”Moldova’s greatest strength is its people,” says Deputy Prime Minister for European Integration Cristina Gherasimov. In an interview with NewsMaker, she stated that whether living in the country or abroad, Moldovans have been working for over 20 years to become part of the EU family.
Gherasimov also noted that Moldova is following the natural course of events after receiving a visa-free regime, signing the Association Agreement, and joining the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area (DCFTA).
“We can confidently say we are following the natural course of events. Of course, the large-scale, tragic war that Russia unleashed against Ukraine has often accelerated this course for Moldova. We are aware of this, but it does not mean we jumped on a fast-moving train. Moreover, if there had been no political will, we would not have been able to achieve so much in the past three years,” Gherasimov stated.
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Speaking about the country’s weaknesses, she pointed to the lack of unity among political parties in supporting Moldova’s strategic objective.
“I would like to see political parties move away from baseless pro-European rhetoric, which is even embedded in their statutes, and focus on meaningful statements and actions. It is important for the negotiation process because, regardless of political declarations made at home, at the negotiating table in Brussels, we all represent the Republic of Moldova and speak with one voice—the voice of Moldova. Our chances of success in negotiations largely depend on how consistently we act when speaking on behalf of the country,” Gherasimov explained.
The Deputy Prime Minister also stated that some people who oppose European integration have fallen victim to disinformation. She emphasized that the authorities will continue engaging with them and listening to their concerns to counter the influence of propaganda.