CERCLE DIPLOMATIQUE - issue 03/2023

LE MONDE XYX MOLDOVA | INTERVIEW
H.E. Mihaela Mocanu
“2024 marks a decisive year for us.”
The Ambassador of the Republic of Moldova to Austria, on her country’s contribution
to European security, economic opportunities and crucial strategic decisions.
Interview: Bernhard Ecker Photos: Ralph Manfreda
CD: Your Excellency, how do you assess
Austrian-Moldovan relations?
Mihaela Mocanu: They are not just good;
they are excellent! In the 31 years since the
establishment of diplomatic relations between
the Republic of Moldova and the Republic
of Austria, they have been in a process
of continuous advancement. Today,
there exists a comprehensive and close connection
between both countries. There is an
intense political dialogue at all levels, from
the Presidency downwards. Furthermore,
we are both committed to promoting bilateral
trade and investments, relations in agriculture
and tourism, culture and academia.
In terms of development cooperation, our
relations are also very strong. The Austrian
Development Agency is currently implementing
14 projects in our country, not only
in the capital but also in rural areas.
Austria has always been an advocate for your
country’s EU accession efforts. Has this support
been beneficial so far?
Absolutely! Every voice matters, and it’s
important for us to have the support of
each individual partner. We can learn a lot
from Austria’s experiences during its own
EU accession in 1995. Since 2022, we have
obtained candidate status. The EU Commission
has provided us with nine recommendations
for this journey. This means
that we must continue on the path of reforms,
especially in the judicial sector and
in combating corruption. We will not be
swayed from our path, as 60 percent of our
population, according to surveys, supports
accession.
Your president, Maia Sandu, mentioned early
2024 as a possible start time for accession
negotiations. Is that realistic?
It is quite challenging, but we are making
every effort. Our goal is to make significant
progress in implementing these nine
recommendations, so that by October of
this year, the Commission can recommend
to the member states to commence accession
negotiations with Moldova. Our substantial
efforts and the reforms we are implementing
should bring us closer to this
crucial goal for the Republic of Moldova.
Since the Russian war in Ukraine, your small
country seems to have taken on an even greater
role, hasn’t it?
We have indeed contributed to European
security, and we continue to do so. At
its peak, we welcomed over 100,000 refugees
from Ukraine, and even today, around
85,000 remain in the Republic of Moldova.
It was a significant challenge in many ways,
but we managed to overcome the crises. We
will stand by Ukraine’s side for as long as
necessary. This demonstrates our humanitarian
commitment and our readiness to
take responsibility in addressing refugee
crises.
2024 is a major election year. Presidential
elections are also scheduled in the Republic of
Moldova. Is there a risk that a certain election
outcome could once again delay or even thwart
the path towards the EU?
President Sandu has announced that
she will run for a second term in 2024. She
is a figure who has propelled our country
forward remarkably. On 1 June, 50 prime
ministers and high-ranking politicians
gathered in Moldova for the second Summit
of the European Political Community,
just 20 kilometres from the Ukrainian border.
This was a strong signal that the president
has the ability to convince through
both words and actions. Of course, there is
always the risk of significant propaganda
and disinformation, which is already happening.
This could influence the opinion of
the 30 percent of the population who are
not yet convinced of the EU path. Our citizens
desire a secure life in a peaceful and
free state. We see the only chance for my
country to progress and develop further by
continuing on the European path.
Is there any hope, given the precarious situation,
that many of your country’s residents who have
left in the past decades might return?
Our hope is to retain our young people
in the country. There have been different
waves of migration: in the early 1990s, late
1990s and early 2000s, followed by a third
wave around 2010. The motivations were
different in each case. Many of these emigrants
have since built homes and started
families abroad. However, there are still examples
of people returning. This is an indication
that they see a future in the country.
Where do you see further opportunities for
deeper cooperation in the economic relations
between Austria and the Republic of Moldova?
We have attracted a number of Austrian
investors. The financial services provider
Grawe Carat is well known. In the automotive
supply sector, the cable harness manufacturer
Gebauer und Griller is well established.
Strabag, Erste Bank and various law
firms are also present. My role as ambassador
is, of course, to attract even more investors.
The IT sector is promising and is the
fastest-growing industry, employing young
and creative individuals, digitally transforming
the entire society, and being of top
priority for the government. The Moldova
IT Park was established in Chisinau to provide
investment incentives for the development
of the IT business, as well as for research
and development, aiming to create
Ambassador Mihaela
Mocanu with CD‘s
author Bernhard Ecker.
an innovative economy. Today, 960 companies
are located in the IT Park, and there’s
room for Austrian companies too. Other
important strategic sectors include agriculture,
electronics, textiles, the creative industry
and more. At the same time, Moldova
has the potential for renewable
energy, ready to play a significant role in
national and international energy challenges.
In the coming months, decisions will be made
about the start of EU accession negotiations,
there will be presidential elections, the EU itself
will hold parliamentary elections and a new
commission is forming. The power structure is
being reshaped. Would you say this is the most
crucial phase since the founding of the Moldovan
Republic?
Next year is indeed a crucial year for us,
no doubt about it. Until recently, it was unimaginable
that we would make such significant
progress in our approach towards the
EU. We will continue to exert all our efforts
to move forward on this path. The EU means
a lot to us: transparency, rule of law,
prosperity, and peace. This is what we aspire
to, or I would even say, what we wholeheartedly
embrace.
H.E. MIHAELA MOCANU
Since autumn 2022, she has been Ambassador to
Austria and Permanent Representative of the
Republic of Moldova to the United Nations Office
at Vienna as well as to the OSCE. She holds a
degree in philology from the State University of
Moldova.
Her former position was Head of the OSCE and
International Security Division, Directorate for
Multilateral Cooperation from 2019 to 2022.
Among other positions, she was also First Secretary
in the Moldovan Embassy in Germany from 2007
to 2010.
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