FRANCE 24’s Europe editor-in-chief Caroline de Camaret hosts Maia Sandu, the President of Moldova. This in the context of an EU-Moldova summit held on June 22, 2026, in Brussels. The ex-Soviet republic of nearly 3 million people that borders Ukraine has opened its first “cluster” of negotiations to join the European Union. But, as it moves closer to the bloc, Moldova is becoming an intense battleground between pro-EU and pro-Kremlin forces. This edition also features a report by FRANCE 24’s Isabelle Romero and Anaïs Chesnel, set in the inaugural conference on EU investment in Moldova. On the country’s pro-EU path, Sandu tells Caroline de Camaret that, “despite the massive interference of the Kremlin in Moldova's elections, Moldovans managed to decide for themselves and they chose the EU as their future, because the EU means peace. And since Russia's invasion in Ukraine, we see Russia's aggression better. We understand the risks that are coming from Moscow. And the EU is known as the most successful peace project. The EU would also allow us to consolidate as a democracy, and it is very important for us to remain part of the free world. And of course, the EU is known as the family of countries which have managed to increase significantly the living standards of their populations.” Sandu adds a note of caution. “We hope that the member states will recognise our effort, and that the merit-based process will lead us to EU accession,” she says. “We want full membership, but we are ready to discuss any proposals that do not replace the full membership and that do not delay the EU integration process.” On the economic situation, Sandu says that the war in Ukraine has “significantly affected the Moldovan economy.” Continuing, she explains: “Despite this hardship, we managed to implement significant reforms. We managed to eliminate completely our dependency on Russian gas. We invested a lot in renewables. Now, because of the war in Iran, the GDP forecast for this year is slower, but we hope to recover and we are compensating with reforms. Reforms in the justice sector, reforms in the business environment. Indeed, there is now this €1.9 billion growth plan supported by the European Union. And we do have opportunities. Energy continues to be one of the biggest opportunities for investors. The investment in infrastructure, big infrastructure projects, some of them co-financed by EU. The IT sector has been developing very rapidly in Moldova and represents an opportunity. Agro-processing, defence – these are all areas which might be very interesting to foreign investors.” On the breakaway region of Transnistria, Maia Sandu tells de Camaret that “Russia has provoked the war in 1992, and Russia has been supporting a separatist regime all these years. But now Russia has left the people in the Transnistrian region without heating and electricity, two winters ago. And this just proves that you can't rely on Russia. More and more people from the left Bank of Nistru, as you said, are coming for jobs. They are asking for more support from the rest of the country. And yes, we do believe that there might be an opportunity soon enough to reintegrate the country of Moldova.” Moldova speeds up its membership process to the EU: With Moldova having just opened the first chapter of negotiations with the European Union, its government, European representatives and businesses gathered in Chisinau for the first EU-Moldova investment conference. Its aim is to raise funds to help the economy grow and meet EU standards. These funds are conditional on domestic structural reforms including Moldova's commitment to fight against corruption. Nevertheless, the European future envisioned by Moldovan President Maia Sandu remains hampered by a hybrid war driven by Russian influence. France 24's Isabelle Romero Reports. Programme prepared by Isabelle Romero, Alix Le Bourdon, Perrine Desplats and Iris Pichon
