VIDEO // Deputy Prime Minister: Our expectation - to become full-fledged member state of European Union

Chișinău authorities and citizens expect the Republic of Moldova to become a full member state of the European Union. Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs Mihai Popșoi made the statement today. He responded to reports that there was a “rapid accession plan” to the EU, intended for Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova.

Mihai Popșoi mentioned that “more creative approaches may exist,” but the outcome of the European integration process must be a single one, as long as the authorities in Chișinău do their homework and deliver results in line with the expectations of citizens and European partners.

“It is premature now to express an opinion, since the essence of these proposals is not clear; they are only at an early stage. What is certain is that we are open to innovative ideas, to creative solutions, but ultimately our expectation and that of our citizens is to be a full-fledged member state. Even if there may be more creative approaches as to how we get there, the final outcome must be a single one: that of a full-fledged member, like all the other members of the European Union,” Mihai Popșoi told an interview given to Teleradio-Moldova correspondent in Brussels Dan Alexe at the European Parliament.

Popșoi emphasized that the Republic of Moldova is continuing its efforts to advance on the European path, noting that in this process it is counting, among other things, on the support of the country’s external partners.

“We must work and be able to make the most of what is most beautiful about the Republic of Moldova within the great European family. We are counting on the support of all our friends and brothers in Bucharest and, as the German Chancellor recently said while on a visit to Bucharest: the European Union must live up to the expectations of the citizens of the Republic of Moldova, who have worked, have persevered, and we always count on the European Parliament, which has always been at the forefront and has consistently promoted the enlargement of the European Union, the attraction of new members, including when it comes to the Republic of Moldova,” Popșoi added.

In the same interview, the Vice-President of the European Parliament, Romanian MEP Nicolae Ștefănuță said “we are not allowed to lose even a single day in the accession process.”

Popșoi is paying a working visit on 2–4 February to the institutions of the European Union based in Brussels, the Kingdom of Belgium.