Moldova's Sandu says hopes for EU entry this decade

President Maia Sandu was elected in 2020 on a pro–European platform and expressed hope that Moldova, which has been ravaged by the crisis, would join the European Union prior to 2030.

Sandu said "my wishes are very ambitious" in remarks made on Moldova-1's public television channel. "I believe we should become a member the European Union before the end of this decade."

In June, the EU accepted Moldova as a candidate for membership. It also extended the same status to Ukraine. This was a major diplomatic victory for Sandu, whose nation is among Europe's most impoverished and faces many economic challenges.

EU entry requires a complex and lengthy process to align local laws. However, Dumitru Alaiba, Moldova's new economic minister, said this month that he was laying out long-term reforms. He would also reduce bureaucracy in order to lay the foundations for a business-friendly economy. This will allow him to accelerate EU entry.

He stated that his priorities include deregulation of economic activity and reforming a tax system that is cumbersome and has discouraged investors, allowed corruption thrive, and reduced revenue.

As it deals with power shortages partly due to Moscow's attack on Ukraine's power infrastructure, Moldova is trying to wean off Russian gas. Protests are also being made about the soaring inflation.

Energocom, a state utility firm in Moldova, announced Wednesday that it had reached a deal with Nuclearelectrica of Romania to supply enough electricity for 80% of the expected shortfalls in January 2023.

Romanian power producers were granted permission to sell electricity in Moldova at 450 lei/megawatt hour. This was due to a special cap imposed by the war in Ukraine.

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