Romanian political pundit says Chisinau-Brussels relations to consolidate even more on next period

Chisinau, 15 December /MOLDPRES/ - The visit to Brussels by President Maia has been the event which marked the last week. Freshly reelected to the office of head of state, Maia Sandu paid her first visit to Brussels, where she discussed with the new heads of the European institutions, appointed to office following the European Parliament elections from 2024. ‘’The relations between Chisinau and Brussels will consolidate even more on the next period. The development of the peer-to-peer diplomacy stays an essential component in the architecture of the diplomatic efforts developed by Moldova,’’ a Romanian political pundit, Mihai Isac, has told MOLDPRES in a commentary provided on President Maia Sandu’s visit to Brussels.       

‘’A clear-cut signal which Chisinau will receive in continuation’’  

MOLDPRES: What significance will this visit entail, in the context of the new appointments in EU, as well as of high-impact events which upset the society – the imminence of an energy crisis, ever more intensified hybrid attacks by Russia against Moldova, as well as against Romania?  

Mihai Isac: The way Mrs. President Maia Sandu was received is a sign of respect on behalf of the European partners for Moldova, as well as a clear-cut signal of the support which Chisinau will receive in continuation. The almost all European Union member states expressed, in one way or another, their support for Moldova’s European integration, being prepared to boost their assistance in different forms.   

The problems of Moldova are the problems of the European Union. Given that the presence of EU officials and of EU member states in Chisinau has become something usual, the presence of Moldova’s officials in Brussels, as well as in the capitals of the EU member states must become normality. The Moldovan authorities should boost their efforts of strengthening the bilateral relations with the EU member states, in order to optimize the process of Moldova’s integration. Moldova’s efforts must be presented gradually to the partner states, so that they are able to calibrate the support for Moldova.    

„Moldova has become a state exporter of security’’  

Mihai Isac: Moldova has become a state exporter of security and this is visible, both through the participation of National Army’s staff in different international peacekeeping missions, including under EU’s command in Balkans and through cooperation of the partner states in the field of combating the hybrid actions of Russia.  

The new leadership of the European Union comprises a lot of friends of Moldova and the Chisinau-Brussels relations will consolidate even more on the next period. Moldova should not regard this friendship as something ensured and the development of the peer-to-peer diplomacy must stay an essential component in the architecture of the diplomatic efforts developed by Chisinau.  

„The European Union is an island of peace’’

MOLDPRES: What an ordinary citizen should understand from this visit? What changes in his/her life in the context of Moldova’s rapprochement with the European Union?   

Mihai Isac: Moldova’s citizens, no matter the ethnic affiliation or religion, benefit from the development of the relations between Chisinau and Brussels. Most citizens of Moldova know from their own experience the quality of living in the EU member states and the implementation of these standards in Moldova can be made gradually through the support of the foreign partners and importing of expertise from the European Union.   

We should not forget that the national minorities have important rights in most EU member states and some regions with the majority population belonging to a national minority, such as Catalonia or Basque Country, are among the richest in EU.   

Periodically, we see how the rights of Moldova’s citizens who worked in the Diaspora receive legal protection, especially when we talk about pension of driving licences. Till the getting of the status of EU member state, it is necessary that this effort of the Chisinau authorities continues, for an as good as possible ensuring of the rights of Moldova’s citizens.

The European Union is an island of peace and the conflicts are settled by diplomatic means. No EU member state is involved in an open conflict with another EU member state. The status of EU member state is a guarantee for peace and economic development.   

The voters from Moldova will have to show their maturity at the voting during the parliamentary elections due in 2025, being necessary a continuity of the policy of Moldova’s rapprochement with the European Union. This continuity is extremely important, in order to prove the attachment of most citizens to the European Union.   

For its part, the political establishment of Moldova must prove a special maturity and put aside the axe of war, in order to be able to create a pro-European coalition following the parliamentary elections. For the first time in Moldova’s history, Chisinau benefits from an important support on behalf of the partner states, with the continuation of the reforms being necessary.  

Even if this word, ‘’reform,’’ is a word which arouses the discontent of a part of the population, yet, much political will is needed to finish the processes underway, in all sectors.
The instrumentalization of the crime rings by Russia plays an important role in the sabotaging of this process and the corruption stays an important weapon in the hybrid war launched by Russia against Moldova’s residents.   

„Moldova enjoys a special liking and the intense support of Romania at the level of the European institutions is a decisive factor’’

MOLDPRES: Certainly, during all these years, you have followed the events in Moldova; what have you noticed? Is there a change of perception, attitudes at the level of EU towards Moldova?

