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Tag: EU accession

Maia Sandu begins second term as president

Maia Sandu has begun her second mandate as president of the Republic of Moldova, which she obtained following the autumn election. Sandu was sworn in during a solemn joint session of the Parliament and the Constitutional Court. In her inauguration speech, she said that she receives her second mandate “first and foremost with humility and determination” and that her legacy should be “Moldova in the European Union”. The president warned, however, that European integration should not be seen as a “business class ticket to paradise”. Maia Sandu took stock of the achievements of her first mandate and highlighted that the Republic of Moldova has managed to become more energy-independent and respected by Western leaders. The head of state urged Moldovan society to mobilize with a view to ensuring Moldova’s EU accession. The Republic of Moldova is viewed with respect by Western leaders due to the achievements of her previous term, Maia Sandu added:

“Moldova is more respected now than ever. The world looks at us with love and interest and supports us in our dream. The rest is up to us. We have begun to free ourselves from energy reliance. Even if prices are still high, no one can hold us back. We have managed to open the door wide to the EU, which is no small thing as a national priority. There is still much to do, but the path we are on is the right one. I urge you to move forward with confidence.”

The president stated that, during her second term, she will continue to insist on implementing justice reforms, which she said, have been “delayed for decades.” “The government will have in me a serious and dedicated partner, but also a harsh critic in case of underperformance”, Maia Sandu added. Romania and the Republic of Moldova will continue to work together to achieve welfare, stability, European values, resilience and democracy, Romania’s president Klaus Iohannis said in turn, congratulating his Moldovan counterpart on her second term. Maia Sandu is the first female head of state and the sixth president of the Republic of Moldova. She obtained her second term as president by direct vote – a premier for Moldovan politics – following the second round of the presidential election on November 3. Sandu won the election mainly thanks to the vote abroad, grabbing 940,000 votes, while her opponent supported by the Socialists, Alexandr Stoianoglo, obtained just over 750,000 votes. Although she won the election overall, President Sandu narrowly lost in the country’s precincts to Stoianoglo, a former prosecutor general. A national referendum was held on the same day as the election regarding the inclusion of the country’s strategic objective of EU integration in the Constitution, which passed with a score of 51.4%. 2024 was an important year for the Republic of Moldova, when the country consolidated its pro-European course as a result of the referendum and presidential election, but also highlighted once again the deep polarization of society. Both elections ended with borderline scores. During the campaign, the authorities and civil society documented a series of actions of interference from Russia, which triggered a genuine hybrid war, concerted and financed by the group of Ilan Shor, the Moldovan oligarch who fled to Moscow to elude a prison sentence. Moldovan authorities uncovered several schemes for organizing and buying votes, as well as genuine smear and disinformation campaigns. (VP)

27 December 2024
Moldova, between the West and the East

The Republic of Moldova held presidential elections and a referendum on EU membership.

Casting their vote in larger numbers than in the previous presidential elections, the citizens of the Republic of Moldova decided that the future head of state should be elected in a new round of voting, in two weeks. The incumbent president, the pro- European Maia Sandu, and the candidate supported by the pro-Russian party of socialists, Alexandr Stoianoglo are the two contenders.

In the first round, the former World Bank economist and the first woman to become president of Moldova, obtained 42% of the votes, the highest share of the 11 candidates, but still insufficient to secure a new mandate at the helm of the country. A country which, under her leadership, turned its back on Moscow after Russia’s invasion of the neighboring Ukraine and which this year officially opened accession negotiations to the European Union. Maia Sandu even called a referendum on the inclusion in the Constitution, based on the people’s vote, of the country’s irreversible European path The referendum, held on October 20, was meant to validate the strategy to determine the destiny of the former Soviet republic of 2.6 million inhabitants. A lost bet? Before the votes of the Diaspora are counted, the results show a higher number of people who oppose EU accession, prompting president Maia Sandu to denounce an unprecedented fraud, “an unprecedented attack on democracy”: “Criminal groups, together with foreign forces hostile to our interests, attacked our country with tens of millions of euros, lies and propaganda, with the most wretched means, in order to lead our citizens and our country to an area of uncertainty.”

In a vote suspected of Russian interference, rejected “categorically” by the Kremlin, 53% of Moldovans voted against the inclusion of the European accession objective in the Constitution, according to results after counting more than 90% of the ballots. However, the pro-European camp took the lead after the counting of more than 98% of the votes, the advance being most likely due to the Diaspora, who supports EU accession. The extremely tight result is surprising, given that recent polls showed the YES vote would be dominant. Without questioning the negotiations with the 27, the result weakens, in a way, the pro-European image of the population and Maia Sandu’s leadership, analysts specialised in the ex-Soviet area say.

21 October 2024
The Republic of Moldova and Ukraine start accession negotiations

The Republic of Moldova and Ukraine on Tuesday officially started the process of joining the European Union, together with the organization of the first intergovernmental conferences. EU officials discussed with representatives of the two governments the structure and timetable of future negotiations and established the first chapters where the two states must make legislative adjustments in order to align themselves to community law. These are the so-called fundamental chapters, which prepare the legislation related to the rule of law, democracy, fundamental liberties as well as financial control. Although both states have been invited to join the EU at the same time, this is where their path splits. They might join the EU at different times, depending on progress made individually. Chișinău and Kyiv aim to maintain the accelerated pace of reforms, so that they may join the community bloc by 2030.

