Moldova and the future in the EU, the deputy prime minister: “Ready to strengthen the eastern flank”

The prospect of joining the European Union by 2030 remains “an ambitious timeline”he explained, but the path “is progressing steadily”. Moldova has made “progress in all chapters of the negotiations” and has improved the level of preparedness “in two thirds of the chapters”, according to the European Commission’s latest enlargement report. A process that remains “based on merit” and which is not just technical, but rather “a process of transformation” which implies “complex reforms” to be implemented.

Gerasimov – visiting Rome – he underlined how Chisinau is today “in a good position”, also thanks to the ability to guarantee “the political continuity of reforms for the next four years”. This allows us to foresee a sustained acceleration “without compromising the quality” of the European integration process and maintaining “the same full speed pace” in reforms.

On the topic of risks of Russian influence also in the European future for Moldovathe deputy prime minister urged caution: “I don’t think there is a country that can guarantee that it is not subject to external influences.” “Russian influence and the tools it uses are constantly evolving,” he noted, underlining that every democratic society must remain vigilant in protecting “its values ​​and its information space.” At the same time, Moldova has strengthened “its resilience”, both at an institutional and social level, by understanding “what is at stake” in countering interference.

And a clear signal also comes from the polls: in the last three years the country has faced “at least three important electoral tests”, including a referendum on EU membership, a presidential election and a parliamentary one, in which “the majority of Moldovans said yes to the European path”. “This shows that Moldovans are already European at heart and in their way of thinking”, he added, highlighting how the challenge is now “to prepare the state for accession”.

Looking at the concrete contribution it could bring within the European family, Gherasimov recalled that Moldova is “a modest-sized market”, comparable to “a small or medium-sized Italian region”, and therefore “will not represent a financial burden” for the EU. Instead, it offers “a young, pro-European and reform-oriented society” and the possibility of extending “European supply chains” towards a context with a “competitive and hard-working” workforce. A link that is already evident also in Italy, where “around 300,000 Moldovans” live and “around 9,000 businesses” founded by Moldovan citizens operate.

Last week, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky hosted his Moldovan counterpart Maia Sandu in Kiev on the occasion of the 40th anniversary of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster. On that occasion, the two leaders reiterated their support for the mutual European path of the two countries, which according to Gherasimov would represent for Brussels “a geostrategic investment in long-term security and stability”.

The accession of the two countries would send a clear signal, he finally assures: “Europe can remain united and make sovereign decisions, protected from external influences”, demonstrating at the same time that “the Russian model is not attractive in the region” and that “sovereign and independent states can decide autonomously”, contributing to the security of the entire continent (of Valerio Sarsini Novak).