Europe deeply appreciates Moldova’s persistent efforts and the reforms implemented on its path towards the European Union (EU), stated Daiga Mieriņa, Speaker of the Saeima, while addressing Members of Parliament of the Republic of Moldova on Tuesday, 3 February. This week, she is visiting Chisinau together with her Lithuanian and Estonian counterparts.
The Speaker of the Saeima emphasised that EU accession negotiations ought to be concluded as early as 2028, and that Latvia will continue to share its experience in reforms and integration. Speaker Mieriņa underlined that the reform path is not easy and requires significant effort, stressing that membership in the most deeply integrated inter-governmental union brings substantial benefits: “Democracy requires daily investment. That means strong state institutions, an independent courts, freedom of the press, and a powerful non-governmental sector.”
Daiga Mieriņa noted that Latvia can also learn from Moldova’s experience in countering disinformation and foreign interference, as Latvia will hold a parliamentary election this year and will certainly take Moldova’s experience into account. “Manipulation of information and external interference threaten European democracies and the EU’s interests globally. Therefore, we will continue to counter these threats by imposing strict sanctions,” noted the Speaker of the Saeima.
Speaker Mieriņa congratulated her colleagues on their resounding victory in the elections held in Moldova last autumn. “It was a true example of the Moldovan people’s resistance against the constant influence of the aggressor state and its desire to unlawfully influence the free will of the citizens of Moldova. You have achieved another major victory!” said the Speaker of the Saeima, addressing her colleagues in the Parliament of the Republic of Moldova.
Daiga Mieriņa also emphasised economic cooperation, particularly in the field of information technology and critical infrastructure. The business partnerships initiated today will flourish into their full potential upon Moldova becoming a full-fledged member of the European Union.
In March 2022, Moldova applied for EU membership, and in June 2022 was granted EU candidate status. Official accession negotiations began in June 2024.
The Baltic Speakers will also meet with the chairs of all political groups represented in the Parliament of Moldova. They are also scheduled to meet Maia Sandu, the President of Moldova; Alexandru Munteanu, the Prime Minister of Moldova; Cristina Gherasimov, Deputy Prime Minister for European Integration; and other officials to discuss Moldova’s reform process, regional security situation, and the next steps in European integration.
The visit of Speaker Mieriņa will conclude with a trip to the Călărași region of Moldova where she will meet with local officials, entrepreneurs, and residents to discuss regional development, as well as the opportunities and challenges associated with EU integration.
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Saeima Press Service