At the same time, the European Commission will start a process of examining the legislation of the two states to prepare its recommendations and evaluations along the way. The Prime Minister of the Republic of Moldova, Dorin Recean, says that Kyiv and Chișinău will continue to collaborate. “Moldova and Ukraine are greatly affected by the Russian war and we help each other a lot, not only in terms of security, but also with respect to European Union integration, and we will continue to do so”, Dorin Recean said. The purpose of negotiations is for the Republic of Moldova to become an EU Member State, and the pace of the negotiations will depend on the implementation of reforms in a real, substantial and irreversible way, the Deputy Prime Minister for European Integration, Cristina Gherasimov, in turn pointed out. Moldovan authorities say that they are determined to advance quickly with the implementation of reforms.

The Deputy Prime Minister of Ukraine, Olga Stefanishyna, said that 90% of Ukrainians favor integration and thanked the EU for keeping its promise and continuing to stand by her country. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy hailed the official launch of Ukraine’s accession negotiations to the EU, calling this day a historic one for a country that has been fighting for over two years against the Russian invasion. “We will never allow ourselves to be diverted from our path towards a united Europe, towards our common home for all European nations, a home that must be peaceful”, president Zelenskyy argued. “Our future is in the European family”, the president of the Republic of Moldova, Maia Sandu, said in turn, expressing her gratitude for the support received from the leaders of the European institutions.

Romania’s Foreign Minister, Luminiţa Odobescu, welcomed the launch of EU accession negotiations for Kyiv and Chişinău and reiterated that the future of the two states is in the EU. The Romanian official said the start of negotiations is “a fully deserved success, which rewards impressive efforts”, the Romanian official said on social media. In turn, the president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, warned Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova that this will be a “difficult road”, but one that offers “tremendous opportunities”. (VP)

26 June 2024
Cooperation with Balkan states

Bilateral and regional cooperation was one of the topics discussed by Bucharest officials and three ministers from the Balkans who paid visit to Romania this week. On Wednesday, president Klaus Iohannis received the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Bosnia Herzegovina, Elmedin Konaković. The president hailed the good reputation enjoyed by Romanian servicemen taking part in the EUFOR ALTHEA Operation of the European Union in Bosnia Herzegovina, Romania being one of the main contributors to ensuring a safe and stable climate in the Western Balkans. Klaus Iohannis reasserted Bucharest’s constant support for the European and Euro-Atlantic integration efforts of states in the Western Balkans, as well as for ensuring the security and stability of the region. In the context of the EU Council’s decision in March to launch accession negotiations, president Iohannis encouraged Bosnia Herzegovina to “continue implementing necessary reforms, including those regarding the strengthening of the rule of law and ensuring fundamental rights through an active and determined attitude, in the spirit of European values”.

Also on Wednesday, the Romanian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Luminiţa Odobescu, held talks in Bucharest with her Albanian counterpart, Igli Hasani, about supporting the European path of this country, underlining Romania’s willingness to exchange expertise in this field. Luminița Odobescu also mentioned the bilateral agreement on social security and the launch of direct flights between Bucharest and Tirana. At the same time, the Romanian official highlighted “the importance that Romania attaches to the ethnic, cultural and linguistic identity of the Aromanian national minority in Albania”. The two officials signed a Memorandum of Understanding on diplomatic training, which provides an additional framework for exchange of expertise in the field. In turn, Foreign Minister Igli Hasani, recalled that Romania and Albania are NATO members and partners in the area of European integration. European integration is “an important pillar” of the bilateral relationship, the Albanian official added.

At the start of the week, Luminița Odobescu had consultations with her Montenegrin counterpart, Filip Ivanović, emphasizing that Romania will continue to support this country’s accession to the European Union. The Western Balkans is a region of strategic importance, where political and security developments directly impact the security and prosperity of the whole of Europe, Minister Odobescu said. The two ministers signed an action plan regarding cooperation over 2024-2025. “Montenegro and Romania have traditional friendly relations and are committed to developing these relations in the future through continuous progress”, Filip Ivanović said in turn. (VP)

6 June 2024
March 27, 2024

Visit – The National Bank supports and encourages initiatives aimed at the development of the capital market in the Republic of Moldova, and as an institution responsible for prudential supervision and the stability of the financial market, we want to facilitate the free movement of capital and financial services, the governor of the National Bank of Moldova, Anca Dragu, said on Wednesday in Bucharest. She emphasized that these are actually chapters of negotiation for Moldova’s accession to the European Union, “chapters in which the National Bank has a leading role, so that the Republic of Moldova should enjoy prosperity and economic stability”. Romania commits and continues to commit unconditionally to supporting the European path of the Republic of Moldova, said, in turn, the speaker of the Romanian Senate, Nicolae Ciucă. They participated, on Wednesday, together with the Moldovan Prime Minister, Dorin Recean, and the head of the Moldovan Parliament, Igor Grosu, in a forum organized by the Stock Exchange, an event that promotes solid economic cooperation and the interconnection of the capital markets between the Republic of Moldova and Romania.

