Romania supports adoption of decision to open accession negotiations for Moldova and Ukraine

Romania supports the adoption, in December, of the decision to open accession negotiations for the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine, Foreign Minister Luminita Odobescu said on Monday.She participated in the opening of a seminar on the European Union and enlargement policy, organised by the European Council for Foreign Relations and GlobalFocus Center think-tanks, with the support of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs."On enlargement itself and in other respects, we need to demonstrate that we can move from a declaratory approach to action and decisions for the benefit of the Union and the partners who share our convictions. That is what we must do. This is why Romania supports the adoption, in December, of the decision to open accession negotiations for the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine. We also believe that Georgia must be supported on its European path and, at the same time, we support the progress of our partners in the Western Balkans on this path," said the head of the Romanian diplomacy.She added that "the European path of the Western Balkans and the Eastern Partnership countries is the only correct option for peace, stability and long-term prosperity.""I believe that no one should be left behind, neither the countries of the Western Balkans, nor the partners in the East - Ukraine, the Republic of Moldova and Georgia. We cannot afford to leave them in the sphere of aggressive actors, especially at this time, when democracy is on the brink and security in the region is very fragile," Odobescu added.According to the minister, "in the context of the Russian Federation's military aggression against Ukraine, in the EU's strategic neighbourhood, a common understanding has taken shape within the Union: the EU's enlargement must be re-invigorated as a standard response to dramatic and unprecedented geopolitical developments."She conveyed that the enlargement package is based on the merits of the candidate states, guided by the country report in each case."We all know that EU membership does not happen overnight, but, for example, the evolution of Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova since their application for membership has been remarkable, especially in the context of a war that had dramatic consequences," said Luminita Odobescu."It is true that the geopolitical case for enlargement is stronger today than it was 20 years ago, but enlargement is not just about geopolitics. Our Union is first and foremost a community of shared values, principles and norms. Political will, European strategic thinking and the assumption of EU values are increasingly relevant today, in the context of new challenges," Odobescu noted.In mid-December, the European Council meeting and the EU-Western Balkans Summit will take place in Brussels.