IMF places Moldova with Western Balkans, separating its EU path from Ukraine
The IMF's September 8 report groups Moldova with Western Balkan candidates for EU accession, while Ukraine is excluded due to its larger size and ongoing war.
In a report released on September 8, the International Monetary Fund placed Moldova in the same EU-accession cohort as Western Balkan states, arguing they share comparable features. Ukraine was left out, with the IMF noting its considerably larger territory and ongoing military war as reasons. IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva said the study examines the economic benefits of membership, showing a roughly 35 % rise in GDP per capita after a decade, driven by market access, EU funds and reforms.
EU Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos previously called Moldova the top performer, while EU Economy Commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis urged Ukraine’s government, represented by Prime Minister Serhii Koretskyi, to stick to the reform timetable. The report also referenced geopolitical challenges from Russia and China that could affect the enlargement process.
How this story developed
- Sep 6 Lavrov says Western drone accusations mark the start of a real war
- Sep 6 Germany closed the Russian consulate in Bonn and the Russian House in Berlin.
- Sep 7 Russia ordered the German consulate in St. Petersburg to close.
- Sep 8 Police in Cologne found a makeshift missile launcher aimed at a high-voltage line of the Weisweiler power plant, prompting a terrorism investigation.
- Sep 8 Hungary's foreign minister Anita Orbán announced the removal of ten Russian diplomats, citing activities that breach the Vienna Convention.
- Sep 8 Police seized an additional written confession during the search.
- Sep 8 Hungary issued an order expelling ten Russian diplomats.
- Sep 10 Russia said it would issue an appropriate answer to the expulsions while expressing willingness to improve bilateral ties.
Related stories
6 in this thread