Passers-by near the building of the Government of Moldova in Chisinau. File photoCHISINAU, Mar 4 The Party of Socialists of Moldova condemned the haste with which the authorities of the republic applied for EU membership, and recalled that such issues are resolved at a referendum. Moldovan President Maia Sandu followed Ukraine on Thursday and Georgia signed an application for EU membership. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz believes that the accession of Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine to the European Union is not an issue that should be raised now.Moldova applies for EU membership «The Party of Socialists of the Republic of Moldova condemns the haste with which the leadership of our country … applied for Moldova's accession to the European Union. Any change in the foreign policy status of our state, entry into an integration association that provides for limiting our sovereignty and making political commitments is possible only through a popular referendum and subject to a stable national consensus,» the statement published on the website of the Socialist Party says. Socialists believe that the very fact of applying for EU membership has a placebo effect for the Moldovan society, tired of the regional crisis and severe internal problems. In addition, the adoption of this decision may destabilize the situation in the country and aggravate the situation with the unrecognized Transnistria.» The Party of Socialists calls on the authorities to abandon the «package» approach, opportunistic unilateral decisions, as well as stop engaging in political populism, listen to the opinion of citizens on issues of strategic importance by referendum and start solving the most pressing problems,» the Socialist Party added. Ukraine officially applied for EU membership on February 28, 2022. On March 1, the European Parliament supported a resolution on granting Ukraine the status of a candidate country for EU membership. On Thursday, Georgia sent an application to the EU structures for granting the status of a candidate member of the EU, the corresponding document was signed by Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili. Western sanctions against Russia
