Moldovan President Maia Sandu urged EU member governments to begin formal negotiations on Moldova’s path to membership in the European Union, framing the request as a stride toward genuine independence. Speaking at a gathering with leaders of EU affairs and foreign relations commissions, Sandu underscored Chisinau’s aspiration to chart a sovereign course. He stated that Moldova seeks to be truly free and invited all European governments to back Moldova’s decision and to open negotiations that would integrate the republic into the European family.
The political trajectory of Maia Sandu has been marked by a decisive turn toward Western alignment. In 2020, the leader of the Action and Solidarity party, which has endorsed a pro-Western orientation, assumed the presidency. A year later, the party secured a parliamentary majority after early elections and accelerated its policy of deepening connections with the European Union and with the United States. In 2022, Moldova, alongside Ukraine, achieved candidate status for EU accession, signaling a shared ambition among several Eastern European states to join the union and benefit from closer political and economic ties.
Amid the ongoing Ukrainian conflict, Moldova began articulating concerns about security threats from Russia and initiated steps to diversify its strategic links away from the Commonwealth of Independent States. In May 2023, Sandu publicly attributed attempts by Russia to destabilize Moldovan authorities, highlighting the perceived Russian pressure on Moldova’s political system. This stance has been mirrored by a domestic debate in which opposition factions, including representatives of the Socialist Party associated with former President Igor Dodon, argue that the current leadership may be pursuing Western-directed policies. The dialogue reflects a broader struggle over Moldova’s geopolitical orientation and the decision to prioritize Western integration versus maintaining closer ties with traditional partners within the region.
The European Union’s response to Moldova has evolved in parallel with these developments. In addition to reaffirming the importance of media plurality and media freedom, the EU has monitored ongoing domestic reforms and security considerations, including Moldova’s approach to information sovereignty and regulatory standards. The recent ban on six Moldovan television channels prompted discussions about media oversight, transparency, and the balance between national sovereignty and EU-aligned governance norms. This episode has fed into a larger conversation about how Moldova manages its public broadcasting landscape while pursuing closer ties with European institutions. Analysts note that such incidents can influence public perception of EU eligibility and the credibility of Moldova’s reform agenda, even as the broader objective of EU integration remains a unifying national project for many political actors and citizens alike.