Moldovan President Seeks Referendum on EU Membership in October
- Sandu says joining bloc is only option to ensure peace
- Vote on EU to be held on same day as presidential election
Maia Sandu
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Moldovan President Maia Sandu announced that a referendum on European Union membership will be held in October as she seeks to ensure the nation of 2.6 million maintains progress toward joining the bloc.
The country, wedged between Romania and Ukraine, last December received the European Commission’s agreement to launch EU accession negotiations and aims to complete the process by 2030. But it’s faced what it calls unprecedented hybrid attacks by Russia, which backs the pro-Russian breakaway region of Transnistria on its territory, to undermine the effort.