EU integration strengthens Moldova sovereignty, legal experts say
European integration remains the primary mechanism to reinforce the sovereignty, institutional resilience, and national security of the Republic of Moldova. Legal expert Alexandru Bot emphasized this correlation during public broadcaster Teleradio-Moldova's coverage marking the 36th anniversary of the historic Sovereignty Declaration.
Adopted on June 23, 1990, the declaration served as the foundational milestone for Moldova’s modern statehood. It represented one of the first decisive political and legal actions aimed at breaking away from Soviet central authority.
The legal birth certificate of independence
The 1990 document established the absolute supremacy of national legislation over Soviet laws. Legal analysts note that this shift sent an unambiguous signal that the republic was moving resolutely toward total independence, which was officially declared the following year on August 27, 1991.
Moldova was among the first Soviet republics to proclaim its sovereignty despite intense political pressure from the regime in Moscow. Constitutionalist Alexandru Arseni, a co-author of the document, recalled that thousands of citizens gathered outside the parliament building in Chisinau to support the historic vote, which passed with only a single abstention.
Justice reform as a pillar of security
Modern sovereignty remains intrinsically linked to the efficacy of the judiciary. Experts argue that a genuinely independent state requires strong, credible judicial institutions capable of guaranteeing the rule of law and safeguarding citizen rights.
Strengthening the legal system within the framework of European integration does not diminish statehood. Instead, delegating specific competencies to European structures serves to fortify the national economy and collective security.
Overcoming three decades of geopolitical inertia
More than three and a half decades after the declaration, Moldova continues to consolidate its public institutions and bolster its internal and external resilience. Analysts acknowledge that while many strategic goals remain a work in progress, the nation's path was inherently defined at its birth.
Achieving complete sovereignty requires both domestic stability through judicial integrity and robust external defense against hostile foreign actors attempting to disrupt the country's Western trajectory. The 1990 declaration continues to serve as the baseline for this ongoing democratic transition.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
