Romanian crown backs Moldova’s European path

Romania’s elections and those in the Republic of Moldova, the war in Ukraine, the need to preserve European unity, and the importance of maintaining strong ties between Europe and its North American allies—Canada and the United States—were the key themes of the speech delivered by Custodian of the Crown Margareta at the Royal Evening dedicated to the Diplomatic Corps, CE Report quotes AGERPRES.

In her address at the event held Monday evening in the State Dining Room of the Royal Palace, Her Majesty recalled that “this year we have also gone through profound political changes, such as the elections in May in Romania and the parliamentary elections in September in the Republic of Moldova.”

“Both were considered—and indeed were—decisive tests not only for our political class, but also for the foundations of our democratic system. Broadly speaking, these tests were passed successfully. As I underlined last year, what happened in Romania during the elections of 2024 and 2025 was not something new. People feel that although they have the right to vote, they lack the power to change their destiny. This is why they are drawn to political currents that promise a complete break with the past and offer supposed solutions that involve no cost. Yet even those not attracted by such movements want to see new faces and experience new forms of governance. In this sense, what happened in Romania also happened in most European countries,” said Her Majesty.

Nevertheless, the Custodian of the Crown noted that, looking back at the end of the year, there are positive aspects of recent political events that deserve mention.

“The first is that our democratic institutions remain strong. Despite the many criticisms aimed at courts and electoral oversight bodies, elections took place, votes were counted, and the final result was accepted as correct. Given the passions stirred by the elections, none of this was guaranteed at the time. The second positive outcome is that Romania’s electoral process served as a warning to the entire continent about the scale of the danger posed by foreign interference in elections and manipulation through social media platforms. What happened in Romania is now being studied by governments worldwide; we failed to anticipate the subversion of our electoral system, but we succeeded in removing it,” Her Majesty stated.

According to the Custodian of the Crown, a major shared victory was the elections in the Republic of Moldova, which ensured the continuation of the country’s European path and vocation, despite a similar foreign-funded campaign aimed at destabilization and discrediting the electoral process.

“This was a victory for the citizens of the Republic of Moldova and for their leaders. But it was also a victory for all Romanians, for the Romanian government—steadfast in its support for the sister country’s economy—and for the authorities in Chișinău, who were not discouraged by aggression and intimidation. The shared path of Romanians on both sides of the Prut River within the European Union is therefore wide open,” she said.

Her Majesty added that, unfortunately, 2025 was also a year of trials, marked by greater difficulties than the previous year, recalling the continuation of the war in Ukraine.

“Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has continued uninterrupted. I am proud that my country has remained firm in its support for Ukraine and has increased both military and humanitarian assistance. We must remember, however, that the sacrifices of recent years will likely be followed by even greater ones. The war in Ukraine has lasted almost as long as the First World War, and its scars will remain for a long time. Regardless of what happens—whether there is a ceasefire or fighting continues—the reconstruction of Ukraine will be a massive undertaking, requiring sacrifices from all European nations. These sacrifices will be impossible without European unity and without maintaining strong ties between Europe and our close North American allies, Canada and the United States,” the Custodian of the Crown emphasized.

Her Majesty stated that “it is time to conduct an ‘audit’ of transatlantic relations.”

“This year has been dominated by debates on this topic, with divergent opinions and strong passions crossing the Atlantic. This is neither surprising nor necessarily negative. More than eight decades after the end of the Second World War and over three decades after the end of the Cold War in Europe, it is time to reassess transatlantic relations. No one questions that Europeans should contribute more to their own security; the surprise is not that the United States now asks Europe to recalibrate its defense efforts, but that Americans were so patient with generations of European leaders who ignored such requests. If we want others to take our security seriously, we must be the first to do so,” she said.

At the same time, Her Majesty stressed the need “to make a greater effort to remind our allies in the United States and Canada that transatlantic ties run deeper than economic exchanges or financial contributions to NATO.”

Throughout his life, King Michael never lost faith in the United States’ commitment to European freedom, despite many disappointments, she recalled. One of his first trips after being forced into exile by the communists was to the United States, to advocate for Romania’s freedom. He believed Romania would prosper only when firmly anchored in the strong bond between European nations and the U.S.

“That generation of leaders is no longer with us. But it is the duty of the current generation to revive the spirit of transatlantic cooperation, reminding our American allies that they have no stronger or more reliable partners than the Europeans. Convincing Washington of this will not be easy, but it is necessary work—one that the Romanian Royal Family, together with the government and our diplomats, remains determined to carry out,” Her Majesty said.

The Custodian of the Crown also welcomed “the proclamation of His Holiness Pope Leo XIV” and his subsequent public actions, stressing that faith is “the essential bond that unites our nations.”

“The Holy Father’s courageous travels to conflict and danger zones and his open support for the dignity of citizens and nations have been among the most encouraging developments of this year. As we saw recently at the consecration of our National Cathedral, faith remains a moral compass and a vital bond between nations. Even in times when cynicism is fashionable, unwavering belief in humanity and moral principles remains indispensable,” she said, adding a message of unity ahead of Christmas.

As reported by CE Report, Her Majesty reaffirmed the Royal Family’s commitment to ensuring historical continuity in serving the nation’s interests and objectives.

“Romania has never been more secure or more prosperous than it is today. Romanians have never been freer to travel and pursue their aspirations. Can things be done better? Of course. But we can only improve our condition if we trust in where we stand today. We remain committed to doing so, at home and abroad, with your help and friendship. My entire family wishes you and your loved ones a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year,” concluded Her Majesty.