Bessarabia – Romania is among the staunch supporters of the European future of the Republic of Moldova, as its citizens wish, the Romanian Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu said in a message on the occasion of the Day of Bessarabia’s Union with Romania. The Romanian Cultural Institute – ICR and its representations abroad are organizing a series of cultural events to mark 106 years since this historic moment. Today, at the National Art Museum of Romania, a painting exhibition is opened that includes 100 works by artists from the Republic of Moldova, and the National Theater in Bucharest will host performances in which Romanian and Moldovan actors will participate. On March 27, 1918, the Chisinau State Council voted in favor of the Union of Bessarabia with Romania, Bessarabia being a Romanian province annexed by the Russian Empire in 1812, after the Russian-Turkish war (1806-1812). This historical act opened the process of the unification of Romania, completed on December 1, 1918, through the Union of all the Romanian provinces which were then under foreign rule. 22 years later, in the summer of 1940, following an ultimatum, Stalin’s Moscow annexed both Bessarabia and northern Bukovina, territories that currently belong to the former Soviet Republics of Moldova and Ukraine, respectively.

Brancusi – The Pompidou Center in Paris hosts an exhibition-event dedicated to Constantin Brâncuşi, considered the father of modern sculpture, which can be visited until July 1. Hundreds of sculptures, photographs, sketches and archival images are on display in the exhibition which includes Brâncuşi’s Workshop, the place where the great Romanian artist created and lived, alongside works borrowed from major international museums. All of Constantin Brâncuşi’s works from the Romanian heritage are exhibited, sent by the National Art Museum of Romania and the Art Museum in Craiova (southern Romania). ‘Brâncuşi is an artist who was very little exposed during his life, as he preferred to invite his contemporaries to come to his workshop. He liked to control all dimensions of the presentation of his sculptures’, explains Ariane Coulondre, curator of the exhibition, in a press release. The Brâncusi Retrospective at the Pompidou Center, the first in the last almost 30 years and the largest ever organized event, is held with the support of the Romanian Embassy in France and the Romanian Cultural Institute.

Deficit – Romania’s budget deficit reached, after the first two months of the year, almost 29 billion lei (about 6 billion Euros), accounting for 1.67% of the Gross Domestic Product, show data published by the Finance Ministry. The deficit is almost double compared to the same period of last year. The Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu said, however, that it would observe the 5% threshold estimated for the end of the year. The economy is self-financing and we will have the largest economic growth in Europe, the Romanian PM also said.

Handball – CS Dinamo Bucharest defeated the Danish team Bjerringbro Silkeborg, score 37-34, on Tuesday evening, at home, in the first leg of the play-off of the EHF European League men’s handball competition. The second leg will take place on April 2, in Silkeborg. Trained by the Spanidh Xavi Pascual, the Romanian champions start with the first chance in the return leg to qualify for the next stage. Afterwards, the winners of the quarterfinals will play in the Final Four Tournament (semifinals and finals). The German team Fuchse Berlin is the holder of the trophy. (LS)

27 March 2024
February 6, 2024 UPDATE

MOLDOVA Romania will continue to support the Republic of Moldova in its EU accession negotiations, PM Marcel Ciolacu said in a meeting with Moldovas new foreign minister Mihai Popşoi. The latter also had talks in Bucharest with his Romanian counterpart Luminiţa Odobescu, as part of his first foreign visit since taking over the office. The agenda of the talks included, apart from Moldovas EU accession, topics related to energy interconnection and security. “Moldovas reform efforts are visible and appreciated. The authorities in Chişinău proved courage and political determination in tackling reforms in critical areas for the EU integration,” Odobescu said. The Moldovan foreign minister promised the two countries will preserve an active relationship. “The past 2 years were a major challenge for Moldova, but also an opportunity for a positive transformation, towards EU integration. In this process, we benefited from massive assistance from Romania in the development, modernisation and resilience of our state. We appreciate this strong and steady support,” Popsoi added.

HEALTH Healthcare trade unions have been promised a 15% salary increase, which will add to the 5% increase applied to public sector employees at the start of the year. After extensive negotiations with Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu, the leaders of the Sanitas Federation said salaries will increase in two stages, in March and June, although it is unclear which categories of personnel will benefit from the increase and when. Talks with the authorities will continue, trade unions say. Representatives of the Sanitary Solidarity Federation are disgruntled with the governments latest counteroffer, the Federation leader Viorel Rotilă argues, adding that the increase will only affect base salaries, meaning health workers salaries, which also include bonuses, are expected to increase by a little over 14%. Protest actions will thus continue, Viorel Rotilă went on to say.

MILITARY Reintroducing compulsory military service is out of the question, but the defence ministry is interested in regulating voluntary military service, the defence minister Angel Tîlvăr told a television station. He said the Romanian Army has seen its forces reduced from 320,000 to 80,000 troops. Tîlvăr emphasised that there are no risks of Romania going to war. Meanwhile, MPs in the defence, public order and national security committees discussed with Tîlvăr on Tuesday about the security situation at the Black Sea. Special attention was paid to the need to bring the Army procurement programmes in line with the national defence industrys needs for development and consolidation of its production facilities. Another topic was the legislation in the defence sector.

