Moldova to hold EU accession referendum in autumn

The objective of the referendum is to list the Moldovan citizens' wish for EU membership in the country's constitution, in order to prevent future governments from derailing Moldova from its European trajectory, Sandu said during a news conference on Monday.

The president also announced the launch of an online platform promoting the referendum and the benefit of EU membership to the country.

Moldova's parliament will decide on a date for the referendum, but Sandu said she hoped it will be held on the same day as the presidential elections due in the autumn. Last year, Sandu announced she will seek a second term in office.

"It is important to hold a referendum now because it is a historic occasion, awaited for three decades. The European Union member states are more open than ever, we have the necessary political will for this step, and our citizens want to be part of the EU," Sandu declared.

In December, the European Council said that it decided to open accession negotiations with Moldova.

Moldova applied for EU membership in March 2022, shortly after Russia launched its invasion of neighbouring Ukraine, and was granted candidate country status in June the same year.

The first female president of Moldova, Sandu assumed office on December 24, 2020. She is the founder of the Party for Action and Solidarity (PAS), which currently holds 63 of the 101 seats in the parliament. She has previously served as minister of education and prime minister.