After submitting an application for membership of the European Union at the beginning of March in the wake of Ukraine and Georgia, the President of Moldova Maia Sandu once again defends the pro-European vision of her country during a meeting with Emmanuel Macron, Thursday May 19 in Paris. “It is very important to make sure that all countries in Europe work together to stabilize Eastern Europe and to minimize the negative effects of this war on countries like Moldova,” Nicu Popescu, the Moldovan Minister of Foreign Affairs and Deputy Prime Minister, who will also attend the meeting, told franceinfo.
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Moldova, a small country of 2.7 million inhabitants wedged between Romania and Ukraine, is suffering a lot from the Russian invasion in Ukraine. It faces a major humanitarian crisis, hosting nearly 100,000 Ukrainian refugees, or 3.5% of its population. The country is also experiencing major economic difficulties. “France supports us, but we must look to the future”, explains the Minister.
“Moldova is a democracy, a free country, a European country with a European language, a European civilization, a European political systemsays Nicu Popescu. And for us, it is very, very important to move towards the European Union because that is where we see our future as a free country.” Nicu Popescu hopes that France will help him to speed up the procedures already launched with Brussels.
He is convinced that this war in Ukraine will be one of those historical moments which have allowed extensions of the European Union and will lead to a new enlargement to the east: “The EU crystallized in reaction to wars, such as the Second World War or the Balkan warhe analyzes. In this context of the war in Ukraine, it is important that Europe assumes its historical responsibilities, offering Moldova a clearer European perspective.”
Since the start of the conflict, the European Union has provided significant aid to Moldova to cope in particular with the influx of Ukrainian refugees, with an envelope of at least 150 million euros. In this context, “France has been very active in its decisions and it continues to support us, it is very important for the stability of Moldova and the continent”, acknowledges the Minister.
These European aspirations are not new but have been squeezed by the war in Ukraine and the threat of a Russian invasion. “At the moment there are no immediate and imminent threats to our territory, but we are preparing all scenarios, including the most negative ones”, explains Nicu Popescu, adding that the Moldovan population does not feel “safe”.
The pro-Russian separatist region of Transnistria, on the border with Ukraine, is particularly scrutinized. At the end of April, explosions were heard there. Today, the tension has subsided and the situation is “steady” according to the minister. “The leaders of this region do not want this war, we are discussing with them to ensure peace”, he assures.