MEP: Romania will remain Moldova's EU integration partner
The Republic of Moldova is strengthening its position in the European Union (EU) accession process by consistently implementing reforms and resisting Russian hybrid pressures. Member of the European Parliament Gheorghe Falcă, from the EPP Group, emphasized that the progress in integration negotiations highlights Chisinau's advancements and Romania's unwavering support.
"You have politicians who are appreciated in Brussels, they are appreciated in the European chancelleries, and Romania is perhaps the number one advocate of the Republic of Moldova for this accession stage. (...) Romania is a serious partner of the Republic of Moldova for integration, for support and it will remain so when it joins the EU", declared MEP Gheorghe Falcă (EPP Group) for Radio Moldova.
At the same time, he explained that Romania's support for the Republic of Moldova is permanent and is based on the historical, cultural and strategic ties between the two states.
"Here, in Brussels, when we have bilateral meetings, in addition to the topics we have, depending on the meeting and the objective, we ultimately have a point of relating the interest of the Republic of Moldova on the chapters in which we each work. That is, the Republic of Moldova is part of Romania's interest because we speak the same language, we have the same culture, we are the same people and then we want to protect the Republic of Moldova, we want to support everything that the Romanian state means in this accession", the MEP said.
The Romanian official also noted that "at the Brussels level, there is a good administrative capacity to continue this pace of reforms" in the European integration process.
"In quite difficult conditions, the parties started the necessary reforms, which sometimes do not have very high popular support, because the changes do not always see an immediate benefit, but the systems by changing them will bring benefits to every citizen in time. That is why we have appreciated the effort that the Republic of Moldova has made so far", Gheorghe Falcă explained.
The MEP emphasized that EU membership offers security guarantees and the consolidation of the rule of law, beyond the economic advantages.
"A lot of people appreciate the EU because today they travel without visas, they can work for small benefits, but in reality being in an EU family means security from both a military and an economic point of view, it means the guarantee of existence in a state of law and here reforms must continue not only in the Republic of Moldova, but in several countries that are in the same position as the Republic of Moldova", the representative of the European Parliament pointed out.
Based on Romania's experience in the accession process, the European official highlighted the importance of cooperation between state institutions and communication with citizens.
"There must be a serious partnership between the Parliament and the Government. Each one must be a small engine of European legislation to achieve this European acquis as quickly as possible and to build a direct relationship with citizens. Because the European Union is not so well known for everything that benefits and mobility within the European Union mean", the MEP said.
Referring to the opening of negotiations for a group of clusters, Falcă claims that "The Republic of Moldova already had important reforms in the field of justice which helped the process to be fast from the beginning".
"The first clusters that open are always related to European values, to the rule of law, because if you manage to pass this stage, the others are more technical and things go, let's say, easier. Serbia, which began this stage long ago, failed to pass the first two levels. (...) If 10 years ago 65% of the Serbian population wanted to join the EU, that figure has since dropped to 35% due to Russian influence. That is why what the Republic of Moldova is doing today at a rapid pace is, in fact, the chance to reach all these clusters through work", concluded Gheorghe Falcă.
In his recent speech at the European Parliament, MEP Gheorghe Falcă stated, "The Republic of Moldova is not approaching the European Union with an outstretched hand. It comes with reforms, sacrifices, and a strong commitment to democratic principles, despite ongoing pressure and interference from the Russian Federation".
