Foreign Policy Newsletter 03/229 March 2025: Republic of Moldova three years on from EU accession application: Between reforms and delays

The March edition of the FES/APE Foreign Policy Newsletter explores the Republic of Moldova’s European journey, three years after submitting its application for EU membership. In an interview with Cristina Gherasimov, Deputy Prime Minister for European Integration, we discussed Moldova’s European trajectory and the challenges facing the country's EU integration process. We also talked about attempts by foreign actors to interfere in Moldova's internal politics and how resilient the country's institutions have become in dealing with these external pressures.
In conversation with Alexandru Bujorean, co-founder of the pro-European opposition bloc "Împreună," we explored security threats to Moldova in the wake of Russia's military invasion of Ukraine, the possibility of achieving a just peace, and the prospects for political pro-European forces to unite ahead of this fall’s parliamentary elections. We also touched on his vision for Moldova’s multi-sectoral development through European funds.
In an interview with Liliana Palihovici, president of the Institutum Virtutes Civilis and co-chair of the EU-Moldova Civil Society Platform, we discussed the vital role that civil society expertise plays in Moldova’s European journey. We also examined how Moldova has been able to seize the historic opportunity provided by Brussels. Additionally, we talked about the best way for the state to invest the historic financial aid of 1.9 billion euros that the EU will provide over the next three years.
The editorial in this edition is penned by Mădălin Necșuțu, a journalist with TVR Moldova and Balkan Insight, who reflects on the opportunities and challenges that lie ahead on the road to EU membership.

You can download the full version of the bulletin HERE.