Presidential adviser: Romania prepared to discuss union if Moldova considers it an option
Eugen Tomac, MEP and honorary advisor to the President of Romania, Nicușor Dan, stated in an interview with caleaeuropeană.ro on January 13 that any Romanian of good faith, regardless of whether they live on one side of the Prut or the other, views the unification of the Republic of Moldova with Romania as a natural process.
The statement comes in light of the Republic of Moldova's President, Maia Sandu, expressing her support for a potential referendum on reunification with Romania, stating she would vote "yes."
"Any Romanian of good faith, regardless of which side of the Prut they live on, views the reunification of the two states as a natural process," declared a Member of the European Parliament (MEP). He also recalled that Romania officially took a position on this topic on March 27, 2018, through a declaration adopted by Parliament, which received no votes against it.
"This remains the official position of the Romanian state, and it has not changed," emphasized Nicușor Dan, the President's advisor on relations with Romanians in the diaspora.
Also, the MEP emphasized that Bucharest cannot ignore the situation in Chișinău, where the majority opinion, as expressed through successive elections and referendums, is pro-European.
"We must consider the realities of our current times, particularly the significant de-Sovietization process that has occurred in the Republic of Moldova. However, this process has not yet matured to the point where the political class can approach the issue of unification from a perspective different from that currently applied in Chișinău. We must take this political reality in the Republic of Moldova into account. We fully respect all citizens of the Republic of Moldova; it is their right to decide their future. The fact that this has been validated by three consecutive votes—in the elections four years ago, in last year's referendum, and in the recent parliamentary elections, as well as the upcoming 2024 referendum on European integration—clearly shows that citizens have overwhelmingly supported a pro-European direction. We must acknowledge and support this aspiration of the citizens of the Republic of Moldova," said Tomac.
When asked whether Romania is prepared for the possibility of reunification, particularly regarding the necessary support from EU partners, NATO allies, and the American strategic partner, Eugen Tomac noted that "all our partners understand that the same people live in both Romania and the Republic of Moldova," urging that this discussion should be conducted in "extremely responsible and serious terms."
"President Maia Sandu has never hesitated to state that she is also a Romanian citizen. In fact, the majority of political leaders in the Republic of Moldova also hold Romanian citizenship, having chosen to do so. Romanian citizenship can be obtained upon request. Currently, approximately 50% of the citizens of the Republic of Moldova, whether unionists or not, possess Romanian citizenship because they individually applied to regain the citizenship offered by the Romanian state. Therefore, I believe that discussions about what unites us must continue, but in a manner that is extremely responsible and serious," the Romanian MEP pointed out.
In a recent interview with prominent British journalists Rory Stewart and Alastair Campbell, President Maia Sandu openly stated that she would vote in favor of unification between the Republic of Moldova and Romania in a potential referendum on this subject.
She emphasized that, as head of state, she must consider the current realities in the Republic of Moldova.
"If we were to hold a referendum, I would vote for reunification with Romania. (...) We need to pay attention to what is happening around Moldova and worldwide. It is becoming increasingly challenging for a country like the Republic of Moldova to survive and maintain its democracy as a sovereign nation. However, as the President of the Republic of Moldova, I recognize that there is not a majority in favor of unification with Romania; rather, there is a majority that supports our accession to the European Union. We are pursuing that direction, as it is a more realistic objective and helps us safeguard our sovereignty," declared Maia Sandu.
