Our place is in Europe! Moldova belongs in the European Union, says President Maia Sandu

President Sandu outlined how Russia’s invasion of neighbouring Ukraine had echoes of Europe’s troubled past, with its ‘unabashed land grabs, geopolitical conquests and spheres of influence’. At the same time, she underlined how Moldova and its citizens have responded to the shock, agony and disbelief of the war with kindness, generosity and compassion, hosting large numbers of Ukrainian refugees and providing humanitarian support to Ukraine.

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Against the backdrop of the war, Moldova formally applied for EU membership in March 2022 and President Sandu stated her firm conviction that the country is part of the European community.

“We are aware that political decisions at the EU level have to be made. We are also aware that these are not easy decisions. But granting Moldova candidate status is the right decision. We belong in the European Union”, she said.

Finally, on Russia’s aggression, she pointed out that Moldova immediately condemned the war against Ukraine.

“We support the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine as we always did. Crimea is Ukraine. Donbas is Ukraine. Kyiv is Ukraine. And they will always be,” she said.

The president of Moldova on Wednesday urged the European Parliament to support her country’s EU membership bid.

"We are aware that political decisions at the EU level have to be made. We are also aware that these are not easy decisions. But granting Moldova candidate status is the right decision,” Maia Sandu told the body. “We belong in the European Union."

On the war in neighboring Ukraine, she said that hundreds of thousands of Ukrainians have been using Moldovan land for transit since Russia started the war on Feb. 24, and that the country also hosts around 90,000 Ukrainians who fled the war.

She also underlined that Moldova immediately condemned the war on Ukraine.

Sandu later attended a joint press conference with EP President Roberta Metsola.

Moldova formally applied for the EU membership soon after the war began, on March 3, and the country was granted EU candidate status on May 5.

Maia Sandu, speech in the European Parliament: “Our place is in Europe. We are aware that this is not an easy decision.“

Speaking to MEPs in Brussels, Maia Sandu emphasized how Russia’s war in Ukraine was reminiscent of Europe’s worrying past with “regions seizures, geopolitical conquests and spheres of influence”.

At the same time, the President of the Republic of Moldova pointed out how the country and its citizens reacted to the shock, agony and uncertainty of the conflict with kindness, generosity and compassion, hosting a large number of Ukrainian refugees and providing humanitarian support to the neighboring country.

Moldova wants to join the EU

In the context of the invasion, the Chisinau government submitted a formal application for EU membership in March this year. In this regard, Maia Sandu is firmly convinced that Moldova is part of the European Community.

“We are aware that political decisions need to be made at EU level. We are also aware that these decisions are not simple. But granting Moldova candidate status is the right decision. Our place is in the European Union, “said the country’s president.

“Crimea is Ukraine”

Maia Sandu also stated in the European Parliament that her country immediately condemned the war against Ukraine.

“We support the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine, as we have always done. Crimea is Ukraine. Donbas is Ukraine. Kyiv is Ukraine. And they will always be, “said the Moldovan head of state.