VIDEO // Moldovan president gives interview with DW, RFI during official visit to Strasbourg

Moldova will become part of the European Union. We have a firm commitment to our citizens – the country must be ready for EU accession by 2030. We believe and hope that the European institutions and the member states will support our agenda. President Maia Sandu has made statements to this effect in an interview with DW and RFI, during an official visit to Strasbourg.

The official stressed that the country was determined to move forward on the path towards the EU; therefore, the authorities continue to implement reforms without waiting for formal decisions. “Delays always represent a risk, but we cannot waste time. Of course, we also want formal decisions to be adopted. At present, we are working towards full accession to the EU. It is a merit-based process. We are implementing the reforms necessary for full integration; this is what we are discussing with European institutions and member states. I want my country to be safe and part of the free world. Because of Russia’s aggression, it is becoming increasingly difficult for small countries, especially in our region, to pursue their objectives. For us, joining the EU is the strategy through which we can survive as a democracy. We hope to implement this plan as soon as possible. In Moldova, there are more and more people who support European integration. There are also citizens who support reunification with Romania. At the moment, we are working intensively for the country to become a member of the European Union and we hope that this scenario will work. If it does not work for one reason or another, of course we will consider other options. The main goal is to preserve peace and keep Moldova part of the free world,” Maia Sandu noted.

The head of state also said that there continues to be a security problem in the Transnistrian region, because Russia is illegally maintaining its troops there.

“It is in the interest of Moldova, of Ukraine and of the European Union for Russian troops to be withdrawn from Moldova. We must work together on these problems. We hope there will be a geopolitical opportunity to resolve the conflict peacefully. This is our commitment. We believe in freedom and in sovereignty. That is why, we will make decisions that are good for Moldovans, not for Russia. We will not allow the Kremlin to influence our internal and external policy through threats. People in the Transnistrian region have seen that they cannot rely on Russia, after going through an energy crisis in the middle of winter, when Russia cut off gas supplies. Likewise, we see more and more people choosing to work on the right bank of Dniester,” Maia Sandu said.

The Moldovan president also referred to the decree signed by Vladimir Putin, which provides simplified procedures for residents of the Transnistrian region to get citizenship of the Russian Federation.

“The Kremlin regime does not value human life, and we have seen this even towards its own citizens. We know that Russia is trying to attract people from other countries to fight in Ukraine, but citizens from the left bank of the Dniester do not want this. At the beginning of the war, many young people from there moved to the right bank of Dniester, under the control of the constitutional authorities, precisely because they were afraid that Russia would send them to war. They do not want to be sent into a brutal war. Everyone wants to live in peace. That is why, I believe that those who wanted Russian citizenship have already obtained it in the past. But I do not see why people would want this citizenship today. On the contrary, many of those who did not have Moldovan passports have got passports of Moldova. People want to be citizens of the European Union, not Russian citizens,” the official specified.

Referring to the war in Ukraine, Maia Sandu stressed that those responsible for the horrors in Ukraine must be held accountable.

“It is our duty to ensure that there is accountability and that those who are responsible for what has been happening for more than four years will answer for their crimes. Moldova is a neutral state and we must respect the neutrality provided for in the Constitution. Nevertheless, we can help by sending sappers or by participating in solidarity corridors. We are continuing to discuss these aspects,” the head of state added.

President Maia Sandu paid a working visit to Strasbourg on May 19, where the European Parliament is holding its plenary session. The head of state had talks with European Parliament President Roberta Metsola and representatives of more political groups. Maia Sandu was also awarded the European Order of Merit, a distinction established by the European Parliament on the occasion of the 75th anniversary of the Schuman Declaration, granted to personalities who have significantly contributed to promoting European values and strengthening the European project.