REFERENDUM 2024 // Moldovan citizens say EU symbol of cohesion, Union member state put emphasis on such values as peace, justice, freedom

Chisinau, 26 July /MOLDPRES/ - Moldova’s citizens will participate in a constitutional referendum on 20 October 2024, during which they will answer the question: ‘’Do you support the change of the Constitution for the Republic of Moldova’s accession to the European Union?’’   

The results of the plebiscite will represent ground, if most residents answer this question affirmatively, for the change of Moldova’s Constitution, so that the desideratum of the European integration is compulsory of the governances due to come next.  

The integration to the European Union provides access to bigger markets and to European programmes on support for innovation and development. No matter the opinions of the politicians, the citizens should express their opinions and give a certain legitimacy to the European vector of Moldova. The referendum due next autumn is an exercise of national importance, which will facilitate the process of accession to EU. The opinions were voiced by the director of the Organization for Entrepreneurship Development (ODA), Vadim Codreanu, the director of the Aristotel Theoretical Lyceum, Pavel Cerbusca, and the mayor of the Baxani village, Soroca district, Igor Russu, within the REFERENDUM-2024 campaign, held by the MOLDPRES News Agency.    

Vadim Codreanu, ODA director: „A huge market opens for the business environment from our country’’

The European integration means transfer of modern technologies and competitive products, services for entrepreneurs of Moldova. A huge market opens for the business environment of our country, with the European Union providing support programmes.  

Given that Moldova advances on the European integration way, it is crucial that we emphasize the importance of the perspectives of enhancement of the competitiveness and innovation, from which the entrepreneurs can benefit. The integration into EU provides access to bigger markets and to European programmes on support for innovation and development. Entrepreneurs can benefit from transfer of know-how and technology, international cooperation and opportunities of networking, which contributes very much to the enhancement of the competitiveness of Moldovan businesses on the European market.      

The entrepreneurial support programmes managed by the Organization for Entrepreneurship Development, in cooperation with the Economic Development and Digitalization Ministry, benefit from financial support on behalf of the European Union, through an agreement on grant worth 8 million euros, signed in May 2023, within the project, EU for Small- and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs).    

Thus, in 2023, ODA provided financial support of 51.36 million lei to 93 companies participating in those seven state programmes managed. Forty seven businesses out of them, which accounts for 51 per cent, are managed by women and 46 per cent are managed by men, respectively 49 per cent.  

Pavel Cerbusca, director of the Aristotel Republican Theoretical Lyceum: „UE is the future: we will find ourselves here in the next years, even if we will have to fight and prove this fact’’  

The referendum due to be held on 20 October is a very important electoral exercise and the citizens must express their opinion and contribute to the taking of decisions. No matter the opinions expressed by the politicians, this event should be promoted and explained especially to the young people, as the latter must participate in the referendum and prove their position in the society.   

The European Union is perceived in the academic environment of Moldova as a community off states which act jointly for the promotion of the values and maintenance of peace. At the same time, in the European community, each state finds itself, by preserving its traditions and identity.

The European Union is a symbol of cohesion, as the member states try together to put emphasis on such values as the peace, justice, freedom. The ancestors fought for these values and we now face a situation when we must make a certain choice. It is clear that this should be for all Moldova’s citizens an element through which they should understand that EU is the future: we will find ourselves here in several years, even if we will have to fight and prove this fact both inside the country and at the external level. This is what will make us have prosperity, i.e. what people want: higher salaries, observance of the law and for them to really feel European citizens.         

Igor Russu, mayor of the Baxani village, Soroca district: „The referendum due next autumn is an exercise of national importance, which will facilitate the process of accession to EU’’

The efforts made by the Moldovan authorities on the adoption of the European standards represent a good opportunity for the regional development, modernization of the rural settlements and improvement of the living conditions in the villages of Moldova. For the Baxani village, Soroca district, EU means prosperity, developed infrastructure, quality education and social assistance.     

Along with the residents of the village, we each time mobilize, in order to improve the living conditions. The village is supplied with drinking water. The street illumination is set. We would like a lot to rehabilitate the segments of road from the settlement. We are set to carry out projects on energy efficiency and green energy. For this, we continue to write projects, as the local budget is quite small. Together, with the support of the development partners, I am sure that we can carry out nice things in the rural settlements of our country.    

In a democratic state, each citizen has right to express his/her opinion. Only through the referendum, we can learn the opinion of the citizens and the direction where they want to move. Thus, the referendum due next autumn is an exercise of national importance, which will facilitate the process of accession to EU.