Russia cannot obstruct Moldova’s European Union accession process, asserted President Maia Sandu on Friday in Chișinău following the inaugural EU-Moldova summit. She underscored that Moldova needs to be ready to join the EU even if it does not include the pro-Russian, separatist region of Transnistria.
During a press conference in Chișinău, Sandu outlined two scenarios for Moldova’s EU membership—one involving Transnistria and the other excluding it.
She identified the “optimal scenario” as the reintegration of Transnistria with Moldova, allowing the country to fully join the EU. “We are working on this,” she stated.
However, Sandu did not dismiss the possibility that the right bank of the Dniester, governed by Moldova, could join the EU before Transnistria on the left bank.
She noted that the presence of Russian troops in the separatist region is a “serious obstacle” to reintegration, adding that this should not hinder the European integration of the rest of Moldova.
“We do not want Russia to have the power to veto our EU integration process. (…) Russia does not wish for Moldova to become part of the European community, thereby enhancing its democracy and sovereignty,” Sandu remarked.
At the summit, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Antonio Costa emphasized the urgency of opening the first cluster of Moldova’s accession negotiations.
The European Commission previously acknowledged that Moldova and Ukraine fulfilled the necessary conditions through reforms. However, the initiation of each cluster requires unanimous approval from member states, and Hungary has blocked progress in negotiations with Ukraine, consequently hindering Moldova’s accession as the processes for both countries are linked.
In addition to accession negotiations, EU financial support for Moldova was a significant agenda item at the summit. Von der Leyen announced the release of the first installment of 270 million euros from a 1.9 billion euro “growth plan,” the largest support package in EU history for Moldova. The initial funds will be used for various projects, including building a hospital and improving the heating system in a nation still heavily reliant on Russian gas.
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