INTERNET Several Romanian lawyers warn that the national legislation must be adjusted in order to tackle online crime, and say children in particular are vulnerable. Experts say the best ways to protect from online scams are to not access links from unknown sources, not to disclose personal and banking data on unauthorised platforms and not click posts promising various immediate substantial profits. The International Safer Internet Day was marked on Tuesday in around 200 countries, at a time when more and more people are victims of cybercrime.

TENNIS Romanian tennis player Sorana Cîrstea has advanced to the quarterfinals of the WTA 500 tournament in Abu Dhabi (UAE), offering over 920 thousand USD in total prizes. This was the first win of the year for Cîrstea (26 WTA), who ousted Caroline Garcia of France, 6-7, 6-4, 6-4. The Romanian player will next take on third-seed Maria Sakkari of Greece (9 WTA). Cîrstea leads 2-1 head-to-head, the Greek player having won the last match 2-6, 6-3, 7-5 in the second round at Cincinnati. (AMP, VP)

6 February 2024
Top diplomatic change in the Republic of Moldova

The Moldovan foreign minister, Nicu Popescu, announced on Wednesday that he submitted his mandate as deputy prime minister and minister of foreign affairs in the pro-Western government of the Republic of Moldova. I have successfully fulfilled the foreign policy objectives set upon my appointment and at this stage I need a break, he said. In June 2022, with Popescu as head of the Foreign Affairs and European Integration Ministry, the Republic of Moldova obtained the status of EU accession candidate country, and last month the decision-makers in Brussels gave the green light for the opening of negotiations. On December 26, 2023, President Maia Sandu awarded Nicu Popescu the Order of the Republic, the highest state award. For the moment, the former minister avoided confirming the information circulated in the public space, according to which he would be appointed chief negotiator of the Republic of Moldova for EU accession, a newly created position after the December decision of the EU leaders.

According to the press, Nicu Popescu is perfectly qualified for such a mandate. Before becoming a minister, Popescu was a researcher at the Center for European Political Studies in Brussels, then an analyst and program director at the European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR), an analyst at the Institute for Security Studies of the European Union and a foreign policy and European integration advisor at the office of the Prime Minister of the Republic of Moldova. The lastest visit he paid abroad, right on the eve of his resignation, was in Bucharest, where he had meetings with his Romanian counterpart, Luminița Odobescu, and other officials. According to the Moldovan foreign ministry, the foreign ministers of the two neighboring states discussed the development and deepening of the bilateral partnership, as well as the next steps regarding the Republic of Moldovas EU accession negotiations.

The new Foreign Minister in the cabinet headed by Dorin Recean will be the current Vice-President of the Parliament in Chişinău, Mihai Popşoi. A new ministry for European Affairs will also be created for Cristina Gherasimov, until now a Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs. Mihai Popşoi, who will take over his portfolio next week, already had a first telephone conversation with his Romanian counterpart, Luminiţa Odobescu, who invited him to visit Bucharest and confirmed Romania’s commitment to the development of the strategic partnership, to the advancement of joint projects and bilateral cooperation. Previously, President Klaus Iohannis also stated, at the annual meeting with the heads of accredited diplomatic missions in Bucharest, that Romania would continue to stand by Moldovas side in the process of negotiations for EU accession. He said that the decision to start negotiations represented a strategic objective for Romania and underlined that it was crucial for the Republic of Moldova to continue to receive support. (LS)

25 January 2024
Historic day for the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine

At the EU Summit in Brussels, Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova were given permission to start EU accession talks, after last year they had obtained EU candidate status. In turn, Georgia was given EU candidate status, while Bosnia will start accession talks in March, provided the European Commissions report is positive. Hungary was the only country that vetoed the start of negotiations with Ukraine, although prime Minister Viktor Orban did not cast his vote. Ukraine is the first country to receive candidate status and start accession talks in times of war, and the decision is aimed at encouraging Kyiv. Thanking European leaders, president Volodymyr Zelenskyy described the decision as a victory for Ukraine and the entire Europe, a victory that motivates, inspires and gives strength. Ukraines Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said it was “a historic day”, adding that “the feeling is overwhelming, all that has not been in vain”. In turn, Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said the decision comes in recognition of reforms carried out in recent years, warning however there is still a long road ahead. As regards Chișinău, Moldovas European track has in recent years been marked by voters oscillating between pro-Russian and pro-European parties. In 2014 Moldova signed the EU Association Agreement. Following the European Councils decision this Thursday, president Maia Sandu said the success belong to the entire Moldovan society, to all those who support democracy and prosperity and work hard and patiently, who express their votes, marched for freedom and never stopped believing Moldova deserves more. In turn, Moldovas Prime Minister Dorin Recean wrote in a message that the historic decision taken by the European Council is the result of efforts made by all citizens in recent years. The Moldovan Prime Minister gave assurances that Moldova knows that needs to be done and is committed to continue reforms in order to soon join the European family. “Todays decision is a historic moment for the Republic of Moldova, marking the most important step in our efforts to join the great EU family”, Moldovan Foreign Minister Nicu Popescu also said. Attending the meeting in Brussels, Romanias president Klaus Iohannis also spoke of a historic day that follows remarkable progress reported by Kyiv and Chișinău in terms of reforms recommended by the European Commission.

