VIDEO // President welcomes visit to Chișinău of European Commission Vice-President on eve of Europe Day

The Republic of Moldova seeks to join the European Union, a space of peace, and will continue to implement the necessary reforms. The assurances were given by President Maia Sandu during a joint press conference with Kaja Kallas, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Vice-President of the European Commission. The head of state welcomed the visit of the European official to Chișinău on the eve of Europe Day. Kaja Kallas reaffirmed the EU’s firm support for the integration of the Republic of Moldova, stressing that the country is an important partner and that the objective is EU accession.

“Especially today, on the eve of Europe Day, 9 May reminds us where the European project began. It started with the decision of generations who chose, after the World War II, to build a community based on law, cooperation and respect for citizens. It is a project that has brought peace and prosperity to a continent marked by years of war. We, in the Republic of Moldova, want to be part of this peace project, of this community of states that respect each other, live in good understanding, protect and help each other,” said Maia Sandu.

The President said that in the meeting with Kaja Kallas they discussed the steps that the Republic of Moldova is taking on the path of European integration, emphasizing the efforts to modernize the state, strengthen institutions and increase resilience.

“We continue to invest in energy security; we have diversified our gas supplies and are developing capacities to produce energy from renewable sources, so that we can generate more energy at home, depend less on imports and be less vulnerable to external shocks. In the field of justice, the evaluation of judges and prosecutors is progressing, and the first results are already visible. In Transparency International’s Corruption Perceptions Index, we have climbed 25 places over the last five years. We are also ranked 31st in the press freedom index, the best score among candidate countries for accession,” the President said.

Maia Sandu also highlighted the security challenges generated by the Russian Federation’s war against Ukraine.

“Russian drones violate our airspace, endanger human lives, affect the energy system and have recently caused a major water supply crisis in several localities,” said the President.

At the same time, Maia Sandu praised the support offered by the European Union through the European Peace Facility, which has enabled the Republic of Moldova to be equipped with modern hardware, vehicles and monitoring and defense systems.

“The approximately 190 million euros allocated to the Republic of Moldova since 2021 mean equipment, means of transport and a new radar that is to be installed in the coming months. The logistical vehicles already delivered have been used, among other things, to manage the water crisis, for distributing drinking water to citizens. This is a concrete example of how defense equipment can have dual use and can contribute to managing civil emergency situations. Dear Kaja, thank you for your personal involvement in increasing the support granted to the Republic of Moldova for strengthening peace and security. We continue to count on this support in order to build an efficient defense system capable of protecting our citizens from present and future threats,” the President said.

During her visit, Kaja Kallas reaffirmed the European Union’s firm support for the European integration of the Republic of Moldova.

“It is a pleasure to be in Chișinău today, on the eve of Europe Day, a moment that reminds us that Europe is stronger when it is united. The Republic of Moldova is one of the closest and most important partners of the European Union, and our objective is clear: to see the Republic of Moldova becoming a member state of the European Union,” the European official said.

The Vice-President of the European Commission praised the pace of reforms implemented in Chișinău and underlined that the accession process is both a technical exercise and a political commitment.

“As we move forward, I would like to stress that the Transnistrian region must not become an obstacle to the European future of the Republic of Moldova. The Republic of Moldova already belongs to the European family. The second EU–Republic of Moldova summit will soon take place, another important step in this journey,” Kaja Kallas said.

The discussions also addressed the hybrid threats faced by the Republic of Moldova. The European official mentioned that the European Union has already provided around 200 million euros through the European Peace Facility, including for the delivery of a new radar system intended for drone detection.

“We also discussed the Russian Federation’s war against Ukraine, which continues to cause casualties and suffering. The European Union maintains its firm support for Ukraine. We also discussed the resilience of the Republic of Moldova in the face of hybrid warfare. Russia continues to use energy pressure, disinformation and attacks on critical infrastructure. The European Union has been and remains at the side of the Republic of Moldova in managing these challenges,” said Kaja Kallas.

The visit of the European official takes place in the context of intensified cooperation between Chișinău and Brussels and preparations for the second European Union – Republic of Moldova summit. Kaja Kallas held meetings focused on security and defense, including with Minister of Defence Anatolie Nosatîi and Minister of Foreign Affairs Mihai Popșoi.

The agenda also includes talks with Prime Minister Alexandru Munteanu, representatives of civil society, as well as participation in EuroQuiz together with young people from across the country.