fourth
New Brussels roadmaps show Moldova outpacing Ukraine in accession progress, with the Eastern neighbor set to advance significantly faster than its western counterpart in 2027.
By Adrian Kovalenko ·
The European Union’s new accession roadmaps project that Moldova will close 25 negotiating chapters within twelve months of the start of next year.
This timeline places Moldova far ahead of Ukraine in the European integration process. According to an analysis of the documents prepared by Brussels, the European Commission now ranks Ukraine in fourth place among the four countries leading the accession race. Moldova sits in the top position, having moved ahead of its western neighbor.
The Commission released its annual enlargement package on November 4, assessing the progress of ten candidate countries. While Ukraine remains in the top four for overall progress, the specific details in the roadmaps reveal a widening gap between the two nations. The introductory sections of the reports for Kyiv and Chisinau are nearly identical, but the operational plans diverge sharply.
For Moldova, the roadmap envisions closing nine chapters in the first half of 2027. The plan calls for an additional 16 chapters to be closed by the end of the year. The Commission has already drafted a positive statement on the Interim Benchmark Assessment Report for Moldova. This document covers the fundamental benchmarks of the accession process and is expected to go to member states for approval soon.
The path for Ukraine is more cautious. The roadmap envisions starting to close negotiating chapters only at the end of the first quarter. Analysts describe this timeline as ambitious given the current pace of reform implementation in Kyiv. The Commission’s report noted that Ukraine’s improved assessment, particularly in the fight against corruption, was achieved despite the actions of the Ukrainian authorities rather than because of them.
The roadmarks do not predict when any of the frontrunners will conclude their accession negotiations. The Commission’s approach suggests a hope that Ukraine will accelerate its reforms to narrow the gap with Moldova, which is described as well advanced in meeting interim criteria.
Source: Ukrainska Pravda
