Moldovan president: Peace and freedom can be much more easily ensured once we join EU

There is no doubt - we can ensure peace and freedom much more easily once we join the European Union. There we will be protected - like a large loving family. That’s why we need to work day and night to join the EU as quickly as possible. President Maia Sandu made the statement in Parliament today.

In her speech, the head of state mentioned that we are living in a period where the international order we knew and could rely on is going through a process of profound change. Thus, globally, we are witnessing more and more conflicts—military, diplomatic, and commercial.


‘In our region, for three years, Russia has been waging an unfair and brutal war against Ukraine. We are all troubled by the same questions. What future does Moldova have in this world? What can we do to protect our country in a way that ensures our peace and prosperity? How is our family affected by these changes? What will tomorrow bring? People are worried and expect answers from us. As a country, we have many aspirations, we have many problems to solve—to improve living conditions, to complete justice reform, to repair roads, hospitals, schools, cultural houses, to provide jobs and to increase pensions. Sometimes, as we have so many to solve, we forget what is the most important thing. And the most important thing we must do is to preserve peace and freedom,’ said Maia Sandu.


The official spoke about the importance of continuing the process of EU accession, through joint effort.


‘There is no doubt - we can ensure peace and freedom much more easily once we join the European Union. There we will be protected - like a large loving family. That is why we have to work day and night to join the EU as soon as possible. Not in 10–20 years, but in the next four years. It will not be easy, but not impossible. Until then, however, we can only protect our peace and freedom through external solidarity and internal unity. Let us keep the peace because life is the most precious thing. And let us preserve freedom because we want to live with dignity, to know that no one will come to take us from our own home in the middle of the night. This means living in freedom,’ said Maia Sandu.


The President emphasized that, from the beginning of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, an extremely important topic has been how to ensure the security of the Republic of Moldova.


‘From the first day, our position has been clear - we are on the side of peace, not aggression, and we do everything to maintain peace in Moldova through diplomacy. We can ensure the country’s security further by demonstrating correct, predictable, and consistent behavior, building strong, trustworthy partnerships with our neighbors, Romania and Ukraine, as well as with other countries that respect international law and the borders of other states. Moldova is a small country with a foreign army on its territory. To be clear, I refer to the illegal stationing of the Russian military contingent in the Transnistrian region - a flagrant violation of our status as a neutral country. The presence of the Russian army on our land entails risks of destabilization, especially in the context of the war in Ukraine,’ added Maia Sandu.


In this new global context, the head of state noted that we need strong international relationships, friends who can help and protect us.

The official said that our country is the target of colossal destabilization efforts, financed with huge sums, aimed at provoking internal conflicts.


‘Pawns of these schemes are also in the Parliament of the Republic of Moldova. We all saw that in Moldova there are also people ready to harm their neighbors, relatives, and, in the end, their children. When I obtained my first mandate, the biggest problems of the country were internal: massive corruption, the depletion of the state and state enterprises, Moldova's international isolation. All these motivated citizens then to decide that the country needs change. Today, Moldova is no longer in isolation but on the contrary - it is a respected and helped state, the budget is no longer stolen by those who lead the country, but on the contrary - we bring money to the budget, we are waging a real and consistent fight against corruption,’ said the head of state.


The President made an appeal to political formations, in the context of international changes. She urged political actors to stop hate speech and divisive rhetoric.


‘The world has become a more dangerous, more unpredictable, more unstable place. But we have withstood problems together. And we will succeed now. Our task in this storm is to maintain internal stability. In this regard, I make an appeal to parliamentary and extra-parliamentary political parties: act with responsibility and wisdom. Stop hate speech and divisive rhetoric. Nothing justifies destabilizing the country and putting the safety of people in danger. In the last four years, Moldova has had a government that resolved crises. It was a period in which the state’s property was recovered, not looted. Our actions have been oriented to justice and growth - not to fraudulent schemes. A new generation of politicians has come to politics, who, for better or worse, have no connection with the criminal practices of the past, do not operate with tricks, bags of money and lies. Moldovans today no longer witness the buying and selling of deputies like at the market,’ pointed out the President.


She also referred to the management of the Transnistrian conflict and the Russian energy blackmail.


‘Despite many challenges, we managed to maintain calm and stability in the region. On the right bank of the Dniester, in recent years, we got rid of Russian blackmail, made our own gas reserves and provided people with heat and energy. We have become immune to energy manipulation. And then the blow was directed against the people on the left bank. The authors of this crisis hoped that there would be a humanitarian catastrophe in the region, and Moldova would be overcome by the situation. Their plan did not succeed. We found solutions. We provided help. We overcame this crisis as well,’ said Maia Sandu.


In conclusion, the head of state mentioned that the Republic of Moldova has the chance to grow, modernize, maintain its identity and offer citizens a dignified life, here, at home.


‘We have peace. We have friends around. We are on the path to joining the European Union. We live in turbulent times in the world. But we have two treasures: the unity of people and the support of those who wish us well. Moldova has real reasons for hope. I believe in Moldova. I know that we will achieve what we desire - a protected, prosperous, clean, and joyful country. Dear citizens, esteemed deputies, in a few days we will celebrate Easter Holidays. It is a time of forgiveness, revival, joy to be filled with light. Let us put disagreements aside, open our hearts and help those in need, and the whole of Moldova to gain the hope so necessary for us all,’ concluded Maia Sandu.


The president's presence in parliament was welcomed by MPs and was appreciated as a signal of political mobilization and a reaffirmation of national priorities.