During her official to Moldova, Roberta METSOLA, EP President, gives a speech at the special plenary session of the Parliament of Moldova. EP President reaffirms her support on behalf of the institution to Moldova's path towards EU integration.

statement

EU - Moldova (T)

speech

METSOLA, Roberta (EPP, MT, EP President)

Moldova

president's agenda

GROSU, Igor

Moldova's application for EU membership (T)

Official visit by Roberta METSOLA, EP President to Moldova: Address at the Special Plenary Session of the Parliament of Moldova by Roberta METSOLA, EP President

SOUNDBITE (Romanian), Igor GROSU, Speaker of the Parliament of the Republic of Moldova, <p>Dear Madam President Metsola, honourable deputies and guests, I have the great joy to greet the President of the European Parliament Roberta Metsola in Chisinau. Today through you, the European Parliament speaks in the Parliament of the Republic of Moldova about an honor for us and a recognition of the firmness with which our citizens choose the European path and European values. The path was not short and not easy. But the Republic of Moldova through the power of its European citizens by character and with the constant support of the European Union managed to stay on its way to the European family. We are grateful to the European Parliament for the huge help provided to our country for supporting democracy and the rights of Moldovan citizens. Even when the governments here were fighting democracy and their own citizens, we were never alone, and that helped us move forward towards the European Union. </p>

SOUNDBITE (Romanian), Igor GROSU, Speaker of the Parliament of the Republic of Moldova, I will conclude by shaking what you yourself said, Mrs Metsola, namely that the future is Europe and that you want people to believe again in Europe. And I want to emphasize that Moldovan citizens have never had doubts that our future is European and that we have never ceased to believe in the power of the European Union to ensure peace well-being and people's right to be free in their decisions. Ladies and gentlemen I give the floor of her excellence to Mrs Roberta mentioned the President of the European Parliament.

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, President of the European Parliament, Good morning. Speaker, dear Igor, members of the Parliament of Moldova. I am honoured to be here in the home of democracy in this great Republic of Moldova. It is a privilege to be amongst colleagues, amongst friends who share a belief in the power of Europe to meet today's challenges. Friends.

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, President of the European Parliament, I came here with one message. Moldova's place is in Europe. Our future must be together. and the European Parliament will do everything necessary to stand with you on your path to becoming a European Union member. States.

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, President of the European Parliament, This must be the history that we will write together for the benefit of everyone in Europe. And I know that this is not always easy to convince everyone, which is why I am here to help answer doubts, to answer questions, to listen. We will be with you every step of the way.

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, President of the European Parliament, Yesterday, the European Commission came to pledge more funding. I know how important that is and equally how much more will be needed. And you can count on us. But the transformational effect of EU membership is not funds alone. It is about aligning standards. It is about legislate together. It is about the Republic of Moldova, the voice being heard around the table on decisions that impact all of us. It is about the guarantee of democracy, the rule of law, equality. It is about hope for the next generation. This is what Europe is all about. We are living in times of instability, of spiking energy and electricity prices, inflation, food scarcity and creeping unemployment and all of this is framed in the context of an illegal war on our continent, on your borders with an autocrat, weaponize energy supplies and with propaganda and disinformation that risks driving more people to the comfort of the fringes. And yet it is often in times like this where we learn the true meani...

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, President of the European Parliament, Mr Speaker, at the opening of the 2022 autumn season of this parliament, you spoke about the support that your country has been receiving from the European Union. And I am here today on behalf of the European Parliament to reiterate with the utmost conviction that Europe is with you and will remain with you.

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, President of the European Parliament, Ladies and gentlemen, I am proud to say that the European Parliament has always stood in solidarity with Moldova. We've done this with our words, but more importantly, with our actions. Earlier this year, we were the first EU institution to call for Moldova to receive EU candidate status together with Ukraine. We did this because Moldova belongs to our European family, in our European family, because we know that Europe is about opening doors, tearing down walls and being together. It is a way of life and of living.

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, President of the European Parliament, And here I want to be clear. The Republic of Moldova is a European states by history, by geography, by identity, by culture and by tradition. It was stiffened degrades who won battles and helped charter the modern course of modern Europe. And for years, your people have demonstrated unwavering support for the European course of your country by embracing European principles and values. By granting candidate status to Moldova. We wanted to send the strongest of messages of hope and solidarity, solidarity with all those who stand up for our shared values, who want to live in peace and in safety, in free, democratic and prosper countries that maintain good neighbourly relations.

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, President of the European Parliament, The granting of EU candidate status is a historic opportunity for Moldova to strengthen its democracy, empower its youth and build a modern and resilient country equally. It is a historic moment for Europe. It is a two way street. We want a piece of Moldova in Europe, not only a piece of Europe in Moldova. Moldova can lead in Europe. You are already leading on gender equality, setting an example in the region, in the region with a female president, prime minister and president of the Constitutional Court's. Congratulations.

