German, French and Polish leaders show support for Moldova on visit

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, French President Emmanuel Macron and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk visited Moldova on Wednesday in a show of support for the country's pro-European government ahead of the parliamentary election in September.

Visiting the capital Chișinău on the 34th anniversary of Moldova's declaration of independence of the former Soviet Republic, the three EU leaders assured the country of their support on its path to EU accession and in fending off Russian attempts at destabilization.

"The door to the European Union is open," Merz said. "You are wholeheartedly welcome in the European Union."

Moldova, which is home to some 2.6 million, is geographically and historically part of Europe, the German chancellor said.

He praised the "determined and successful" reforms that have been undertaken so far on the path to EU membership, while Macron encouraged Moldova to pursue further reforms.

"I see that the citizens of Moldova have understood very well that joining the European Union represents a historic opportunity for the future of their country, an opportunity for prosperity and security," Macron said.

Like its neighbour Ukraine, Moldova has been an EU candidate country since 2022. However, the country, which is among the poorest in Europe, remains divided between pro-European and pro-Russian forces.

Russian soldiers have been stationed in its breakaway region of Transnistria, a narrow strip of land in the east of the republic, since the 1990s.

Merz accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of carrying out hybrid attacks on Moldova with the aim of weakening the country's democracy. "He also wants to bring Moldova back into Russia's sphere of influence," the chancellor said.

He told the Moldovan government, led by President Maia Sandu: "We stand by you in preserving your freedom and sovereignty."

Tusk meanwhile emphasized that Moldova's accession to the EU is in the interests of the whole of Europe.

"In this joint effort, no one is doing anyone else a favour or showing them courtesy," he said. "There can be no secure EU, no secure Poland, France and Germany without an independent Moldova."

The government in Chișinău accuses Russia of targeted disinformation and destabilization campaigns.

For the upcoming parliamentary election, four Russian-oriented opposition parties have announced the formation of an electoral bloc.

Sandu stated that there was no alternative to Europe for her country. Russia's war against Ukraine in particular showed that Europe meant freedom, she said.

In 2021, Sandu's EU-oriented Party of Action and Solidarity (PAS) secured 63 of the 101 seats in parliament. However, the ruling party now faces the threat of losing its majority due to the difficult economic situation.