Negotiations on Moldova's accession to EU should be started in next few months - Saeima speaker

RIGA - Negotiations on Moldova's and also Ukraine's accession to the European Union (EU) should be launched in the next few months, during the Belgian presidency, this position was expressed by Saeima Speaker Daiga Mierina (Greens/Farmers) during a meeting with the Moldova's Parliament Speaker Igor Grosu.

As LETA learned from the Saeima Press Service, Mierina during the meeting promised that Latvia is and will be one of the strongest supporters of Moldova's eurointegration.

Grosu said that Moldova sees its place in the EU and thanked Latvia for the support it has provided so far. "We share a similar history, Latvia understands Moldova's situation in these challenging times and provides all the necessary assistance on the path towards the European Union," the Moldovan parliament speaker said.

The parties discussed the forthcoming presidential elections, the constitutional referendum on EU accession and the parliamentary elections scheduled for next year as important milestones on Moldova's EU integration path.

Mierina stressed that Latvia was well aware of Russia's pattern of actions and the potential impact of hybrid attacks, and therefore underlined the need to target disinformation in Moldova and to strengthen public resilience in order to reduce Russia's capacity for manipulation. "It is essential to invest in our democracy, to limit Russian propaganda and replace it with quality content," Mierina stressed.

Mierina also underscored the need to ensure Russia's accountability for its crimes. She invited Grosu to participate in the upcoming third parliamentary summit of the International Crimea Platform in Riga in October. This summit will focus specifically on sharpening the international community's focus on Russia's crimes and their global impact.

The meeting also discussed ways to expand economic cooperation between the two countries. Direct flights between Riga and Chisinau, operated by the Latvian national airline during the summer season, bring the people of the two countries significantly closer, said Grosu.

The Moldovan official also expressed interest in learning about Latvia's experience in organizing the electoral process, as well as possible cooperation in increasing territories of forests in Moldova.

The meeting of the two parliament speakers was also attended by Saeima Secretary Edvards Smiltens (United List), Member of the Saeima European Affairs Committee Ugis Rotbergs (New Unity) and the Secretary of the Saeima Foreign Affairs Committee Juris Vilums (United List).