“We decided to make a fuss”: how Moldova and Georgia plan to join the EU against the backdrop of the situation around Ukraine

On Thursday, March 3, Moldova applied for EU membership.

This was announced by the President of the country Maia Sandu.

“We see an opportunity to ensure a decent life for future generations.

Today we are signing an application for joining the European Union, ”RIA Novosti quotes her.

According to her, the Moldovan authorities are ready to do everything to realize this fundamental task of the country.

Earlier, Chisinau's intention to apply was announced by the chairman of the parliament of the republic, Igor Grosu, commenting on the past negotiations between the President of Moldova and the head of EU diplomacy, Josep Borrell.

“In conversations with the High Commissioner, I said very clearly that in voting in the last parliamentary and presidential elections, the vast majority of citizens chose European integration.

And by our behavior in recent days, we have shown ourselves and others that we are pro-European.

We can support, we can help, we can be sensitive and well organized.

We strongly believe that the Republic of Moldova deserves a very clear European perspective," Grosu was quoted as saying by TASS.

The chairman of the Moldovan parliament added that Chisinau would not join the EU and US sanctions against Russia, guided by the interests of its citizens.

Earlier, Moldovan Foreign Minister Nikolai Popescu said that such a decision was made for economic reasons, since the republic is too dependent on ties with Russia, including in the energy sector.

Earlier, following the results of negotiations with Borrell, the Moldovan president said that the current situation around Ukraine prompted Chisinau to accelerate the process of European integration.

This will ensure the security and economic development of Moldova, Sandu said.

In turn, EU representatives promised to provide Moldova with assistance in the amount of €20 million. In addition, the union will help the republic in ensuring energy security.

It is worth noting that Josep Borrell, at a joint press conference with the head of Moldova, ignored journalists' questions about the prospects for Chisinau's application.

Moldovan course

Recall that in December, in an interview with Reuters, Moldovan leader Maia Sandu indicated Chisinau's intention to join the European Union.

“Moldova wants to join the EU someday,” Sandu said.

According to her, Chisinau would prefer this to happen as soon as possible.

The President also added that she allegedly conveyed her position to Russia - Chisinau considers the EU model the most suitable for the republic.

“We will insist that this is our choice, and we would like other countries to respect it,” Sandu stressed at the time.

• Headquarters of the European Commission

• Gettyimages.ru

• © Dursun Aydemir / Anadolu Agency

In addition, she expressed regret that “

Russian troops are still on our (Moldovan. -

Recall that the entry of the Russian peacekeeping contingent into the Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic (PMR) in 1992 made it possible to stop the bloody armed conflict.

However, Sandu claims that this was done ostensibly in order to prevent Moldova from gaining independence from the USSR.

It is worth noting that in December 2021, in an interview with the Romanian media, the President of Moldova stated that the authorities were not considering the issue of joining NATO, since the neutral status was enshrined in the country's constitution.

Based on donations

Recall that on the eve of the intention to apply for accession to the EU announced in Georgia.

In particular, Irakli Kobakhidze, chairman of the ruling Georgian Dream party, announced this.

“Taking into account the general political context and the new realities, the members of the political council of the Georgian Dream, first of all, on the basis of consultations with Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili, made a political decision to apply for the status of a candidate member of the EU immediately,” Kobakhidze was quoted as saying by TASS.

• Parliament of Georgia

• AFP

• © Vano Shlamov

Later, on March 3, Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili signed an application for granting the country the status of a candidate member of the European Union, calling this day historic.

It is worth noting that earlier Georgia planned to send an appeal to the EU structures in 2024.

Recall that Georgia has been a member of the Eastern Partnership with the EU since 2009, and in 2014 signed an association agreement with the European Union.

In 2017, Georgian citizens got the opportunity to visit the countries of the Schengen zone without a visa.

It is worth noting that Moldova and Georgia announced their intention to apply for EU membership against the backdrop of a similar move by Ukraine.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy signed an application for joining the European Union on February 28, having previously applied to the association with a request to accept Kyiv under an accelerated procedure.

The head of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, said on March 3 that Zelensky sent a document to the EC with a request for Ukraine's accession to the European Union, but noted that hostilities must end in the country before a decision is made on this application.

On the same day, the Ukrainian leader noted that EU membership is not a top priority for Kyiv, however, in his opinion, this issue demonstrates the attitude towards his country.

As Alexei Mukhin, general director of the Center for Political Information, noted in a conversation with RT, in this case, the Moldovan and Georgian authorities decided to take advantage of the situation and solve their own political and economic problems at the expense of Ukraine.

“It was a predictable move.

Because Moldova and Georgia were closely watching what was happening in Ukraine and decided to make a fuss.

But I doubt they will get what they want.

Because in order to get into the EU, you must comply with a number of regulations.

Neither Georgia nor Moldova can boast of this.

Moreover, both countries, among other things, have serious territorial problems, ”Mukhin explained.

In turn, the deputy director of the Center for Comprehensive European and International Studies at the Higher School of Economics, Dmitry Suslov, in a conversation with RT, suggested that Chisinau and Tbilisi hope that due to the situation around the special operation in Ukraine, their applications will be considered in an accelerated mode.

“The situation that has developed around Ukraine, and the discussion by the European Union of the possibility of accession under an accelerated procedure, are perceived by both Georgia and Moldova as a window of opportunity into which it is necessary to jump,” the expert noted.

Dmitry Suslov also drew attention to the fact that Russia does not oppose the membership of certain countries of the post-Soviet space, including Ukraine, Georgia and Moldova, in the EU.

However, from his point of view, the hopes of these countries are unlikely to come true.

“Neither Ukraine will join the European Union in the foreseeable future, much less other countries of the post-Soviet space.

Statements to the contrary made by some functionaries in Europe are purely political and are made only to support the Kiev regime,” Suslov said.

He is sure that Moldova and Georgia, trying to speed up their accession to the EU, first of all, expect to receive economic support from Europe.

“They want to become new subsidized regions of the EU, but the real chances for this are zero.

The European Union will not expand now, as its policy towards the Western Balkans clearly demonstrates.

There is already a certain overstrain from expansion in the union, and it is unlikely to go to a new expansion, but in the other direction.

Therefore, in reality, neither Ukraine, nor Georgia, nor Moldova will join the EU in the foreseeable future,” Suslov concluded.