Moldovan Prime Minister Alexandru Munteanu said in Brussels that EU enlargement represents an investment in the Union’s stability. He emphasized that, in his view, forming the European Union constitutes the most important geopolitical project since the creation of the United States of America.
The Prime Minister also addressed the war in Ukraine, highlighting the many challenges created by Russia’s aggression. At the same time, he expressed pride that Moldovans chose the European path in the recent elections.
“From Chisinau’s perspective, is the geopolitical momentum sufficient to overcome those vulnerabilities and sustain rapid progress towards de-alicization? Good morning, everyone. That’s not my first time in Brussels. Indeed, it’s my first time in Brussels in my new capacity.
And I guess I will start with that. I am old enough to remember the transformation of Europe in the last 40 years. I will start probably with the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989 and the revolution in Romania a few months later, which I witnessed, and then obviously the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991.
And then the whole transformation of Europe. I was in Croatia because I was at some point associated with the stability pact on May 1st, 2004. And there was that feeling of a little bit of sadness because their neighbors just joined and the Croatian accession to the European Union happened a little bit later.
Quick forward. Now we are facing a different situation, but in any case, I believe the European project, because I lived through all those years, is probably the most successful geopolitical project since the United States of America were created. So I’m being delivered in the European Union.
Now, as a citizen of Moldova, I’ve been very happy with my citizens’ response to the new challenges because obviously the whole world changed. It started in 2015 with annexation of Crimea and then with the full-fledged war in 2022. And of course, for the Moldova, which is just at the doorstep of this war, it created a lot of challenges, but I am proud of the citizens of Moldova who actually three times voted for the – unequivocally voted for the European Union accession despite all the interferences.
And as Commissioner Kos mentioned, all the hundreds of millions spent by evil forces to deflect attention and to change the will of people, to buy votes. Still, during the parliamentary elections, during the presidential elections, during the referendum, the Moldovan citizens clearly said that they are willing to be part of the European Union. Now, of course, we realize that it’s a process, it’s merit-based.
We have to do our homework. That’s clear. You’re looking at me now.
Yeah, because Commissioner Kos explained this to us, and we are doing our homework. But I think it’s the – and I like this term enlargement of enlargement you used because I think it’s our joint investment in stability in Europe because we face a brutal war in Ukraine, no doubt about that, and that’s a shocking experience for our – especially for our Ukrainian friends. And we need a response to all that.
And I think the best response is to build its resilience and to invest in the future of Europe. And the enlargement of Europe is the best response we can come up with, in my opinion. I think that Moldova is one of the example on where the European Union and its member states have been able to transform a reactive power into an assertive power and to show that geopolitical role can be made”
On November 18, Commissioner Marta Kos will host the EU Enlargement Forum in Brussels, bringing together officials from Moldova, Montenegro, Albania, Kosovo, and Ukraine.