“Moldova should clearly continue on the path to reforms, perhaps at a greater speed, so that negotiations should get well underway and produce results that eventually lead to European integration. We are here to support you. Be brave, implement the reforms and well move forward together”.

In turn, Romanias Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu also congratulated the two states, giving assurances that Romania remains a firm supporter of the two countries in the accession talks. (VP)

15 December 2023
Romania supports the Republic of Moldova

Romania firmly supports the start of EU accession negotiations with the Republic of Moldova the president Klaus Iohannis reiterated. In a post on a social network, Iohannis announced that he had a telephone conversation with the Moldovan president, Maia Sandu, on the most important European issues, with focus on the preparation of decisions regarding the Republic of Moldova at this weeks European Council. These days, Klaus Iohannis is participating in European summits in Brussels, a context in which he will support decisions related to the start of EU accession negotiations with Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova, which obtained the status of candidate countries last year.

According to Klaus Iohannis, the European Union must get closer and give clear signs both to the Western Balkans states and to Ukraine, Moldova and Georgia, especially in the context of the Russian aggression against Ukraine. Recently, the Moldovan prime minister, Dorin Recean, has admitted that opening EU accession negotiations with the Republic of Moldova might be postponed until March. He insisted, however, that postponing these negotiations would be a big strategic mistake, which Moscow will take advantage of.

In a telephone conversation with his Moldovan counterpart, the Romanian PM Marcel Ciolacu gave assurances that the Romanian government would continue to strongly support Chișinăus European path. In the context of the European Council in Brussels, he emphasized the active support that Romania gives to the Republic of Moldova for the start of EU accession negotiations. The Romanian Government will continue to strongly support the European path of the Republic of Moldova and to be a reliable partner in the entire accession process Marcel Ciolacu said.

Also, during the phone conversation, the two also discussed bilateral cooperation projects, especially in the fields of cross-border energy interconnections and the financial assistance that Romania provides for the development of the Republic of Moldova. In support of the neighboring state, the two governments also signed a Memorandum of Understanding regarding the implementation of projects necessary to interconnect the natural gas and electricity networks. Thus, according to the Romanian energy minister, Sebastian Burduja, Romania will contribute decisively to the energy security of the Republic of Moldova and to its integration into the European energy market. Through this Memorandum and through the recent steps, the Republic of Moldova totally and irreversibly integrates into the single European energy market, at the same time increasing its energy security.

In Brussels, Klaus Iohannis will also support the granting of candidate status to Georgia, as well as the opening of accession negotiations with Bosnia and Herzegovina. Romania will also support the rapprochement and integration of these states based on merits and accession criteria, and in this sense Ukraine and Moldova are, by far, the favorites for a Council decision regarding the start of accession negotiations, thanks to the reforms they made. (LS)

13 December 2023
December 9, 2023

Ukraine — The Romanian FM, Luminiţa Odobescu, reiterated, on Friday, Romanias support for opening accession negotiations between the EU and Ukraine, a topic which, along with the launch of a similar action for the Republic of Moldova, will dominate the European summit scheduled, in one week, in Brussels. During the discussions in Bucharest, the Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Olha Ştefanișina thanked Romania for the constructive dialogue related to the prospects of accession and pointed out that her country made enormous efforts to overcome the obstacles in the way of reforms. The deputy prime minister also recalled that the Ukrainian parliament adopted, on Friday, the amendments to the National Minorities Law, in order to implement the latest recommendations of the European institutions. On November 8, 2023, the European Commission positively assessed Ukraines reforms in the field of rule of law and fighting corruption, but asked Kyiv to make rapid improvements to the law on the use of national minorities languages in the education system and the public space, according to the Venice Commissions recommendations. The decision to launch accession negotiations requires unanimity from the 27 member states, but is threatened by the opposition of the Hungarian PM Viktor Orban.

Timişoara – 80,000 people have so far visited the Brâncusi Exhibition, open at the National Art Museum in Timişoara (western Romania) until January 28, 2024. According to the authorities, it is the most successful event of the European Capital of Culture program and represents the debut of major artistic projects. Timişoara officially ended the European Capital of Culture program with a festive gala held on Friday evening at the Palace of Culture. “Timişoara 2023 has shown that we can imagine a creative and prosperous future of solidarity, not just for our city, but for the entire Europe”, said the mayor of the city, Dominic Fritz. “A future of Europe where our unity is built on diversity, not uniformity. A future of Europe in which we lead from cross-border regions, not just from the capitals. Investments in culture are not a luxury, but the very foundation on which we build” Dominic Fritz went to say. The events that mark the end of the Timişoara European Capital of Culture program continue tonight with a concert by Katie Melua and an aerial acrobatics show, and on Sunday Jessie J and Roisin Murphy, international stars with thousands of fans around the world, will take the stage.

