Moldova moves ahead of Ukraine in EU access plan
New roadmaps show Brussels expects Chisinau to close 25 negotiation chapters in 2027, while Kyiv's start is delayed until late in the year.
By Julian Schulz ·
European Commission roadmaps released on Wednesday indicate that Moldova has moved ahead of Ukraine in the process of joining the European Union. The documents outline specific targets for 2027, revealing a clear divergence in how Brussels views the progress of the two candidate countries.
The roadmaps for both nations share nearly identical introductory text. However, the specific details suggest a shift in the internal ranking of the four top candidates. Ukraine currently ranks fourth in this internal assessment, behind Moldova. According to sources cited by European Pravda, the Commission has already drafted a positive statement on Moldova's Interim Benchmark Assessment Report. This report is expected to be sent to EU member states for approval soon.
The divergence is most apparent in the timeline for closing negotiation chapters. The roadmap for Ukraine plans to begin closing chapters at the end of the first quarter of 2027. Analysts note that even this timeline appears ambitious given Kyiv's current pace in implementing the interim benchmarks. In contrast, the plan for Moldova is more aggressive. It envisages the closure of nine chapters in the first half of 2027 and an additional 16 chapters by the end of the year, totaling 25 chapters in a single year.
This development follows the European Commission's annual enlargement package published on November 4. In that assessment, Ukraine was listed among the four countries showing the greatest progress toward membership. The report acknowledged improvements in Ukraine's anti-corruption efforts. However, the assessment noted that these gains were achieved despite the actions of the authorities rather than because of them.
The Commission did not include a predicted date for the conclusion of accession negotiations in the roadmaps. The documents appear to rely on the hope that Ukraine will accelerate its reform pace to close the gap with Moldova. The next step for Moldova is the formal approval of its positive benchmark assessment by the member states.
The roadmaps serve as the operational guide for the next phase of negotiations. They set the stage for how Brussels will manage the relationship with each candidate country over the coming year. The difference in the 2027 targets underscores the Commission's current view of where each country stands in the integration process.
