Press Review // Moldova: EU integration vs. Russian threats
Several media outlets are discussing the security threats facing Moldova in the current geopolitical context, and analyzing potential solutions.
Numerous publications have dedicated articles to the situation of women in Moldova, in the context of International Women's Day, marked on March 8.
The best way to ensure independence, sovereignty, and democracy in Moldova is full and rapid integration into the European Union, states former Foreign Minister Nicu Popescu, quoted by Radio Chișinău. "A small state like Moldova cannot remain alone in the face of increasing geopolitical risks. It is much safer and more stable to be part of a family of European states, which offers protection and mutual support," the former diplomat said. Nicu Popescu also brought up the recent warning from French President Emmanuel Macron, who emphasized Russia's involvement in Moldova's elections. "These risks must be taken seriously, especially in the context of the upcoming parliamentary elections, which are essential for Moldova's European path," Nicu Popescu stressed.
Moldova must decide, neutrality is no longer an option, TVR Moldova reports, quoting European affairs expert Dan Luca. The European Union could agree on a European defense concept, including states that are not necessarily part of the EU bloc, and this concept could include Moldova, the expert explained on the "Global Impact" show. The new European defense concept, which actually goes beyond the borders of the European Union, is very important for Moldova, the Balkan countries, and Ukraine, Dan Luca emphasized.
In the context of International Women's Day, marked on March 8, several publications in Moldova focused on a series of thematic articles. Women in leadership: Moldova's Parliament achieves record female representation, Ziarul Național reports. According to the publication, the Parliament in the current legislature achieved a historic record with the presence of 40 female deputies, which represents a significant proportion in the country's legislative framework. The presence of women in the Permanent Bureau exceeds 30%, and in the Parliament's Secretariat, almost 76% of officials are women. At the same time, the Parliament has adopted important laws to protect women's rights, including legislative changes that allow women to receive both salary and maternity leave allowance, Ziarul Național reports.
Flowers versus rights: the significance of March 8, Ziarul de Gardă reports. The author of the article notes that in Moldova, women continue to face multiple difficulties, for example in balancing professional and personal life, which leads them to stay out of the labor market for long periods of time. Another worrying aspect is the wage gap: women earning up to 15% less than men, ZdG emphasizes.
Moldova 1 publishes an article detailing the daily lives of female officers at Penitentiary 13. In prisons across the country, hundreds of women work in a harsh environment where discipline and firmness are essential, the article's author observes.
What does a mother of a family-type children's home give and receive in return? Europa Liberă reports. On the site, we read the story of a couple who replaced parents for seven children left alone, opening a family-type children's home. In the municipality of Chișinău, there are only two such homes and over 100 abandoned children waiting in placement centers, the article's author reveals.
Finally, several media outlets warn citizens about the risk of burning dry vegetation, which can lead to large-scale fires. The press officer for the General Inspectorate for Emergency Situations, speaking to Moldpres, urged people not to use open fires when cleaning their properties, as these actions harm the environment and can lead to uncontrolled fires. Firefighters warn that, in conditions of positive temperatures, wind, and low humidity, fire outbreaks spread rapidly over large areas, posing a danger to agricultural land and the residential sector.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
