Moldova and Ukraine’s European Union path for membership

a new strategy for Eastern borders Europeanization

Abstract

The eastward expansion of the European Union, with the accession of former Soviet republics, the launch of the European Neighbourhood Policy (2004) and the Eastern Partnership (2009), saw old balances being dismantled. The admission of new members previously excluded as candidates signalled a new European Union strategy to extend its values and norms. The article considers that the critical juncture of the new geopolitical crisis in Eastern Europe following the war against Ukraine brings a new trajectory for the objective of accession negotiations. This is exemplified by the European Union’s decision to grant candidate status to Moldova and Ukraine, bringing a new reflection on the role of candidacy as a strategy of approximation and influence, rather than merely a stage in the accession process defined by strict criteria and predictable timelines for full compliance.