MEP Mieke Andriese (Patriots for Europe) has questioned the European Commission on whether Romania's ongoing political instability and institutional weaknesses, nearly two decades after accession, should serve as a precedent to halt further EU enlargement, particularly regarding Moldova. The written question, submitted on 7 July 2026, targets the Commission's enlargement policy and its implications for EU taxpayers and absorption capacity.
Andriese points to Romania's failure to form a government before September 2026 and its inability to implement reforms needed to access approximately EUR 5.1 billion in recovery funds. She argues that membership has not resolved Romania's problems but has instead imported them into the Union, while EU taxpayers finance the recovery funds. The MEP contrasts this with the Commission's push to open all remaining negotiation clusters with Moldova before the summer recess, following the opening of the first cluster on 15 June 2026. She claims Moldova's institutional and economic situation is worse than Romania's at the same stage.
first, how the Commission assesses its enlargement policy given Romania's governance problems; second, on which criteria it concludes that Moldova meets the Copenhagen criteria and poses no comparable risks to the Union's absorption capacity; and third, whether the Commission is prepared to suspend accession negotiations until it has been demonstrated that further enlargement will not entail new administrative, institutional, or financial risks for the Union and its taxpayers. If not, Andriese demands an explanation.
Andriese advocates for a halt or slowdown of enlargement, prioritising the Union's internal stability and financial security over expansion. The question reflects a cleavage between EU integration and national sovereignty, as well as between taxpayer protection and enlargement-driven spending.
The Commission is expected to reply within approximately six weeks. Its answer will signal whether it shares Andriese's concerns or maintains its current enlargement trajectory, particularly regarding Moldova and the Western Balkans.