Human Rights Issues in EU Accession Negotiations with Candidate States: Republic of Moldova

Abstract

Since its emergence as an independent state on the political map of Europe, the Republic of Moldova has firmly proclaimed its intention to integrate into the European community. Assistance provided over the years by the European Union has enabled the implementation of structural reforms in various areas of cooperation and has contributed to the reconceptualisation of legal institutions in the field of fundamental human rights and freedoms, culminating in the evaluation of the institutional framework, particularly in the area of justice.

In this article, we analyse the development of the instruments that have formed the basis of Moldova’s cooperation, initially with the European Communities and, subsequently, with the European Union. We focus specifically on the evaluation of cooperation in the field of fundamental human rights and freedoms. At the time of writing, the screening procedure for Moldova's accession to the European Union is ongoing. The status of the Republic of Moldova concerning Chapters 23 and 24 of the EU acquis is reflected in the 2023 European Commission Report and, subsequently, in the 2025 Republic of Moldova Country Report, part of the EU Enlargement Package.

Analysis of the documents underpinning negotiations with the Republic of Moldova reveals that certain areas remain insufficiently addressed. Consequently, this article aims to highlight additional domains within Chapters 23 and 24 of the EU acquis that could have a significant impact on Moldova’s accession process to the European Union.