Swimming – At the European Short Course Swimming Championships Otopeni 2023, Andrei Ungur won, on Friday evening, the first medal for Romania, bronze in the 100m backstroke. Today, David Popovici is participating in the final of the 200 m freestyle, in which he qualified with the best time. Romania is participating in the European Championships with a team of 21 athletes (7 girls and 14 boys), selected based on the performance shown at the National Short Course Championships from November 9-12, also held in Otopeni. At the previous edition of the European short course championship, which took place in Kazan (Russia), in 2021, David Popovici won the gold medal in the 200 m freestyle, and Robert Glința won silver in the 100 m backstroke and bronze in the 50m backstroke. At the 2022 Short Course World Championships in Melbourne, Popovici won silver in the 200m freestyle.

Tel Aviv – Fighting has intensified in Gaza, with Israeli forces launching strikes across the GAza Strip. The deathtoll in Gaza reached almost 17,500, according to the Palestinians. In Ramallah, in the West Bank, the president of the Palestinian Authority, Mahmoud Abbas, called for an immediate ceasefire and a lasting peace, guaranteed by the great powers. A cease-fire was also requested by a resolution put to a vote in the UN Security Council, but it was blocked by a veto by the US, while 13 countries voted in favor and Great Britain abstained. On the other hand, Washington is putting pressure on Israel to take measures to avoid civilian casualties in Gaza and supports the idea of shorter-term ceasefires. Pressure for a ceasefire is also building in Israel, where the families of hostages still in Hamas hands fear that they might be killed during the clashes. (LS)

9 December 2023
Steps towards EU-29 enlargement

Candidates
since the summer of last year, Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova obtained in
early November the recommendation from the European Commission regarding the
start of EU accession negotiations. The news was received with joy by the
pro-Western leaders of the two former Soviet countries, but there are still
steps to be taken before integration. The first of these is related to the
decision the European Council made in mid November. In order to adopt the
recommendation made by the Commission, all states must agree, and some, such as
Hungary, have already questioned the appropriateness of this approach.

Then,
if they manage to successfully get through December, in March 2024 the European
Commission will present a new report, analyzing the progress made by Ukraine
and the Republic of Moldova towards the targets they assumed. Now, in the case
of Ukraine, the Commission is recommending that negotiations begin once Kyiv
meets the remaining conditions on fighting corruption and strengthening
minority protection standards. In the case of the Republic of Moldova, these
conditions refer to the fight against corruption and the improvement of
financial regulations. Ukraine will be in the European Union. And we will
achieve this, in particular, by transforming our country – an internal
transformation that is certainly in the interest of our people. For Ukraine, the
EU means economic security and social stability, and for the EU Ukraine means a
strengthening of the entire community, said Ukrainian President Volodymyr
Zelensky.

The decision made by
the European Commission encourages us and empowers us to continue the things we
started: to make Moldova stronger, a state that ensures peace at home and
contributes to regional security and takes care of the well-being of its
citizens. It’s a lot of work. The path we have chosen to walk is full of
challenges. We are not afraid of our work, and our goal is for Moldova to be
ready to join the EU by 2030, said the President of Moldova, Maia Sandu.

How feasible 2030 is as
deadline for accession depends on each individual country, says university professor and former foreign
minister Adrian Cioroianu:

The calendar is
set as a guideline, obviously there is no obligation on the part of anyone for
2030 to be the end point, but we are talking about an encouragement. On the
other hand, it is the EU’s way of keeping these countries close, of giving them
a purpose. Look at the real political difficulties the Republic of Moldova is
facing, at every voting session we get nervous given the political landscape of
the country. Look at what is happening in Serbia, look at the difficulty of
settling this dispute and this trauma that Serbs still feel in their
relationship with Kosovo, etc. These countries must be given a purpose. The
beginning of the journey speaks rather of an intention and of a promise in a
mutual way. The EU recognizes that it needs these states, but these states must
also realize that they can model themselves according to European principles
and values. And of course we want in the end to be more alike than different,
even if even within the EU the differences persist, but let’s hope that similarities
outnumber differences.

Complying with the
recommendations of the Venice Commission is on Ukraine’s to-do list. Are the
authorities in Kyiv determined to follow these recommendations? Here is journalist
Marin Gherman, director of the Institute of Political Studies and Social
Capital in Chernivtsi, attempting an answer:

From my point of
view, there will be a series of attempts by Kyiv, especially concerning the
recommendations regarding the legislation in the field of national minorities,
not to respect them. We also have high-level statements regarding these
recommendations. Why? Because there is opposition in the Ukrainian
parliamentary environment to the idea of changing the legislation in the
field of national minorities, seeing this issue strictly through the war
glasses in Ukraine, and regarding the Russian minority. It is a painful
subject, it is the war with Russia, the full-scale invasion by Russia, and when
the question of the Ukrainian minorities is raised, most of them think of the
Russians, of Russification, of everything that means war. And it is very
difficult for the Ukrainian political elite to escape this vision.

