The European Union is considering taking a significant step toward Moldova in its bid to join the 27-member bloc—and, for the first time, moving it ahead of Ukraine in the process—before the parliamentary elections scheduled for late September.
Under a scenario being discussed by European officials, as early as next month, following a meeting of EU ministers, member states could vote to open the first “negotiation cluster” with Moldova—a key legal milestone on the path to membership. Such a move would provide a major boost for President Maia Sandu, whose party is running on a pro-European platform while facing active efforts by Moscow to influence the outcome of the vote.
"We need to find a way to open the first cluster," said MEP Siegfried Mureșan, chair of the EU–Moldova Parliamentary Association Committee. "This would send a message to Russia and counter its claim that there is no progress toward membership."
However, allowing Moldova to move forward while leaving Ukraine waiting risks irritating Kyiv. Until now, both countries have advanced in lockstep since the European Council gave them the green light to apply for membership in 2023. "There is a risk of sending the wrong signal to Ukrainians," a Ukrainian diplomat noted. "At a time when the future of peace negotiations is being discussed in Alaska, the prospect of EU membership must remain as clear as possible."
Allowing Moldova to advance before September 28 could be an important signal to the pro-European electorate in the country—but risk stirring discontent in Ukraine.
EPA
Both in Chișinău and Kyiv, officials stress that they have met all the requirements for opening the first negotiation cluster. "There are no objective reasons to block Cluster No. 1," the European Commission said.
Hungarian Veto Stalls Ukraine’s Bid and Puts the EU in a Dilemma
Ukraine’s application to join the EU is running up against a veto from Hungary, whose prime minister, Viktor Orbán, has made opposition to Kyiv’s membership one of the key planks of his 2026 re-election campaign.
This means that if Moldova manages to secure the backing of all 27 member states to open a negotiation cluster as early as September 1 at an informal meeting of the General Affairs Council, Ukraine is unlikely to receive unanimous approval.
The situation puts EU enlargement supporters, including Denmark, which currently holds the presidency, in a difficult position. Rigidly linking Moldova’s process to Ukraine’s is blocking progress for both applications. Decoupling Moldova before September 28 could send a strong signal to the country’s pro-European voters, but at the same time risk sparking discontent in Kyiv.
According to an EU diplomat familiar with the process, alternative ways of showing Ukraine progress are now being considered, even if the negotiation cluster is not opened. Ideas include granting Kyiv access to the Horizon Europe research program or to the Erasmus student exchange scheme.
"There are many ways to bring Ukraine closer to Europe beyond the formal negotiation process," the diplomat noted. "The main thing is to keep moving forward and make it clear that Hungary’s objections are not seen as legitimate, and that the ultimate goal is the end result of the process."

"This Doesn’t Look Like Weakness—It Is Weakness."

The European Union Lacks the Resources to Secure Favorable Terms for Ending the War in Ukraine

A 45-Year-Old Hungarian Citizen Died After Being Mobilized Into the Ukrainian Army

Medical Teams Report Gunfire Near Aid Distribution Centers

"By Removing Babel, You Remove the City’s Soul"

Odesa Becomes a Battleground of Cultural War, as Decolonization Starts to Mirror Soviet-Era Tactics

Supporters of keeping Moldova and Ukraine moving in sync argue that the EU should not risk demoralizing Ukrainians committed to integration, and that a more prudent strategy would be to get Trump to pressure Orbán to unblock the process.
"This is a historic moment, and the situation needs to be viewed in its entirety. Ukraine’s EU membership is a crucial element of any peace agreement," one European diplomat stressed.