Mihai Isac: Moldova’s image in EU has changed very much for the better in the last years. The way Chisinau got involved in the backing of Ukrainian refugees, as well as the approaches implemented for boosting the reforms are understood at the level of EU. The decision-makers from Brussels and the member states’ capitals understand the difficulties faced Moldova. Chisinau enjoys a special liking and the intense support of Romania at the level of the European institutions is a decisive factor in the understanding of Moldova’s problems.     

Chisinau must foster the cultural and economic diplomacy, in order to take advantage of the goodwill of the European states. Moldova should make it better known among the citizens from the European states, in order to enhance the state’s  attractiveness for economic investments or tourists.  

„The visit to the NATO Headquarters highlights Moldova’s commitment to cooperate with the partner countries, in order to ensure the citizens’ security’’   

MOLDPRES: President Maia Sandu was received at the NATO’s Headquarters, where she had a meeting with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte. What new possibilities of development Moldova’s cooperation with the NATO acquires, in the context of the more pronounced security challenges in the region?  

Mihai Isac: The cooperation between Moldova sand the NATO unfolds through the observance of Moldova’s national legislation, through the observance of the neutrality. President Maia Sandu said that the Partnership for Peace between Moldova and NATO ‘’contributed to a safer environment for the citizens, to the strengthening of the army’s defence capacities and to the resilience of our society on the whole.’’     

The Chisinau political establishment should understand the fact that one cannot have good relations with the European Union and less good relations with the NATO. The great majority of the EU states are NATO member states and most member states of the Alliance are also members of the European Union. The EU-USA political binominal proved its viability in the crisis triggered by the illegal Russian invasion in Ukraine, as well as in other security crises which hit the modern world.    

„NATO – the most important security alliance of the world. A campaign of informing the society of Moldova would be necessary’’  

NATO is the most important security alliance in the world, ensuring the security of hundreds of millions of citizens and of several tens of member states. The visit to the NATO Headquarters emphasizes Moldova’s commitment to cooperate with the partner countries, in order to ensure the security of the citizens. This cooperation  was proved by the involvement of several EU and NATO member states in the evacuation of Moldovan citizens from conflict-stricken regions, such the Middle East.       

This visit confirms Chisinau’s intention to consolidate its role of reliable partner in the regional security, being a direct beneficiary of the Alliance’s efforts to this end.  

The starting of a campaign of informing the society from Moldova about the NATO, the significance of the Alliance and the positive impact of the organization’s work for Moldova’s citizens would be necessary. A sustained effort is needed to this effect, in order not to allow the boosting of fake news and of the propaganda through which Russia and its pawns from Moldova demonize the Alliance and its activity, including for backing the population of Moldova.   

„The visit was aimed at speeding up the European integration way of Moldova’’

On 10-11 December, President Maia Sandu paid a working visit to Brussels – the first visit following the confirmation of the European integration way at the referendum. ‘’ The visit’s goal was to consolidate the relations between Moldova and the European Union and accelerate the country’s European integration way, reaffirmed by the citizens at the constitutional referendum,’’ Moldova’s Presidency said.    

The Moldovan president discussed with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen the European the process of Moldova’s accession to the European Union, the European support provided to Moldova and the initiatives which directly improve the citizens’ living. The meeting took place in a context marked by the new composition of the European Commission and the sides stressed the continuity and the consolidation of the close relation between Moldova and the European Union. At the meeting, the officials agreed on the speeding up of the justice reform and the increase in the European support for this process to 10 million euros.   

Also, Maia Sandu had discussions with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, European Council President Antonio Costa and European Parliament President Roberta Metsola, High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas, Vice-President of the European Commission and Commissioner for Skills, Education, Quality Jobs and Social Rights Roxana Minzatu, European Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos, European Commissioner for Energy and Housing Dan Jørgensen, European Commissioner for Democracy, Justice and Rule of Law Michael McGrath, European Commissioner for Budget and Administration Piotr Serafin. President Maia Sandu also had a meeting with leaders of diverse European political families represented in the European parliament.     

Maia Sandu paid an official to the NATO Headquarters in Brussels, marking the 30th anniversary of the partnership for peace between Moldova and NATO. The head of state had a meeting with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte. The discussions were focused on the regional security, the hybrid threats – including the interference with the elections and the electoral corruption – and on the need of joint actions for the protection of the democracies in the region.