Macron: EU membership is a historic opportunity for Moldova’s future

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, French President Emmanuel Macron, and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk visited Moldova today in a show of support for its pro-European government ahead of the September parliamentary elections, CE Report quotes BTA.

The visit to Chișinău took place on the 34th anniversary of Moldova’s declaration of independence from the USSR. The leaders assured Moldova of their continued support on its path toward EU membership and condemned Russia's destabilizing efforts.

"The EU’s door is open,” said Merz. “You are wholeheartedly welcome.”

Macron emphasized that EU accession is a historic chance for prosperity and security, while Tusk stated Moldova’s independence is essential for Europe’s overall security.

Moldova, a candidate for EU membership since 2022, is still deeply divided between pro-European and pro-Russian forces. Russian troops have remained stationed in the breakaway region of Transnistria since the 1990s.

Merz accused Vladimir Putin of conducting hybrid attacks aimed at weakening Moldova’s democracy and dragging the country back into Russia’s sphere of influence.

Tusk underlined that Moldova’s EU future is not a favor, but a mutual interest for Europe’s stability.

Meanwhile, four pro-Russian opposition parties have united ahead of the elections. President Maia Sandu reaffirmed that Moldova has no alternative but European integration, especially in light of Russia’s war in Ukraine.

In 2021, Sandu’s pro-European Party of Action and Solidarity won a majority in parliament, but it now risks losing it due to economic hardship.