Moldova urged to seize EU integration opportunity by Baltic leaders
Independence Day was marked by numerous special events, with distinguished guests in attendance.
The Presidents of the Baltic States visited Chișinău to celebrate with us. Gitanas Nausėda, Edgars Rinkēvičs, and Alar Karis were the special guests on today’s edition of Moldova 1, dedicated to the 33rd anniversary of independence. The three Presidents reaffirmed their commitment to continue providing the necessary support and expertise in the process of European integration, as well as to strengthen the country’s resilience.
“Since Lithuania's accession to the European Union, our GDP has quadrupled, wages have increased fivefold, and foreign direct investment has grown sixfold. Membership in the European Union offers freedom—freedom of expression, freedom to travel, freedom to study wherever you choose, and the freedom to legally obtain employment in any EU country,” declared Gitanas Nausėda, President of Lithuania.
“Diversifying energy sources was a major challenge in Estonia, as we did not depend on Russian resources but on oil extraction, which is not environmentally friendly. Now, we rely heavily on solar and wind energy and are developing wind farms. Together with the other Baltic States, we are working to disconnect from Russian resources,” remarked Alar Karis, President of Estonia.
“European funds have been crucial in improving living standards, particularly in infrastructure, energy, and transportation. These funds, along with agricultural policies and cohesion programs like Horizon, which focus on education and research, have significantly impacted the standard of living for our people and the country’s development,” noted Edgars Rinkēvičs, President of Latvia.
Support for the European path
The Baltic States stand with the Republic of Moldova on its European path, the Presidents reiterated. In a recent interview, President Maia Sandu mentioned that the train of European integration is arriving now, and we must either catch it or miss it. The leaders of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania emphasised the importance of maintaining focus on this objective and boarding that “train.” They also offered advice to the politicians and government in Chișinău.
“Stay focused on the goal. I would suggest that politicians engage constantly with the people, not just during campaigns, because this dialogue must be ongoing. If you miss this moment, people begin to lose hope, trust, and the vision of joining the EU,” stated Edgars Rinkēvičs.
“Using the train metaphor, I would say it is essential to catch this train because you never know when the next one will come. Currently, there are clear signs that the European Union is ready to expand. Get on board and do not miss this opportunity, as the next one might not come for 20-30 years, or perhaps never,” stressed Gitanas Nausėda.
“Our President at the time went from village to village to explain to the people the importance of joining the European Union. Today, over 80% of our population supports the EU, and 90% of young people are pro-EU. People understand that joining the European Union is practically the only option for countries like ours,” added Alar Karis.
The Baltic leaders commended the Republic of Moldova for meeting the accession criteria and assured that they will do everything possible to support Moldova’s EU membership. Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania joined the European Union on May 1, 2004, during the largest expansion in the history of the 27-member bloc, becoming the first former Soviet republics to do so. Today, they are full members of the Eurozone, Schengen, and NATO, strengthening their position at the heart of Europe.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
