President Maia Sandu has reaffirmed Moldova’s commitment to EU integration, saying, “Moldova matters, and accession to the European Union is not a distant dream, but a project we are working on.”
This came as she made remarks alongside French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and Poland’s Prime Minister Donald Tusk at an event marking 34th anniversary of Moldova’s independence in 1991.
Macron, Merz and Tusk visited Moldova to mark its 34th anniversary of independence ahead of high-stakes elections.
Standing alongside the three leaders, Sandu thanked Macron, Merz and Tusk for their presence, noting it as a sign of special respect for the country’s European aspirations, 34 years on from its independence.
She spoke about the country’s democratic journey and how it has finally “appeared on the map” for many, celebrating that “it was not and is not an easy road, but one that we are walking with our allies and friends by our side.”
Sandu insisted that “an unbridgeable chasm between us and Europe” must not be allowed to happen again, as she insisted that there is no alternative without the EU. “Without the European Union, Moldova remains stuck in the past,” she said.
She also spoke about Russia’s alleged campaigns in the country, including electoral interference, disinformation campaigns, foreign financing of protests, and other attempts to undermine Moldova’s plans to join the EU.
“We will have the future we want only if we protect it. Only Moldovans must decide for Moldova.”
Maia Sandu
Responding to Sandu’s comments, France’s Emmanuel Macron said that the three leaders “wish to send the Moldovan people a message of respect, friendship, solidarity and confidence in the future.”
Leaders Support Moldova’s Pro-EU Aspirations
Also, Macron hailed Moldova’s pro-European aspirations, after a closely contested referendum last year that asked voters to choose whether to enshrine in the country’s constitution a path toward the EU.
He noted that France fully supports this choice, as he acknowledged Moldova’s progressing process of reforms to meet the EU’s criteria.
“Please be assured that France will therefore continue to provide determined support to Moldova during the next stages of its journey towards membership.”
Emmanuel Macron
Macron strongly criticised Russian “lies” and propaganda about the EU, directly calling out Russian attempts to undermine the pro-European course.
Additionally, Poland’s Prime Minister, Donald Tusk delivered a wide-ranging speech, drawing on similarities between Poland’s path to join the European Union after 1989 and Moldova’s aspirations to join the bloc, and paying tribute to the country’s culture and history.
“The enlargement of the European Union to include Moldova, as well as other aspiring countries that are applying for membership and are in the accession process, is of course in the interest of those states – it is in Moldova’s interest, I am deeply convinced of that – but it is equally in the interest of all of Europe.In this common effort, no one is doing anyone a favor or courtesy.
Donald Tusk
Tusk noted that a “safe, prosperous, and stable” Moldova as part of the European Union is in the vital interest of the European Union as a whole, adding that Europe will be stronger with Moldova. “Your resilience, your loyalty to values, and your voice will enrich the entire Union,” he said.
“Simply put, there is no safe European Union – there is no safe Poland, there is no safe France or safe Germany – without an independent and secure Moldova.”
Donald Tusk
On his part, German Chancellor, Friedrich Merz celebrated Moldova’s progress so far, noting “that should not be taken for granted [as] things could have turned out very differently,” making a reference to the ongoing Russian aggression on Ukraine.
Directly mentioning the upcoming parliamentary election, Merz stressed that “the door to the European Union is open” for Moldova, as he pledged to “continue to support you on this path to the best of our ability,” including by sending German experts to help with reforms. Moldova will hold elections on September 28, 2025.
He also said that Europe remained with Moldova in preserving it’s freedom and sovereignty, remarking on Moldova’s concerns about Russia’s aggressive posture and noting the Russian attempts to interfere with Moldovan democracy.
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