First bilateral screening session

Chisinau, July 10 /MOLDPRES/- Moldova is entering the next stage of the European Union accession process, which will anchor the country in an area of peace, stability, prosperity and freedom. Deputy Prime Minister for European Integration Cristina Gherasimov made the statement at the opening of the first bilateral screening session in Chisinau.

The event is hosting in our country a delegation of the European Commission which includes European Commissioner for Enlargement and Neighborhood Oliver Varhelyi.

Gherasimov said that the assessment of the national legislation started with the most important group of chapters - Fundamental Values.

"Today and tomorrow we are presenting and analyzing, together with the European Commission team Chapter 5 - Public Procurement, an area that is essential for the proper functioning of any democratic state, which concerns the efficient use of public money. The fact we have reached the bilateral screening stage, only two years after receiving candidate country status speaks of the efforts made by the authorities and society. It is also a very clear signal that the EU is open to welcoming us into the European family and speeding up the accession process. It is important to mobilize our efforts to achieve as much as possible in the coming years. The screening stage is the cornerstone of the negotiation process, which will help us understand where we are in the integration process and how ready we are," said Gherasimov.

The official expressed gratitude to the European officials for agreeing to hold the first bilateral screening session in Chisinau.

Oliver Varhelyi assured that the EU will stand by our country during the bilateral screening process.

"Today's event marks the beginning of an extremely important step. This process will give you the opportunity to see all the conditions you will have to fulfill, and for us it will bring clarity on when and how Moldova will reach the level necessary to become a member of the European Union. Since 2022, when you were granted candidate status, you have come a long way and you have had a very good determination, but it was only the beginning, the hard work is just ahead," noted Oliver Varhelyi.

The Republic of Moldova started EU accession negotiations on 25 June.