PARIS/CHISINAU —
More than 40 European leaders plan to meet in Moldova on Thursday in a show of support for the former Soviet republic and neighboring Ukraine as Kiev prepares to launch a counteroffensive against occupying Russian forces.
The meeting of the 27 EU member states and 20 other European countries in a castle located in the wine country of Moldova will address a number of strategic issues and launch a new EU partnership mission in the country. But the focus will be on a symbolic show of unity on Ukraine’s doorstep.
“If you sit in Moscow and see 47 countries in your immediate or near neighborhood, that’s an important message,” an EU official told reporters ahead of the summit, which takes place 40 km (25 miles) to the south -east of the capital Chisinau.
A country of 2.5 million sandwiched between Ukraine and NATO member Romania, Moldova has taken in more Ukrainian refugees per capita than any other country, just as food and energy prices have risen as a result of the conflict
The government has accused Moscow of trying to destabilize the mainly Romanian-speaking country by using its influence over the separatist movement in mainly Russian-speaking Transnistria.
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The summit, the second meeting of the European Political Community, the brainchild of French President Emmanuel Macron, will cover topics ranging from cyber security to migration and energy security. It will also provide an opportunity to discuss tensions on the continent ranging from Azerbaijan and Armenia to the recent clashes in northern Kosovo.
It comes as Kiev prepares for a counter-offensive using newly acquired Western weapons to try to drive Russian occupiers out of the occupied territory in what Moscow calls a special military operation to protect Russian speakers.
ambitions of the EU
Moldova, like Ukraine, applied to join the European Union last year shortly after the Russian invasion, and Chisinau plans to use the summit to showcase reforms and convince leaders to open accession talks on as soon as possible
“For us, the presence of 50 leaders in Moldova is a milestone … it is the biggest foreign policy event that Moldova has ever hosted,” said Olga Rosca, foreign policy adviser to President Maia Sandu.
“It’s our way of anchoring our future in Europe and the EU. It’s our way of speeding up the EU accession process.”
Moldova’s goal, he added, is for a decision to be made at the European Council summit in December so that accession talks can begin in early 2024.
Some fear that differing expectations among participating countries and the sheer size of the summit, for which France has provided logistical and security support, will be an obstacle to achieving concrete political victories.
Political diversity and traditional rivalries among some of the participants, from Armenia and Azerbaijan to Greece and Turkey, may also complicate matters.
“With the events in Ukraine it’s useful, as is the discussion on energy supply and migration. So for now I think it’s suck and see,” said a senior European diplomat.
At its inaugural summit in Prague last year, an EU-led effort to mediate between Azerbaijan and Armenia made some progress. On Thursday, their leaders will hold talks with the EU, Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz.
