VIDEO // Deputy Prime Minister: Moldova turning page on CIS and moving decisively toward peaceful, promising and prosperous future within great European family

The Republic of Moldova is turning the page on the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) and is moving decisively toward a peaceful, promising and prosperous future within the great European family. Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs Mihai Popșoi made the statement at a TV show.

The official referred to the change in the strategic orientation of the Republic of Moldova and to the citizens’ choice in favor of rapprochement with the European community.

“Our diplomacy and the successive governments that have led the country have often tried to sit on two chairs – with the East and with the West. In recent years, we and society have realized that this positioning is not a solid one. In the context of the Russian Federation’s aggression against Ukraine, you can no longer state with the same ease – which was counterproductive even earlier – that it is good to be with both sides at once. Our diplomacy is following the course dictated by society – we want to be part of the European community in terms of values, politics, economy and social development. I am also referring to our efforts to close this complicated and painful chapter, starting from 1812 onwards, then the Soviet period. Once we are independent, we must choose our path. Where do we see the future of our children? The citizens of the Republic of Moldova have said as clearly as possible, despite extremely aggressive foreign interference, that we want to be part of the great European family – where our brothers from across the Prut are, and where our Baltic and Polish friends are,” Popșoi noted.

The Deputy Prime Minister mentioned that once the European path of the Republic of Moldova has been set, it is necessary to continue efforts to achieve the assumed objectives.

“We have lost three decades; we no longer have time. Thus, once we have clarified this strategic direction, we must take the necessary steps on the other side. I am referring to leaving the CIS and its statutory documents. If this had happened 10–20 years ago, we might have advanced and already been a member state of the European Union. It is evident that this duplicitous policy has not worked in our favor,” he said.

Popșoi stressed that the EU’s openness toward the Republic of Moldova is obvious, and the country’s European path is reflected in concrete benefits for citizens.

“Some might say that at a certain stage, perhaps at the beginning of the 1990s, this was a pragmatic approach, as we did not yet have full capacity and institutional strength, and there was no openness in the Euro‑Atlantic space. Now this openness exists, and the capacity in the country has been strengthened, and we can say that our drive for European integration is not abstract. It is already as practical and tangible as possible. The benefits are already being felt through the visa‑free regime, the Association Agreement, the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area, the elimination of roaming charges, the SEPA Agreement on reducing bank commissions, the Erasmus program, the Growth and Resilience Plan worth 1.9 billion euros, and the European Peace Facility program aimed at strengthening our defense and resilience capacities. These opportunities exist, our citizens see them and enjoy them,” he concluded.

Over the past two years, the Republic of Moldova has launched an extensive process to examine the relevance and applicability of treaties concluded within the CIS framework. According to the latest information presented by the authorities, out of 283 CIS agreements, 71 have already been denounced, and approximately 60 are under review.