On August 25, President Maia Sandu met with Marilena Raouna, Deputy Minister for European Affairs of Cyprus, who will assume the Presidency of the Council of the European Union on January 1, 2026, for a six-month mandate.
Talks focused on strengthening bilateral cooperation in the context of Moldova’s European integration efforts. President Sandu highlighted the experience and support offered by Cyprus, which itself underwent profound reforms following its EU accession in 2004. A central theme of the discussions was the protection of electoral processes from external interference, seen as vital for Moldova’s ability to continue on its European path, integrate into the EU single market, and consolidate its democratic institutions. President Sandu expressed confidence that during the forthcoming Cypriot Presidency of the EU Council, Moldova would continue to make significant progress toward EU membership.
On the same day, the Head of State also met with representatives of the Benelux format – Belgium, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands, three of the EU’s founding members. The meeting brought together Maxime Prévot, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, European Affairs and Development Cooperation of Belgium; Xavier Bettel, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs and External Trade, Minister of Development Cooperation and Humanitarian Affairs of Luxembourg; and Heleen Bakker, Director General for European Cooperation at the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
FOR THE MOST IMPORTANT NEWS, FOLLOW US ON TWITTER!
The officials reaffirmed their strong support for Moldova’s EU accession, pledging to back reforms, economic modernization, and the strengthening of democratic institutions. The discussions also centered on ensuring the integrity of electoral processes ahead of Moldova’s upcoming elections.
President Sandu thanked the Benelux countries for their consistent support and reiterated Moldova’s determination to build a secure, peaceful, and European future, bringing prosperity to all its citizens.
