President of Moldova Maia Sandu said that she would like integration into the European Union within the internationally recognized borders of the republic, but admits that Pridnestrovie will join this process later.
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Earlier, the head of the European delegation in Chisinau, Janis Mazeiks, said that it would be easier if Moldova joined the European Union immediately with Pridnestrovie.
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“I really want us to be able to integrate into the EU as a whole country – both the right and left banks (of the Dniester). This will only be possible if we find a political solution, this implies the withdrawal of the Russian military and the removal of weapons. I feel and see more and more interest of the left bank of the Dniester to join the EU, we must appreciate this change. But if this is not possible, then we can carry out the accession process in two steps,” Sandu said in the framework of the “Interview without protocol” project.
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According to her, the process of European integration of Moldova should not become a hostage to this conflict.
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At the referendum held on October 20 on the question of Moldova’s accession to the EU among residents of Transnistria, 31.02% of voters voted for European integration, and 68.96% voted against it. As part of the referendum, citizens had to answer one question: “Do you support changing the constitution in order for the Republic of Moldova to join the European Union?” In the country as a whole, 50.46% of the country’s citizens voted for European integration, while 49.54% of voters were against it.
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Transnistria, where about 60% of the population is Russian and Ukrainian, sought to secede from Moldova even before the collapse of the USSR, fearing annexation to Romania on the wave of nationalism. In 1992, after an unsuccessful attempt by the Moldovan authorities to solve the problem by force, Transnistria became a territory virtually uncontrolled by Chisinau.
