Statements by Moldova's president at joint news conference with vice-president of European Commission

Dear Vice-President Kallas,

Dear Kaja,

Welcome to Chisinau!

Thank you for this first visit as High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice President of the European Commission.

We appreciate your presence here, which means a lot to us.

It matters for our security, for our European path.

Today, we discussed how the European Union helps us become stronger – as a state, as a society, as a democracy.

We are stronger because we have the support of the 27 member states of the European Union.

True friends, who have stood by us each time when Moldova was put to test.

We are stronger, because we rely on genuine solidarity – built primarily on common values and a strong commitment to freedom and peace.

Solidarity proved through investments, budgetary support, technical assistance, political presence, by increasingly more embassies opened here in Chisinau.

Our joint projects with the European Union make people's lives better and help us maintain peace and security.

With EU’s support, we are better prepared to face threats coming from outside the country.

Soon, with the European Union's support, Moldova will benefit from equipment that will protect our citizens from Russian drones – those that violate our airspace and even fall on our territory, endangering people's lives, homes and infrastructure.

We are a peaceful country. We do not want war. But we have the duty to defend our peace and security, to protect our citizens.

And the European Union invests precisely in this fundamental right: the right of every citizen to live safely.

For this – and for your personal commitment to Moldova – we thank you.

It is our duty to defend democracy as well.

From last year's elections’ experience, we know that Russia will use all kinds of tools to undermine our European path at the next autumn's parliamentary elections: dirty money, disinformation networks, cyber-attacks, attempts to buy votes and distort citizens' will.

Therefore, we will work to protect the most precious right of a free society – Moldovans' right to decide their future by themselves.

European colleagues will work side by side with Moldovan experts, in order to strengthen our capacity to prevent these manipulation attempts – so that every citizen can vote freely, without fear, without lies.

The future of an entire generation and the survival of Moldova as a free and democratic state depend on the next autumn vote.Thus, the vote must be cast freely, without any interference from abroad.

Today, we also discussed Moldova's economic future. The Growth Plan for Moldova – amounting to 1.9 billion euros – is an investment in people's well-being.

It means better roads, jobs, secure energy supply, modern public services. It means a better life here, at home.

Because when we say that we want to be part of the European Union – we say it thinking about the people.

About the families who want better hospitals.About the young people who want a future here, not elsewhere.About the farmers who want to sell on a fair and predictable market.About all citizens who want to live in a country where the law is the law and no one is above it.

And yes, we know how they live in the European Union countries.We have been there. We have seen with our own eyes what it means to benefit from quality public services, to have salaries commensurate with the effort, to know that your child will go to a good school; that you will be treated with respect and will receive everything you need in a hospital.

And we want this as well. We want to live like Europeans – because we are Europeans.

And for this, we will work. We will reform. We will build. We will resist.

Mrs. High Representative Kallas, thank you for your firm support and for the clear message: Moldova's place is in the European Union.

The path is not easy, but it is the right one – and on this path, Moldova is not alone.

Thank you.