As Moldova prepares for its referendum on joining the European Union, the country can look to Sweden’s experience, where membership was approved with a narrow 52% majority. In an interview with IPN, Sweden’s Ambassador Katarina Fried explained that despite intense debates on sovereignty and identity, the decision was respected, and Sweden moved forward, strengthening its position within the EU.

“The result was a close one, as you mentioned, but it was a legitimate result that was respected. We decided to move forward. This is how democracy works – we accepted the majority’s decision, and just a few months later, we became members of the EU. Ten years later, we held another referendum to decide whether we wanted to adopt the euro, and the answer was no. That’s how things should work: even if the result is close, you accept the majority’s decision and continue on the chosen path,” said Fried.

Three decades after joining the EU, Sweden has significantly benefited from enhanced security, economic development, and freedoms in work and education, which have led to strong public support for EU membership.

The Swedish Ambassador also noted that, although there were many concerns in Sweden similar to those now seen in Moldova, the concrete benefits of EU membership ultimately convinced citizens that the European Union is a strong and reliable partner for Sweden.