Ukraine also needs a
service reform, says Marin Gherman, and there are also problems in the fight
against corruption. On the other hand, what will happen in Transnistria, as
Chisinau has no control over this separatist region? Does Chisinau undertake to
implement a community acquis throughout the territory of the Republic of
Moldova? Iulian Groza, executive director of the Institute
for European Policies and Reforms in Chisinau says yes:

Yes. And we have
a precedent – the Association Agreement with the EU. When it was concluded it
was agreed that it would be applied throughout the country. The most important
part of the agreement, dealing with trade, entered into force two years later
after the provisional entry. Today, thanks to access to the EU market, the
Transnistrian region is much more strongly anchored in the European space. And
today, in the context of the war and the upheavals in the region, precisely
this is an important counterbalancing element of Russia’s influence in the
Transnistrian region.

The
2023 enlargement package presented by the European Commission provides a
detailed assessment of the current state and the progress made not only by
Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova, but also by the other aspirants to
accession: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia
, Serbia, Turkey and Georgia , the
latter obtaining, moreover, the status of a candidate country. (MI)

1 December 2023
European support for Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova

European and Euro-Atlantic structures, Romania included, will continue to support Ukraine with everything necessary, President Klaus Iohannis said in Brussels. He added that, in the speech delivered at the ongoing European Council meeting, he also mentioned the need to help the Republic of Moldova, a state which, in turn, is affected by the Russian invasion of Ukraine. According to President Iohannis, it is vital for the Ukrainians, and for the European Union and NATO states to preserve the unity and solidarity between the two institutions, and for Kyiv to continue to be supported ‘unconditionally, with everything we have. He also said that it’s clear to everyone that we have to try to do everything to stop Russia, to stop this illegal war. In order to help Ukraine, President Iohannis says, we also need to help them in their European journey, adding that it is extremely important to help those who suffer from this war and need a chance. Romanias president said he explicitly referred to the Republic of Moldova, which needs Romanias support to increase its resilience and to become a member of the European Union.

Neighboring both ex-Soviet republics, Romania helped them from the first day of the war started by the Russians, on February 24, 2022. More than 4.5 million Ukrainians fled the invaders through Romania. Without Romanias support, the energy crisis in the Republic of Moldova could not have been overcome. The most recent polls confirm the massive adherence of the Moldovan citizens to the European path. Almost 60% of the respondents voted for joining the European Union, while only 37% would vote for joining the Eurasian Union, controlled by Russia, show data of a survey quoted by Radio Chisinau.

Joining NATO is supported by 33.4% of the survey participants. The pro-Western president Maia Sandu remains the most popular political figure in the Republic of Moldova, and her party, Action and Solidarity (PAS), would get the most votes in the event of early parliamentary elections. If presidential elections were held next Sunday, almost 38% of the respondents would vote for Maia Sandu. The former pro-Russian president, the socialist Igor Dodon, would be voted by only 14.2% of the voters, and the current mayor of the capital, Chisinau, the ex-socialist Ion Ceban, would get 6.2% of the votes. The criminal fugitive Ilan Şor, who is in Israel, being considered the main vector of Moscow’s interests in the Republic of Moldova, would get 2.5 % of the votes. About 43.5% of the respondents said that they do not trust any political figure. In the case of the parliamentary elections, PAS would obtain 44.3% of the votes, the pro-Moscow Bloc of Socialists and Communists 21.5%, and the recently dissolved populist party of Ilan Şor – 13.6%. (LS)

30 June 2023
Constant support for the Republic of Moldova

Top-ranking Romanian officials visited Chișinău this week to reiterate once again that Bucharest fully supports the European accession process of the neighboring Republic of Moldova. Recently installed at the head of the new coalition government made up of the Social Democratic Party and the National Liberal Party (PSD-PNL), the Social-Democratic leader Marcel Ciolacu, accompanied by the former Liberal prime minister, currently the speaker of the Senate, Nicolae Ciucă, made their first joint external visit to Chișinău, where they had talks with the president of the Republic, Maia Sandu, with the Prime Minister Dorin Recean and the President of Parliament, Igor Grosu.

The Government of Romania will remain the guarantor of the security and stability of the Republic of Moldova and will continue to support with all its strength the countrys EU accession process said Marcel Ciolacu. He particularly appreciated the progress that Chișinău has registered in applying the reforms in the field of justice and in fighting corruption. And, equally, he spoke about the continuation of bilateral economic cooperation.

Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu: We are obliged to put a special emphasis on the economic area together. Trade relations between Romania and the Republic of Moldova, last year, increased by 50%, standing at almost 3.6 billion dollars and I think this is the right way.

Since everything must be done for the benefit of the citizens on both banks of the River Prut, the Moldovan Prime Minister, Dorin Recean, invited economic companies from Romania to invest in the Republic of Moldova: Today, we discussed the nine projects for the second installment of the aid provided by the Government of Romania, worth 100 million. These nine projects are worth 28 million Euros and they will go to investments, providing opportunities to our companies, and will develop the localities of the Republic of Moldova.

