Prime minister, Madam Vice Prime minister, Mr. Chairman, Mr. Gurau, ladies and gentlemen,

It is truly an honor to address you in such distinguished company. And a privilege to do this in a situation that is so full of promise.

We say that Moldova is on its way to the EU – and you said it better, Prime minister – „Moldova is bringing Europe home“ – but actually, this is a movement that comes from both sides.

We just heard the unreserved, unequivocal commitment of the government, of parliament, to make every effort to attain the great goal of membership.

We see and feel the inspiring leadership of president Maia Sandu

And we have seen how the people of Moldova expressed their wish, their will, their determination to join the Union.

In its endeavour, Moldova has the full support of EU member states and of EU institutions.

The President of the European Parliament, Roberta Metsola, expressed this support passionately a few days ago in the Parliament of the Republic of Moldova.

Commissioner Marta Kos will speak to us right here in a short while.

On August 27, Independence day, Chancellor Friedrich Merz, President Emmanuel Macron and Prime Minister Donald Tusk made their pledge to the people of Moldova directly, the pledge to support Moldova´s membership in the EU.

Thus, accession negotiations will not be an exercise of two sides working out their differences. They will be and they have to be a united effort to attain a goal that is ours as well as yours, Europe´s goal as much as that of Moldova. They will be a search for realistic and balanced solutions to practical challenges.

With so much agreement, thoughts turn to timing. Why don´t we just sign the agreement, why don´t we „just do it“?

On the other hand I have noticed that people in Moldova are very realistic. They know, they understand, that just signing any document, as solemn and as important as it may be, will not produce the change that they want, that they need.

The change in living conditions, in job opportunities, in wages.

The change in public services, in the standards of the health, of the education sector.

The change in the way people of different mother tongues, different historical memories accept each other and form a civic community.

All the things that can make Moldova an irresistibly attractive country to live in, raise children and grow old in.

Moldova is advancing very consistently in all areas, across all the chapters of the coming negotiations. Last week, the EU commissions´ progress report on all accession candidates acknowledged this progress. The Commission is ready to open the first three negotiation clusters – on fundamentals, the internal market and external relations.

In parallel with the formal accession process, government authorities in Moldova stand before the challenge to muster the capacity to actually make things happen. We have heard it today and previously:

• They will work to reconfigure local administration, to reform state-owned enterprises.

• They will boost public investment, using their own resources and funds coming through the EU growth plan

• And they will support private investment, coming both from abroad and from within the country itself.

The list of needs and tasks is long. Besides those requirements that are directly related to accession, there are other tasks that the government, like any government, has to fulfill. We all know what a challenge it is to recruit new teachers and health workers every year. To maintain and to modernize cultural institutions, museums – and indeed, we know that very many people require social support. These are not luxuries, they cannot wait for membership, for a better economic future.

Finally, EU accession is a task not for the government and for public administration alone. Civil society has a role to play, businesses will have new opportunities, but will also have to adapt. Just recently, I visited one of the working groups on the accession process, the one on chapter 23 - justice, freedom and security. 60 dedicated people, they meet on a monthly basis. Impressive commitment – and just what is needed.

All in all, the combination of challenges may seem to be daunting. Let me assure you, (Prime minister, ladies and gentlemen), they are not your challenges alone – we also see them as ours.

Along with other friends and partners and international institutions, Germany is ready to support Moldova both in the accession process itself and in the social and economic transformation that the road to membership entails. This commitment comes from the chancellor, the government, from political forces, from civil society. It is actively expressed in the work of visiting experts, the embassy, of everyone at GIZ, KfW, our foundations and institutions.

We want your success – it will be our common one. We want Moldova to be strong, sovereign, secure as a democracy. We are with you – and together, we can do it!