November 5, 2025, Sarajevo – The State Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Carolina Perebinos, represented the Republic of Moldova at the Meeting of the Foreign Ministers of the Danube States, held in Sarajevo, the capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
During the event, Carolina Perebinos delivered a speech on the topic: “How the European Union Strategy for the Danube Region (EUSDR) Can Contribute to Advancing the EU Enlargement Process in the Current Geopolitical Context.”
In her remarks, the official emphasized the importance of regional cooperation in supporting candidate countries for accession, such as the Republic of Moldova, as well as the role of the EUSDR in transforming the objective of European integration into a concrete process that brings visible benefits to citizens. In this context, she also welcomed the recent release of the European Commission’s 2025 Enlargement Report, which highlighted, in particular, the progress made by the Republic of Moldova in the accession process.
The regional context, deeply affected by the Russian Federation’s war of aggression against Ukraine, further underscores the need to accelerate the European Union’s enlargement process—as a guarantee for democracy, the rule of law, prosperity, and the security of the states in the region.
The State Secretary also highlighted the contribution of the EUSDR to enhancing the credibility and sustainability of the enlargement process, demonstrating that the active involvement of candidate countries can generate concrete benefits for the entire Danube Region.
In conclusion, Carolina Perebinos noted that accelerating the accession process requires not only political will, but also effective cooperation instruments. In this regard, the EUSDR remains an essential tool for turning EU enlargement into a pragmatic process based on results, partnership, and solidarity.
Note: The European Union Strategy for the Danube Region (EUSDR) aims to harness the economic potential and improve the environmental conditions of the region. It also encourages long-term cooperation among local and regional authorities, the private sector, and non-governmental organizations by generating projects dedicated to the region’s development.
The Strategy includes the following countries participating in the Danube cooperation framework: Germany (the federal states of Baden-Württemberg and Bavaria), Austria, Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Slovenia, Croatia, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Romania, Bulgaria, the Republic of Moldova, and Ukraine.
The EUSDR provides a practical framework for cooperation between EU Member States and candidate countries, facilitating joint projects in essential areas such as environmental protection, sustainable energy, transport infrastructure, digitalization, and human capital development.