In parallel with managing the crises caused by Russia’s war in Ukraine, from the immediate vicinity, Bucharest and Chișinău must emphasize the development of infrastructure – bridges, roads and energy networks.

Marcel Ciolacu has more: I guarantee you that in the next Government meeting, money will be earmarked for projects regarding drinking water and sewage, which are necessary to support the villages in the Republic of Moldova, to be European villages.

Romania is willing to share its legislative experience in Moldovas European integration project, said the Speaker of the Romanian Senate, Nicolae Ciucă. Earlier this week, also in Chișinău, the new Romanian Foreign Minister, Luminiţa Odobescu, pointed out that Bucharest was taking consistent diplomatic steps to advance the EU integration process of Moldova, with particular emphasis on the objective of opening the accession negotiations as soon as possible. (LS)

22 June 2023
Romania’s FM visits Chișinău

Opening the EU accession negotiations of the Republic of Moldova as soon as possible is a priority of Romania’s international policy – said Romanias foreign minister, Luminiţa Odobescu. Early this week she paid her first visit to Chișinău, after taking over her mandate at the Foreign Ministry, which shows the importance that Romania attaches to its Eastern neighbor, to which it is linked by a past based on a common language, history and culture. For many decades under the influence of Moscow, due to the support of the pro-Russian forces in the region, the Republic of Moldova fundamentally reconfigured its national interest after the accession to power, in the not too distant past, of pro-European leaders.

However, Romania’s support for the return of the small Republic to the West was constant and there was no Romanian official at the highest level who did not emphasize this aspect. So, now it is Luminiţa Odobescu’s turn to have discussions with her counterpart from Chișinău about the support that Romania gives to Moldova through humanitarian aid, energy resources or support in the field of increasing resilience.

In a joint press statement with Luminița Odobescu, the Moldovan Foreign Minister, Nicu Popescu, also reviewed the constant help that Bucharest offers to Moldovan citizens, regardless of their geopolitical preferences, and hailed the strengthening of the bilateral strategic partnership for the European integration of the Republic of Moldova.

Nicu Popescu: Thanks to the openness and dialogue that we have had our relations with Romania are the strongest in the last 30 years.

The Romanian FM Luminiţa Odobescu promised the authorities in Chişinău a robust, priority support from Romania, adapted to the needs of Moldova with a view to preparing the opening of the EU accession negotiations as quickly as possible, possibly by the end of this year, as the Moldovan citizens would like: Granting political-diplomatic support to the Republic of Moldova for the advance of the European agenda is a priority of Romania’s foreign policy. We therefore support obtaining as soon as possible a favorable decision for the Republic of Moldova to start accession negotiations.

The Romanian Foreign Minister also had talks in Chişinău with the Prime Minister Dorin Recean, with the President of the Parliament, Igor Grosu, and with the Minister of Justice, Veronica Mihailov-Moraru. She was also received by the President of the Republic of Moldova, Maia Sandu. There were discussions, among others, about strategic projects in the fields of energy, transport and digitalization, about the intensification of Romanias support for the reform objectives assumed in Chişinău, as well as about Romania’s full and determined support for strengthening the security and stability of Moldova. (LS)

21 June 2023
16 years since Romania joined the EU

Romanias transition from one of the toughest communist dictatorships in Europe, that of Nicolae Ceauşescu, to the status of European Union member the lasted from December 22, 1989 until January 1, 2007. Preceded by the country’s admission to NATO, in 2004, Romania’s accession to the community structures was considered one of the major successes of the political class in Bucharest, dominated, at the time, by the President Traian Băsescu and the Prime Minister Călin Popescu-Tăriceanu. But all the important parties in Romania supported this target, thus resonating with the expectations of the Romanian society. The archives attest that, in the autumn of 2005, for instance, Romanians trust in the European Union was the highest among all EU member states or the countries in the process of EU accession.

After EU accession, Romania became the seventh country in the Union in terms of the number of inhabitants, and the sixth after Brexit. The Romanian language became one of the official languages of the EU and any Romanian citizen can address the community institutions in Romanian. The very name of the European Union, in Romanian, received official status. The Romanian MEPs took their seats in the European Parliament. Just as the other member states, Romania has a post of European Commissioner in the European Commission. Besides the political gains, the advantages of accession were also felt by Romanians in their daily lives, who became European citizens.

They can travel and settle anywhere in the community space and can compete on the labor market in countries where the wages are much higher than at home. Romanias foreign trade is clearly dominated by exchanges with the EU partners, and the Gross Domestic Product grew constantly in the years after accession. Opinion polls show that most Romanians believe that the direction in which Romania should be going, in terms of political and military alliances, is the West, that is, the European Union, the United States of America and NATO. They think that joining the European Union brought more advantages.

However, about two-thirds answered that their country must defend its national interests when they are not in line with the EU rules, even if it risks losing its position as a EU member state. Fewer respondents said that Romania, as a member state, must respect the community rules, even when its national interests are affected. Anyway, most respondents believe that the European Union should not fall apart in the coming years. However, the polls also show the frustration of most Romanians that their country has not yet been admitted to the free travel Schengen Area, which makes them feel like second-class European citizens. (LS)

3 January 2023