In the context of the intensification of political debates on the European integration of the Republic of Moldova, IPN News Agency asked a number of resident EU ambassadors in Chisinau to state their views and recommendations related to the state of affairs, starting from the experience of the own countries on the road to the EU. Our interlocutor today is His Excellence Ambassador of Romania to Moldova Daniel Ionita.
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Romania is a constant supporter and one of the best friends of the Republic of Moldova on its path to European integration, stated Daniel Ionita. “We support this goal for objective reasons, based, on the one hand, on the special relations between Romania and the Republic of Moldova and, on the other hand, on the complex experiences, in essence all positive, that Romania gained after it passed the stages of integration into the European and Euro-Atlantic bodies,” stated the ambassador.
The Romanian diplomat said the European integration of the Republic of Moldova is practically an objective that was assumed plenarily by Romania, being an objective based on knowledge and one through which Romania aims to ensure institutional consolidation, on the one hand, and an improvement in the way things stand in the Republic of Moldova, on the other hand, so that the benefits are visible and reach the pockets of all the citizens of the Republic of Moldova. To successfully achieve this objective, probably more determined support for the reform process and capacitation of the interests of all the responsible forces of the Republic of Moldova are further needed so as to take this objective further. Dialogue, commitment and responsibility on all lines are also necessary, both as regards the dialogue between the state authorities and, probably more important, the dialogue between the authorities and the people.
“In the case of Romania, our integration into the European Union brought about a significant change in living conditions. It decisively contributed to the improvement of the lives of all the citizens, attracted foreign investment, helped Romania have an increasingly respected voice among the European institutions and allowed all the citizens to benefit from a multitude of financing programs, cohesion funds and assistance in different forms,” stated Daniel Ionita.
According to the diplomat, currently Romania is an important voice in the “choir” of the European states and is an active supporter of the necessity of maintaining cohesion, solidarity and common action at the European level. Also, Romania will continue to be one of the EU member states that are especially interested in strengthening the European projects.
Approaches concerning European course should be further supported
As to the latest developments in the Republic of Moldova in the context of the rapprochement with the EU, the Romanian official said the approaches and objectives assumed by Moldova’s Parliament should be further supported and these should be constantly supported by the Government so that the European course is continued. The official noted that the European course does not mean poor relations with other states.
“This European course should not be judged from a geopolitical perspective. Nobody bans you from having good relations with the European Union and, simultaneously, having very good relations with the Russian Federation. In essence, things speak for themselves. Last year, the Republic of Moldova’s exports of goods to Romania were of a higher value than the Republic of Moldova’s exports to the whole CIS area. We speak namely about such realities,” stated Daniel Ionita.
Any major crisis strengthens states
Asked how the old problems in Moldova are regarded amid the new problems that appeared in the EU, Daniel Ionita said we live in a continuously moving world and the world never benefited from long periods of time during which things remained immovable. There are always changes, both internal and external. We daily meet with provocations as well as with opportunities. However, after any major crisis, things in the European Union and at their institutions developed and strengthened so as to cope with future challenges.
“I hear and read with surprise different opinions about the finalization of this European project. But things, as I said, should be regarded in evolution and in positive dynamics. It is yet important to overcome the aspects that are not necessarily all positive and understand that the four freedoms - of movement of people, capital, goods and services and ideas - work very well in all the EU member states. The economic cooperation mechanisms, freedoms, educational possibilities of people, possibilities to travel, exchange ideas etc. also work very well. The borders inside the EU practically disappeared and this is also true in relation to the Republic of Moldova. The most important borders are often those that exist in our mind. If we manage to overcome the own complexes or own barriers that we impose ourselves, we can really be all freer and more open to opportunities,” stated Romania’s Ambassador in Chisinau.
In the same connection, the diplomat noted that the EU is surrounded by major hotbeds of instability. There is a developing crisis in Ukraine and another one in Syria. There are unsolved conflicts in the immediate enlarged neighborhood of the European Union. The EU also faces problems. However, there is a huge wish on the part of all the responsible factors to positively solve all these things. By cooperation and dialogue, all things will be solved.
Enthusiasm of European integration should be maintained by better communication
For the Enthusiasm of coming closer to the EU not to disappear in the integration process, given that the positive effects of this process are felt in time, better communication is needed, stated Daniel Ionita.
“I think they have communicated relatively insufficiently in this rather important area. The citizens often do not directly realize that some things happen and change namely owing to the direct contributions on the part of the development partners of the Republic of Moldova, including Romania. You often go by different facilities and it seems normal to you that these now look much better than last year, without realizing that the EU member states invested directly in that facility,” stated Daniel Ionita, noting that he criticizes no one. The citizens contrast things with their life and everyone wants to have a better life. But the way in which the life of the given citizen changes represents a significant indication of the way in which this analyzes the policies developed by the authorities, the Government or the responsible bodies.
Rapprochement with the EU is first of all necessary to Moldova
Romania’s Ambassador said the process of gradual rapprochement with the European Union is first of all necessary to the Republic of Moldova and its people because it will make the Republic of Moldova better in essence, better as regards the own people, the performance of the own administration and the transparent, correct and judicious method in which the state affairs are managed. The official expressed his conviction that the current Government and Parliament of Moldova fully realize the importance of maintaining Moldova’s course to the West, without neglecting the other cardinal points. But, at a certain moment, it is necessary to maintain a firm strategic direction that should not be judged strictly from a geopolitical perspective. It should be simply assumed and realized by everyone, regardless of the ethnicity, language and geographical area. “We should also look at figures as they will speak for themselves,” concluded Daniel Ionita.
Alina Marin, IPN
