Sandu: The Left Bank of the Dniester Must Accept the Strict Requirements of the European Union

Moldovan President Maia Sandu calimed that the 5+2 negotiation format is dysfunctional and that Chisinau is now staking on the gradual inclusion of the Transnistrian region in Moldova’s legislative field. The head of state said that the left bank of the Dniester will have to abide the national legislation in order to enjoy all the advantages of getting closer to the European Union. “The 5+2 format cannot operate in conditions when two participants of this format are at war. Russia attacked Ukraine and Ukraine does not want to participate in this format. We are doing what is right for our citizens. We are reuniting the country and taking small steps in various spheres that will lead to this reunification so that we all benefit from the process of European integration, which means advantages until we become a member state and much greater prosperity once we become an EU member state. The Transnistrian region benefits from the provisions of the Association Agreement, in order for these benefits to be maintained and increased, the left bank of the Dniester must accept the strict requirements of the European Union,” Maia Sandu said on the Cabinetul din Umbră programme on JurnalTV. Last week, a congress of so-called deputies of all levels was held in the Transnistrian region. According to the congress resolution, Tiraspol asked “the Federation Council and the Russian State Duma to protect Transnistria from the increasing pressure from Chisinau”.