site.btaForum in Taraclia Discusses Moldova's EU Accession Path

Moldova's path towards the European family was discussed at a panel discussion organized by the Association for the Development of the Bulgarian Community in Moldova with support from the Bulgarian Embassy in Chisinau.

The event was attended by young people from the Taraclia region, students and lecturers from Gregory Tsamblak State University of Taraclia and representatives of local authorities among others. The main objectives of the discussion were to identify new opportunities for young people in Moldova's integration into the European Union and to share Bulgaria's experience in the European integration process.

Speakers at the forum included Moldovan MP Natalia Davidovici, Moldova's Energy Minister Victor Parlicov and the Bulgarian Ambassador to Moldova Maya Dobreva, who all talked about the opportunities that would open for young people after their country's accession to the EU.

Dobreva said: "No matter what choice you make, that choice must be informed and conscious. You need to know that you are voting not just for the upcoming elections, but for the next 40 or 50 years. Bulgarians are very different. They were missing their freedom. That is why, when the changes came, all Bulgarians wanted to be in Europe, where we historically belong. And so it happened that the state followed the wishes of the people and not the other way round. I hope the same will happen here."

Davidovici said: "There is a cruel barbaric war going on right now between Russia and Ukraine, but these countries are not EU Member States. Only the European Union provides a guarantee of peace. [...] The EU has ensured the longest peace on the continent; no EU Member State has been subjected to a military attack or fought a war on its territory. [...] The incomes of people in the EU are significantly higher than those in Moldova - salaries, pensions, social benefits. The EU is already our country's main trading partner with 65% of Moldova's exports going to the EU."