Moldova applies for EU membership with the war on its doorstep

Moldova applies for EU membership, with the war on its doorstep. 

Chisinau: Moldovan president Maia Sandu signed a formal application to allow her country to be a member of the European Union on Thursday, taking a pro-Western path accelerated by Russia’s incursion into neighboring Ukraine.

Sandu’s decision comes just days after Ukraine’s president Volodymyr Zelensky made a formal demand for immediate EU membership while fighting with invading Russian forces. 

Moscow is strongly opposed to expanding its eastern borders that are part of the EU and, more specifically, of NATO, the latter, which Moscow regards as an immediate threat to the security of its nation.

Sandu, the prime minister, and the parliament speaker all signed the document at an information session in Chisinau, Moldova’s capital. 

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Chisinau, pro-Russian and pro-EU politicians have been fighting for power since Moldova gained its independence from the Soviet Union in 1991.

“It required 30 years to allow Moldova to become mature; however, today Moldova is prepared to be responsible for its future,” Sandu said.

Sandu, while presenting the document signed by the president to cameras on television.

“We desire to be prosperous, peaceful, and be part of the free world. While some choices take some time, others need to be taken swiftly and decisively, making the most of opportunities presented by an ever-changing globe,” She said.

She said it would then be submitted to Brussels within the next few days.

Negotiations for joining the EU, which Chisinau and Kyiv haven’t even begun, generally take several years since the country seeking to join can align its laws with those from the bloc of 27 nations.

Diplomats said that EU leaders could discuss Ukraine’s request during an informal summit in the coming month.