The Moldovan President Maia Sandu was given a standing ovation by MEPs when she said that her country’s future lay “within the European family” on Wednesday 18 May during an address at the opening of the European Parliament’s mini-plenary session in Brussels, which was marked by the geopolitical consequences of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Aware of the “political decisions” that EU leaders will have to take regarding the aspirations of countries such as Moldova, Ukraine and Georgia to join the EU, Mrs Sandu hoped that the EU27 would grant her country the status of an EU candidate country, particularly because Moldovans, “one third” of whom are already EU citizens, share the fundamental European values - “dignity, freedom, peace”. According to her, having such a status would be a “beacon” to guide Moldova on the path of reform in these troubled times and ultimately enable it to achieve EU Member State status, a real “light at the end of the tunnel”.
Moldova applied for EU membership in early March (see EUROPE 12903/11). Parliament had responded positively to this request at the beginning of May (see EUROPE 12946/5) and will vote on the EU/Moldova Association Agreement on Thursday. The Commission is due to give an opinion to the European Council on the basis of the replies to the questionnaires sent to the three countries that have recently submitted their formal application for membership.
However, the Moldovan President did not call for a “shortcut” to reach the final goal of EU membership more quickly, supporting a merit-based process. She also outlined several reforms that the Moldovan authorities are undertaking to comply with European rules and principles. With a 49-place rise, Moldova is now in 40th place in the RSF’s world press freedom index. Moldovan political parties must now obey transparent rules on funding and independence. The cleaning up of the judiciary is underway, as is the elimination of established systems of corruption.
“I ask you to help us recover the stolen money” and bring corrupt politicians to justice, Mrs Sandu said, presumably in reference to the 2015 evaporation of nearly €1 billion in a financial scandal.
The Moldovan President also linked democratic stability and economic development, highlighting ongoing reforms to support entrepreneurship and convince young people to stay in the country. However, she noted the difficulties caused by the war in neighbouring Ukraine, with inflation at 27% and economic opportunities to the East drying up.
On the Russian invasion, Mrs Sandu accused Russia of setting the region back 100 years, to a time when great powers extended their sphere of influence over weaker countries and were separated by buffer zones.
“Crimea is in Ukraine, Donbas is in Ukraine, Kyiv is in Ukraine”, she stressed, convinced that “this war has no justification and must be stopped”.
The Moldovan President also highlighted her country’s efforts in hosting refugees fleeing the war in Ukraine. According to her, since the end of February, 500,000 people have crossed the Ukrainian border into Moldova and “90,000” of them are still there, an increase of “4%” of the total population.
As for the recent tensions in Transnistria, a self-proclaimed State since the break-up of the Soviet Union, Mrs Sandu considered that “there is no immediate threat to peace”, recalling her country’s neutrality. However, she noted, “we call for the withdrawal of Russian military from our territory” because “Russia is violating our neutrality and independence”.
Draft Parliament resolution. Spearheaded by Dragoș Tudorache (Renew Europe, Romania), the draft resolution calls on the European Commission to help Moldova develop a credible pre-accession strategy for EU membership and to create a support group for Moldova within the EU institution along the lines of the one already established for Ukraine. The draft resolution welcomes the “ambitious and unprecedented reform programme” of Natalia Gavrilița’s government in the fight against corruption, transparency in public governance, and the Rule of law.
Considering the Russian attempt to use gas supplies as a tool to pressure the Moldovan government to change its geopolitical orientation “unacceptable”, MEPs will ask the Commission to include Moldova in the EU’s plans to make energy supplies independent of Russia. Stressing the need to increase electricity generation capacity in Moldova, which is currently 80% dependent on electricity produced in Transnistria.
Regarding Transnistria, Parliament should call for “a comprehensive and peaceful settlement of the conflict” in this region, “based on the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Moldova, within its internationally recognised borders, and providing for a special status for the Transnistrian region”.
See the draft resolution: https://aeur.eu/f/1ph (Original version in French by Mathieu Bion)