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Maia Sandu is the president of the Republic of Moldova.
Three a long time in the past, Moldovans selected freedom and democracy over authoritarianism. And at this time, we’re shifting decisively towards the European Union.
However with Russia’s brutal aggression in opposition to our neighbor Ukraine, our nation now faces dramatic prices and heightened dangers threatening to derail our chosen path, weakening Europe’s safety.
Moldova is a dynamic democracy in what has turn into a harmful neighborhood.
Over the previous yr, we’ve been constructing stronger establishments, preventing corruption and supporting the post-pandemic restoration. In consequence, our economic system grew by 14 p.c in 2021; we jumped 49 ranked on the Reporters With out Borders Press Freedom Index; and our anti-money laundering score was upgraded by the Council of Europe.
In recognition of our implementation of inauspicious reforms in a difficult geopolitical context, the EU granted Moldova candidate standing for membership this June. However as an alternative of having fun with the advantages of deeper European integration, Moldovans are actually struggling to deal with an acute vitality disaster, a extreme financial downturn and big safety threats.
Many, if not all, European nations are at the moment dealing with critical vitality pressures, in fact — however ours are existential. The legacy of just about full dependence on Russia for fuel and electrical energy, and the failure by successive governments to diversify provides, is now threatening our financial survival.
As of November, Russia’s bombing of Ukraine’s vitality infrastructure, alongside Gazprom halving pure fuel exports, has eradicated energy from our earlier sources of imported electrical energy.
In response, the federal government has adopted vitality austerity measures and switched some industries to different fuels. Longer-term vitality safety measures, together with an electrical energy interconnection with Romania, will yield outcomes however solely in just a few years.
Buddies and companions are additionally offering help to one of the best of their talents.
Romania, our good neighbor and robust supporter, has stepped in, with electrical energy exports now accounting for about 80 p.c of Moldova’s present consumption. In the meantime, on a latest go to to Chișinău, European Fee President Ursula von der Leyen introduced contemporary help to assist ameliorate Moldova’s disaster, and the European Financial institution for Reconstruction and Improvement has thrown a lifeline to finance emergency fuel provides.
Immediately, French President Emmanuel Macron is internet hosting a gathering of the Moldova Help Platform — an initiative led by France, Germany and Romania.
The discussion board goals to mobilize much-needed help forward of what’s more likely to be a precarious winter. Moldova is seeking to finance its fuel and electrical energy purchases from new sources and help social schemes for essentially the most susceptible, which is able to assist cushion value will increase. Over the previous 12 months, the value of fuel in our nation grew seven occasions over, whereas the value of electrical energy noticed a four-fold improve. This winter, Moldovans are more likely to spend as much as 65 p.c of their earnings on vitality payments.
If we are able to gentle and warmth properties in our nation and ensure that colleges and hospitals can nonetheless function and the economic system’s wheels maintain turning, this could imply that Moldovans — alongside Ukrainians — needn’t search refuge elsewhere in Europe throughout this upcoming chilly season.
Even earlier than winter absolutely units in, the vitality disaster and the financial fallout from the warfare subsequent door are already having a major affect on folks’s lives, the nation’s economic system and our future progress. Inflation is approaching 35 p.c; costs have skyrocketed; commerce routes are disrupted; and investor sentiment has weakened. In consequence, the economic system is more likely to contract.
In the meantime, Russia’s proxies and prison teams have joined forces to take advantage of the vitality disaster and gas discontent. They hope to foment political turmoil. Utilizing your entire spectrum of hybrid threats — together with pretend bomb alerts, cyberattacks, disinformation, requires social unrest and unconcealed bribery — they’re working to destabilize the federal government, erode our democracy and jeopardize Moldova’s contribution to Europe’s wider safety.
Our vulnerabilities might weaken Ukraine’s resilience, in addition to stability on the remainder of the continent.
Whereas we’re Ukraine’s most susceptible neighbor, we additionally safe its second-longest border — after the one it has with Russia. Throughout these 1,222 kilometers, Moldova is a frontline state within the struggle in opposition to weapons, medication and human trafficking.
For the reason that starting of the warfare, we’ve labored arduous to take care of stability within the breakaway Transnistrian area, which shares a border over 450 kilometers lengthy with Ukraine and the place 1,600 Russian troops are stationed illegally. We’ve managed to maintain the state of affairs calm.
We additionally present important provide routes to and from Ukraine — a major a part of Ukrainian commerce, together with grains, undergo Moldova.
Moreover, our nation has sheltered greater than 650,000 refugees because the first days of the Russian invasion. To this point, over 80,000 of them have chosen to remain, and we’re making ready to host extra within the winter, ought to they should flee a navy escalation or lack of warmth, electrical energy and water.
Europe and Ukraine want a powerful Moldova. Robust sufficient to help Ukraine through the warfare. Robust sufficient to take care of peace and stability in our area. Robust sufficient to shelter refugees. And powerful sufficient to turn into a pure hub for the reconstruction of southern Ukraine after the warfare.
Simply as Russia mustn’t be allowed to win in Ukraine, its hybrid strategies mustn’t be allowed to reach Moldova. We are going to do our half to defend European values regardless of the privations imposed on us. The worth is heavy, and we’re ready to hold the burden.
However we are able to’t do that alone.
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