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, President of the European Parliament, Now granting EU candidate status also opens a new chapter in our relations relations are already based on an ambitious association agreement and a deep and comprehensive free trade area. These will continue to nebula conducive environment for political association, legislative approximation and economic integration, all of which are crucial elements of a future accession process. But strong relations are never one sided. And this is why the European Parliament believes that in order to give your country a clear path towards membership, there needs to be a clarity of expectation from the start. When reforms are made, our assessments must not be delayed. And on this, I can assure you that we will not waste time.

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, President of the European Parliament, Over the past years, you have undertaken decisive steps to reform. The work that you have been doing in adopting necessary legislation to this effect, especially in the in the realms of justice. The fight against corruption, organised crime and electoral law reforms is important. The basis is already there for the deeper integration of Moldova in the single market and for strengthened EU Moldova cooperation on digitalisation and telecommunications. Soon you will enter the next phase of EU integration. And dear friends, EU accession may seem like a steep mountain to climb, but looking around me at Maia Sandu and so many allies, I have no doubt that you will climb quickly.

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, President of the European Parliament, The European Parliament will be there to support you. And here I am not only talking about political supports, like our commitment to building closer institutional ties based on the memorandum of understanding that we signed in November 2021 or on the basis of the mutually agreed roadmap to strengthen democracy in Moldova or capacity and access to such building programmes, which, by the way, the first joint European Parliament and Moldovan Parliament Democracy Support Seminar will take place today or even through the Jean Monnet Dialogue for Peace and Democracy, by which the European Parliament can help this House strengthen interparty dialogue and build consensus. One of our key MEPs, Dragos Tudorache being here today is a further signal of our commitment, but I am also talking about more technical, administrative, financial support and more practical support throughout the accession process. For i...

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, President of the European Parliament, In these troubled times, we must continue to stand united in the face of those seeking to pull us apart. Those spreading disinformation to bring political unrest, those who threaten and blackmail using energy as leverage. Against this backdrop, let me recall what President Sandu recently said. I want everyone to know that Moldova chooses to be free and continue on its European path, no matter what the circumstances on behalf of the European Parliament. Allow me to express my admiration for your leadership. And this House is anway determination to charter on the path of European integration. Rest assured that here to the European Union will continue to help Moldova to diversify its energy supplies to prevent further destabilisation. Our member states have already facilitated new interconnections. In particular, Romania has a such strong leadership on this. Also, the trio of France, Germany ...

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, President of the European Parliament, Your country is now also importing natural gas from Slovakia this year. Members is full European solidarity at all. But across all borders on full display, we understand that rising inflation and higher bills make it difficult for people and we are determined to address this. The European Parliament adopted temporary liberalisation measures for certain Moldovan agricultural products, and just yesterday we approved legislation facilitating freight transport by road in the European Union for Moldovan companies. and drivers. This will help stimulate Moldovan trade exports at this very difficult time. Perhaps more crucially,.

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, President of the European Parliament, However, already in April of this year, a European Parliament approved a one hundred and fifty million euro assistance package to support Moldova. And here at the European Parliament is ready to do more and ready to do it fast, as we have done in the past. I also want to acknowledge the courage that it took for you to apply for European Union accession. Moldova's security remains a priority. International law and its principles of sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity are not negotiable for us. You are the first buffer between the war and the European Union, and we must acknowledge this. Sowing doubt, instability and fear accompany the Kremlin's conventional warfare apparatus.

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, President of the European Parliament, This coordinated disinformation campaign is spreading and we have to do more, much more to to counter the toxic rewriting of history and to remind our citizens that Europe does have the power to improve lives, to change generations. We must work to convince. This is why we have established the European Union support hub for internal security and border management here in Kitchener to help address security implications of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Why 40 million euros under the European Peace Facility have been allocated to strengthen the capacity of Moldovan armed forces.

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, President of the European Parliament, Ladies and gentlemen, at the start of the war, when Ukrainian children, women and men were forced to flee from their homes, it was your country, Moldova, that opened its borders. It was Moldovan people who opened up their homes and their hearts to 80000 Ukrainian people seeking refuge and supported 600000 Ukrainians transiting your country in what was effectively the highest number of refugee intake per capita. It was also your country and your people who sent truckloads of humanitarian aid to Ukraine that operationalised solidarity lanes for grain and fuel transit to feed hungry families and heat cold homes. You did this because you believe in the principle of European solidarity. likewise, the European Union will continue to demonstrate the power of Europe by doing whatever it can to assist your great nation in forging a path towards a brighter, more prosperous, shared future. Because dear friends, this is what Europe is all about. It is about values and principles. It is about freedom and democracy. It is about solidarity and cooperation. It is about hope in a better world for us all. Th...