On Thursday 20 June, Siegfried Mureșan MEP (EPP, Romanian), Chair of the European Parliament Delegation to the EU-Moldova Parliamentary Association Committee, spoke to journalists, including Agence Europe, in favour of setting up a European guarantee to help European investors invest in Moldova, a country due to open its EU accession negotiations on Tuesday 25 June.
“I will call for the creation of a European guarantee fund to guarantee private investment (in Moldova). Private European investors investing in the Republic of Moldova must obtain certain guarantees”, explained Mr Mureșan, recalling that the main challenge for Moldova was its economic situation.
Although the country’s inflation rate fell to 4.3% in February 2024 (from a record 34.6% in November 2022), Moldovans’ purchasing power has declined in recent years. In addition, the fact that Moldova borders Ukraine “does not facilitate investment”, explained the MEP. According to him, “investments in the Republic of Moldova are safe, but there is generally a feeling of uncertainty among Moldovan companies. That's why a financial incentive for European investors in Moldavia would also be a good response. This guarantee could be similar to the one created for the Balkans.
Other challenges for the country include the continuation of reforms, particularly in the judiciary, the fight against corruption and money laundering, the strengthening of the public sector and public administration, and the situation in Transnistria.
But Moldova also has to contend with Russian propaganda and disinformation, which could increase in the run-up to the presidential election and a constitutional referendum to confirm or reject the country's European future, to be held in the autumn. “Russian propaganda has been a major source of concern in recent years”, acknowledged the MEP.
According to Mr Mureșan, it is important for the EU and the Member States to make a commitment in Moldova to properly inform citizens about the EU. To counter Russian disinformation, Mr Mureșan and the Moldovan President, Maia Sandu, launched on Monday 27 May a programme called ‘Young ambassadors for the referendum’, bringing together more than 500 young people trained to promote the EU to Moldovan citizens and inform them about the EU, and who will work in close contact with the population, including in villages and among the Russian-speaking minority, said the MEP. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)