EU Accession Breakthrough: All 27 EU member states have agreed to formally open talks with Moldova (and Ukraine) on the first accession cluster, covering rule-of-law and democratic standards, with Cyprus starting preparations and a mid-June opening widely expected. Investment Push: At the EU–Moldova Investment Conference in Chișinău, EU Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos announced up to €641m in projects, backed by EU grants/loans and partners like the EIB, EBRD and others, targeting energy, digital infrastructure, education and sustainable agriculture. Reform Momentum: President Maia Sandu and Kos say Moldova is top-ranked in preparations and ready to open negotiations across all clusters, while Sandu warns Russian interference will continue and Moldova must keep countering hybrid threats. Enlargement Overhaul: Germany and France are circulating a non-paper urging “gradual integration” for candidates—faster market and institutional access before full membership—while keeping the process merit-based. Local Governance & Security: Parliament approved stricter rules for taxi platform payments via Moldovan banks and set up an inquiry committee on phone/online scams; meanwhile, the parliament speaker called Russia’s planned move of the Russian Center of Culture to Tiraspol a provocation. Regional Context: Finland’s Stubb floated an EU expansion to 40 states, explicitly naming Ukraine, Moldova and Georgia among future candidates.