The Star Late Edition

Conflict propels campaign to join EU

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TENS of thousands of Moldovans yesterday rallied to demand EU membership for their country, whose bid to join the bloc has been accelerate­d by the war in neighbouri­ng Ukraine.

The former Soviet republic of 2.6 million people applied last year to join the EU and in June 2022 became a candidate country, alongside Ukraine.

More than 75000 people participat­ed in the demonstrat­ion in the centre of the capital, Chisinau, according to initial police estimates.

They waved EU flags and chanted pro-European slogans.

“We came to say loudly, confidentl­y and proudly that Moldovans are Europeans!” President Maia Sandu, who had called for the rally, told the crowd.

She said her country wanted to join the 27-nation EU by 2030.

“This is the chance for our people to live in peace and prosperity,” she said.

Fulfilling the necessary criteria for joining the EU was “a road of great efforts ... but it is the only road”.

European Parliament president Roberta Metsola, who also spoke at the rally, said the EU would support Moldova’s bid, adding that it was “already ready for European integratio­n”.

Sandu said in an interview earlier this week that Moldova was seeking EU membership “as soon as possible” as protection against any threat from Russia.

In February she accused Russia of fomenting a coup to try to seize power in her tiny country.

It already has a breakaway region, Transnistr­ia, where Russia has stationed a small number of troops.

Ahead of the rally, the government ran informatio­n campaigns inviting people to attend, and yesterday put on more public transport to make it easier for them.

“We want to live better,” Nicolae Basiu, a 73-year-old pensioner from a village north of the capital, said.

Aurica Baltag, a 35-year-old student from Chisinau who attended the rally with her two children, said she would like them “to have a beautiful future in our country ... to live freely”.

“We are going through a difficult time now. The war in our neighbour’s country is very stressful for us. We hope we won’t be left in the shadows,” she said.

On June 1, Moldova will hold its first major summit of wider Europe, bringing together leaders of all 27 EU countries with 20 of the bloc’s neighbours.

EU membership, however, could take a decade or more to attain, given the long list of requiremen­ts candidate countries must meet to be able to sit alongside the other nations in the European single market.

 ?? | AFP ?? WOMEN hold a Moldovan flag during a rally to support the European path of the country, in Chisinau, Moldova, yesterday.
| AFP WOMEN hold a Moldovan flag during a rally to support the European path of the country, in Chisinau, Moldova, yesterday.

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