Moldova seen as ‘best performer’ on EU-accession reforms, despite onslaught of Russian sabotage

The European Commission highlighted Moldova as a leading example for EU aspirants, commending its reforms and resilience against Russian interference. Enlargement commissioner Marta Kos noted that Moldova, along with Albania and Montenegro, is on track for EU accession by 2030. Moldova's progress occurs amid Russian hybrid threats, including cyberattacks and disinformation campaigns. Despite these challenges, Moldova has collaborated with the EU to counteract interference. Ukraine aims for EU membership by 2028, though this is considered ambitious due to necessary reforms. Accession talks with Georgia, Serbia, and Turkey are stalled due to democratic issues, while Bosnia and North Macedonia face internal political challenges. Final accession requires approval from all EU member states, with rising anti-enlargement sentiment in France posing additional hurdles.