H.E. Mrs. Larisa Miculet:

I thank the Deputy for his questions. On the issue of criteria, we are very realistic. We understand it is going to be a long journey. We are very encouraged by the Council decision that already expressed to us this European perspective. As I stated, we know it will be a long way with several stages. I reiterate we are ready to work hard. We understand new approaches are needed and new robust programmes are needed bilaterally with the EU, Moldova and all countries that we will follow and will achieve those criteria. At the moment at least, all assessments, evaluations and reports by the EU in respect of Moldova implementing all obligations according to association agreements and so on are very positive. It has been indicated we have to work deeper on certain matters, such as the judiciary and the rule of law.

I can assure the committee that, even today, I saw the statement of our President that in one area a good result required by the European Union was achieved. It is a work in progress. The majority of our Parliament is now very pro-European. We have a very committed and pro-European Government. Of course, our President is pro-European. Together, they are aligned and we are working day by day to that goal. As I stated, we are realistic and we understand it will be a long way and a lot of hard work.

As I said, one of the reasons we opened an embassy here was to benefit from Ireland's experience. We are very interested in how Ireland absorbs European funds and uses the money to develop parts of its economy that need it most. That is hard work and we are ready for that. We are committed to that. At the moment we need Ireland's friendly support in encouraging us to follow. We have a clear European perspective in following all the steps stipulated by the EU for accession.

The Deputy asked a very timely and hard question regarding the Russian invasion and Moldova. Moldova, like Ireland, is a neutral country. At the beginning of my statement, I outlined our diplomatic position that we stand with Ukraine. At the same time, I reiterate that we are a neutral country. As a small neutral country, we understand that we can count on international law. We can count on international support and solidarity and our neutrality status.

Our state agencies and state bodies are assessing at this moment and are consulting widely with international partners with greater assessment capabilities. Our leadership has stated many times during this conflict period that we do not have grounds at this moment to think that the invasion is prepared. We do not have grounds at this moment to say that there are some movements or clear intentions definitely of military forces that are in Transnistria or in the Transnistrian segment in general. At the same time, we are all aware of what is going on. We recall that we counted so much on diplomacy, as Ireland said intense diplomacy, but it did not work unfortunately.

At this moment, it looks like there are no different movements that can make us more nervous. However, we understand that there are big risks. As our president said signing this, how can we not be afraid or take into consideration these risks when in our capital, Chiinãu, we can hear the bombs in Ukraine. We are the most fragile country, bordering Ukraine.

We are vigilant. Our leadership has stated many times that we have been considering different scenarios for many months. We do not speak about them publicly but as with every country, we are considering them. We know that we can count on us. We can count on international law and the international community.

The Deputy asked about refugees. Today we have heard that 2.7 million Ukrainians are in refugee status. Approximately 340,000 Ukrainians have entered into Moldova through our crossing points. One can imagine the pressure at a crossing point in Moldova. Such a crossing point was capable of getting 100 or 200 people a day into the country. Even to open the passport or the document of just one person is a great big pressure, but we managed. Today, of the 340,000 refugees who entered the country, 103,000 refugees are staying. It is still a big number. Our agencies estimate these people represent 4% of our population right now.

As I said at the beginning and as my colleagues said, our state agencies and our people have shown we are Europeans by sharing European values. In the first two days ordinary people mobilised and went to the crossing points 200 km from the capital. They rented cars and small buses. All those people were brought to the capital. Some 90% of these people are hosted in our homes. People shared everything. As one journalist here stated to me, Moldovans are not rich people. While we are not a rich country, we have a big heart. Moldovans share everything with the refugees. That is the status.

Many members asked me and H.E. Ms Larysa Gerasko what we need. I have had rounds of meetings and at 3 p.m. today I was supposed to have a meeting with the head of Irish Aid. I have shared with them our needs. At this moment we have two priority needs, one of which I discussed with Irish officials and I count on their support. We are developing a mechanism to relocate some of these 100,000 refugees in Moldova to other European countries that opened their doors. We want to relocate them in a very dignified matter. At this moment, they are in accommodation in our country in very dignified conditions and we want that. We ask Ireland for support because others are coming and we just need to give them space. I do not want to speculate, but if, God forbid, that front line moves farther to Odessa, it means there is only one crossing point to Moldova. They can go farther to Romania which has also kindly opened all crossing points and the Romanians are helping a lot. We can expect that there will be a big flow. I do not want to speculate. I count on diplomacy and on diplomatic solutions. However, we need to evaluate that.

Our second main request at this moment is to ask countries and NGOs to help us directly and bilaterally for some financial support. I will have three meetings with the Red Cross and other big NGOs here in the next two days.

We ask for help through the bilateral directing to us of some financial support. I will explain why I say financial support. Our estimation is that one third of all the assistance that goes to refugees, which totals about €2.5 million per day, goes from our budget. We need to transport them from all the crossing points to the capital city. We need to strengthen our health systems, given many women in our country have recently given birth, while other people have other needs. We also have to put kids in school. A total of 47,000 of the people in question are kids and they have immediate needs. We have done everything we can but, to be frank, our capabilities are not as great as those of other countries. We have recently undergone two economic crises, namely, the recession after Covid and another downturn as a result of the current energy crisis, whereby prices are increasing under a contract we have with Russian companies. In short, we are in very difficult circumstances and that is why we need the supports.

To return to the question on offering a dignified way of relocating people, I might clarify what I meant. Our airspace is currently closed because we have declared a state of emergency. I have said to Irish officials that, please, our countries can respond together. We will help from this side and they can help from their side. Ireland can probably organise some chartered flights. Ireland has certain capabilities, and the Irish probably have even bigger hearts than we have. I follow what is going on every day. We will probably first need to transport the refugees by chartered bus to the airport of a nearby country, perhaps Romania, from where they can be taken to other places. We depend on these supports. We do not want such a large flow of people that we will have to open tent cities, with people living outdoors. It is winter in Moldova and it is very cold. We are trying to accommodate people and we have opened every building possible, such as indoor sports facilities and so on. I have seen people expressing their gratitude for us and that makes me proud of my country. Of course, the European Union has been a help. Every day, we have visitors and they come bilaterally, so we support the EU mechanism.