Moldova’s Foreign Minister Nicu Popescu told the European Parliament’s Committee on Foreign Affairs Committee, on Tuesday 22 March, that his country wanted to join the European Union to become a fully functioning democratic state. Moldova applied for EU membership in early March (see EUROPE 12903/11).
“We think of our future within the European Union. For this we need reforms to strengthen the government, the political system. That is why we have the will to join the EU to make these reforms, to become a fully functional democratic state”, explained Mr Popescu.
In the meantime, his country wants to move closer to the EU, for example by ending phone roaming charges or by ending trade quotas.
The minister spoke about the consequences of the war in Ukraine on his country. “In the current crisis, the EU’s support is more important than ever”, he explained, saying that his country was the neighbouring country most affected by the crisis.
More than 360,000 Ukrainians have arrived in Moldova since the beginning of the crisis and 100,000 people are still believed to be in Moldova, a figure that represents 4% of the Moldovan population.
In addition to the refugee crisis, the country is experiencing a trade crisis, as Ukraine accounted for 13% of Moldova’s exports and its imports from Ukraine via the port of Odessa have been completely interrupted. “We have to import more expensive goods, with a longer distance”, Mr Popescu said.
“The socio-economic situation is likely to deteriorate seriously as the war continues”, the minister warned, half-heartedly calling for additional financial support from the EU.
According to him, the war will also affect the pace of reforms in his country and possible investments.
At this stage, Mr Popescu said, the situation in the breakaway region of Transnistria is calm. “We have not seen any worrying movement in or around Transnistria”, he said. However, no scenario should be excluded. “There is no sign of this yet, but the situation can change quickly. The combat zone is getting closer to our border”, he noted, adding that this situation is bringing new refugees to Moldova and putting pressure on the reception capacities provided. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)